With former President Biden being revealed to have an aggressive form of prostate cancer, the condition is now much in the news. BBC Science Focus Magazine summarizes the risk factors.
According to science, most of your risk comes down to three – sadly, uncontrollable – factors:
- Age – Risk rises sharply after 50. Most diagnoses are in men over 70.
- Ethnicity – Black men are twice as likely to develop prostate cancer as white men. We don’t yet know why, but genetics may play a role.
- Family history – You’re at higher risk if your father, brother or grandfather had it – especially if they were diagnosed under 60. A family history of breast or ovarian cancer may also increase risk, particularly if a mutation of a gene known as BRCA2 is involved.
Now you know, knowledge is power. Hat tip to RealClearScience for the link.
