• Genes and health
• Conditions we cover
• Prostate Cancer
• Complete scan
• Cancer scan
• Cardio scan
• Advanced features

More than 70% of men diagnosed with prostate cancer are over the age of 65.

Of all cancer types, prostate cancer is most closely linked to genetic risk factors.

deCODEme analyzes your DNA and provides you with a personalized risk assessment for prostate cancer, based on known risk associated with 25 genetic variants.

Reducing your risk of prostate cancer starts with knowing your risk

Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer among men

During their lifetimes, one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer (an average lifetime risk of 16%), and one in 33 men will die of the disease (an average 3% lifetime risk). A man is over 30% more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime than a woman is to be diagnosed with breast cancer in hers.

Genetic risk of prostate cancer is part of the overall risk

All men are at some risk of developing prostate cancer. As a man grows older, his risk of prostate cancer increases. When it comes to prostate cancer prevention, age is a risk factor that obviously cannot be controlled, genetic risk is another. Although important, these risk factors, however, are only part of the overall risk of developing prostate cancer. Knowing how much these factors affect your risk of prostate cancer can guide your preventive actions.

The results of the deCODEme genetic risk test for prostate cancer may empower you to talk to your doctor about the best ways to monitor your prostate appropriately so that any signs of prostate cancer can be caught early enough to ensure successful treatment.

Established risk factors for prostate cancer are:

• Age: The strongest known risk factor for prostate cancer is age, with very low risk in men under 50 and risk increasing with age thereafter. Prostate cancer is rare in men younger than 45 years, with 65% of cases diagnosed in men who are over the age of 65.
• Ethnicity: African American men are almost two 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. Prostate cancer is less common among Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian/Alaska Native men. Researchers are looking for the reasons for this, and find likely that diet and genes play an important part.
• Family history: Men who have 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. A family history of breast or ovarian cancer can also affect a man’s risk of prostate cancer, as the diseases can share common genetic mutations, particularly if the female family members were diagnosed under the age of 60.

Other risk factors for prostate cancer under study:

• Diet: The exact role of diet in prostate cancer is not clear, although several different factors have been studied. The noted differences in prostate cancer risk between ethnicities, may be a reflection of different diets in different parts of the world. Men who eat a lot of red meat or high-fat dairy products appear to have a slightly higher chance of developing prostate cancer. These men also tend to eat fewer fruits and vegetables. Doctors are not sure which of these factors is responsible for raising the risk. Some studies have suggested that men who consume a lot of calcium (through food or supplements) may have a higher risk of developing advanced prostate cancer. Most studies have not found such a link with the levels of calcium found in the average diet, and it’s important to note that calcium is known to have other important health benefits.
• Obesity: Although a recognized risk factor for some other cancers, most studies have not found a link between being obese (having a high amount of extra body fat) and an increased risk of developing prostate cancer.
• Exercise: Exercise has not been shown to reduce prostate cancer risk in most studies. But some studies have found that high levels of physical activity, particularly in older men, may lower the risk of advanced prostate cancer.
• More research in these areas is needed.

Early diagnosis can be of great importance in beating prostate cancer

When diagnosed and treated early, a large majority of prostate cancer cases can be cured. Men with higher than average risk factors for prostate cancer, such as a strong family history or African American ethnicity, should discuss with their doctor whether earlier screening, by age 40 or 45 may be beneficial.

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 routine screening for prostate cancer.

For more about risk factors for prostate cancer – Visit Zero-The project to end prostate cancer.

This content was last reviewed on February 09, 2010.

The conditions we cover: ABO Blood Types, Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, Age Related Macular Degeneration, Alcohol Flush Reaction, Alzheimer’s Disease, Asthma, Atrial Fibrillation, Basal Cell Carcinoma, Bitter Taste Perception, Bladder Cancer, Brain Aneurysm, Brain Cancer-Glioma, Breast Cancer, Celiac Disease, Chronic Kidney Disease, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, Colorectal Cancer, Crohn’s Disease, Essential Tremor, Exfoliation Glaucoma, Eye Color, Gallstones, Gout, Heart Attack, Hemochromatosis, Hypertension, Kidney Stones, Lactose Intolerance, Lung Cancer, Male Pattern Baldness, Multiple Sclerosis, Nicotine Dependence, Obesity, Ovarian Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer, Peripheral Arterial Disease, Prostate Cancer, Psoriasis, Restless Legs Syndrome, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Statin Induced Myopathy, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Testicular Cancer, Thyroid Cancer, Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, Ulcerative Colitis, Venous Thromboembolism, Warfarin Metabolism.