- 5 min read
Who gets prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer affects men of all races and backgrounds. Anyone with a prostate can get prostate cancer.
While this toolkit uses male pronouns, we acknowledge that people assigned male at birth who identify as members the LGBTIQA+ community are also impacted by prostate cancer.
This includes transgender women, male-assigned non-binary people or intersex people.
In Australia, nearly 29,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year and nearly 4,000 men die from the disease. The chance of surviving at least 5 years after diagnosis is 96%, while 91% of men will survive 10 years or more. You can read more on the facts and figures page of this tool kit.
You are at greater risk of developing prostate cancer if you are older or have a family history of the disease.
1 in 5 Australian men are likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.
Risks factors for prostate cancer
Risk factors for prostate cancer are anything that increase your chance of developing the disease. Age, family history, genetic changes such as BRCA2 mutations and Black sub-Saharan ancestry are proven risk factors for prostate cancer.
Age – what are the risks as men get older?
Age is a significant risk factor in prostate cancer.
Age and family history are proven risk factors for prostate cancer.
A person’s risk of developing the disease increases with age, particularly from the age of 50.
For this reason, diagnosis rates are higher among older men – over 85% of Australian men diagnosed with prostate cancer are over the age of 60.
Of the 28,868 Australian males expected to be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2025:
(1.58%) will be under 49
(13.02%) will be 50-59
(35.3%) will be 60-69
(36.53%), will be 70-79
(13.54%) will be over 80
Family history – how does this increase your risk of prostate cancer?
Your family history of prostate cancer can increase your risk of developing the disease. Around 15% of cases in Australia are among men with a family history of prostate cancer.
Tell your doctor if you have close relatives who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer. You may need to start PSA testing at an earlier age.
You may be at higher risk of getting prostate cancer if:
- Your brother was diagnosed with prostate cancer
- Your father was diagnosed with prostate cancer before the age of 65
- Two or more of your second-degree relatives (grandfather, uncle, etc.) died of prostate cancer.
Your risk may be even higher if your family member was diagnosed at an early age or if multiple family members have had prostate cancer.
It is important to know your family history as you may need to start PSA testing at 45 to increase your chances of detecting the disease at an early stage.
PSA Testing
Genetics – what we know about inheriting prostate cancer
Genes, made up of DNA, are inherited from your parents and can be found in most of the cells in your body. This genetic material provides the information needed to build and maintain your body and give you your unique characteristics and traits.
Having confirmed BRCA 2 gene mutations puts you at higher risk of prostate cancer.
In some families, changes (alterations or mutations) in the genetic material occurs which can increase the risk of family members developing cancer.
Evidence suggests that men with BRCA2 gene mutations are at higher risk of prostate cancer, particularly aggressive prostate cancer.
There is increasing evidence that men from families with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer and Lynch Syndrome may also be at higher risk of prostate cancer.
Learn more about genetic risks and testing.
Genetic risks and testing.
Black sub-Saharan ancestry
There is significant international evidence that men with Black sub-Saharan ancestry have a higher risk of prostate cancer and are more likely to be diagnosed at a younger age.
The 2026 guidelines for the early detection of prostate cancer investigated prostate cancer risk in this population and concluded that Black men of sub-Saharan ancestry should be considered to be a higher risk of prostate cancer.
Higher risk – what does it mean?
For PSA testing, the 2026 Guidelines for the early detection of prostate cancer defines higher risk as anyone who has at least double the risk of dying from prostate cancer compared to Australian men overall.
You are at higher risk and may need to start PSA testing from age 45 if you have any of the following risk factors:
- A family history of prostate cancer – a brother with prostate cancer, a father diagnosed with prostate cancer before the age of 65, or at least 2 second-degree relatives (grandfather, uncle, etc.) who died from prostate cancer.
- Confirmed BRCA2 gene mutations
- Black sub-Saharan Ancestry
If you are unsure about your risk of prostate cancer and are worried about it, talk to your doctor or call a PCFA nurse for more information and advice.
What is prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer happens when abnormal cells develop and grow in the prostate. These abnormal cells can continue to multiply in an uncontrolled way. They sometimes spread outside the prostate into nearby or distant parts of the body.
If the cancer is small, stays inside the prostate gland and grows slowly, it may never cause a problem.
In some men, the cancer may grow more quickly and can spread beyond the prostate to other parts of the body.
Yet, most prostate cancers grow very slowly and about 96% of men survive at least 5 years after diagnosis.
Often when people hear the word ‘cancer’, they become concerned and think the worst. But most men with prostate cancer can live for many years without any symptoms, and without the cancer spreading or becoming life-threatening. It depends on how aggressive the cancer is.
Diagnosis of prostate cancer
Can prostate cancer be prevented?
Right now we have no way of preventing prostate cancer. This means awareness and testing is key, especially if you are in a high-risk group or have symptoms of the disease.
Into the future, research is vital to finding a way of preventing prostate cancer.
Key Points
- Almost 29,000 men are diagnosed every year with prostate cancer
- Age, family history, BRCA2 mutations and Black sub-Saharan ancestry are proven risk factors
- Over 90% of Australian men with prostate cancer are over the age of 50, with 1 in 5 men likely to be diagnosed in their lifetime
- Your risks are higher if you have one or more relatives with prostate cancer
- Having breast or ovarian cancer or Lynch Syndrome in your family history may also increase your risk
Facts & Figures – Discover the facts and figures on prostate cancer
Symptoms – Learn about the prostate and symptoms to look out for
