Prostate cancer only affects men. While there is no fixed cause of this form of cancer, it is attributed to a problem in the DNA of the prostate’s healthy cells. While there are many treatments for prostate cancer available, one needs to keep in mind that some risk factors which could cause a man to develop this cancer in the first place. They are as follows:

• Age: Men below 40 years of age rarely face prostate cancer. The chance of developing this particular type of cancer rises much faster after men hit their fifties.
• Race: Studies suggest that men of African-American descent are more prone to developing prostate cancer as compared to their counterparts. Men of this descent should undertake regular prostate cancer screening to ensure that they take preventive measures on time.
• Location: Some geographical regions report high cases of prostate cancer as compared to other regions of the world. For example, North America, Australia, and the Caribbean Islands report more cases of this particular type of cancer than Africa, Asia, South America, and Central America.
• Family history: Various types of cancers are genetic or inherited, which means that they run in families for generations. If a man has a family history of this disease, then he must undergo regular screenings to be safe.
• Gene changes: Sometimes, some gene changes may cause prostate cancer. The mutations of some cells or the presence of Lynch syndrome make a man a lot more susceptible to developing prostate cancer. However, very few cancer cases are a result of this factor.

Less-likely risk factors
While the factors mentioned above put a man at a much higher risk of developing this cancer, there are some others which are not as severe but may be one of the causes of this disease. They are as follows:

• Diet: While there is no fixed evidence that a poor diet may cause prostate cancer, there is a chance that men who consume large quantities of red meat, as well as dairy products with high-fat content, may be at a higher risk of developing this form of cancer as compared to men who do not regularly consume these items.
  Smoking: Smoking has not yet been recognized as a probable cause of this disease. However, some studies suggest that it may hasten the death of a patient with prostate cancer if he continues this habit after a diagnosis.
• Obesity:  Obese men may be at risk of developing and suffering from a much more aggressive form of prostate cancer. The reason for this is not clear. Researchers in the medical field are currently investigating this topic.

Main causes of prostate cancer
The two primary causes of prostate cancer can be classified as follows:

Inherited gene mutations
Some gene mutations may be passed down from one generation to the next generation. It may be a characteristic occurrence in all the cells of the body. Most of these mutations are inherited and may become cancerous at a later stage, putting men with these mutations at a higher risk of developing prostate cancer. Some inherited mutated genes that may cause this cancer are:

• RNASEL (formerly HPC1) genes
• BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes
• Repair genes indicating a mismatch in the DNA (for instance, the MSH2 and MLH1) genes
• HOXB13 genes

Acquired gene mutations
There is a higher chance that acquired gene mutation is the primary cause of prostate cancer rather than an inherited gene mutation. There are many theories about how one acquires these cells which lead to a cancerous growth in the body and cause an inflammation of the prostate. However, nothing concrete has been proven in the medical field yet.

In the past, there wasn’t much knowledge about this form of cancer, however, movements like Movember have been raising awareness about men’s health issues, including prostate cancer.