CLEVELAND -- If you were born with a gene that all but guaranteed you'd get a certain type of cancer, would you want to know about it?

Researchers are working hard to give patients that option when it comes to prostate cancer.

As part of NewsChannel5 and University Hospitals' Loving Partners series on men's cancers, Alicia Booth reported on what that research could mean for everyone.

In the 1950s, the Arkos never would have guessed that all of the men in their family would someday get cancer.

Both Anthony Arko's father and brother died from prostate cancer.

Even so, Arko was still surprised when he was diagnosed.

"Why was I surprised? It's because you always feel that these things don't happen to you, (that they happen) to everybody else," Arko said. "I guess it's a common misconception."

Genetics researchers have come a long way since the '50s. They have made major progress in identifying genes that are linked to prostate cancer.

They may one day know whether it is passed on directly from one family member to the next, NewsChannel5 reported.

"We know it's a common disease of men, we know it's a common disease as they age, but these types of family histories can cause prostate cancer at a younger age," said Dr. Georgia Wiesner, of University Hospitals.

Someday, all men may be able to know if they carry a prostate cancer gene.

If anyone has an interest in genetics, it's Arko, because he has seven children -- four of them boys -- and 25 grandchildren.

Arko's hope is that one day his grandchildren will be armed with information he just didn't have.

"You could probably work with (your) diet or work with doctors much before you had to," he said.

He said that for now, it's important just to know your family history and to tell your doctor about it.

"Definitely, talk to people in your family and find out if there have been other male relations who have had prostate cancer," he said.

For a lot of men, it helps to have a woman in their lives. Arko said he can thank his wife for pushing him to go to the doctor.

"I've got a lot to be thankful for... even a nagging wife," he said, laughing.

University Hospitals is recruiting people with a family history of prostate cancer for some clinical trials currently going on.

If you have any questions about the study or prostate cancer in general, call a University Hospitals hotline at (800) 641-2422 for a free mailer of information.