Is prostate cancer linked with other cancers?
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I was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Does the occurrence of one type of cancer indicate a greater risk of developing other kinds?Some men inherit genes, such as the BRCA2 mutation, that increase the risk of getting a more aggressive type of prostate cancer, often at an early age (under 50). These same genes could increase the risk of other cancers, too. There also is a small increased lifetime risk of developing rectal or bladder cancer in men who have been treated with radiation therapy for prostate cancer. However, this is related to the treatment, not the prostate cancer. A possible association of prostate cancer with colon cancer relates to diet. Men who eat large quantities of red meat may have a higher risk of both of these diseases than do men who consume little red meat.
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