Finasteride

Finasteride (Proscar), which is used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), has been hypothesized to decrease the risk of prostate cancer. (BPH is the noncancerous enlargement of the prostate gland due to an increase in the number of prostate cells.) However, a 2003 study found that although finasteride does appear to reduce the overall risk of prostate cancer, it seems to increase the risk of high-grade prostate cancer. After seven years, 18.4 percent of the men taking finasteride developed prostate cancer, compared with 24.4 percent of men taking a placebo. However, more serious tumors (Gleason score of 7 to 10) occurred in 6.4 percent of the finasteride group, compared with 5.1 percent of the placebo group. Based on these findings, men should not take finasteride solely to prevent prostate cancer, and men taking finasteride for BPH should undergo careful monitoring for cancer.

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