Family Tree

Prostate cancer and some other types of cancer can run in families. Talking about this helps everyone make informed decisions about screening and take other steps to protect their health—which can literally save lives.

Get started by asking older relatives if anyone in the family has had cancer, and at what age. Collect their responses using the printable family tree below, and share with your children and doctor. Be sure to include all cancers, not just prostate cancer, because some inherited gene changes linked to prostate cancer also raise the risk of breast, ovarian, pancreatic, and colon cancer, especially colon cancer diagnosed at a younger age. Any man with a family history of these cancers should inform his doctor and ask about prostate cancer screening with an annual PSA blood test starting at age 40.