Family History of Cancer

Prostate cancer can also run in families, and men with a brother or father who have developed prostate cancer have an increased risk of developing the disease.

Men who come from families with a history of breast and ovarian cancer can also have an increased risk of developing prostate cancer, an issue which is currently being investigated by the IMPACT-study .

Family history and cancer is discussed in more detail in the genetics and cancer section of the website.

It is worth noting that only a small portion of diagnosed prostate cancer is thought to be hereditary (up to 10-15% of cases ), and many men with a family history of cancer worry unnecessarily about developing the disease. If you are worried about your risk of developing prostate cancer, please take a look at the inherited predisposition and prostate cancer , and the