Researchers have long been trying to link baldness with the risk of prostate cancer.Previous studies on Caucasian men shows mixed result while another showed no connection at all.
Recently, they did a new study on African-American men and came out with a more positive result.
This time, it shows a high risk of prostate cancer among African-American men who are having hair growth problem.
They come to a conclusion that this studies support the results of the earlier studies on Caucasian men that have similar results.
But, why balding is connected to prostate cancer is not known.
Researchers believe that changes in hormone levels may be the cause.
They could not identify the exact link but some experts suggested that it may be related to the hormone testosterone.
The breakdown of the male hormone testosterone Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is linked to a higher risk of prostate cancer and escalate tumors growth and also the thinning of hair follicles.
Dr. Dudley Danoff, a urologist and president of Cedars-Sinai Tower Urology Medical Group in Los Angeles commented that he has not noticed this connection in his own practice but nonetheless, this study is well researched.
Another reason why the results were more pronounced among African-American men is genetic or race-related.
Dr.Danoff adds that since both frontal baldness and prostate cancer both run in the families, they appear to be genetic.
However, whether they are affected by the same gene is to be determined.
Again, researchers are pending on further studies to confirm the results.
Early onset of baldness can be a potential clinical indicator of increased risk for prostate cancer among African-American men according to Charnita Zeigler-Johnson, a research assistant professor at the Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
African-American men under the age of 60 with frontal baldness are frequently diagnosed with prostate cancer and those over the age of 60 show no connection at all.
Since baldness is more rampant than prostate cancer, using this condition would mean screening all those men who are not at high risk for prostate cancer.
In order to screen his patients for prostate cancer, Dr. Danoff still prefer to rely on their positive family history, PSA test, digital rectal exam and transrectal ultrasound.
This recent study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, done on African-American men discovered that they have a higher rate of prostate cancer and are twice likely to die of the disease than Caucasian men.
News linking African-American men with higher risk of developing the cancer could help them receive early treatment to save their lives.
Due to Zeigler-Johnson study on such a small group, the results of her studies are not indicative of all African-American men.
She concluded that more studies are needed on men of African descent, both in the United States and abroad.
Posted by: Mo Salle
Articles Resources:
• The Link Between Early Baldness And Prostate Cancer
• Early Baldness Linked To Prostate Cancer In Black Men
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