My brother was just diagnosed with prostate cancer, does that mean I am at higher risk? Are there steps that I should take now?
Academic Title: Professor
Chair, Department of Urology
Board Certifications:
Urology
Prostate cancer can sometimes run in families, but certainly not always. The more close relatives who have prostate cancer (grandfather/father/brother), the greater the chance are of another member of the family being diagnosed with the disease.
As an example a man has about an 8 percent risk of prostate cancer with no relatives with the disease. If you have a brother diagnosed after age 60, your risk increases to 15 percent and if your brother was diagnosed before 60, you have a 25 percent lifetime risk.
The best defense against dying from prostate cancer seems to be early detection through PSA based screening. While the definitive evidence that lifestyle changes can help prevent prostate cancer is lacking, some common sense approaches are also worthwhile. In general what is good for the heart is good for the prostate (more men die from heart disease than prostate cancer!): A low fat diet, green leafy vegetables, soy products, exercise, no smoking, and alcohol in moderation are all sound common sense tips.