| Are genes responsible for prostate cancer? | | | | deemed sporadic; indicating that the damage to |
| Latest genetic studies put forward that hereditary | | | | the genes happens by possibility after a person is |
| factors might be responsible for 5%-10% of the | | | | born. Familial prostate cancer is less common |
| cancer. The risk rises in relatives of affected men. | | | | (around 20%) and happens due to a combination |
| Men with a first degree relative with cancer of | | | | of shared genes and shared environmental or |
| prostate hold a two to three fold rise in risk | | | | lifestyle factors. Hereditary (inherited) of the |
| relative to the general population. | | | | disease is rare (roughly 5%) and happens when |
| Genes are small individual groups of information in | | | | gene mutations are passed in a family, from one |
| each cell of the human body. Each gene is made | | | | generation to the next. |
| of a unique series of DNA. Researchers working | | | | Latest advances in genetic research concentrate |
| on the Human Genome Project have | | | | on genes connected to hereditary prostate |
| approximated that there are as many as 30,000 | | | | cancer. Data from independent studies put |
| different genes in every cell. Cancer starts when | | | | forward proof for both an autosomal dominant |
| one or more genes in a cell are mutated, creating | | | | pattern of inheritance and X-linked or autosomal |
| an abnormal protein or no protein in any way. The | | | | recessive modes of inheritance. Males in families |
| information given by an abnormal protein is | | | | with X-linked or recessive modes of inheritance |
| different from that of a normal protein, which | | | | for the cancer hold a higher risk if they possess |
| could lead to cells to develop uncontrollably and | | | | an affected brother(s) with cancer of prostate |
| grow to be cancerous. | | | | than if their father is affected. |
| The majority cancer of prostate (around 75%) is | | | | |