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As if male-pattern baldness were not already a curse for self-conscious men everywhere, a Canadian research team is suggesting it could also strongly predict the risk of getting prostate cancer, and more serious cases of the disease.

The University of Toronto scientists even argue the extent of someone’s hair loss might help doctors decide whether to carry out painful biopsies in marginal cases.

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And, they say, it seems to be a much better predictor of risk than commercial genetic tests that cost thousands of dollars each.

“We were trying to be a bit provocative (about the genetic tests), but it’s true,” said Dr. Neil Fleshner, head of urology at Toronto’s Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and co-author of the study. “If you get it (baldness) early and you get a lot of it, those people are particularly at risk.”