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Prostate Cancer

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Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men, but also the least talked about. Early diagnosis is vital in order to try to beat the disease. A third of those diagnosed will lose their battle with cancer.

Source: FitPro
Date: 22-Jan-08
Author: Michaela Walsh

According to Cancer Research UK, 35,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year, which accounts for 12% of the annual cancer diagnoses. The walnut-sized prostate gland is located in front of the rectum and below the bladder. Its main job is to produce the fluid that nourishes and protects sperm cells. The most common form of prostate cancer develops in the glandular cells. While most prostate cancers grow very slowly, if it''s an aggressive form, it can quickly spread to the area surrounding the prostate, and eventually metastasise to the lymph nodes, lungs, liver, and other parts of the body.

Prostate cancer risk factors:

Age – Prostate cancer is quite rare in men under 50. Nearly two out of three cases are in men aged 70 and over. Age is the most significant risk factor of all for prostate cancer. The older you are, the greater the risk.

Family history of prostate cancer – Generally speaking, if you have a relative diagnosed with prostate cancer you are at double the risk of getting the disease yourself. If the relation is your brother, your risk is higher, at just under three times the average risk.

Family history of breast cancer – A strong family history of breast cancer may also increase your risk of prostate cancer, particularly if you have a close relative diagnosed under the age of 40. Genes associated with breast cancer are also associated with prostate cancer and if you have this gene you are in the high risk category.

African ancestry – Prostate cancer is more common in black men than it is in white or Asian men. Although research is being conducted into this, no one is quite sure why it is more prevalent in certain races.

The role of a healthy diet:

According to The Prostrate Cancer Foundation, there is no certain way to prevent prostate cancer, but there is some evidence to suggest that diet is a predisposing factor. When looking at diet in conjunction with cancer of the prostate, saturated fat should be avoided. Red meats, such as beef, lamb and pork, are thought to increase the risk of prostate cancer as they contain a lot of fat. It seems that levels of saturated fat in the diet can greatly increase the risk of prostate cancer. Therefore, making sure you have a healthy diet and keeping your intake of fat in check can help to prevent and decrease the risk of prostate cancer. Also, reducing your consumption of fat can decrease the risk of other cancers, as well as diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. Eating at least the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables per day is thought to be another preventative because of the antioxidants they contain.

Exercise:

A study published in the American Journal of Urology in 2005 suggested that exercise and a good diet can slow the progression of prostate cancer. It involved 93 men who had opted not to have treatment, but monitor their tumours instead. Half the men adopted a regime that included a vegan diet and moderate aerobic exercise, such as walking 30 minutes, six days a week. They also participated in a one-hour support group meeting once a week and began using stress-management techniques, such as yoga, breathing exercises and meditation for an hour a day. When the study began and then a year later, the researchers gave both groups of men the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test, which is widely used to monitor the progression of the cancer. Those on the diet and exercise regimen saw their PSA levels drop by an average of 4%, while those in the group who did nothing saw theirs rise by an average of 6%.

Source: http://www.prostatecancerfoundation.org