Diet For Prostate Cancer Survivors

Evaluation Of The Bwdce Questionnaire

Nearly half of the men reported the BWDCE to be quite hard to complete whilst a relatively small number of men reported that they found it quite easy to complete. Over half of the men considered who gives the information, followed by how the information was given , where the information was given , and the cost when making their decision. Half of the men reported who gives the information followed by how the information was given as the most important attribute in their decision.

Living As A Prostate Cancer Survivor

For most men with prostate cancer, treatment can remove or destroy the cancer. Completing treatment can be both stressful and exciting. You may be relieved to finish treatment, but find it hard not to worry about cancer growing or coming back. This is very common if youve had cancer.

For other men, the cancer may come back in other parts of the body or may never go away completely. These men may get hormone treatment or other therapies to help keep the cancer under control for as long as possible. Learning to live with cancer that does not go away can be difficult and very stressful.

Can Any Foods Help With My Prostate Cancer

You may have heard that certain foods might help slow down the growth of prostate cancer or lower the chance of it coming back after treatment, including:

• soya beans and other pulses
• tomatoes and lycopene
• cruciferous vegetables

With all of these foods, there is some evidence to suggest they might be helpful for men with prostate cancer, but other studies havent shown any effect. This means we cant say for sure whether any of these foods can help. Until theres more evidence that any individual food has an effect on prostate cancer, its best to have a balanced diet that contains all of the food groups.

You May Like: How Do I Know I Have Prostate Cancer

High In Fruit Vegetables Wholegrains And Pulses

• Aim for at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables each day, they can be fresh, tinned, frozen or dried.
• Try to have a range of different colours of fruit and vegetables to give you a variety of vitamins and minerals.
• Aim to eat starchy foods every day, such as potatoes, bread, rice and pasta.
• Choose wholegrain versions of cereals, bread and pasta where possible.
• Dont forget pulses such as beans, lentils and peas, they are a low fat alternative to meat and a good source of protein.

Things You Can Change: Diet And Lifestyle

Men in western countries have much higher rates of prostate cancer than men in Asia. While no one can definitively explain this phenomenon, experts suspect differences in eastern and western diets are to blame. Poor eating habits and diets that heavily rely on fats and animal proteins can cause DNA damage and lead to cancer.

Even men who are already at greater risk due to age, race or genetics can reduce their chances of developing prostate cancer by adopting healthy diets and lifestyles.

Also Check: How Is Prostate Test Done

Things You Cant Change: Age Race And Genes

Prostate cancer is primarily a disease of aging. As you get older, your chances of developing prostate cancer increase. Race and genetics also play a significant role. If you are African American, your chances of developing prostate cancer are double those of white American men. If your father, brother or multiple blood relatives had prostate cancer, you are more likely to get it, too.

Preventing prostate cancer might be difficult if you have these risk factors, but screening early and often can help ensure that if you do get cancer, its diagnosed and treated as soon as possible.

Should I Avoid Alcohol During Cancer Treatment

For people getting treated for cancer, the cancer type and stage , as well as the type of treatment matter when deciding whether it’s OK to drink alcohol during treatment. Many of the drugs used to treat cancer are broken down by the liver, and alcohol, by causing liver inflammation, could slow drug breakdown, increasing side effects. Its a good idea to avoid or limit alcohol during treatment to prevent interactions with the drugs used to treat cancer.

Alcohol, even in the small amounts used in mouthwashes, can irritate mouth sores and even make them worse. If you have mouth sores, you may be advised to avoid or limit alcohol. It may also be best to avoid or limit alcohol if you are starting treatment that will put you at risk for mouth sores, such as head and neck radiation or many types of chemotherapy.

Recommended Reading: How Does A Doctor Test For Prostate Cancer

Get Regular Physical Activity

Some research has suggested that men who exercise regularly after treatment might be less likely to die from their prostate cancer than those who dont. Its not clear exactly how much activity might be needed, but more seems to be better. More vigorous activity might also be more helpful than less vigorous activity. Further studies are needed to follow up on these findings.

Additional Eating And Drinking Tips For Radiation Therapy

• Chew your food slowly. Take your time eating each small meal.
• To make sure youre getting enough calories during radiation, ask yourself, What can I add to this meal to make it more nutrient-rich? Think about topping your dishes with dressings and sauces. Or, think about adding extra ingredients you can add in or on top of your dishes.
• Cook foods that smell good
• Drink beverages that are high in healthy calories
• Eat foods in a stress-free relaxing setting to make eating a positive experience
• Eat every few hours vs waiting until youre hungry

You May Like: Diet During Radiation Treatment For Prostate Cancer

Diet Insulin And Prostate Cancer

A glycemic index has been developed for persons with diabetes, so that they can take advantage of the small amounts of insulin they may produce. This index ranks carbohydrates in different foods on a scale of 0-100, depending on how much those foods increase blood sugar levels after consumption. The consumption of low-glycemic foods lowers blood sugar levels and decreases insulin production. According to this theory, low levels of insulin growth factor would prevent cancer cells from growing as rapidly.

In the 1920s, Ohsawa popularized the concept of a macrobiotic diet, which comprises foods with a very low glycemic index. This stringent diet consists primarily of whole grains and vegetables. Even most fruits are excluded. In contrast, the diabetic diet restricts only those foods with the highest glycemic index, such as the following:

The renewed focus on the role of insulin in preventing or slowing the progression of prostate cancer and other cancers is exemplified by the interest in using metformin for that purpose. Nevertheless, while the Diabetes Prevention Program trial demonstrated that metformin has the ability to prevent type 2 diabetes, an underappreciated finding of that trial was the profound reduction in diabetes risk produced by lifestyle changes . In fact, lifestyle changes proved significantly more effective than metformin for diabetes prevention . Once again, this illustrates the value of an integrated approach to health promotion and disease prevention.

Dietary Fat And Prostate Cancer

Per-capita fat consumption is highest in males in North America and Western Europe, and rates of prostate cancer deaths are also highest in these regions. Conversely, the countries in the Pacific Rim have the lowest fat consumption and the lowest prostate cancer death rates.

Whittemore et al studied the relationship of diet, physical activity, and body size in black, white, and Asian men living in North America and found that the only factor that correlated with prostate cancer was the amount of dietary fat. The same was true in Hawaiian men the highest prevalence of prostate cancer was in men with the highest intake of saturated fat.

The introduction of Western diets in Japan, where the traditional diet is low in fat, has led to an increased incidence of aggressive prostate cancer. Giovannucci et al reported that men who consumed high levels of fat were more likely not only to develop prostate cancer but also to develop a more aggressive form of the disease.

Still, it is intriguing that numerous clinical trials have begun examining the impact of higher fat consumption or a ketogenic diet on prostate cancer progression. It seems plausible that if higher fat intake can lead to heart-healthy parameter changes then the potential for success should somewhat rival what is observed with other heart-healthy dietary programs.

You May Like: Gleason Score 6 Prostate Cancer

What Do Antioxidants Have To Do With Cancer

Antioxidants include vitamin C, vitamin E, carotenoids , and many phytochemicals . They help prevent cell damage caused by chemical reactions with oxygen. Because this damage may play a role in cancer development, it has long been thought that antioxidants may help prevent cancer.

Studies suggest that people who eat more vegetables and fruits, which are rich sources of antioxidants, may have a lower risk for some types of cancer. Because cancer survivors may be at increased risk for second cancers, they should eat a variety of antioxidant-rich foods each day.

So far, studies of antioxidant vitamin or mineral supplements have not found that they reduce cancer risk. In fact, studies have shown that high-dose supplements of beta-carotene can increase the risk of lung cancer in people who are already at higher risk of this cancer. The best advice at this time is to get antioxidants through your foods rather than supplements.

Moffitts Approach To Prostate Cancer

Nutritional guidance from experienced dietitians is just one component of prostate cancer care at Moffitt Cancer Center. The multispecialty team in our Urologic Oncology Program provides a full spectrum of supportive care and specialized clinical treatment in one location, eliminating the need for patients to travel to multiple clinics for the services they need. Our prostate cancer treatment team collaborates to develop individualized plans for each patient, then refines plans as necessary to ensure the best possible outcomes and improved quality of life.

If you would like to consult with a Moffitt oncologist about your prostate cancer treatment options or receive a second opinion, call or fill out a new patient registration form online. Our team prioritizes prompt response times and will contact you within 24 hours. We also offer comprehensive prostate cancer screening servicescontact Moffitt for more information.

You May Like: Alternative Cures For Prostate Cancer

Power Analysis And Randomisation

A 5-point change in the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality-of-life questionnaire scales is considered clinically significant . Given a mean difference of five in bowel symptoms between groups, and using a standard deviation of 9.4 from previous research , the effect size was calculated to 0.53. To reach a power of 80%, with our estimated effect size and a 0.05 significance level, 57 patients in each group were required. Expecting an attrition rate of approximately 30% due to the extensive follow-up period, we decided to include 90 patients in each group. Patients were stratified by radiation technique and site, and randomly assigned to a nutrition intervention group or a standard care group . Randomisation was performed by two persons unrelated to the trial, using the Efrons biased coin design .

Dont Miss: What Is An Enlarged Prostate Mean

How Can Your Diet Help Manage Cancer Treatment Side Effects

Some dietary changes can help you manage side effects after your treatment begins. These side effects include:

• Appetite loss. Eat small meals or nutritious snacks throughout the day, rather than three large meals.
• Constipation. Drink plenty of water, consider a fiber supplement, and add veggies and beans to your meals.
• Diarrhea. Choose foods or drinks with sodium and potassium .
• Loss of taste. Knowing what to eat when you cant taste can be difficult. Consider trying new foods with different spices or marinades. You can also add strong flavors, such as lemon or lime juice.
• Nausea. Anti-nausea foods include citrus, ginger and peppermint oil. You can suck on a slice of lemon, drink ginger tea or eat ginger chews.

Recommended Reading: External Beam Radiation Treatment For Prostate Cancer

You May Like: Seminal Vesicle Prostate Cancer Survival

Should I Juice My Vegetables And Fruits

Juicing can add variety to your diet and can be a good way to get vegetables and fruits, especially if you have trouble chewing or swallowing. Juicing also helps the body absorb some of the nutrients in vegetables and fruits. But juices may be less filling than whole vegetables and fruits, and they contain less fiber. Drinking a lot of fruit juice can also add extra calories and simple sugars to a persons diet.

Buy juice products that are 100% vegetable or fruit juices and pasteurized to remove harmful germs. These are better for everyone but are especially important for people who may have weak immune systems, such as those getting chemotherapy.

Should I Exercise During Cancer Treatment And Recovery

Research strongly suggests that exercise is not only safe during cancer treatment, but it can also improve physical functioning and many aspects of quality of life. Moderate exercise has been shown to improve cancer-related symptoms and side effects, such as fatigue , anxiety, depression and sleep. It also helps heart and blood vessel fitness, muscle strength, and body composition .

People getting chemotherapy and radiation who already exercise may need to do so at a lower intensity and build up more slowly than people who are not getting cancer treatment. The main goal should be to stay as active as possible and slowly increase your level of activity over time after treatment.

Check with your cancer care team before starting any new physical activity or exercise plan to be sure you are being safe and following recommendations.

You May Like: What Is The Prostate Responsible For

Can I Lower The Risk Of Prostate Cancer Progressing Or Coming Back

If you have prostate cancer, you probably want to know if there are things you can do that might lower your risk of the cancer growing or coming back, such as exercising, eating a certain type of diet, or taking nutritional supplements. While there are some things you can do that might be helpful, more research is needed to know for sure.

Recommended Foods For Patients With Prostate Cancer

Research suggests that eating a lot of red meat and saturated fat may increase a mans risk of developing prostate cancer. Some doctors believe that continuing to eat these foods after diagnosis might cause the cancer to progress faster. As such, many medical experts recommend a plant-based diet, and findings from various studies support this notion. A plant-based diet may slow the cancers growth and progression, which can improve the patients outcome.

What does a plant-based diet look like for men with prostate cancer? In general, it consists of more vegetables, fruit, and soy. Therefore, Regional Cancer Care Associates suggests eating more:

• Fish: Instead of consuming red meat, like steak and burgers, switch to fish, such as salmon and trout. Fish also offers many nutritional benefits, including important omega-3 fatty acids.
• Fruits: Fruit, nuts, and seeds are also a healthy addition to the diet and serve as an ideal alternative to unhealthy snacks like chips and candy.
• Vegetables: Incorporate more servings of vegetables into your daily routine, especially leafy greens, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, and tomatoes. Tomatoes are high in lycopene, which is believed to have anti-cancer effects. Vegetables are rich in antioxidants , which are protective agents that help stop the DNA-damaging effects of free radicals.

We also urge patients with prostate cancer to eat less:

Additional Diet Tips

Turn to RCCA for Advanced Prostate Cancer Treatment

Recommended Reading: Removing Prostate Gland Side Effects

Summary Of The Evidence For Prostate Cancer Nutrition And Dietary Supplements

To assist readers in evaluating the results of human studies of integrative, alternative, and complementary therapies for cancer, the strength of the evidence associated with each type of treatment is provided wheneverpossible. To qualify for a level of evidence analysis, a study must:

• Report on a therapeuticoutcome or outcomes, such as tumorresponse, improvement in survival, or measured improvement in quality of life.
• Describe clinical findings in sufficient detail that a meaningful evaluation can be made.

Separate levels of evidence scores are assigned to qualifying human studies on the basis of statistical strength of the study design and scientific strength of the treatment outcomes measured. The resulting two scores are then combined to produce an overall score. For an explanation of the scores and additional information about levels of evidence analysis and scores, see Levels of Evidence for Human Studies of Integrative, Alternative, and Complementary Therapies.

Sexuality And Feeling Good About Your Body

Prostate cancer treatment can often affect sexual function. Learning to be comfortable with your body during and after prostate cancer treatment is a personal journey, one that is different for everyone. Information and support can help you cope with these changes over time. Learn more in Sex and the Man With Cancer.

Read Also: Metastatic Bone Prostate Cancer Treatment

How To Add More Fish To Your Diet

Adding more omega-3s to your diet can be as easy as cracking open a can of sardines or tuna. Not everyone is so enthusiastic about fish, though. Plus, it can also be expensive.

If you havent enjoyed fish in the past, try a different type. Each one has a unique flavor. The flavor is also milder if the fish is fresh, so you may enjoy fish more if you buy it from a fish counter and make it that day.

Cod, flounder, and trout have milder flavors. Try topping your fish with a lemon sauce or adding it to another prostate-friendly food. For example, you could try baked cod in a tomato sauce.

To stretch your dollar, you can also add fish to dishes like pasta, soup, salad, or sandwiches. That way you wont need as much fish to make a complete meal.

You can also ask your healthcare provider about taking omega-3 supplements.

Summary

Fatty fish, such as salmon and mackerel, contain healthful omega-3 fatty acids. These compounds may help keep the prostate healthy, though more studies are needed.