Agent Orange exposure linked to prostate cancer | Science & Health | Reuters

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Compared with those who were not exposed, men exposed to Agent Orange tended to be younger when prostate cancer was diagnosed (59.7 vs. 62.2 years) and to have a higher prevalence of high-grade (aggressive) tumors (21.8 percent vs. 10.5 percent) and a higher rate of advanced disease at the time of diagnosis (13.4 percent vs. 4 percent).

Upon additional analysis, the researchers found that Agent Orange exposure was the strongest predictor of developing prostate cancer and of having high-grade and metastatic disease at diagnosis, the authors note.

The current findings support aggressive screening for prostate cancer in these veterans to detect high-risk cancers before they spread, the authors state.

"The expansion of benefits and screening programs will place further pressures on the VA healthcare system given the current level of budgetary appropriations," they add.

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