Prostate cancer: Dale Lovell explains more about the disease and possible ways men can lessen their chances of developing it.
While scientists have yet to pin-point exactly what causes prostate cancer
and what men can do to lessen the risks of developing the disease, diet, as
ever, is undoubtedly a key factor, but so too are genetics, and even lifestyle
choices such as the number of sexual partners a man has throughout his life.
Below we offer the low-down on what you need to know about prostate cancer.
What is the prostate?
The prostate gland is roughly the size of a plum or walnut and is only found
in men. It is located between the pubic bone and the rectum. The urethra passes
through the prostate and tubes from the reproductive system meet with the urethra
in the prostate gland. The prostate gland is a key mechanism in a man’s
reproductive system and squeezes suddenly during orgasm to force semen down
the urethra.
At middle age the prostate gland begins to grow in size. Prostate cancer is
most common in men over the age of 50 with 95% of cases occurring in men over
the age of 60. Most men over 50 will suffer from an enlarged prostate at some
point. On its own this is nothing to be too worried about as this only means
that there is an increased growth of tissue in the prostate gland, not cancer
itself. Doctors refer to this as benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH and these
are not cancerous.
Symptoms of prostate cancer
Men who develop prostate cancer can have no symptoms at all, or several. Symptoms
that are cause for concern include frequent trips to the toilet, the urgent
need to urinate, a poor stream when urinating and not being able to start urinating
despite feeling the urge to and, although rare, blood in the urine. If you or
your partner experience any of these symptoms it is advisable to consult your
GP immediately.
Testing
The most common way of testing to see if you have prostate cancer is via the
PSA test. PSA stands for Prostate Specific Antigen and is a protein only produced
by the prostate gland. Most men have some of this PSA in their blood. By measuring
how much PSA is in a man’s blood, doctors can ascertain how large the
prostate gland is, as generally the larger the PSA reading, the larger the prostate.
However, it is worth noting that the PSA test looks at the state of the prostate,
not specifically for prostate cancer, and other things such as an infection,
or when a man ejaculated last (24 hours before a test can affect the results),
and even riding a bike, can all affect the PSA reading. The PSA test is a good
indicator of your prostate’s health, but if your reading is high it does
not necessarily mean that you have prostate cancer.
Diet
A staggering five times more men die of prostate cancer in the United States
than they do in Japan, with similar levels for the UK. The main reason for this
is due to the fact that we in the west generally consume approximately 40 percent
of our total calories from fat, whereas fat intake in China and Japan is considerably
lower, at 10 to 20 percent.
Like all conditions that affect health, eating a balanced diet that is high
in fibre with plenty of fruit and vegetables, will significantly lower the risks
of developing many forms of cancer.
Some of the best prostate cancer fighting foods are:
Broccoli - Recent studies have proved that nutrients found
naturally in vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower are highly effective
in suppressing the growth of human prostate cancer cells, and may even repair
damaged cells.
Tomatoes - Tomatoes and tomato based products can significantly
lower your chances of developing prostate cancer. Countless studies have testified
to the ‘super’ effectiveness of tomatoes. A study undertaken by
Harvard University of tomato-based products and lycopene intake among a group
of more than 47,000 U.S. male health professionals over a twelve year period
found that men who consumed two or more servings a week of tomato sauce significantly
reduced their risk of developing prostate cancer.
Fibre - A high fibre diet has already been proven to
cut your risk of developing heart disease and help lower blood pressure, but
it could have considerable benefits in fighting prostate cancer too. Studies
have shown that plasma testosterone levels, which can play a part in prostate
cancer, were significantly lower in middle-aged men who ate high levels of dietary
fibre from cereals, grains, fruits and vegetables when compared to men eating
a typical western diet filled with processed foods, and much lower fibre content.
Fish and Nuts - Men with a higher intake of selenium
are also less prone to developing prostate cancer, studies claim. Selenium can
be found naturally in foods such as fish, lentils and Brazil nuts, all of which
should be incorporated into a healthy, balanced diet.
Soy - Many researchers believe that the lower incidence of
prostate cancer in Asian countries is largely due to a diet rich in soy-based
foods such as tofu. Soy is rich in phytochemicals called isoflavones, which
experts believe have estrogenic properties that may counteract the development
of hormone-sensitive tumours such as those found in prostate cancer.
Green Tea - Many studies have hailed the anti-cancerous
properties of green tea, with studies showing that it can help protect against
prostate cancer as well. A study carried out in Italy in 2004 revealed that
after a year's oral administration of green tea catechins (GTCs), only one man
in a group of 32 at high risk of developing prostate cancer actually contracted
the disease, compared to nine out of 30 in a controlled group. Green tea is
rich in natural anti-oxidants that can help the body fight the damage caused
by free radicals.