What can put a man at risk for prostate cancer?

• Increasing age—over 50, earlier in genetically-linked cancer.
• African-American descent
• A family history of prostate cancer
• A diet high in animal fats

Men with a family history of prostate cancer run an increased risk for the disease. If a man’s first-degree relatives (father or brother) have had prostate cancer, his chances of developing it double. If father and brother or two brothers have had the disease, a man’s risk for developing prostate cancer increases nine fold. This risk also increases if prostate cancer has occurred in second-degree relatives (cousins, uncles, and grandfathers.)

In some cases, these prostate cancers are caused by an inherited, defective gene. While no specific genetic defect has been linked with prostate cancer, some evidence indicates those men with an altered BRCA1 or 2 (breast cancer 1 or 2) gene may be at increased risk for the disease. These men may come from families where female relatives have developed breast and ovarian cancer at higher that expected rates.

Helping Men at Risk

Men at increased risk for prostate cancer should work with their physicians to:

• Determine if a more aggressive screening schedule is necessary
• Identify diet and lifestyle changes that might reduce their risk for cancer
• Consider genetic evaluation at the University Hospitals Center for Human Genetics