Causes Of Prostate Cancer

Causes Of Prostate Cancer
By Adrian Jones

The prostate is a gland found only in men, which lies just
below the bladder. The tube through which urine flows from the
bladder when you pass water goes first through the prostate
gland then out through the penis. The prostate gland can become
enlarged in many men as they get older which then causes
difficulty with urination.

The job of the prostate gland is to produce fluid which forms
part of semen and helps to nourish sperm. The prostate gland
sits in front of the back passage or “rectum” which is why if a
doctor wants to examine the prostate gland they feel it by
putting a finger into your back passage. This is also called a
“digital rectal examination” or DRE for short. From feeling the
prostate gland the doctor can tell how enlarged the gland is and
whether it feels normal or cancerous, this can then provide a
picture of if it exists.

Cells in the prostate gland are constantly turning over to
replace old with new but sometimes this process can get out of
control. Cancer is the name for cells which have lost control of
their renewal process and start to grow unchecked. They grow
into a group of cells called a “tumour”. As the cells grow they
can start to invade surrounding tissues. This invading process
is called acting in a “malignant” fashion. Cells can break off
the tumour and spread to other sites in the body, usually via
the blood stream. The cells can then grow where they have
settled, often in distant parts of the body such as the bones or
brain. These deposits are often called “secondaries” or
“metastases”. These deposits are not new cancers but are groups
of cancer cells spread from the original or “primary” cancer in
the prostate gland.

Most often in this process of tumour growth
followed by invasion then metastasis is relatively slow and can
occur over many months or years. This is why some men may have
prostate cancer but never have a problem because of it i.e.
their grows so slowly that other diseases or
illnesses (e.g. heart attack or stroke) cause problems or even
death before the has developed far enough to
cause symptoms or spread from the prostate. With modern
treatments many men with early can be cured and
in many more the can be controlled and the
invasion process slowed even more. survival
rates vary widely around the world, although detection in 3rd
World countries is often poorly catalogued.

The cause of is not known. What is known is the
characteristics of those men who tend to develop prostate
problems. These are known as “risk factors” i.e. men with these
characteristics are at greater risk of developing the cancer.
However it is important to realise that ALL men are at risk of
prostate cancer and even young men who have no history of cancer
in their family can develop prostate cancer.

AGE

Age is the main risk factor for developing prostate cancer. As
men get older they have a higher

chance of developing all types
of cancer including cancer of the prostate. is
quite uncommon below the age of 50 years however four out of
every ten men who are 70 years or older will have the illness.
Many of these men will live normally without knowing they have
prostate cancer and without it giving them any symptoms or
shortening their life span.

HORMONES

We know that the male hormones tend to stimulate the
development of prostate cancers and is very rare
in men who have been castrated before the age of 40 years. This
is likely to be because the normal prostate gland is affected by
male hormones when carrying out its normal functions in the
body. cells originate and have some features
similar to these normal prostate cells including being
influenced by male hormones.

RACE

Prostate cancer is seen more commonly in certain ethnic groups
e.g. African-Americans.

DIET

Diet may have an influence on the development of prostate
cancer. is more common in men who have a
“western” diet high in saturated fats. Saturated fats are found
in red meats such as beef, lamb etc and in some dairy produce
e.g. butter and things made with butter e.g. cakes, biscuits
etc., and also in highly processed foods e.g. ready meals. It
seems that men who have a diet high in saturated fat are at
increased risk of developing prostate cancer. It is also widely
believed that a diet high in fruit and vegetables helps to
prevent many cancers. This may be through the action of cancer
protective chemicals found in many fruit and vegetables known as
“anti-oxidants”. This is one of the reasons it is recommended
that we include five portions of fruit and vegetables in our
diet every single day.

GENETIC

Prostate problems also tend to run in some families which could
suggest part of the cause of some prostate cancers is genetic or
hereditary. If your father or brother has your
chance of developing it is about double that of the general
population. However only a small number of all prostate cancers
are caused by a known faulty gene and most occur at random.

SUMMARY OF CAUSES

Age (prostate cancer is more common as men get older)
Male hormones (prostate cancers uncommon in castrated men)
Ethnic group (prostate cancer more common in African-Americans)

Genetic (prostate cancer can run in families)
Diet

About the Author: Adrian Jones is promoting self-help in
dealing with several forms of cancer. Further information is
available on http://www.justabout-prostatecancer.com and
http://www.justabout-coloncancer.com . This article is available
for reprint provided you include this info.

Source: http://www.isnare.com

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