Family History and Prostate Cancer – What You Should Know
My father had prostate cancer. Am I at risk?
If your father, grandfather, uncle, or another close blood relative on either side of your family has had prostate cancer, your own risk may be higher.
About 1 in 10 prostate cancers are linked to harmful gene changes that can run in families. These prostate cancers may start at a younger age and grow and spread faster.
Because of this, PCF recommends regular PSA screening starting by age 40 if you have a family history.
PSA is a simple blood test. Prostate cancer is 99% curable if found early.
Talk with your doctor and schedule your PSA test today. Even if you’re over 40, it’s never too late to start screening.
How much does family history affect my risk?
Studies show the importance of early, regular prostate cancer screening if you have a family history:
- If your father or brother was diagnosed before age 60, your risk is more than twice as high as average.
- If a sibling has aggressive prostate cancer, your risk is at least 20% above average.
- The more relatives you have with prostate cancer, the higher your risk.
A family member had another kind of cancer. Does this affect my prostate cancer risk?
In some cases, yes. Ask your doctor about regular PSA screening starting by age 40 if you have close blood relatives* with:
- Breast cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Cancers linked to Lynch syndrome (such as colon or endometrial/uterine)
These cancers all can share inherited gene changes with prostate cancer – meaning that if a family member is affected, your risk may be higher.
Be proactive – schedule your PSA test today.
*Close blood relatives include parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, and uncles.
How can I learn my family history?
Talking about health is not easy for some families, but honest conversations help people get the right screenings at the right time.
Try asking relatives:
- Has anyone on either side of the family had cancer?
- What type of cancer was it?
- How old were they when diagnosed?
- What happened (how were they treated, how are they doing now)?
Share the answers with your doctor. Ask what cancer screenings to get and when to start.
Can lifestyle changes help even if I have a family history?
Yes. Studies suggest a healthy lifestyle can cut your chances of dying from prostate cancer nearly in half, even in men at high genetic risk.
Habits that matter most:
- Exercise – at least brisk activity most days of the week, plus 2 strength training sessions a week.* ‘Brisk’ means you can talk but not sing.
- Healthy diet – fill your plate with vegetables, plant-based and lean proteins, fruits, cooked tomatoes, cold-water fish, olive oil, nuts, and seeds.
- Limit or avoid sugar-sweetened items, red meat, high-fat dairy, and cured meats (deli meats, hot dogs, sausages, bacon).
- Don’t smoke or ask your doctor for help to quit. For most people, quitting works best with medication plus counseling.
- Keep a healthy weight.
These changes don’t erase your risk of prostate cancer, but they can lower the chances of it becoming lethal.
If you want support with healthy habits, ask your doctor for suggestions or referrals.
*Always ask your doctor before starting a new exercise program.
I am a prostate cancer survivor and am worried about my sons. What can I do?
Your sons, grandsons, brothers, and other close blood relatives may be at higher risk, especially if your prostate cancer started when you were younger (40s or 50s) or grew and spread fairly quickly.
How to help your loved ones:
- Be open about your diagnosis and treatment journey.
- Share that a family history of prostate cancer may increase their risk.
- Encourage them to ask their doctor about PSA screening by age 40, even if they feel well.
- Let them know PSA is a simple blood test.
- Ask your doctor about germline genetic testing – a blood or saliva test that checks for harmful inherited (germline) gene changes.
- If your germline test is positive, seek genetic counseling and tell your family. The information can help them get earlier or more frequent cancer screenings.
- If your test is negative, screening still matters for your relatives because family history alone can raise cancer risk.
A close blood relative carries a harmful germline gene change such as BRCA or ATM. How does this affect my prostate cancer risk?
If a relative of any gender, on either side of your family, carriers a harmful germline gene change linked to prostate cancer, your risk may be higher.
Be proactive–start PSA screening by age 40 and continue regularly.
You can also seek germline genetic testing foryourself to see if you carry the same gene change.
This can help you and other family members access the right cancer screenings and take other proactive steps.
What is a genetic risk clinic?
A team of providers that looks at your full health profile to help you understand your cancer risk and ways to protect your health.
At a clinic visit, you and your provider might discuss:
- Your personal and family cancer history.
- Whether germline testing makes sense for you.
- What any test results mean for you and your family.
- Other steps to lower risk, such as a personalized cancer screening plan and lifestyle changes, and how to share results with relatives.
If you have prostate cancer, a genetic risk clinic may also contact your care team to go over what your germline results may mean for your cancer treatment.
What can I do if there is no genetic risk clinic near me?
Ask your doctor for a referral to a genetic counselor who provides phone or video visits. These services are increasingly available and can help you get expert care without lengthy travel.
