Are You at Higher Risk?

There are three well-established risk factors for prostate cancer: older age, African American race, and having a family history of prostate or certain other cancers.

However, anyone who has a prostate gland can develop prostate cancer, which is why talking to your doctor about timely, regular screening is so important. When found early, prostate cancer is 99% curable, but early disease usually causes no symptoms, making timely, regular screening essential. Screening starts with a simple PSA blood test.

Age

The older you are, the more likely you are to develop prostate cancer. The average age at diagnosis is about 66 years. However, younger men also can develop prostate cancer, and their disease can be aggressive, requiring early, intensive treatment.

This is why PCF recommends that all men talk to their doctor about regular PSA screening starting by age 45, or by age 40 if you are African American or if you have a family history of prostate or certain other cancers.

African-American Race

One in six African American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime (compared with one in eight white men). African American men also are more likely to be diagnosed at a younger age, and to have more aggressive disease. They are more than twice as likely to die of prostate cancer compared to White men.

Researchers are still working to understand the reasons for these disparities. Likely factors include environmental exposures, socioeconomic barriers, limited access to timely screening and medical care, and genetics.

Learn more about prostate cancer in African American men, your risk, and actions you can take.

Family History

Prostate cancer can run in families. This is because certain inherited gene changes (mutations) raise your risk. Having a family history of prostate cancer does not mean you will definitely get the disease, but it does increase your risk.

Some inherited gene changes that increase prostate cancer risk are also linked to certain other cancers, including breast, ovarian, pancreatic, and colon cancer diagnosed at a younger age. If any of these cancers are in your family, talk to your doctor about PSA screening for prostate cancer starting at about age 40. It’s a simple blood test—and early detection saves lives.

Learn more about family history and how to protect yourself and your family.

Other Factors

Overweight, obesity, smoking, and exposure to certain toxins may increase prostate cancer risk and contribute to worse outcomes.

Overweight and obesity are risk factors for aggressive prostate cancer. Obesity also can make recovery from prostate cancer treatments like surgery more complicated, which can increase risk of death.

It’s not yet clear if smoking increases the risk of prostate cancer. However, patients who smoke are more likely to have their prostate cancer come back (recur) after treatment, and their prostate cancer is more likely to progress (spread through the body), increasing their risk of death.

Exposure to certain toxins, such as Agent Orange during military service, also may increase the risk of aggressive prostate cancer.

Last Reviewed: 01/2026