Baldness pill recommended to prevent prostate cancer

WASHINGTON Feb 24 (Reuters) - Millions of healthy men 55 and older should consider taking finasteride, a pill used to treat prostate enlargement and baldness and sold by Merck and Co (MRK.N), to prevent prostate cancer, two top U.S. medical groups said on Tuesday.

Healthy men who are screened regularly for prostate cancer and have no symptoms should discuss with a doctor the possibility of taking a finasteride pill daily to try to ward off the disease, the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Urological Association recommended.

(Reporting by Will Dunham; Editing by Maggie Fox and Sandra Maler)