Home > Prevention & Risk Assessment > Genetics > Prostate Cancer Genetics Project > Spring, 2004 Newsletter

Use of Contemporary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) among Brothers of Men with Prostate Cancer

Jennifer Beebe-Dimmer, PhD, MPH, a post-doctoral fellow with the University of Michigan’s Department of Urology, has been guiding the development of a telephone survey of unaffected brothers of men with prostate cancer. Dr. Beebe-Dimmer, along with Dr. David Wood, a Urologic Surgeon and PCGP Co-Investigator, will use data generated by the survey to assess the following questions:

• What types of vitamin and herbal supplements (also known as CAMs) are men taking and what are the reasons for use?
• Are men concerned about the risk of prostate cancer?

There are a number of vitamins and supplements that are marketed for prostate health. It is important to notify your physician if you are taking any of these CAMs since some of these supplements may interact with your prescription medications. Also, some supplements may cause lowering of prostate specific antigen (PSA) values. Please note that many of these CAMs have not been tested in clinical trials and the data showing benefits is limited.

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See Also:

• Make a Donation to the Prostate Cancer Genetics Project
• Urologic Cancers
• UMCCC Clinical Trials

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