more likely to develop prostate cancer. However, the opposite was true for older men: Guys who masturbated more in their fifties seemed to have a lower risk for prostate cancer. The researchers say more evidence is needed to explain the link but speculate that the role between hormones, sex drive, and prostate cancer is complex and may change with age.
Some men are at greater risk for prostate cancer. Those who are older are more likely to be diagnosed with the disease.
Prostate cancer is rare in men younger than 40 years old but once they reach 50, the risk increases. Nearly 6 out of 10 men with prostate cancer are older than 65 years old, the Fox Chase specialists said.
Black men are more likely than men of other races and ethnicities to be diagnosed with prostate cancer and die from the disease, Kutikov said. Black men are also more likely to develop advanced disease and have the condition at a younger age, he said.
Genetics may also play a role in why some men develop prostate cancer, Kutikov added. Men whose father or brother have the disease are more than twice as likely to also be diagnosed, he said. The risk increases if several family members are affected and if these men were diagnosed at a younger age.
Men who are 55 and older should discuss their risk factors for prostate cancer with their doctor and determine if screening is right for them.
“I encourage patients to educate themselves about the issue of screening, as it is quite complex,” said Kutikov.