Prostate cancer linked with early balding
25 February 2011
Men who go bald at a young age face a higher risk of developing prostate cancer, compared with men who retain their hair for another decade.
A European case-control study found men diagnosed with prostate cancer were twice as likely to have begun losing their hair in their 20s as men who did not have prostate cancer (Ann Oncol 2011 Feb 15).
However, there was no association between prostate cancer and hair loss beginnning in one's 30s or 40s.
Early hair loss was not associated with developing prostate cancer earlier in life or with more aggressive tumours.
The study of 669 men suggested androgenic alopecia (male pattern baldness) was an "easily identifiable and early-occurring trait" that could warrant screening or preventive therapy for prostate cancer.
Last Reviewed: 28 February 2011
- 1. Yassa M, Saliou M, De Rycke Y, et al. Male pattern baldness and the risk of prostate cancer. Ann Oncol 2011 Feb 15. [Epub ahead of print]. doi: 10.1093/annonc/mdq695. http://annonc.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2011/01/25/annonc.mdq695.long (accessed Feb 2011).
