PROSTATE CANCER: WHAT YOU CAN DO

So, although prostate cancer is most common in older men, measures to prevent its occurrence must start at an earlier age.

Predisposition to any cancer can be considered in terms of environmental and extrinsic factors, such as foods and interventions, and intrinsic or inherent susceptibility related to the person’s genes apportioned at conception.

Prostate cancer is complicated, and researchers are still trying to understand its causes and determine which prostate cancer prevention strategies are safe and most effective.

To prevent new cancers from starting, scientists look at risk factors and protective factors. Anything that increases your chance of developing cancer is called a cancer risk factor; anything that decreases your chance of developing cancer is called a cancer protective factor.

Some risk factors for cancer can be avoided, but many cannot.

Dietary & Natural Therapies

It is estimated that 35% of all cancers are directly associated with the typical poor human diet. A high fat intake is associated with cancer of the colon, breast, prostate, rectum, and endometrium. Other cancers also associated with obesity are cancers of the kidney, cervix, and thyroid. Alcohol consumption is implicated in cancers of the breast, rectum, mouth, and esophagus. The consumption of charred, smoked, salted, and pickled foods is associated with cancer of the stomach and esophagus.

Selenium

Several large studies have shown that men with low blood (plasma) levels of selenium have a significantly increased risk of prostate cancer. The beneficial effect of selenium is due to its vital role in maintaining adequate levels of the body's main antioxidant, glutathione peroxidase. The recommended daily intake of selenium is 55 micrograms with an upper safe limit of 400 micrograms/day.

Lycopene (tomato sauce)

Lycopene is a carotenoid found  in tomatoes, tomato products, and in other fruits. Studies have observed that tomatoes and tomato products, especially tomato sauce, have a protective effect against prostate cancer. It has been hypothesized that lycopene prevents cancer and heart disease by protecting lipids, lipoproteins (especially low-density lipoprotein), proteins, and DNA. There is also evidence that lycopene counteracts the proliferation of cancer cells induced by insulin-like growth factors.

Fish consumption

It appears that omega-3 fats contained in oily fish can prevent the cancer spreading to bone marrow, a process which may be encouraged by the other major group of polyunsaturated fatty acids – omega-6 fats.

Several studies have shown an inverse relationship between blood levels of fish oils (eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] and docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]) and the risk of prostate cancer. The studies showed that men who never eat fish have a two- to three-fold higher risk of prostate cancer than do men who eat moderate to high amounts. The researchers emphasize that only fatty fish such as salmon, herring and mackerel, which contain high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA), would be expected to be beneficial.

Eat your broccoli and

There is abundant evidence that a high intake of fruits and vegetables is protective against many types of cancer. In one research, Men who ate three or more servings of cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, cabbage) per week had a 41 per cent lower risk of developing prostate cancer than did men who ate less than one serving a week.

Beta-carotene

beta-carotene supplementation is neither harmful nor beneficial to people at average risk for cancer except in the case of prostate cancer. In one study, men who where supplemented with 50 mg of beta-carotene every second day for 12 years had a significantly lower incidence of prostate cancer.

Vitamin D?

British researchers confirmed that exposure to sunlight helps prevent prostate cancer. The researchers are not sure why sun exposure is protective, but speculate that vitamin D and parathyroid hormone may somehow be involved.

Diabetes

Diabetes is associated with reduced risk of prostate cancer but only several years after diagnosis of diabetes, say the authors. The protective effect may be due to the reduced insulin levels found in men who have been diabetic for some time, as prostate cancer has been linked to high circulating levels of insulin.

Physical activity

physically active men are much less likely to develop prostate cancer than are less active men.  The researchers believe that high testosterone levels are involved in the development of prostate cancer and that physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness tend to lower these levels.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A (retinol) and its biologically active metabolite, retinoic acid, are known to be useful in the prevention and treatment of certain cancers such as acute promyelocyte leukemia and recently to useful both in the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer.

Soy products/isoflavones/green tea

The major isoflavone components of soy, including genistein, daidzein and their metabolites, have been shown to inhibit benign and malignant prostatic epithelial cell growth, down-regulate androgen-related genes and reduce tumour growth

Medication

Current research does not support the routine use of any drug to prevent prostate cancer, but several medications show potential benefits, including statins, aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others).

Sex/ejaculation

It appears that an increase in sexual activity may provide a protective benefit against developing prostate cancer. Results from a multi-institution clinical study evaluating the frequency of ejaculation and its possible association with prostate cancer were recently completed. The cancer risk in men who reported more than 20 monthly ejaculations was 33 percent less than that of other men. Ejaculation also may release psychological tension, quieting central nervous system activity that may contribute to prostate- cell division and cancer growth.