Risk Factors for Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting men, and in many cases, it progresses slowly and without obvious symptoms in its early stages. As such, risk factors for prostate cancer play a central role in determining when screening should begin, how closely patients should be monitored, and how aggressively concerning findings should be evaluated. When doctors overlook or minimize known risk factors, patients may lose opportunities for early diagnosis and effective treatment, allowing the disease to advance to a far more dangerous stage. If you sustained harm due to a failure in prostate cancer risk assessment, you may have the right to pursue compensation, and you should meet with an attorney. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Cancer Lawyers, our experienced Syracuse cancer malpractice attorneys proudly advocate for those whose lives have been damaged by negligent cancer care, and if you hire us, we will help you seek justice. We routinely advocate for patients throughout Syracuse, Rochester, and Upstate New York.

Risk factors for prostate cancer include a combination of age, genetics, race, and medical history, all of which substantially influence a man’s likelihood of developing the disease. Advancing age is one of the most significant risk factors, with prostate cancer becoming increasingly common in men over 50. Family history also plays a major role, particularly for men with close relatives who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer at a younger age. Certain genetic mutations may further elevate risk, as can a history of elevated prostate-specific antigen levels or prior abnormal prostate examinations. Race is another well-established factor, as Black men face a significantly higher risk of developing prostate cancer and of experiencing more aggressive disease.

When healthcare providers fail to appropriately evaluate or respond to risk factors for prostate cancer, patients may suffer serious and avoidable harm. A man with a strong family history may not be advised to begin screening earlier than the general population. Another patient may present with urinary symptoms, pelvic discomfort, or rising PSA levels that are dismissed or inadequately followed. Delays in diagnostic testing, referral to a urologist, or biopsy can allow prostate cancer to progress beyond the prostate gland, spreading to bones or other organs. Advanced prostate cancer often requires aggressive treatment, including surgery, radiation, hormone therapy, or chemotherapy, and may result in chronic pain, incontinence, sexual dysfunction, and reduced life expectancy.

Patients harmed by negligent failures involving risk factors for prostate cancer have the right to seek compensation for their losses. To prevail, they generally must show the defendant’s negligence. In New York, negligence consists of four elements: duty, breach, causation, and damages. A provider's duty to a patient is to provide care consistent with accepted medical standards. In the context of prostate cancer, this duty may include obtaining a thorough personal and family medical history, recognizing elevated risk, recommending appropriate PSA testing or digital rectal examinations, and responding promptly to abnormal findings.

A breach of duty occurs when a provider fails to meet the accepted standard of care. In cases involving risk factors for prostate cancer, breaches may include failing to initiate screening for high-risk patients, ignoring rising PSA trends, misinterpreting test results, delaying referral to a specialist, or failing to follow up on abnormal examinations.

As the issues in medical malpractice cases are beyond the understanding of the average person, expert testimony is almost always needed to explain how reasonably competent providers assess prostate cancer risk and how the defendant’s conduct deviated from accepted practice.

Causation requires proof that the breach was a substantial factor in causing harm. In prostate cancer cases, this often involves demonstrating that proper attention to risk factors would have led to earlier diagnosis and treatment, resulting in a better prognosis. Expert testimony may establish that the cancer advanced from a localized, manageable condition to an advanced or metastatic disease because screening or diagnostic evaluation was delayed despite clear risk indicators.

The final element is damages. Under New York law, patients harmed by negligent care related to risk factors for prostate cancer may recover economic damages such as medical expenses, surgery costs, radiation or hormone therapy, ongoing treatment, future care needs, lost wages, and diminished earning capacity. Non-economic damages may also be awarded for pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and the psychological impact of living with advanced cancer.

Risk factors for prostate cancer are meant to guide proactive screening and individualized medical decision-making, not to be disregarded or treated as routine. If you or a loved one suffered serious harm because a physician failed to identify or properly respond to prostate cancer risk factors, it is smart to talk to an attorney. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Cancer Lawyers, our trusted Syracuse cancer malpractice attorneys are dedicated to holding negligent providers accountable, and if we represent you, we will zealously advocate on your behalf. Our primary office is located in Syracuse, and we regularly assist victims of cancer malpractice throughout Syracuse, Rochester, and Upstate New York. You can contact us today to schedule a free, confidential consultation through our online form or by calling 833-200-2000.