Men lead in Prostate cancer

Today one of the leading cancers among men, across the world is prostate cancer. There are many factors which are considered as risk factors. Various researches have shown that smoking could be one of the risk factors in causing this cancer as well as in aggravating the condition in men stricken with the disease. Researches have also shown that smoking worsens the side effects of prostate cancer therapy.

Chart of prostate cancer

While smoking may help the growth of prostate cancer in several ways in your body, it influences the progression of prostate cancer through a process that affects certain genes in the body and it is also likely to alter one’s hormonal balance by creating an environment conducive to tumor growth. Smoking can increase the amount of steroid hormones called androgens, which can fuel the growth of malignant prostate cells in one’s body. Also, tobacco is a source of cadmium, a heavy metal that interacts with zinc found in the prostate, which leads to prostate cancer. This human carcinogenic metal inhibits DNA repair in one’s body, which allows cancer cells to mutate and multiply.
Several research findings have shown that men under age 65, smoking a pack of cigarettes a day for 40 years would face a 100 percent increased risk of developing the more aggressive forms of prostate cancer as compared to non-smokers. Also, compared to non-smokers, current smokers face a 40 percent increase in the risk of developing prostate cancer, Dr Thomas Vaughan, in the PHS Division and researchers from the University of Washington School of Medicine collaborated on the study, which was funded by the National Cancer Institute.
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