Like most other types of cancers, the exact causes of prostate cancer are still not established. But it is always helpful to know about the risk factors that increase the chances of acquiring it. Knowing what can cause the genetic changes leading to this type of cancer would be helpful in early diagnosis and more accurate treatment plans as well.

Herein, we discuss the top four causes of prostate cancer:

1. Gene Mutation and DNA Mismatch
The one main reasons prostate cancer occurs is genetic changes. Men who develop prostate cancer might have a mutated BRCA2 gene, which is one of the tumor suppressors. The Ribonuclease L gene, which takes care of the disintegration of faulty cells, might sometimes malfunction. This results in the abnormal growth and survival of these cells, which can lead to prostate cancer. Another rare cause of prostate cancer due to gene-level issues is when the Homeobox protein called HOX-B13 mutates and leads to abnormal growth of the prostate glands.

2. Dietary Concerns
Foods that contain a high quantity of unhealthy fat are considered to be major contributors to the cancer risks in men. Red meat is one of the most common sources to be avoided to mitigate prostate cancer risks. The same applies also to processed meat of all kinds. Fatty meat-based food items that are deep-fried can be major risk factors. This can be attributed to the hormonal changes that occur in the body upon consumption of red meat in large quantities regularly. One of the common problems is with a surge in the production of testosterone in the body upon regularly eating fatty food items.

3. Family History of Prostate Cancer
Having a family history of prostate cancer is quite a common risk factor for this condition. And this would be true when a close blood relative had been diagnosed with prostate cancer anytime. This increases the chances of having inherited the mutated gene that causes prostate cancer.

4. Chemical Exposure
Exposure to certain types of chemicals or radiation can also be one of the most common causes of prostate cancer. Men who work in workplaces where they are exposed to chemicals like toluene, styrene, or benzene are at high risk for this type of cancer. Prolonged exposure to these drastically increases cancer risks. The same is true even with long-term exposure to harsh agricultural chemicals or even pesticides.

Knowing about the causes of prostate cancer is imperative as the time at which the cancer is diagnosed has a huge role to play in the survival rate of the patient. As an easily manageable type of cancer, if diagnosed before metastasis, there would hardly be any threat to the survival of the patient.