Prostate cancer danger raised if you have 'snip'

Men who have a vasectomy are more likely to suffer fatal prostate cancer, new research has revealed. Experts from Harvard School of Public Health say that having the snip is linked to a 10% increased risk of developing the deadly condition. Researchers uncovered the connection after studying 50,000 men in the US who had regular checks over a 24-year period. One in four had a vasectomy. During that time, 6,023 cases of prostate cancer were diagnosed - including 811 where the man died. Those who had the contraceptive operation aged 38 or under seemed most at risk from getting an aggressive form of the cancer. Prof Malcolm Mason, Cancer Research UK's prostate cancer expert, said the study was "extremely important" but added: "Importantly, the extra risk of developing prostate cancer after having a vasectomy appears to be small but of the few that do go on to develop the disease, a higher number will develop an aggressive form." The research findings appear in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.