According to urologist Des Moines Dr. Fawad Zafar, family history is a known risk factor for prostate cancer. This information has been found to be vitally important for men who don’t undergo a genetic prostate cancer test. While having a father or brother with prostate cancer does not guarantee that a man will also get the disease, it does provide a valuable opportunity for caution.
Your urologist Des Moines creates prostate cancer screening plans tailored to each patient’s risk profile. It’s important for men to be aware of where they stand with regard to prostate cancer. If a man’s father or brother is diagnosed with prostate cancer, he should make an appointment with a prostate cancer specialist.
In a recent study, researchers found that prostate cancer had the highest association between family history and disease risk.
Your Family History Of Prostate Cancer
According to your urologist Des Moines, a man’s risk of getting prostate cancer more than doubles when a father or brother has the disease. Risk combinations are based on the number of family members who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer and is typically greater when it occurs in a brother than in a father.
Prostate cancer risk is also greater for African American men, obese men, and those who consume diets high in fat, dairy, and red meat.
The majority of men diagnosed with prostate cancer are over age 65, but men need to start thinking about prostate health much earlier.
If you fall into any of the risk categories, call the office of urologist Des Moines Dr. Fawad Zafar to schedule an appointment when you’re in your 30s to map out an appropriate screening plan.