Jonathan Coleman dies aged 65 following prostate cancer battle

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Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK and usually develops slowly. A recent poll showed nearly half of men have no idea where the prostate is and 78 percent of men are unaware of the physical symptoms which could indicate the condition. Women were found to be 27 percent more likely to know the signs to look out for – so what are the top five risk factors for this condition?

A small percentage (five percent) of prostate cancers are hereditary and occur in families.

Families often share common elements, including factors such as genes, environment and lifestyle.

Every cell in the body includes a set of instructions called genes which are passed from parents.

These genes control how the body works, grows and how it looks – one or more genes, known as a gene fault or mutation, can sometimes cause cancer.

If people in your family have prostate or breast cancer – it might increase your own risk of getting prostate cancer.

This is because you may have inherited faulty genes.

The likelihood of developing prostate cancer depends upon the family member and closeness to your genes – as well as other risk factors.

If your father or brother has had prostate cancer – you are two and a half times more likely to get it, compared with a man with no relatives with prostate cancer.

Your chances of getting prostate cancer may be even greater if your father or brother was under 60 when they were diagnosed, or if you have more than one close relative (father or brother) with prostate cancer.

Your risk of getting prostate cancer might also be higher if your mother or sister has had breast cancer.

A diagnosis of prostate cancer in your family does not, however, guarantee you will get it.

But, it is important to share this family history of prostate cancer with your GP to ensure you monitor any potential indicators of the condition more carefully.

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The key risk factors of prostate cancer

Getting older

Prostate cancer mainly impacts men aged 50 and above – with the risk growing as people get older.

The most common age to be diagnosed with this type of cancer is between the ages of 65 and 69.

Those under the age of 50 are at very low risk, but it is still possible.

Ethnicity

Black males are more likely to get prostate cancer than other men – with one in four black men being diagnosed with the condition during their lifetime.

Those with mixed black ethnicity might also be at higher risk of prostate cancer than other ethnicities.

There is not much scientific background as to why black men are at a greater risk of getting prostate cancer. That means for mixed ethnicities, it is not known if it makes a difference which parent is black.

Black men aged 45 and over are advised to speak to their GP about their prostate cancer risk, even if they are not experiencing symptoms.

Weight

Being overweight is a risk factor for many health conditions, including the risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer.

When a patient is overweight, it is likely the cancer could prove more aggressive or advanced.

Eating healthily and keeping active can help to lower your risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Diet

There is also research currently being undertaken which is drawing a link between diet and prostate cancer.

There is some evidence that shows a diet high in calcium is linked to an increased risk of developing prostate cancer.

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