Think about your risk factors for prostate cancer

Knowing the risk factors for prostate cancer can help you determine if and when you want to begin prostate cancer screening. The main risk factors include:

• Age. As you get older, your risk of prostate cancer increases. After age 50, your chance of having prostate cancer increases substantially. The majority of prostate cancers are found in men age 65 or older.

  The option to have PSA testing begins at age 40 and continues until you're at the age when your life expectancy is 10 years or fewer. Once you reach that age, the likelihood that a prostate cancer would progress and cause problems during the remainder of your lifetime is small.

• Race. For reasons that aren't well understood, black men have a higher risk of developing and dying of prostate cancer.

• Family history. If a close family member — your father or brother — was diagnosed with prostate cancer before age 65, your risk of the disease is greater than that of the average American man.

  If several of your first-degree relatives — father, brothers, sons — have had prostate cancer at an early age, your risk is considered very high.

• Diet. A high-fat diet and obesity may increase your risk of prostate cancer.