How To Lower The Risk Of Prostate Cancer

Whats Causes Prostrate Cancer

According to mayo clinic, the actual cause of prostate cancer, like all types of cancer, is difficult to pinpoint. Multiple factors, including as heredity and exposure to environmental pollutants, may be involved. The cells in your prostate begin to develop uncontrollably and improperly as a result of these alterations. Age is the most important but not the only risk factor for prostate cancer, as evidenced by diagnosis rates. Other essential considerations are:

History of the family.

Habits of eating.

The cause of prostate cancer is unknown. It could be caused by a variety of factors, including a family history of cancer or exposure to particular substances, as with all cancers. Whatever triggers cell mutations and uncontrolled cell growth in the prostate, the result is cell mutations and uncontrolled cell proliferation.

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What Are The Risks Of Screening For Prostate Cancer

The risks of screening include a false positive test result, meaning an elevated PSA level without having prostate cancer. When the test results come back abnormal, you may feel anxious about your health and have an unnecessary biopsy. The risk of an elevated PSA level increases with age.

Screening can also detect prostate cancer in men who do not have symptoms and may have eventually died from another cause. These men are at risk for complications without the benefits of treatment.

However, for men with at least a 10-year life expectancy, on balance the benefits of prostate cancer screening outweigh these risks. Cancer screening has been shown to save lives.

Stay Active To Support Prostate Health

In addition to eating a healthy diet, you should stay active. Regular exercise pares down your risk of developing some deadly problems, including heart disease, stroke, and certain types of cancer. And although relatively few studies have directly assessed the impact of exercise on prostate health, those that have been done have concluded, for the most part, that exercise is beneficial. For example:

Based on questionnaires completed by more than 30,000 men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, researchers found an inverse relationship between physical activity and BPH symptoms. Simply put, men who were more physically active were less likely to suffer from BPH. Even low- to moderate-intensity physical activity, such as walking regularly at a moderate pace, yielded benefits.

Using data from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, researchers also examined the relationship between erectile dysfunction and exercise. They found that men who ran for an hour and a half or did three hours of rigorous outdoor work per week were 20% less likely to develop ED than those who didnt exercise at all. More physical activity conferred a greater benefit. Interestingly, regardless of the level of exercise, men who were overweight or obese had a greater risk of ED than men with an ideal body mass index, or BMI.

Get more information and the latest news about prostate health at www.HarvardProstateKnowledge.org.

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Other Ways To Reduce Prostate Cancer Risk

There is no proven prostate cancer prevention strategy but making healthy choices can reduce the risk.

November month is dedicated to mens health issues as part of a movement called Movember. During this awareness campaign, educate men about the connection between dairy and prostate cancer and make plant-based foods are part of a regular diet.

References :

Can a healthy lifestyle reduce my risk of prostate cancer?

Dairy Product Consumption and Prostate Cancer Risk in the United States

Milk and prostate cancer how are they linked?

Can milk and dairy products cause cancer?

How Is Prostate Cancer Treated

With early treatment, most men will be cured of prostate cancer. However, seeking expert treatment is imperative to recovery.

• Active surveillance is considered for men with slow-growing cancer confined to the prostate, without symptoms and includes regular PSA screening and digital rectal exam. For many men with Gleason Grade group 1 prostate cancer, active surveillance is appropriate and no immediate treatment is needed.
• Surgery Surgery involves removing the prostate and any other cancerous tissue. Most commonly this is done using a robot and is considered a surgery. There are many options for how surgery can be performed, and it is important to seek care from a high-volume surgeon to ensure all options are considered.

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Processed And Red Meat

Eating red and processed meat increases your risk of some types of cancer. We don’t know if it increases the risk of prostate cancer. Red meat includes beef, pork, lamb or goat. Processed meat includes ham, bacon and other cured or preserved meats.

The World Cancer Research Fund recommends eating no more than 500g of cooked red meat per week , and avoiding processed meat. A medium portion of cooked roast beef is usually about 90g and a medium cooked steak is 145g.

Avoid Taking Vitamin E Supplements

We typically think of vitamins as good things, but a 2014 study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that taking too much vitamin E may increase risk of aggressive prostate cancer. As long as youâre getting 15 mg of vitamin E a day from your diet, according to the National Institute of Health, you donât need to take any additional supplements. Supplementing beyond what we would have in our normal diet would be a bad idea,â says Wise.

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Nutrition And Prostate Cancer

Differences in diet and lifestyle may account for the variability of prostate cancer rates in different countries. Good nutrition may reduce the incidence of prostate cancer and help reduce the risk of prostate cancer progression. There are many lifestyle studies currently being conducted to further understand how diet and prostate cancer are related.

We do know that improved nutrition reduces risk of heart disease, diabetes and obesity, and usually improves overall quality of life. Itâs estimated that a third of cancer deaths in the United States can be attributed to diet in adults, including dietâs effect on obesity. Additionally, a healthy diet helps to increase energy levels, facilitate recovery and enhance the immune system.

Researchers conducted an 11-day study where men followed the Pritikin program. The Pritikin program includes a diet that is high in vegetables, fruits and whole grains and very low in fat. This diet is used in combination with 60 minutes of daily exercise. Serum IGF-I decreased by 20 percent after following the program for 11 days. Higher IGF-I values previously have been associated with higher risk for various cancers, including prostate cancer. This reduction in IGF-I may be related to the lower serum insulin levels observed with a healthy, low-fat, plant-based diet and regular exercise.

Who Should Not Take Finasteride

Do not take finasteride if you:

• are pregnant or may become pregnant. Finasteride may harm your unborn baby. Females who are pregnant or who may become pregnant should not come in contact with broken or crushed finasteride tablets. If a pregnant woman comes in contact with crushed or broken finasteride tablets, wash the contact area right away with soap and water. If a woman who is pregnant comes into contact with the active ingredient in finasteride, a healthcare provider should be consulted. o If a woman who is pregnant with a male baby swallows or comes in contact with the medicine in finasteride, the male baby may be born with sex organs that are not normal.
• are allergic to any of the ingredients in finasteride.

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Natural Remedies For An Enlarged Prostate:

• Beta sitosterol: is a plant sterol which has been shown to help reduce the symptoms of BPH, specifically by improving urine flow and the ability to empty the bladder.

• Vitamin D: The impact of vitamin D on prostate volume and BPH has shown promising results Vitamin D analogues of up to 6000 IU/day have shown to decrease prostate volume in BPH patients.

• Curcumin: has been shown to significantly lower prostate weight and prostate volume, as well as reduce the expression of IGF1 among growth factors in prostate tissue.

• Zinc: Zinc supplements protect the prostate gland and suppress inflammation and enlargement.

• Boron: Strong evidence has shown that boron may play an important role in protecting men from prostate cancer. This powerful, yet often overlooked mineral reduces prostate cancer risk as well as lowering PSA levels, according to some studies.

• Pgygeum Phytosterols found in plants produce an anti-inflammatory effect, helping to relieve the uncomfortable symptoms of BPH.

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Prostate Cancer Prevention Patient Version

On This Page

Cancerprevention is action taken to lower the chance of getting cancer. By preventing cancer, the number of new cases of cancer in a group or population is lowered. Hopefully, this will lower the number of deaths caused by cancer.

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. For example, both smoking and inheriting certain genes are risk factors for some types of cancer, but only smoking can be avoided. Regular exercise and a healthy diet may be protective factors for some types of cancer. Avoiding risk factors and increasing protective factors may lower your risk but it does not mean that you will not get cancer.

Different ways to prevent cancer are being studied.

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Five Ways To Reduce Your Risk Of Prostate Cancer

Content sponsored by

Prostate cancer impacts one out of every nine men. While this statistic may seem unsettling, the disease is 99 percent treatable when its detected early. There are also a number of things you can do to reduce your risk of developing prostate cancer and support your overall health on a daily basis.

Here are five ways to help prevent prostate cancer:

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About Dr Dan Sperling

Dan Sperling, MD, DABR, is a board certified radiologist who is globally recognized as a leader in multiparametric MRI for the detection and diagnosis of a range of disease conditions. As Medical Director of the Sperling Prostate Center, Sperling Medical Group and Sperling Neurosurgery Associates, he and his team are on the leading edge of significant change in medical practice. He is the co-author of the new patient book Redefining Prostate Cancer, and is a contributing author on over 25 published studies. For more information, contact the Sperling Prostate Center.

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The best way to cite this PDQ summary is:

PDQ® Screening and Prevention Editorial Board. PDQ Prostate Cancer Prevention. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute. Updated < MM/DD/YYYY> . Available at: . Accessed < MM/DD/YYYY> .

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Include Citrus In Your Diet

Eating garden-fresh fruit is an essential part of a healthy diet. It’s also possible that it may diminish your peril of prostate cancer.

Some citrus fruits that can be included in our diet are:

It’s important to acknowledge that grapefruit can connect with some types of medicine. If you take recommended medicine and are not sure whether you can take grapefruit or not, make certain to talk with your doctor first.

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Lycopene Selenium And Vitamin E

Lycopene is the red-orange carotenoid pigment found abundantly in processed tomato products, such as tomato sauce and ketchup . It is a powerful antioxidant and has been examined as a preventive agent against cancer, prostate disease, and cardiovascular disease. Moreover, there is some epidemiologic and interventional evidence to support the use of lycopene against prostate cancer. A large 1999 review found that 57 of 72 studies revealed inverse associations between cancer risk at various sites and blood lycopene level, and further investigations found protective effects of lycopene against prostate cancer specifically.1517 In 2003, Kim and associates published a small interventional trial that found that tomato sauce consumption before prostatectomy decreased serum prostate-specific antigen and decreased oxidative DNA damage.18,19

Subjects in the SELECT trial received daily doses of 200 g of selenium, 400 IU of vitamin E, both nutrients, or two placebo capsules. Caution was taken, however, because a recent randomized controlled trial found that 400 IU or more of vitamin E per day increased all-cause mortality and heart failure incidence.24

How Do I Keep My Prostate Healthy

Doing the following things in your daily life can help you keep your prostate healthy:

• Exercise. Getting regular exercise is great for your health and for preventing a variety of medical conditions. Because of this, aim to exercise most days of the week. If youre unsure where to start, ask your doctor about types of exercise that are appropriate for you.
• Eat a balanced diet. Try to eat a balanced diet thats rich in foods like whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, and lean protein sources. Reduce your intake of red meats and foods that are high in sugar, refined carbohydrates, or unhealthy fats.
• Manage weight. If you have overweight or obesity, its important to take steps to manage your weight. Your doctor can help recommend safe ways to lose weight.

Its also important to see your doctor for regular health checkups. During this time, you can discuss prostate cancer and get information on when you should start receiving prostate cancer screenings. As always, never hesitate to see your doctor if you have concerning symptoms.

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What Are The Leading Risk Factors Of Prostate Cancer

While the word cancer instills fear in most, prostate cancer is actually a very common disease that affects many men. However, some people are at a higher risk than others. Prostate cancer risk factors include:

• Age: Risk directly increases with age. The average age of diagnosis is between age 66 and 67.
• Race: African American men are at a higher risk than men of other races.
• Family history: Those who have a first-degree relative, father or a brother, with prostate cancer are at greater risk. There is a genetic mutation that may make it more likely to occur among family members with breast or ovarian cancer, like in those who have Lynch syndrome or BRCA1 or BRCA2.
• Geographic location: Prostate cancer is more common in North America, northwest Europe, Australia and the Caribbean. It is unclear whether that is because these areas screen more frequently for prostate cancer.

Does Having More Ejaculations Lessen The Chance Of Prostate Cancer

For reasons not fully known, ejaculating more may lower the risk of prostate cancer.

Ejaculating after all, based upon some studies, through sexual intercourse or masturbation, does not seem to protect against higher risk prostate cancers. The studies do not sort out between ejaculating during sexual intercourse or masturbation, and the effect of each on prostate cancer.

Dr. Anne Calvaresi is the chair of the Urology Care Foundation’s Prostate Health Committee. She works in Philadelphia and specializes in urology and prostate health.

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About Upmc Hillman Cancer Center

When you are facing cancer, you need the best care possible. UPMC Hillman Cancer Center provides world-class cancer care, from diagnosis to treatment, to help you in your cancer battle. We are the only comprehensive cancer center in our region, as designated by the National Cancer Institute. We have more than 70 locations throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New York, with more than 200 oncologists making it easier for you to find world-class care close to home. Our internationally renowned research team is striving to find new advances in prevention, detection, and treatment. Most of all, we are here for you. Our patient-first approach aims to provide you and your loved ones the care and support you need. To find a provider near you, visit our website.

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Selenium And Vitamin E

The medical community once considered selenium and vitamin E to be opponents of cancer.

However, more recent research suggests that these compounds, when taken together or in isolation, can increase the risk of prostate cancer in some people.

Anyone concerned about prostate cancer should avoid supplements containing vitamin E or selenium.

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