The exact cause of prostate cancer remains unclear. Current research has confirmed several risk factors associated with developing prostate cancer. Among the clear risk factors are people of black African descent and those with a family history of prostate cancer. In the United States, blacks have a 60 percent higher risk of prostate cancer than whites, and a twofold higher risk of dying from prostate cancer. On average, 1 in 5 black men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and 1 in 20 black men will die from prostate cancer. This means that nearly 5% of black men will die from prostate cancer, compared to less than 3% of white men, and Asian men have a lower risk of prostate cancer and death from prostate cancer than both blacks and whites. In addition, the closer the blood relationship with a relative who has prostate cancer, the higher the risk of prostate cancer, especially if the relative is younger than 60 years of age at the time of diagnosis. People who have a father or brother with prostate cancer have a two-fold higher risk of developing prostate cancer compared to people who do not have a close relative with prostate cancer. Clearly established risk factors for prostate cancer 1. having a blood relative with prostate cancer (especially a father or brother) 2. being of black African descent Suspected risk factors for prostate cancer 1. a diet high in animal fats, especially those derived from red meat animals and dairy products 2. obesity 3. high levels of androgens (testosterone, a type of male hormone) in the blood