Does prostate cancer run in families?
Your family history can provide important clues about your risk for prostate cancer. While lifestyle factors play a role, genetic factors are also significant. Some cancers, including prostate, breast, ovarian, and pancreatic, can run in families due to inherited gene mutations.
What to watch for:
- Close relatives with a history of prostate, breast, ovarian, or pancreatic cancer
- Known gene mutations in your family
What you can do:
- Talk to your doctor about your family history and consider a referral to a genetics clinic.
- Genetic testing, covered by some provincial health plans, may help identify mutations that increase cancer risk.
- Your doctor may recommend regular cancer screenings if you have inherited gene mutations.
Genetic testing usually involves a simple blood or saliva sample and can help you make informed cancer prevention and screening decisions.
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