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Risk of prostate cancer increases with the number of affected family membersResearchers of German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have analyzed these questions in the largest study ever published on familial prostate cancer. They investigated data from 26,651 prostate cancer patients, 5,623 of whom came from families in which the disease had been diagnosed before. The more man's direct relatives, i.e. father and brothers, are affected, the higher his personal risk to develop prostate cancer himself. Thus, the researchers calculated that men up to an age of 65 years with three affected brothers have a risk that is 23 times higher than that of the control group (men without affected family members). Men aged between 65 and 74 years, whose father was or is the only one affected, have a risk that is increased by 1.8 times and, thus, the lowest risk elevation in the familial cancer group. The DKFZ researchers recognized a general tendency that the personal risk is the higher, the younger affected relatives were at the time of diagnosis. The elevated cancer risks related to family history are often doubted. Critics argue that results tend to be distorted because direct relatives of affected persons are alarmed and accept early detection exams more often than the rest of male population. For this reason, runs the argument, they are frequently overdiagnosed, and receive prostate cancer treatment of tumors that might never cause any symptoms during their lifetime. In order to cancel this criticism, the DKFZ researchers also investigated the prostate cancer mortality in relation to the number of affected family members. They concluded the same risk distribution as for newly diagnosed cases: The more direct relatives are affected, the higher a person's risk of dying from prostate cancer. This, the scientists have demonstrated that the risk increase associated to family history is real and not just due to more frequent early examinations. ### Source: Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, (DKFZ) NOTE: Issues on this site regarding prostate cancer and treatment options, are provided for information only, and are not meant to substitute for the advice of your own physician or other medical professional. Prostate-Report.org does not endorse any specific product, service or treatment. |
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