Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is the third most common cause of death from cancer in men of all ages; it is the most common cause of death from cancer in men over 75 years old. Prostate cancer entails a malignant tumor growth in the prostate gland, and is curable when detected early.
Risk Factors
Although the cause of prostate cancer is currently unknown, studies have found the following risk factors associated with prostate cancer:
- Age: In the United States, prostate cancer is found mainly in men over age 55; it is rarely found in men younger than age 40.
- Family History: A man's risk for developing prostate cancer is higher if someone in his family has had prostate cancer.
- Race: Prostate cancer is most common among African American men, while least common among Asian and American Indian men.
- Diet: Studies show that a diet that is high in fat may increase the risk of prostate cancer, while a diet high in fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk.
Symptoms
Symptoms of prostate cancer are normally not displayed until the later stages. It should be noted that the symptons listed below are not exclusive to prostate cancer and can indicate other non-cancerous conditions as well.
- Pain with bowel movement
- Pain with ejaculation
- Urinary retention
- Urinary dribbling, particularly right after urinating
- Pain with urination
Prostate Cancer Prevention
Below are a few nutritional factors essential to minimizing your chance of getting prostate cancer:
- Fat: Decrease your fat intake. The number of prostate cancer deaths in a given country directly correlates with the average total calories from fat in that country's typical diet.
- Fish: Eat fish a few times per week. The fatty acid in fish helps to protect against prostate cancer. In one research study, prostate cancer was two to three times more common in men who ate no fish as in men who ate moderate to large amounts of fish.
- Plant-based protection: Eat soybeans and legumes on a regular basis. There is a correlation between high testosterone and prostate cancer. Soybeans and other legumes contain phytoestrogens, or plant-based chemicals, that helps create a balance between testosterone and estrogen.
- Selenium and Vitamin E: Consider taking Selenium and vitamin E supplements. Years of nutrition research have suggested that daily doses of the mineral selenium, vitamin E, or both may help prevent prostate cancer.
By Annie Pan
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