To understand how to prevent prostate cancer, one must first understand what causes it. There are three major factors that influence a man's risk of developing the disease.
Key Takeaways
- Eat fewer calories and exercise more to maintain a healthy weight.
- Reduce the amount of fat from non-vegetarian food and dairy products to a minimum.
- Watch your calcium intake and avoid supplemental doses far above the recommended daily allowance.
- Avoid smoking, and drink alcohol only in moderation, if at all.
Understanding the Risk Factors
Age: Prostate cancer is most common after 65 years of age. There is no established average age of diagnosis in India, but internationally it is estimated to be around 69 years. The incidence increases with each year beyond that age.
Race: Around the world, Asian men living in Asia have the lowest risk; however, when they migrate to the West, their risk increases.
Family history: A man whose father or brother has had prostate cancer has roughly twice the risk of developing it himself. This risk is further increased if the cancer was diagnosed at a younger age (under 55 years) or affected three or more family members.
The factors above are difficult or impossible to change. However, there are many things that men can do to reduce or delay their risk of developing prostate cancer. The measures listed below do not all have a very high level of evidence at present, but researchers around the world are working hard to identify the probable environmental and contributing causes.
Why is prostate cancer so common in Western cultures and much less so in Asia, and why does the risk rise over time when Asian men migrate to Western countries? One leading theory is that a major risk factor is a diet high in foods that produce oxidative damage to DNA. So what can you do to prevent or delay the onset of the disease?
Steps You Can Take to Reduce Your Risk
- Eat fewer calories and exercise more to maintain a healthy weight.
- Reduce the amount of fat from non-vegetarian food and dairy products to a minimum.
- Watch your calcium intake and avoid supplemental doses far above the recommended daily allowance.
- If you follow a mixed diet, eat more fish, as it contains "good fats", particularly omega-3 fatty acids. Avoid trans fats, found in ghee and margarine.
- Other antioxidant-rich foods that may be included in moderation are cauliflower, tomatoes cooked in olive oil, soya and green tea.
- Avoid smoking for many reasons, and drink alcohol only in moderation, if at all.
- Seek medical treatment for stress, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and depression. Treating these conditions may save your life and will improve your outlook if you are living with prostate cancer.
- Avoid over-supplementation with high-dose vitamins. Too many vitamins, especially folate, may fuel the cancer. While a multivitamin is unlikely to be harmful, if you follow a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish and healthy oils, you probably do not need one at all.
- Relax and enjoy life. Reducing stress at work and at home will improve your well-being and lead to a longer, happier life.
When to Speak to Your Urologist
All of these measures together will not reduce the risk of prostate cancer to zero. Therefore, if any risk factors are present, you should talk to your urologist about screening for prostate cancer, the various methods available, and their respective risks and benefits. For more background on the condition itself, you may also find our article on the key facts about prostate cancer helpful.
Every treatment plan starts with a proper assessment, so you only get the care your condition actually needs. If you have symptoms or a question about your health, book a consultation with Dr. Anish Gupta.