The Role of Occupational Factors On Cancer Risk
Understanding Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men, particularly affecting those over the age of 50. The prostate gland, located below the bladder and in front of the rectum, plays a crucial role in male reproductive health. Cancer occurs when cells in the prostate gland mutate and spread to other parts of the body.
The Role of Occupational Factors on Prostate Cancer Risk
The American Cancer Society estimates just under 300,000 new cases of prostate cancer in 2024. While genetics and lifestyle are well-known factors, the role of the workplace is often overlooked. Many industries expose workers to harmful substances like chemicals, dust, and radiation, significantly increasing their cancer risk. In this blog, we’ll explore different occupational cancer risks and why annual checkups are important for prostate health.
According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, workplace exposure to carcinogens is responsible for approximately 5-8% of all cancers globally. From exposure to dangerous chemicals to work-influenced lifestyle factors, the connection between workplace conditions and cancer should not go unnoticed. Recent studies published by the National Cancer Institute have indicated a potential correlation between certain occupational exposures and an increased risk of prostate cancer.
Although research is ongoing, it is believed that factors such as sedentary behavior, stress, and chemical exposures contribute to these diagnoses in the careers listed below. For instance, firefighters have a higher risk because of regular exposure to harmful substances such as benzene and formaldehyde. Similarly, hairdressers often encounter cancer-causing chemicals in hair dyes and other salon products. Workplace stress is a major concern for prostate cancer. Chronic stress can disrupt hormones, increasing cortisol and adrenaline levels, which can cause inflammation and weaken the immune system.
Careers with Higher Cancer Risk
Below are some of the top careers associated with a higher risk of developing cancer due to workplace factors:
- Medical, dental, and veterinary workers employed in their fields for 10 or more years have shown associations with prostate cancer diagnosis.
- Members of the Armed Forces and veterans: Long-term employment in the military has also been associated with increased risk. Prostate cancer is the most common cancers among veterans, with around 11,000 men in the VA system diagnosed each year.
- Fishermen, hunters, and related workers: This occupation group has shown positive associations with both overall and aggressive prostate cancer.
- Legislative officials and government administrators: These white-collar workers have a higher risk of non-aggressive prostate cancer.
- Managers: Managers also exhibit a positive association with non-aggressive prostate cancer.
- Firefighters have a higher risk of developing cancers such as lung cancer and prostate cancer.
- Hairdressers have heightened cancer risks, including potential associations with prostate cancer, blood cancers (leukemias and lymphomas), bladder cancer, and breast cancer.
Why Annual Checkups and Early Detection Are Important
Annual checkups and early detection play an important role in combating cancer. Regular health screening tests allow doctors to detect cancer at its earliest stages, when it is most treatable and potentially curable. One of the challenges with prostate cancer is that it can come with no symptoms at all. This is why regular screening is so important for men over 50.
Prostate cancer annual checkups often include prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing (blood test) and digital rectal exams. These common tests can help identify abnormalities in the prostate gland before symptoms begin to show. Genetic testing can help to inform you if you are at a high risk of certain cancers. Early detection not only increases the chances of successful treatment but also reduces the need for more aggressive therapy that may have greater side effects.
Contact Us
Advances in Cancer Treatment
“Fortunately, with the technological advancements in radiation oncology, even as well as surgery, we are now able to offer treatments that are much more patient-specific. Genomic testing, based on the patient’s own DNA taken from a sample of the tumor, can help guide the decision of whether patients can be treated with radiation therapy or with surgery alone. For some men, who have more aggressive prostate cancer, they will receive treatments, either by pill or injection, that will help to reduce the level of testosterone in the body, and that helps to slow down the growth of the cancer cells. These treatments are very effective at trying to cure early-stage prostate cancer.”
–Dr. Michael Scott, radiation oncologist for Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS) in Tampa, Florida
Men with advanced prostate cancer that has spread to the bones have many different treatment options at FCS. These treatments include chemotherapy, medications, and radiopharmaceutical infusion therapy. Radiopharmaceutical infusion therapy is similar to chemotherapy but targets only prostate cancer cells. For more information about screenings or treatments, please visit our dedicated prostate cancer page.
If you are seeking help, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute experts provide treatment options for prostate and rectal cancer.
