Family Link With Prostate Problem

New research shows very few men are aware of the importance of family links when it comes to prostate cancer, and too few GPS ask them about family history.

The worry is that men are 2.5 times more likely to develop the disease if it has affected their father or brother, so it is very important to find out if their male relatives have a history of prostate problems. The good news is that prostate cancer is easily dealt with if diagnosed early – 99% of men whose tumour is spotted at a very early stage survive for at least 10 years, compared to 22% if diagnosis is late.

All men over fifty are eligible for a blood test which gives a better idea of risk, and further scans or biopsies can give a definitive diagnosis.