Prostate cancer can strike at any age. This is what to look out for during every decade

Prostate cancer is one of the most common forms of the disease in men – with more than 26,000 cases diagnosed last year in Australia – yet it is often misdiagnosed or discovered too late.

When former US president Joe Biden was diagnosed with prostate cancer last week, it was discovered that it had spread to his bones.

The signs and risk factors vary, depending on age. Here are the red flags men should be looking out for.

30s

Prostate cancer is strongly related to age and is rare in young men. Around the world, however, there has been an increase in early onset prostate cancer in men aged between 15 and 40. While it is not yet known why this rise has occurred, it is thought the type of prostate cancer you get when you’re younger may be different from prostate cancer with a later onset. If you get a prostate cancer diagnosis when you’re younger, it’s more likely to be in a more advanced stage and five-year survival rates are lower.

Dr Ashwin Sridhar, a consultant urologist at the Princess Grace Hospital in London, specialises in treatment of prostate and bladder conditions. He says: “Prostate cancer is extremely rare in men under 40 and there is nothing you can do prophylactically to reduce risks. However, keeping healthy with a good diet and exercise may help. There is also a relationship between smoking and prostate cancer, but it’s not definite that smokers will get it.”

40s

Generally the 40s are still a safe zone, but certain groups may be at higher risk at this time of life, as Sridhar explains: “There are three factors that increase risk — one is age and another is ethnicity. Men from Afro-Caribbean backgrounds tend to be at higher risk, and if they do develop prostate cancer it tends to be more aggressive.

The third risk factor is having a first-degree relative who has had the disease, such as a father or brother. If this applies to you, you have twice the risk compared with the general population. If more than one direct relative has had the disease, the risk is five times more than the general population. If you have a family history, we suggest talking to a doctor about having a PSA [prostate specific antigen] blood test in the first instance, as this test screens for prostate cancer.”