Risk Management & Treatment > Screening and Risk Reduction > By Cancer Type > Prostate > Factors That Affect Risk
Factors that affect cancer risk
Every man is at risk for cancer and the risk increases with age. A man in the general population has about a 12 percent lifetime risk of developing cancer. This means that 12 out of every 100 men will get cancer in their lifetime.
African-American men have a higher lifetime risk for cancer and a higher risk for younger-onset cancer than men of other races and ethnicities.
Genes with inherited mutations linked to cancer risk
Inherited mutations in the genes listed below have also been linked to an increased risk for cancer. Note: the exact risk for some of the genes listed have not been well established.
*In addition to increasing lifetime risk for cancer, and and also increase risk for more aggressive, disease.
** More research is needed to confirm a link between cancer and an in this gene.
Find Experts
The following resources can help you locate an expert near you or via telehealth.
Finding urologists
- The Urology Care Foundation has a tool which allows you to search for urologists in your area.
Sexual health experts
Some types of cancer treatment may affect sexual health.
- The Sexual Medicine Society of North America (SMSNA) has a search tool to find experts in your area who sexual health care services.
- The American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) maintains a tool to help people find a sexual health expert near them.
Other ways to find experts
- Register for the FORCE Message Boards and post on the Find a Specialist board to connect with other people who share your situation.
- The National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated comprehensive cancer centers have specialists to manage the symptoms and side effects from cancer prevention or treatment.
updated: 04/03/2023