Prostate cancer prevention: What you can do

Prostate cancer prevention: What you can do

You may help avoid prostate cancer by exercising and eating a low-fat diet rich in fruits, vegetables and fish. But the jury's still out on supplements and medications.
There's no sure way to prevent prostate cancer — but you can make some choices that might help. Prostate cancer is complicated, and researchers are still trying to understand the full range of factors that cause it — and determine which prevention strategies are safe and most effective.
Experts know that diet and lifestyle choices play a part in prostate cancer risk. Some medications and supplements also show promise in preventing prostate cancer, but more research is needed in this area.
While any man can get prostate cancer, it's most common in older men, men with a family history of prostate cancer and in black men. While age, genetics and race are factors you can't change, there are some factors you can control.
Here are a few things that you can do to help lower your risk of prostate cancer — and a few things that are still not proved, but might help. These steps may also help prevent other cancers and health conditions such as heart disease.
Nutrition and preventing prostate cancer
So far, research does not support definite nutritional guidelines for preventing prostate cancer. However, you can reasonably act on these suggestions:
Don't overeat. Eat moderate-sized portions and keep your calories under control.
Avoid high-fat foods. Prostate cancer rates vary greatly from one country to another, with the highest rates appearing in countries where people tend to eat a lot of fat. A diet high in saturated fats (such as animal fats found in red meat) may pose the greatest risk.
Make healthy choices. Choose whole-grain foods, such as brown rice and whole-wheat bread. Limit sweets and salt.
Drink alcohol in moderation. Generally, this means no more than two drinks a day for men.
Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables. A diet high in fruits and vegetables has been linked to a lower risk of various kinds of cancer. Recent studies cast doubt on the theory that lycopene — an antioxidant found in tomatoes — lowers prostate cancer risk. But don't stop eating tomatoes. Eating plenty of all kinds of vegetables, including tomatoes, may help ward off prostate cancer and other cancers.
Eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids. While a diet high in most kinds of fat is linked to a higher risk of cancer and other health problems, there is an exception. Omega-3 fatty acids — a type of fat found in cold-water fish such as salmon, herring and mackerel — appear to reduce the risk of certain cancers.
Experts are still studying other foods to see whether they help prevent prostate cancer. While the verdict's still out, eating more of these foods probably won't hurt — and may help prevent cancer and other health problems:
Eat soy products and legumes. Soybeans and other legumes contain phytoestrogens, which are plant-based chemicals that behave like the hormone estrogen in the human body. These chemicals might help to prevent prostate cancer. In fact, one possible explanation for lower rates of prostate cancer in Asian men is that they eat more soy protein.
Drink green tea. Green tea contains antioxidants such as polyphenols that may help prevent certain cancers and other health problems.
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Obesity and prostate cancer
Researchers have not established a direct link between obesity and incidence of prostate cancer. However, obesity might affect levels of hormones related to prostate cancer risk.
Strategies for preventing obesity include:
Following guidelines for a healthy diet
Meeting with your doctor to develop a plan for physical activity
Doing some form of aerobic exercise for 30 minutes or more daily
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Drugs to prevent prostate cancer
Current research does not support the routine use of any drug to prevent prostate cancer, but several medications show potential benefits. Experts are studying certain drugs that affect testosterone levels. While these medications may help prevent prostate cancer, they can also cause side effects and are not generally recommended as routine use in preventing prostate cancer.
Selenium and vitamin E
Some nutrition research suggests that daily doses of the mineral selenium, vitamin E or both may help to prevent prostate cancer. The Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial, a large study launched in 2001, is following up on these observations. By its projected endpoint in 2013, the study will have data on prostate cancer incidence and treatment from more than 32,000 men.
A word of caution: Before using any supplement, talk to your doctor. Taking vitamins, herbal medicines or nutritional supplements can pose health risks, especially in high doses. This is especially important if you're taking other over-the-counter or prescription medications.
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Prostate cancer risk: A common-sense perspective
Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in men, exceeded only by lung cancer. Even so, prostate cancer affects far more men than it eventually kills. According to the National Cancer Institute, about one-fifth of men in the United States will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime. Yet only 3 percent of American men will die of the disease.
Why does the number of prostate cancer diagnoses exceed the number of deaths by such a large ratio? One answer is that prostate cancer progresses more slowly than many other types of cancer. Many men live with it for years. Many survive disease-free after treatment. And others refrain from treatment while closely monitoring the cancer's progression — an approach known as "watchful waiting."
To keep your risks in perspective, stay in regular contact with your doctor about your prostate health. Ask about prevention strategies that make the most sense for you, given your current health and medical history.
An annual prostate checkup can't reduce your risk of cancer, as perhaps a healthy diet and exercise can. If prostate cancer does develop, a digital rectal exam (DRE) and a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test may discover the problem in its earliest stage when treatment can be most effective.
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Prostate cancer screening: Should you get a PSA test?
Prostate cancer: Does PSA level affect prognosis?
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