Prostate Cancer Risk Factors All men are at risk for prostate cancer, but there are some factors that can increase your risk. Take our quiz to find your personal risk. Jump To Jump To Age Family History Race Veterans Lifestyle Page 1 Take the "Am I At Risk?" QuizEarly detection is key to giving men a fighting chance against prostate cancer. All men are at risk for prostate cancer but there are various factors that could increase your risk of being diagnosed with the disease. Take the “Am I At Risk?” quiz to learn more about these risk factors. How old are you? How old are you? - Select -Under 50Over 50 Under 50 Over 50 Do you have a brother, father, or grandfather diagnosed with the disease? Do you have a brother, father, or grandfather diagnosed with the disease? - Select -YesNo Yes No Do you have a brother, father, or grandfather diagnosed with the disease? Are you a veteran? Are you a veteran? - Select -YesNo Yes No Are you a veteran? How do you describe your ethnicity? - Select -White or CaucasianBlack or African AmericanHispanic or LatinoAsian or Pacific IslanderNative American or Alaskan NativeMultiracial or BiracialAn ethnicity not listed here How do you describe your ethnicity? Do you consume a high-fat diet? Do you consume a high-fat diet? - Select -YesNoUnsure Yes No Unsure Get Your Results Fill out the following information to receive your results instantly! Name First Last Email Contact Details Address Address 2 City/Town State/Province - None -AlaskaAlabamaArkansasArizonaCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDistrict of ColumbiaDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIowaIdahoIllinoisIndianaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMassachusettsMarylandMaineMichiganMinnesotaMissouriMississippiMontanaNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaNebraskaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNevadaNew YorkOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVirginiaVermontWashingtonWisconsinWest VirginiaWyomingFederated States of MicronesiaGuamMarshall IslandsNorthern Mariana IslandsPuerto RicoPalauVirgin IslandsArmed Forces (Canada, Europe, Africa, or Middle East)Armed Forces PacificBritish ColumbiaManitobaNew BrunswickNewfoundland and LabradorNova ScotiaNorthwest TerritoriesNunavutOntarioPrince Edward IslandQuebecSaskatchewanYukon ZIP/Postal Code Country - None -United StatesCanadaMexicoUnited KingdomUSA Minor Outlying IslandsVirgin Islands (USA)American SamoaAustraliaNew ZealandPhilippinesSpainFranceChinaAfghanistanAland IslandsAlbaniaAlgeriaAndorraAngolaAnguillaAntarcticaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBolivarian Republic of VenezuelaBonaire, Sint Eustatios and SabaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBouvet IslandBrazilBritish Indian Ocean TerritoryBrunei DarussalamBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCape VerdeCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChileChristmas IslandCocos (Keeling) IslandsColombiaComorosCongoCook IslandsCosta RicaCote D'IvoireCroatiaCubaCuracaoCyprusCzech RepublicThe Democratic Republic of the CongoDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEthiopiaFalkland Islands (Malvinas)Faroe IslandsFederated States of MicronesiaFijiFinlandThe Former Yugoslav Republic of MacedoniaFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerritoriesGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGibraltarGreeceGreenlandGrenadaGuadeloupeGuamGuatemalaGuernseyGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHeard Island and McDonald IslandsHoly See (Vatican City State)HondurasHong KongHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIraqIrelandIslamic Republic of IranIsle of ManIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJerseyJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKuwaitKyrgyzstanLao People's Democratic RepublicLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacaoMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMarshall IslandsMartiniqueMauritaniaMauritiusMayotteMonacoMongoliaMontenegroMontserratMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNauruNepalNetherlandsNew CaledoniaNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNiueNorfolk IslandNorthern Mariana IslandsNorwayOmanPakistanPalauPalestinian Territory, OccupiedPanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPitcairnPlurinational State of BoliviaPolandPortugalPuerto RicoQatarRepublic of KoreaRepublic of MoldovaReunionRomaniaRussian FederationRwandaSaint BarthelemySaint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da CunhaSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint Martin (French)Saint Pierre and MiquelonSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSamoaSan MarinoSao Tome and PrincipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesS. Georgia & S. Sandwich Isls.Sierra LeoneSingaporeSint Maarten (Dutch)SlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth SudanSri LankaSudanSurinameSvalbard and Jan MayenSwazilandSwedenSwitzerlandSyrian Arab RepublicTaiwan, Province of ChinaTajikistanThailandTimor-LesteTogoTokelauTongaTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTurkeyTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited Republic of TanzaniaUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuViet NamVirgin Islands (British)Wallis and FutunaWestern SaharaYemenZambiaZimbabwe Prostate cancer risk factorsThe greatest risk factors for getting prostate cancer are age, family history, and race. Other risk factors include diet and exposure to chemicals.If you don't have these risk factors, that doesn't mean you can't get prostate cancer. Remember, all men are at risk for prostate cancer. AgeThe risk of prostate cancer grows significantly as men age. About 60% of all prostate cancers are diagnosed in men over 65. Family HistoryRisk for prostate cancer can run in families. A man with at least one close relative who has had prostate cancer is twice as likely to be diagnosed with the disease compared to the general population.It is also important to know about a family history of breast, ovarian, or pancreatic cancers. Gene mutations found in those cancers have been identified in prostate cancer and linked to more aggressive disease.It is estimated that inherited gene changes – those passed down by parents – account for approximately 10% of prostate cancers. Learn more about genes, genetic testing, and prostate cancer. Talk to your family about cancer risk Talk with everyone in your family about their health history and download and complete ZERO’s prostate cancer family tree. Use our Prostate Cancer Family Tree RaceBlack and African American men are more likely to get prostate cancer than other men. In fact, Black men are 1.7 times more likely to get prostate cancer and 2.1 times more likely to die from the disease than white men. Black men in the U.S. and Caribbean have the highest prostate cancer incidence rates in the world.Find more information about Black men and prostate cancer.Read more about ZERO's efforts to achieve health equity in prostate cancer. Veterans & chemical exposureExposure to chemicals can add to prostate cancer risk and severity. Studies have shown Vietnam and Korean War Veterans with exposure to chemicals like Agent Orange have a higher occurrence of prostate cancer.Veterans are about twice as likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than men who have never served in the military. Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy in Veterans, diagnosed in approximately 11,000 men in the VA system each year.Veterans with prostate cancer who were exposed to herbicides during active service may be eligible for disability compensation through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Learn more about support resources for Veterans, including VA benefits.Others at increased risk due to chemical exposure include:Farmers and other men who work with large amounts of pesticidesThose who are frequently exposed to the metal cadmium like welders, battery manufacturers, and rubber workersThere is some evidence that firefighters are at higher risk. Diet & physical activityObesity may be associated with a slight increase in the risk of getting prostate cancer. Being obese and overweight may be related to prostate cancer aggressiveness and development according to a handful of studies. Obesity may increase the long-term disease progression for men with low-risk prostate cancer who are on active surveillance.Regular physical activity has a positive impact on health and prostate cancer. Men who walk one to three hours each week have an 86% lower risk of aggressive prostate cancer. Further research has demonstrated three or more hours of vigorous exercise lowered the risk of prostate cancer death by 61%.To learn more about actionable steps you can take related to health, wellness, and nutrition visit our Health & Wellness in Prostate Cancer webpage. Talk to your doctor about risk ZERO and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommend that men at average risk should start discussing prostate cancer risk and testing options with their doctor at age 45. Black men and those with a family history should begin talking to their doctor about screening as early as age 40. Screening information More information about risks Black men and prostate cancer Veterans and prostate cancer Genetic testing
Page 1 Take the "Am I At Risk?" QuizEarly detection is key to giving men a fighting chance against prostate cancer. All men are at risk for prostate cancer but there are various factors that could increase your risk of being diagnosed with the disease. Take the “Am I At Risk?” quiz to learn more about these risk factors. How old are you? How old are you? - Select -Under 50Over 50 Under 50 Over 50 Do you have a brother, father, or grandfather diagnosed with the disease? Do you have a brother, father, or grandfather diagnosed with the disease? - Select -YesNo Yes No Do you have a brother, father, or grandfather diagnosed with the disease? Are you a veteran? Are you a veteran? - Select -YesNo Yes No Are you a veteran? How do you describe your ethnicity? - Select -White or CaucasianBlack or African AmericanHispanic or LatinoAsian or Pacific IslanderNative American or Alaskan NativeMultiracial or BiracialAn ethnicity not listed here How do you describe your ethnicity? Do you consume a high-fat diet? Do you consume a high-fat diet? - Select -YesNoUnsure Yes No Unsure Get Your Results Fill out the following information to receive your results instantly! Name First Last Email Contact Details Address Address 2 City/Town State/Province - None -AlaskaAlabamaArkansasArizonaCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDistrict of ColumbiaDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIowaIdahoIllinoisIndianaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMassachusettsMarylandMaineMichiganMinnesotaMissouriMississippiMontanaNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaNebraskaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNevadaNew YorkOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVirginiaVermontWashingtonWisconsinWest VirginiaWyomingFederated States of MicronesiaGuamMarshall IslandsNorthern Mariana IslandsPuerto RicoPalauVirgin IslandsArmed Forces (Canada, Europe, Africa, or Middle East)Armed Forces PacificBritish ColumbiaManitobaNew BrunswickNewfoundland and LabradorNova ScotiaNorthwest TerritoriesNunavutOntarioPrince Edward IslandQuebecSaskatchewanYukon ZIP/Postal Code Country - None -United StatesCanadaMexicoUnited KingdomUSA Minor Outlying IslandsVirgin Islands (USA)American SamoaAustraliaNew ZealandPhilippinesSpainFranceChinaAfghanistanAland IslandsAlbaniaAlgeriaAndorraAngolaAnguillaAntarcticaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBolivarian Republic of VenezuelaBonaire, Sint Eustatios and SabaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBouvet IslandBrazilBritish Indian Ocean TerritoryBrunei DarussalamBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCape VerdeCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChileChristmas IslandCocos (Keeling) IslandsColombiaComorosCongoCook IslandsCosta RicaCote D'IvoireCroatiaCubaCuracaoCyprusCzech RepublicThe Democratic Republic of the CongoDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEthiopiaFalkland Islands (Malvinas)Faroe IslandsFederated States of MicronesiaFijiFinlandThe Former Yugoslav Republic of MacedoniaFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerritoriesGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGibraltarGreeceGreenlandGrenadaGuadeloupeGuamGuatemalaGuernseyGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHeard Island and McDonald IslandsHoly See (Vatican City State)HondurasHong KongHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIraqIrelandIslamic Republic of IranIsle of ManIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJerseyJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKuwaitKyrgyzstanLao People's Democratic RepublicLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacaoMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMarshall IslandsMartiniqueMauritaniaMauritiusMayotteMonacoMongoliaMontenegroMontserratMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNauruNepalNetherlandsNew CaledoniaNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNiueNorfolk IslandNorthern Mariana IslandsNorwayOmanPakistanPalauPalestinian Territory, OccupiedPanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPitcairnPlurinational State of BoliviaPolandPortugalPuerto RicoQatarRepublic of KoreaRepublic of MoldovaReunionRomaniaRussian FederationRwandaSaint BarthelemySaint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da CunhaSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint Martin (French)Saint Pierre and MiquelonSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSamoaSan MarinoSao Tome and PrincipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesS. Georgia & S. Sandwich Isls.Sierra LeoneSingaporeSint Maarten (Dutch)SlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth SudanSri LankaSudanSurinameSvalbard and Jan MayenSwazilandSwedenSwitzerlandSyrian Arab RepublicTaiwan, Province of ChinaTajikistanThailandTimor-LesteTogoTokelauTongaTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTurkeyTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited Republic of TanzaniaUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuViet NamVirgin Islands (British)Wallis and FutunaWestern SaharaYemenZambiaZimbabwe
Prostate cancer risk factorsThe greatest risk factors for getting prostate cancer are age, family history, and race. Other risk factors include diet and exposure to chemicals.If you don't have these risk factors, that doesn't mean you can't get prostate cancer. Remember, all men are at risk for prostate cancer.
AgeThe risk of prostate cancer grows significantly as men age. About 60% of all prostate cancers are diagnosed in men over 65.
Family HistoryRisk for prostate cancer can run in families. A man with at least one close relative who has had prostate cancer is twice as likely to be diagnosed with the disease compared to the general population.It is also important to know about a family history of breast, ovarian, or pancreatic cancers. Gene mutations found in those cancers have been identified in prostate cancer and linked to more aggressive disease.It is estimated that inherited gene changes – those passed down by parents – account for approximately 10% of prostate cancers. Learn more about genes, genetic testing, and prostate cancer.
Talk to your family about cancer risk Talk with everyone in your family about their health history and download and complete ZERO’s prostate cancer family tree. Use our Prostate Cancer Family Tree
RaceBlack and African American men are more likely to get prostate cancer than other men. In fact, Black men are 1.7 times more likely to get prostate cancer and 2.1 times more likely to die from the disease than white men. Black men in the U.S. and Caribbean have the highest prostate cancer incidence rates in the world.Find more information about Black men and prostate cancer.Read more about ZERO's efforts to achieve health equity in prostate cancer.
Veterans & chemical exposureExposure to chemicals can add to prostate cancer risk and severity. Studies have shown Vietnam and Korean War Veterans with exposure to chemicals like Agent Orange have a higher occurrence of prostate cancer.Veterans are about twice as likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than men who have never served in the military. Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy in Veterans, diagnosed in approximately 11,000 men in the VA system each year.Veterans with prostate cancer who were exposed to herbicides during active service may be eligible for disability compensation through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Learn more about support resources for Veterans, including VA benefits.Others at increased risk due to chemical exposure include:Farmers and other men who work with large amounts of pesticidesThose who are frequently exposed to the metal cadmium like welders, battery manufacturers, and rubber workersThere is some evidence that firefighters are at higher risk.
Diet & physical activityObesity may be associated with a slight increase in the risk of getting prostate cancer. Being obese and overweight may be related to prostate cancer aggressiveness and development according to a handful of studies. Obesity may increase the long-term disease progression for men with low-risk prostate cancer who are on active surveillance.Regular physical activity has a positive impact on health and prostate cancer. Men who walk one to three hours each week have an 86% lower risk of aggressive prostate cancer. Further research has demonstrated three or more hours of vigorous exercise lowered the risk of prostate cancer death by 61%.To learn more about actionable steps you can take related to health, wellness, and nutrition visit our Health & Wellness in Prostate Cancer webpage.
Talk to your doctor about risk ZERO and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommend that men at average risk should start discussing prostate cancer risk and testing options with their doctor at age 45. Black men and those with a family history should begin talking to their doctor about screening as early as age 40. Screening information
More information about risks Black men and prostate cancer Veterans and prostate cancer Genetic testing
