Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer among men (only men can get this disease).
During their lifetimes, 1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer (lifetime risk of 16%), and 1 in 33 men will die of the disease (3% lifetime risk). Over 200,000 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed, and prostate cancer will lead to approximately 27,000 deaths in the US this year.
Genetic variants are a significant contributor to the risk of developing prostate cancer; in fact, of all cancer types, prostate cancer is most closely linked to genetic risk factors. There are nine genetic variants that are known to increase the risk of developing prostate cancer: three in the chromosome 8q24 region, two on chromosome 17q (one of which is located within the TCF2 gene), one on chromosome 2p, one on the X chromosome, one on chromosome 11, and one on chromosome 10 (close to the MSMB gene).
The deCODEme Genetic Scan identifies all the nine variants listed above in customers of European descent and provides interpretation of their associated risk for developing prostate cancer. In African-Americans, the deCODEme Genetic Scan currently only identifies two out of the three variants on chromosome 8q24. Currently no data are available for people of other ethnicities for the variants listed above.
risk factors
- Age: Prostate cancer is rare in men younger than 45 years, with 65% of cases diagnosed in men over the age of 65.
- Ethnicity: African American men are 1.6 times more likely to develop prostate cancer than men of northern European descent and are nearly 2.5 times more likely to die from the disease.
- Genetics: Men with a single relative with prostate cancer are twice as likely to develop prostate cancer, while those with two or more relatives are nearly four times as likely to be diagnosed with the disease. The risk is even higher if the affected family members were diagnosed before the age of 65.
prevention and treatment
Early diagnosis is the key to beating prostate cancer. When diagnosed and treated early, over 90% of prostate cancer cases can be cured. Current American Cancer Society guidelines suggest that all men 50 years and older without known risk factors should be screened every other year for prostate cancer with a blood test and a rectal exam. Men with risk factors, such as a family history or African American ethnicity, should start screening earlier, by age 40 or 45. Realizing one’s risk of prostate cancer, including genetic risk, is the first step in making an informed decision about when to seek medical advice and start screening for prostate cancer.
more information
You can find out more information about prostate cancer by talking with your doctor and visiting these Web sites:
American Association for Cancer Research
American Cancer Society
National Cancer Institute
National Prostate Cancer Coalition
The Prostate Cancer Foundation