How Does A Family History Of Prostate Cancer Affect The Risk Of Developing It?

March 16, 2009 -- Question: How does a family history of prostate cancer affect the risk of developing it?

Answer: If your father or your brother, what we call first degree relatives, have had prostate cancer, then your risk of prostate cancer sometime in your life is increased about two-fold more than the average man who doesn't have that kind of family history of prostate cancer. Having multiple relatives with prostate cancer seems to increase your risk a little bit more.

But it's primarily that first relative having a father or a brother -- or in some cases even a son -- with prostate cancer that gives you about double the risk of getting prostate cancer.