Introduction
Studies show that prostate cancer is the second most common cause of death due to cancer among men. Though it has a good prognosis and chances of recovery if diagnosed early, it is generally diagnosed in later stages. About thirty percent of the cases had the spread of tumors beyond the prostate gland at the time of diagnosis. This is mainly because of the lack of symptoms or pain in its initial period.
What Is Prostate Cancer?
When cancerous cells in the prostate gland multiply and spread, the condition is called prostate cancer. The prostate gland is a walnut-shaped gland found surrounding the urethra in men and holds the semen. (The fluid that contains the sperm is called the semen). Most prostate cancers are slowly progressing and are usually confined to the prostate gland, causing no harm. On the other hand, other types are aggressive and spread faster, causing more harm. Like any cancer, prostate cancer, if detected early while still confined to the prostate gland, has an excellent prognosis and recovery rate.
What Are the Risk Factors for Prostate Cancer?
According to research, some of the risk factors for prostate cancer include:
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Age: Prostate cancer is usually found in men older than fifty. It is very rare in men younger than forty. The probability of having prostate cancer increases rapidly after fifty and is the highest among men after sixty.
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Ancestory: Studies show that prostate cancer is more probable among men of the African race. They also have a higher tendency to develop cancer at younger ages. The other races seem to be less affected by this type of cancer. However, it is still unclear as to why or how this exists.
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Family History: Sometimes, prostate cancer runs in families, strengthening the contention that the condition is genetically linked. However, it is also seen in men without a family history of prostate cancer. The chance of having it increases (or doubles) if a man’s father or brother has been diagnosed with it. The probability of having the condition is higher if the brother has the condition rather than the father. The chance of having it is very high if multiple people are affected by the condition, especially younger ones.
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Diet: Studies show that men who consume a lot of dairy products and other foods rich in calcium show a higher risk of developing prostate cancer. The relation between diet and prostate cancer, however, remains unclear.
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Obesity: Obesity increases the risk of prostate cancer generally. Some studies reveal that obese men have a higher risk of developing aggressive forms of prostate cancer. Other studies indicate a higher rate of mortality due to prostate cancer in obese men.
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Smoking: It has been established that smoking and prostate cancer are linked. However, the extent to which it affects people is still debatable. In addition, smoking increases the risk of other health conditions and other types of cancer, like lung cancer.
Is Prostate Cancer a Hereditary Disease?
Although most cases of prostate cancer have shown no association with hereditary, a few cases have been connected to the genes inherited from fathers. The American Cancer Society (ACS) states that the risk of getting cancer doubles if the father or a brother has had the condition. The risk increases with the number of family members affected by the condition, especially at young ages.
Whether prostate cancer is hereditary depends on how it is defined. According to Hopkin’s criteria, prostate cancer is considered hereditary if:
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A patient has three or more first-degree relatives (father, brothers, or sons) with prostate cancer.
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Prostate cancer runs in three generations in either the father’s or mother’s lineage.
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There are at least two relatives younger than fifty-five with prostate cancer.
According to this criteria, about three to five percent of prostate cancers are hereditary.
What Are the Genes Linked to Prostate Cancer?
The chance that men can develop prostate cancer in their lifetime is about 11 percent. However, gene mutations, especially in BRCA2 and HOXB13, increase the risk twice to ten times. Studies show that about fifteen percent of patients with stage IV prostate cancer have a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes. On the other hand, only about five to seven percent of them carry it genetically (inherited from forefathers). Mutations in the BRCA2 gene are considered to increase the risk of prostate cancer eight times, while mutations in the BRCA1 gene increase the risk three times.
According to studies by the American Cancer Society, men having the BRCA2 gene have a higher risk of prostate cancer at a younger age. It is probable that they could be in advanced stages when it gets diagnosed. The other genes that could be associated with prostate cancer include:
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MLH1.
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MSH6.
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MSH2.
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PMS2.
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EPCAM.
When mutations occur in these genes, it is also called Lynch syndrome. Those affected by the syndrome are more likely to develop various types of cancers than the general population. It is caused by a mutation in a single gene among the many involved in repairing DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) mismatches. The exact extent to which the risk of cancer increases due to Lynch Syndrome depends on which gene is mutated.
A rare type of mutation seen in the HOXB13 gene has also shown an association with the early development and hereditary of prostate cancer. This gene has a major role in the development of the prostate gland. Research is being conducted to study whether there are other genes associated with the development of prostate cancer.
Conclusion
It is still debated if prostate cancer is inherited. However, a person having mutations in BRCA, BRCA2, and HOXB13 have shown a higher risk of developing prostate cancer. Those with an increased risk, especially those with family members with the condition, should undergo early screening to detect and treat it in its earlier stages. Genetic testing can help one to understand the risk of developing prostate cancer.
