Researchers in Germany have said that a man who has direct relatives, father and brothers, with prostate cancer has a higher risk of getting prostate cancer too.

Data from the Swedish National Family Cancer on 26,651 prostate cancer patients -- of which, 5,623 cases had family history of lung cancer was analyzed by Kari Hemminki of the German Cancer Research Center and colleagues.

Published in the journal European Urology, the study found that men of age 65 and older with three brothers with prostate cancer have a risk that is 23 times higher than that of the control group, men without affected family members.

The study also said that men ages 65- to 74 years, whose father had prostate cancer but no brothers, had a risk increased by 1.8 times.

Hemminki said in a statement, "Our results provide a good guidance for doctors. If a man has several affected relatives who may even have been diagnosed at a young age, then his personal risk is substantially increased."

"In this case, a family doctor should urgently recommend having an early detection examination," the statement further said. (With Inputs from Agencies)