The cells of your prostate gland reproduce throughout your lifetime. Every day, new cells are born to replace cells that are damaged (necrosis) or too old (“Apoptosis” or “Programmed Cell Death”). Prostate cancer occurs when this process is impaired and a group of cells begin to divide rapidly and uncontrollably without dying.
Cancer is caused by a modification of a gene within a cell – an abnormal change in the DNA of a gene, either spontaneously during cell division, or under the influence of external agents called mutagens. All mutagens do not induce cancer; they are, however, the first necessary step to the development of cancerous cells.
Usually, prostate cancer starts in the cells inside the prostate gland. Prostate cancer is a multifactorial disease, there is no unique cause leading to it, but many factors may increase the risk of its development. Although there many causative factors, it is important to note that the risk of developing prostate cancer increases with age.