Prostate Cancer Self-Risk Assessment Results Question Explanation 1. Are you African American? Not only are African American men more likely to develop prostate cancer than Hispanic, European American or Asian American men, they are also more likely to die of the disease. Yes The rate of prostate cancer in African American men is about double that of the general U.S. population. Black men are more likely to develop the cancer at an earlier age and have aggressive, fast growing tumors. Prostate cancer is rare in Africa, suggesting that environmental factors may be responsible for this racial difference. No Studies of Asian, Hispanic and European American men have not shown and positive correlation between race and an increased risk for prostate cancer. 2. Did three or more men in your immediate family (brothers, father), in three generations on either side, or two relatives younger than 55 develop prostate cancer? The more relatives you have with prostate cancer, the more likely you are to contract the disease. Yes Men who have had relatives stricken with prostate cancer are at the highest risk for developing prostate cancer. No Without a strong hereditary link, your risk of developing prostate cancer is significantly lower. 3. Do you have a brother who developed prostate cancer? Researchers have found that men with at least one brother who had prostate cancer also face a significant risk for the disease. Yes Men with a brother diagnosed with prostate cancer also face a greater likelihood of prostate cancer. No Without a hereditary link, your risk of developing prostate cancer is significantly lower. 4. Did your father develop prostate cancer? Researchers have found that a man whose father had prostate cancer also faces a significant risk for the disease. Yes Your risk of developing prostate cancer, especially at a younger age, is significantly higher if your father developed the disease. No Without a hereditary link, your risk of developing prostate cancer is significantly lower. 5. Did your mother or sister develop breast or ovarian cancer? Scientists are discovering a genetic link between breast and ovarian cancer and prostate cancer within families. Yes The risk for prostate cancer is higher in men whose mother or sister had either cancer. No Without this link, you have no additional hereditary likelihood of developing prostate cancer. 6. How old are you? The risk of developing clinically significant prostate cancer increases with age. 39 or younger Life threatening prostate cancer rarely strikes men younger than 40. In this age group, the probability of developing clinically significant prostate cancer is less than 1 in 10,000. 40-49 If you have a family history of the disease, your chances of developing clinically significant prostate cancer increases during this decade. The risk factor for men in this age group increases significantly, especially for men who face other risk factors. 50 or older Although the average age for men diagnosed with prostate cancer is above 60, studies have shown that about 30 percent of men over 50 have at least microscopic evidence of prostate cancer. For men over 90, about 90 percent have microscopic evidence of prostate cancer. This microscopic evidence, however, does not mean the cancer will become a health risk. 7. Do you eat a high fat, animal protein based diet? Research is accumulating that diet may play a role in the development of prostate cancer. Yes Although the evidence is not clear-cut, studies have shown there may be a link between a diet heavy in animal fat and the development of prostate cancer. This link has been strengthened by research indicating that men who emigrate from areas of low prostate cancer risk, such as Asia, to areas of higher risk, such as North America, develop a higher risk if they adopt their new homeland's dietary practices. No Plant based diets appear to play a role in protecting men from this disease. |