The prostate is a small gland situated underneath the bladder in the male reproductive system, responsible for the secretion of dihydrotestosterone. When cancerous growths occur in the cells of the prostate gland, the person is said to have prostate cancer. This type of cancer progresses slowly and is typically diagnosed in the later stages of development.

Although the root cause of prostate cancer can not be easily determined, there are several factors that can contribute to the development of prostate cancer in people. Some of these are mentioned below:

1. Genetic history
Like most diseases, if someone has a family history of prostate cancer, they are more likely to develop the disease in their lifetime. The risk of developing this cancer increases when two or more family members have been diagnosed. If these family members were diagnosed with prostate cancer before the age of 65, the risk of developing prostate cancer yourself increases significantly. This is due to the genetic factor or mutation, which most likely gets inherited by family members.

2. Age
Age is one of the most significant risk factors for prostate cancer. This type of cancer is not commonly diagnosed in men who are under the age of 40 years. If you have a family history of prostate cancer, the risk of developing cancer starts increasing once you cross 50 years of age. This condition is most commonly diagnosed in people older than 65 years of age, such that about 6 in 10 patients with prostate cancer are over 65 years of age.

3. Food habits
Although food is not a major contributing factor in causing prostate cancer in people, it has been observed that people who consume large proportions of red meat and dairy products are more likely to develop prostate cancer. On average, people consuming a lot of dairy products and calcium-rich foods are at a higher risk of developing prostate cancer. It is also observed that those who do not consume a lot of vegetables like broccoli or other cruciferous vegetables are at a higher risk of developing aggressive prostate cancer as opposed to the low-grade form of prostate cancer.

4. Weight
Being overweight or obese increases the risk of being diagnosed with a fast-growing and more aggressive form of prostate cancer. Also, there are chances of the condition to relapse after initial treatment in some cases.

5. Smoking
Smoking increases the risk of most types of cancer, including prostate cancer. It increases the risk of developing a more aggressive form of prostate cancer in people, which is more rapid in terms of its growth and can also cause death in many patients.