Prostate Cancer and Asbestos Exposure

Prostate cancer is a malignant change in the cells of the prostate, which is a gland of the male reproductive system. When cells in the prostate undergo a mutation and begin to multiply at uncontrollable rates, tumors form and the cells may even spread to other parts of the body, such as lymph nodes and bones. This form of cancer typically affects older men and is the first and the second most common cause of cancer deaths in the United States, the first being lung cancer.

The exact causes of prostate cancer are still not completely understood. It has been established that prostate cancer is not contagious, and several risk factors have been identified. Some of these include age, ethnicity, family history, certain changes in the prostate, and a diet rich in meat and animal fat. Men over 50 are at the highest risk of developing prostate cancer.

Prostate Cancer and Asbestos Exposure

Other risk factors, such as obesity, smoking, and lack of exercise, have also been studied for their connection to prostate cancer. Thus far, none of these can be defined as clear risk factors. Another possible risk factor that has been scientifically assessed is exposure to asbestos.

One such study analyzed a cohort of workers from a crocidolite asbestos mine in Wittenoom, Australia. Also included in the cohort are previous residents of Wittenoom, which are considered to have been exposed to substantial amounts of asbestos from local mining, and other persons occupationally exposed to crocidolite asbestos. It is important to note that Wittenoom has been all but abandoned (only a handful of people remain) and the government literally wiped the town off official maps, cut off all power and services, and announced the town status as revoked.

A higher than average incidence of prostate cancer was observed and the authors of the study noted the source of asbestos was significantly associated with the risk of prostate cancer. Those exposed to asbestos outside of Wittenoom were at a much greater risk than the other members of the cohort.

Another study published in 2003 analyzed participants of the Finnish Asbestos Screening Campaign. Between 1990 and 1992, a total of 23,285 men and 930 women were invited to join a national screening campaign for benign asbestos-related diseases. The participants were followed for cancer occurrence through the Finnish Cancer Register up through 1998. The study found a slightly, but significantly higher incidence of prostate cancer when compared with the total Finnish population. The incidence of lung cancer and mesothelioma was significantly higher as well.

Although limited, scientific studies such as these have documented and illuminated the possible link between asbestos exposure and prostate cancer. A lucid understanding of this plausible connection will only be achieved through further research and analysis.

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