SURGEONS TARGET BROTHERS OF MEN WITH PROSTATE CANCER FOR PATIENT EDUCATION EFFORTS

Brothers of men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer have a high risk of one day developing the disease. According to Raj Pruthi, MD, assistant professor of surgery and head of urologic oncology and surgery at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, there is a threefold risk of developing prostate cancer for men who have one primary relative with the disease. Dr. Pruthi and Dr. Kris Gaston, a senior urology resident, reported these findings of a study at the 2003 Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons.

CHICAGO IL (PRWEB) October 22, 2003 --Brothers of men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer have a high risk of one day developing the disease. According to Raj Pruthi, MD, assistant professor of surgery and head of urologic oncology and surgery at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, there is a threefold risk of developing prostate cancer for men who have one primary relative with the disease. Dr. Pruthi and Dr. Kris Gaston, a senior urology resident, reported these findings of a study at the 2003 Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons. For men who have two relatives with prostate cancer, the risk rises to sevenfold. The risk is so high, men with a family history of prostate cancer are encouraged to start screening for the disease 10 years earlier than other men. These men should start cancer screening at age 40 rather than wait until age 50, Dr. Pruthi advised.
   Most brothers of men with prostate cancer know little about the disease, however. Even after their brothers were diagnosed with prostate cancer, 60 percent of men in a study conducted by Dr. Pruthi said they had poor knowledge of the condition. Yet most of the men in the study who went on to improve their knowledge also engaged in prostate cancer prevention and other health improvement activities. Among 40 percent of brothers who increased their knowledge of prostate cancer after their brothers diagnosis, 75 percent started participating in prostate cancer screening. Fifty-six percent began getting yearly physical examinations, and 8 percent began to exercise regularly.

   In contrast, among 60 percent of brothers who did not increase their knowledge of prostate cancer, only 16 percent became involved in prostate cancer screening; 17 percent had yearly physical examinations; and 4 percent started exercising. This study is telling us that we need to target this group of men because we know they are at increased risk. We now know that by increasing their knowledge of prostate cancer, many will participate in better health-related activities," Dr. Pruthi said.

   The study also identified specific subgroups of men who were less likely to improve their knowledge of prostate cancer, including older men, men from rural areas and lower socio-economic groups, and African-Americans. The researchers found that only 33 percent of men over age 60; 38 percent of men from rural areas; 20 percent of men in lower socioeconomic strata; and 24 percent of African-American men learned more about prostate cancer after their brothers were diagnosed. Men in these groups dont seem to do well in terms of improving their knowledge. So the study suggests that, when we try to find siblings who are at increased risk for prostate cancer, we should target these groups in particular," Dr. Pruthi added.

   The study included 112 brothers of men who were diagnosed with prostate cancer. All the men in the study completed self-assessment questionnaires that categorized their knowledge of prostate cancer as poor, fair, or good before and after they learned of their brothers disease. Most of the men in the study said they had poor or fair knowledge of prostate cancer before their brothers diagnosis: 73 percent of men from rural communities; 85 percent of men at lower socioeconomic levels; 70 percent of African-Americans; 68 percent of Caucasians; 55 percent of men under age 60; and 78 percent of men over age 60. Only men from suburban areas and those in higher socioeconomic levels felt they had good knowledge of prostate cancer (68 percent of suburban men and 55 percent of men at higher socioeconomic brackets).

   A total of 62 percent of men from suburban areas improved their knowledge after their brothers diagnosis, as did 56 percent of men from higher socioeconomic brackets, 52 percent of Caucasians, and 54 percent of men under the age of 60.

   As a result of this study, Dr. Pruthi and other surgeons at the University of North Carolina are more actively trying to identify siblings of men with prostate cancer and providing them with pamphlets and other information, as well as interacting with churches, industries, and other groups in the community to spread the word. Compared with 12 or 24 months ago, we are much more aggressive as far as our efforts to educate the people we deem to be at high risk, especially those who dont have access to information. This experience points to the need not only to tell them about our Web site, but to send one of our nurse coordinators out in the community to educate these men," he said.

   Dr. Pruthi and his surgical colleagues also are querying men with prostate cancer about their families. I didnt before, but now I ask men if they have any brothers, make a one- or two-minute statement, and hand them a brochure. These are simple little things we can do to identify people who may be at high risk in our disease groups and start educating them," he said.
   Kris Gaston, MD, and Kevin Lee, MD, joined Dr. Pruthi in the study.
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