Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is not clearly linked to any preventable causes. Your risk of developing it depends on many things. These include your age, ethnicity and family history.
Anything that can increase your risk of getting a disease is called a risk factor.
Different cancers have different risk factors. Having one or more of these risk factors doesn't mean you will definitely get that cancer.
As with most cancers, prostate cancer is more common as you get older. In the UK, prostate cancer is most common in men aged 75 to 79 years.
1 in 6 men in the UK will get prostate cancer at some point in their lives.
Prostate cancer is more common in Black men than in White men. It is least common in Asian men.
Your risk of prostate cancer is higher if you have a close relative who has had prostate cancer. A close relative is a:
father
brother
grandfather
uncle
Your prostate cancer risk might be higher if:
you have more than one relative with prostate cancer
your relative was diagnosed with prostate cancer when they were younger than 60
Your risk of prostate cancer may also be higher if your mum or sister has had breast cancer.
Most cancers are not linked to inherited faulty . But some inherited faulty genes can increase your risk of prostate cancer. These inherited genes are rare and account for only a small number of cancers.
Everyone has BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. They are important genes that stop the cells in our body from growing and dividing out of control. A fault or mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene means that the cells can grow out of control. This can lead to cancer.
People who inherit faulty versions of BRCA 2 genes have an increased risk of developing different types of cancer. This includes prostate cancer. A recent study showed that your risk of developing prostate cancer is around 2 times higher than that of the general population if you have a faulty BRCA2 gene.
The risk of developing prostate cancer may also increase with faulty BRCA1 genes. But the results from research studies have been mixed. More research is needed to find out for more about the link between BRCA1 genes and prostate cancer.
Lynch syndrome is rare. It is caused by faults in a number of genes such as MLH1 and MLH2 which are important for repairing . People with Lynch syndrome have an increased risk of developing a number of cancers, including prostate cancer.
Researchers are looking into other genes that might also increase the risk of prostate cancer.
or overweight is the biggest preventable cause of cancer after smoking. Obese means having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. And being overweight means having a BMI of between 25 and 30.
Obesity or overweight may be linked to a to a higher risk of prostate cancer. But more research is needed to find out why this is.
Find out how obesity can cause cancer and tips about being healthier
Hormones are natural substances made by different organs of our body. Insulin like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) is a hormone that regulates normal cell growth.
Research has found that people with high levels of IGF-1 have an increased risk of developing prostate cancer.
Pesticides are chemicals that help plants grow by controlling pests like weeds and bugs.
International research has found that the risk of developing prostate cancer is higher in people exposed to high levels of pesticides. Most people only come into contact with very small amounts of pesticides on food or when gardening.
Researchers have looked at some other factors to see if they increase the risk of prostate cancer. For some of these risk factors, the evidence is mixed. Or there is not enough evidence to be sure.
There is no strong evidence to support a link between vasectomies and prostate cancer. Some older studies found a small increase in risk. But more recent studies have not found a causal link. If there is a link, doctors think it might be because of other factors. For example, men who get vasectomies might be more likely to have a health check up which picks up prostate cancer.
Inflammation of the prostate gland is called prostatitis. Some studies have found a link between prostatitis and prostate cancer. But there isn’t any strong evidence to show that prostatitis causes prostate cancer.
Cadmium is a type of metal found in tobacco and certain foods. The research findings are mixed. Some studies have shown a link between exposure to high levels of cadmium and prostate cancer. An example of high levels is working with cadmium over a long period of time.
Stories about possible cancer causes are often in the media and it can be hard to know what’s true and what’s not. You may have heard of something that isn’t included here. This is because we only include a risk factor in this information if it is supported by good quality evidence.
Find out about common cancer myths and questions on the causes of cancer
There are ways you can reduce your risk of cancer.
Last reviewed: 11 Sept 2025
Next review due: 11 Sept 2028
Prostate cancer doesn't usually cause any symptoms in the early stages.
You usually start by seeing your GP. They ask about your symptoms and examine you. Your GP then decides whether to refer you to a specialist.
Prostate cancer is cancer of the prostate gland. The prostate gland is part of the male reproductive system, and is at the base of the bladder.
You may have a choice of treatments such as surgery or radiotherapy. Or your doctor might suggest that they monitor your cancer instead of treatment straight away.
Get practical and emotional support to help you cope with a diagnosis of prostate cancer, and life during and after treatment.
Prostate cancer is cancer that starts in the prostate gland. The prostate gland is found at the base of the bladder and is about the size of a walnut.
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