Athens:Desk bound men are far more likely to get prostate cancer than manual workers, new research has found.

The study carried out by scientists at the University of Athens looked at the exercise habits of two groups of me: one group had prostate cancer and the other did not. The participants were questioned about the jobs and it was found that those with office jobs were 30 per cent more likely to have the disease than those who didn’t. It was also found that they were 40 per cent more likely to have benign prostatic hyperplasia (BHP), a non-cancerous disease in which the prostate becomes enlarged. Although it is not life threatening, the prostate becomes enlarged and surgery may be needed.

In the report on their findings, published in the European Journal of Cancer Prevention, lead researcher Dr Areti Lagiou said: “In 1997, physical activtity was not even listed as a possible protective factor against prostate cancer.
“During the last decade, however, evidence has accumulated that it may convey protection.”

Prostate disease increases with age, particularly in men over the age of 50. There is also a genetic connection.

Recent evidence also shows that a diet rich in cruceriferous vegetables such as broccoli may also help control tumour growth by changing gene activity.