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Prostate cancer risk factor quiz
Take this quiz to learn about what can affect your risk of developing prostate cancer. While we don't know the exact causes of cancer, there are trends that men with prostate cancer share.
Are you overweight?
Calculate your body mass index (BMI)
underweight (BMI less than 18.5)
normal (BMI 18.5 to 24.9)
overweight (BMI 25 to 29.9)
obese (BMI 30 or higher) Learn about your risk
How much exercise do you get each week?
an hour or less
one to two hours
over two hours Learn about your risk
Have any men in your family had prostate cancer?
none
father
brother
father & brother Learn about your risk
How old are you?
The older you are, the greater your chance of developing prostate cancer. If you are a man under 50, you have a 2 in 1,000 chance of having prostate cancer. If you are in your 50s, you have a 2 in 100 (2%) chance. Between the ages of 60 and 69, you have an almost 7% chance. And that goes up to almost 17% over the age of 70.
It is a good idea to discuss with your doctor to see if it is appropriate to get a prostate screening as soon as you reach the age of 40.
Are you overweight?
If you are overweight or obese, you are at about double the risk for developing prostate cancer compared to at a normal weight. That stands true for most types of cancer.
How much exercise do you get each week?
If you consistently burn fewer calories than you consume, eventually you will be a greater risk of developing prostate cancer and other medical conditions related to weight gain. You also want to keep your blood pressure and your blood insulin levels low, because both of these have been linked to prostate cancer. Exercising at least 3 times a week, 30 minutes each time, can make a big difference. But you'll see better results if you can fit in at least two hours of exercise each week. And you'll have more energy for all of your activities.
Have any men in your family had prostate cancer?
Scientific studies have linked a specific gene to prostate cancer; if you carry that gene, you're almost guaranteed to develop prostate cancer by age 85. Two-thirds of men who have prostate cancer by their mid-50s have the prostate cancer gene. 15% of all prostate cancers are directly from genetics. You're twice as likely to get prostate cancer if either your father or your brother has had it, and that goes up to five times likelihood if both your father and your brother have had it. The positive side is that if we know a specific gene causes prostate cancer, we can focus research on it to help eradicate prostate cancer.
What is your ethnic background?
Men of African descent have the highest percentage of prostate cancer incidence, followed by Caucasians. Asians and Indigenous peoples have the lowest risk. Why do we see these differences? Genetics and environment may explain it, at least in part, along with lifestyle differences and diet.
However, where you live seems to play a role in your likelihood to develop prostate cancer. The farther away from the equator you live, the higher the incidence of prostate cancer. Scandinavia tops the list, with almost five times as many prostate cancer cases as Asia. Men of African descent living in Africa are less likely to have prostate cancer than their counterparts in North America. And Asian immigrants in North America also have a greater chance of having prostate cancer than if they lived in Asia.
