"For those with a family history of prostate cancer, be careful about breast cancer," he warned.

Prof. Dr. Necmettin Aydın Mungan, Head of the Urology Department at Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit Hospital, told an AA correspondent that September is considered "Prostate Cancer Awareness Month" worldwide, noting that prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men.

Mungan, emphasizing that prostate cancer progresses silently, said, "Patients think they are well, but by then it may have already metastasized (spread). Therefore, it is very important for people to be examined and have their blood tests done every year after the age of 50."

Mungan explained that it will be possible to cure cancer with a rate of up to 100% with early diagnosis, and continued:

The biggest mistake people make is assuming that the urination symptoms caused by benign prostatic growth—such as intermittent urination, difficulty urinating, frequent urination, and waking up at night to urinate—are related to prostate cancer. However, this is a misconception. We've emphasized that prostate cancer can metastasize even without symptoms. Therefore, saying, "I don't have urination symptoms, I'm healthy" can be a big mistake.

Mungan stated that if more than one person in the family has had prostate cancer or died from the disease at a young age, these individuals should be checked after the age of 40.

Mungan, emphasizing the close relationship between prostate and breast cancer, said, "Prostate cancer and breast cancer originate from the same gene. That is, the BRCA-1 BRCA-2 gene. Therefore, the risk of breast cancer increases in first-degree female relatives of individuals with prostate cancer."

If a man has prostate cancer, his mother, sister, or daughter (first-degree female relative) may have a slightly higher risk of breast cancer than the general population, Mungan reported.

Mungan pointed out that this risk increase is generally between 10-20 percent, and that in special cases, if there are genetic mutations (such as BRCA1 or BRCA2), this risk is higher. He stated that studies have shown that if a family member has prostate cancer at a young age or more than one, their first-degree female relatives after the age of 30 are recommended to go to health institutions for early diagnosis, treatment, and screening for breast cancer.

Mungan emphasized that early diagnosis can cure prostate and breast cancer with rates approaching 100%, saying, "Get regular checkups for early diagnosis. I also recommend that first-degree female relatives of prostate cancer patients see a doctor for breast cancer."

Mungan, who mentioned that breast cancer is the most common type in women, explained that the same drugs used in prostate cancer are used in breast cancer, one of which is taxanes (a class of chemotherapy drugs).

Mungan reminded that the town of Gümeli houses a 4,121-year-old yew tree, one of the world's five oldest trees and registered as a monument. He added that substances obtained from this tree constitute the main raw material for the drug taxane, and that trips to this tree are organized to raise awareness about breast and prostate cancer.