What Should Men Do
Since no study will ever be 100% absolute, the best advice for men on the never-ending debate over vasectomies and prostate cancer is to speak with their doctor. Asking questions, especially for men with hesitations, can help answer mens concerns over the procedure and their likelihood of developing prostate cancer.
In the meantime, certain lifestyle tips men should adhere to may reduce their risk of prostate cancer. These tips include the following:
- Plan healthy meals and snacks Eat more fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, unprocessed meats and poultry, and drink plenty of water daily.
- Exercise most days of the week Include aerobic, strength training, flexibility, balance, and stretching for a well-rounded fitness routine.
- Dontsmoke Men who currently smoke should discuss with their doctor a plan to quit.
- Get a yearly PSA test beginning at age 40 The prostate-specific antigen blood test is a quick and easy test and an important screening tool helping find prostate cancer at earlier, more treatable stages.
Risk Factors For Prostate Cancer
It is not known exactly what causes prostate cancer. However, research shows that some factors may increase your risk, though scientists are still working to establish why there is a link between these factors and prostate cancer risk.
Age is the most significant risk factor for prostate cancer. Your risk increases as you get older. Only 1 out of every 100 of cases diagnosed in Ireland are diagnosed in men under 50. In old age, up to 8 out of 10 men have prostate cancer cells in the prostate but in some men they dont cause any problems.
In Ireland, about 1 in 6 men will get prostate cancer at some point in their lives. However, it is important to note that this is a lifetime risk and involves men who get prostate cancer at any age, up to 85 or older. Your risk when you are younger is much lower than 1 in 6.
- A family history of cancer
Prostate cancer seems to run in some families. Generally speaking, if you have a father or brother diagnosed with prostate cancer you are 2.5 times more likely to get prostate cancer yourself, compared to the average man.
The age that your relative is diagnosed with prostate cancer may also be a factor. If they were diagnosed before the age of 60, this increases your risk by slightly more than if they were diagnosed after the age of 60. If you have more than one first degree relative diagnosed with prostate cancer your risk is about 4 times that of the general population.
Is Prostate Cancer A Disease Of Older Men Only Do Young Men Ever Get Prostate Cancer
Its true that prostate cancer is more common in older men. According to the American Cancer Society, about 60% of new prostate cancer cases are diagnosed in men aged 65 or older. The average age at diagnosis is 66. And prostate cancer is rare in men younger than 40.
But that doesnt mean prostate cancer isnt possible in younger men. Forty percent of new cases are in men under age 65. And some men have risk factors, such as a family history of prostate cancer, that could make them more vulnerable when theyre younger.
Men who are concerned about their prostate cancer risk should ask their doctor about screening.
Recommended Reading: Does Having Regular Sex Help Prevent Prostate Cancer
Is There A Link Between Prostate Cancer And Vasectomy
The answer is no. Most men are quite nervous when it comes to vasectomy. And for three decades, conflicting studies have not reassured them. Some researchers have argued in the past that the surgical procedure may increase the risk of prostate cancer.
Indeed, some controversy has been raised over the relationship between vasectomy and prostate cancer. Analysis of the studies currently available has not established that vasectomy causes prostate cancer and the medical community recognizes that vasectomy is not a risk factor for this disease.
Controversy carefully combed
Researchers at the famous Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, set out to settle the controversy a few years ago by combing through the last 30 years of vasectomy studies to determine if fears of cancer were justified. They analyzed 53 studies on the links between vasectomy and prostate cancer, carried out on 15 million men and followed up over a period of 24 years.
The verdict?
Published in the scientific journal JAMA Internal Medicine, their analysis revealed an absolute increase of 0.6% in lifetime risk. This is a minimal increase that the researchers describe as clinically insignificant. The results confirmed those of a study by the American Cancer Society. The latter had found no correlation between vasectomy and prostate cancer.
Lead study author and Mayo Clinic urologist Dr. Bimal Bhindi said prostate cancer should not be a factor when a man decides to have a vasectomy.
Other unfounded concerns
Inflammation Of The Prostate
Some studies have suggested that prostatitis may be linked to an increased risk of prostate cancer, but other studies have not found such a link. Inflammation is often seen in samples of prostate tissue that also contain cancer. The link between the two is not yet clear, and this is an active area of research.
Recommended Reading: What Are The Effects Of Prostate Cancer
A Vasectomy May Increase Prostate Cancer Risk
Men with vasectomies may be at an increased risk for the most lethal form of prostate cancer, researchers have found. But aggressive cancer nonetheless remains rare in these patients.
Earlier studies had hinted at a connection between vasectomies and prostate cancer. Many experts have dismissed the idea of a link: Men who have vasectomies may receive more medical attention, they said, and therefore may be more likely to receive a diagnosis. The new study, , sought to account for that possibility and for other variables.
Researchers at Harvard reviewed data on 49,405 men ages 40 to 75, of whom 12,321 had had vasectomies. They found 6,023 cases of prostate cancer among those men from 1986 to 2010.
The researchers found no association between a vasectomy and low-grade cancers. But men who had had a vasectomy were about 20 percent more likely to develop lethal prostate cancer, compared with those who had not. The incidence was 19 in 1,000 cases, compared with 16 in 1,000, over the 24-year period.
The reason for the increase is unclear, but some experts have speculated that immunological changes, abnormal cell growth or hormonal imbalances following a vasectomy may also affect prostate cancer risk.
Dr. James M. McKiernan, interim chairman of the department of urology at Columbia, said the lack of a clear causal mechanism was a drawback of the new research.
Also Check: Prostate Artery Embolization Side Effects
Ways To Reduce Prostate Cancer Incidence
If youre looking to treat or prevent prostate cancer, there are many options you can consider. Some lifestyle changes that may help include:
- Eating ahealthy diet: This means eating lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. It also means limiting your intake of saturated fats, red meat, and processed foods.
- Exercising regularly: Aim for at least 90 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise for the week to prevent clogged arteries.
- Maintaining a healthy weight: This can help lower your risk of developing prostate cancer and other conditions.
- Quit smoking: Smoking has been linked to an increased risk of prostate cancer. Cutting it out of your routine can help you decrease your risk of getting it later on.
- Limit your alcohol intake: Drinking too much alcohol can be detrimental to your health. It is recommended that men limit their alcohol intake to two drinks per day.
Also Check: Pros And Cons Of Having Prostate Removed
Myth: The Procedure Is Complicated
Not at all. “This may have been the case 40-50 years ago,” Dr. Desai says. “But a modern-day vasectomy is an in-office, no-scalpel procedure that most urologists can do within 10-15 minutes.”
Although there are different techniques, here’s what to expect in a “no-scalpel” vasectomy, which is the most common type: Your scrotum will be shaved and cleaned, and then your doc will apply a local anesthetic like lidocaine to minimize discomfort. Once you’re numb, they’ll make a tiny puncture site in the skin of the scrotum. Next, they’ll clip and seal the vas deferens, the tube that transports sperm. Finally, they’ll close the skin with dissolvable stitches.
In the grand scheme of things, it’s NBD.
What’s more, a vasectomy is cheaper, more effective and safer than female sterilization, which requires general anesthesia and has a longer recovery time, according to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology . In spite of this, female sterilization is nearly four times as prevalent. A October 2020 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 18 percent of 18- to 49-year-olds assigned female at birth have had the procedure.
Does A Vasectomy Increase Risk Of Prostate Cancer
Many men are concerned that if they have a vasectomy they may be at an increased risk for prostate cancer. What does the research really show? Is there a strong correlation between vasectomies and prostate cancer?
Over 50 million men throughout the world have had a vasectomy, one of the most common methods of contraception for men. This is a very common procedure for men over the age of 35 . Doctors perform over 500,000 vasectomies annually in the United States alone!
Because the number of vasectomies performed is so large, researchers are concerned if there is a link between vasectomies and prostate cancer risk. If vasectomies are related to an increased risk of cancer in the prostate, then the world needs to prepare for a prostate cancer outbreak!
Jonathan is a freelance author, professional health educator, speaker and consultant. In his free time he likes to create websites. Visit his latest website to find a great deal on a heart monitor watch .
You May Like: How To Tell If Your Prostate Is Enlarged
Vasectomy Is Associated With Increased Risk Of Prostate Cancer
A new study from Statens Serum Institut shows that vasectomised men have a 15% higher risk of developing prostate cancer.
It is not risk free for men to have a vasectomy. A new, large study from SSI has found that vasectomised men have a 15% higher risk of developing prostate cancer.
The study, which was recently published in the scientific journal Journal of The National Cancer Institute , sheds light on the most common type of cancer among men.
Read the research article here.
Does Prostate Cancer Always Require Surgery
Radical prostatectomy the surgical removal of the prostate gland is a common prostate cancer treatment.
But not all men with prostate cancer have surgery. For example, radiation, chemotherapy, and hormonal therapy are other treatment options.
In some cases, the cancer doesnt need to be treated right away.As mentioned above, some men may choose active surveillance. If their cancer doesnt appear to be aggressive, they may hold off on any treatment. At that point, a healthcare professional regularly monitors their cancers progress, and treatment begins only when necessary.
When recommending prostate cancer treatment, specialists consider many factors, including the stage and risk level of the cancer and the patients age, overall health, and treatment preferences.
Note: Another surgical option is orchiectomy removal of the testicles. These organs produce testosterone, a hormone that helps prostate cancer cells grow. Removing the testicles greatly reduces the amount of testosterone available to cancer cells.
Recommended Reading: What Age Do You Start Prostate Screening
Setting And Data Sources
We conducted a population based matched cohort study of residents in Ontario, Canada. With a population of about 14 million in 2016,39 Ontario is Canadas most populous province, and residents have universal access to physician services and hospital care. We used the Ontario health insurance plan database to identify physician claims for vasectomy. The Ontario Cancer Registry40 was used to identify patients with incident prostate cancer , characteristics of their tumour, and date and cause of death, where applicable. It is a validated, population based tumour registry maintained by Cancer Care Ontario and is estimated to be more than 95% complete.4041 We obtained data on admissions to hospitals from the Canadian Institute for health information discharge abstract database,42 national ambulatory care reporting system, and same day surgery database, which contain detailed clinical information on admissions to hospitals and emergency departments and outpatient surgical procedures in Ontario. We obtained basic personal data from the registered persons database, a registry of all Ontario residents eligible for health insurance. These databases were linked in an anonymous fashion using encrypted health card numbers, and are routinely used to study the long term consequences of medical care.434445 Details of the databases used and their validity have been described elsewhere.46
Myth: It Can Cause Erectile Dysfunction
Freaked out that a vasectomy will take a toll on your between-the sheets performance? You can breathe a sigh of relief: Vasectomies have zero impact on the quality of your erection.
“An erection is a two-part process consisting of mindset and blood flow,” Dr. Desai says. “It is entirely unrelated to sperm.”
To get it up, you first need to be in the right head space â feeling stressed, distracted or not in the mood can affect your erection. In this respect, a vasectomy can actually be helpful. A September 2020 review and meta-analysis in âMedicineâ suggests that people who have had vasectomies report a slew of improvements in the following areas: sex life, relationship, desire, frequency of intercourse, erectile function, orgasms, sexual satisfaction and sexual confidence. Their partners also experienced greater arousal, satisfaction, lubrication and orgasms.
So why do some people report ED post-vasectomy? Coincidence. “One in two people AMAB have ED after age 40,” Dr. Desai says. “Because most folks getting vasectomies are in their upper 30s and 40s, they have a 50 percent chance of experiencing ED as well.”
Recommended Reading: Low Volume Metastatic Prostate Cancer
Conflicting Research Over The Years
There have been more than 30 studies on vasectomy and prostate cancer conducted in the past 28 years, of differing sizes and quality.
In 2012, after reviewing the research, the American Urological Association, or AUA, concluded that vasectomy likely didn’t increase prostate cancer riskand that doctors didn’t need to bring the issue up when discussing vasectomies with their patients.
But in 2014, a 24-year follow-up on 49,405 men from a Harvard School of Public Health study suggested otherwise.
Its findings grabbed headlines because at the time, the study was the largest and longest of its kind.
The Harvard research found that men who’d undergone a vasectomy had a 22 percent higher risk for aggressive prostate cancer and a 19 percent higher risk for fatal prostate cancer.
The study did not, however, find a link between vasectomy and a higher risk of slow-growing prostate cancers or those that hadn’t spread beyond the prostate.
Why some prior studies suggested an association between vasectomy and prostate cancer isn’t clear.
But as Loeb points out, an association between two factors doesn’t mean that one is the cause of the other.
Is Psa Testing Reliable For Diagnosing Prostate Cancer Does Having A High Psa Level Means A Man Has Cancer
PSA stands for prostate-specific antigen, a protein produced by the prostate. It is used to screen for prostate cancer, but it is not the only test that is used.
Having high levels of PSA could mean that a man has prostate cancer. But it could mean other things as well. For example, men with prostatitis or an enlarged prostate may also have elevated PSA levels.
If a mans PSA screening shows high PSA levels, his doctor will consider his health history, symptoms, and the results of other tests to decide how to proceed. If prostate cancer is suspected, a biopsy may be done. During a biopsy, a small portion of prostate tissue is removed and examined for cancer cells.
Don’t Miss: What Is Transurethral Resection Of The Prostate
Cancer Risk Linked To Vasectomy
Having a vasectomy is associated with a slightly higher chance of aggressive prostate cancer, according to a study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Researchers reviewed health data on more than 49,000 men, covering 1986 to 2010the longest and largest study to date of the alleged link betweenvasectomy and prostate cancer.
About 25% of the men in the study had had vasectomies. Compared with men who had not had vasectomies, they were about 20% more likely to have a prostate cancer that was aggressive or lethal. The actual number of men affected, however, was small. The study identified three additional aggressive cancers per 1,000 men who’d had a vasectomy.
To continue reading this article, you must log in.
- Research health conditions
- Prepare for a doctor’s visit or test
- Find the best treatments and procedures for you
- Explore options for better nutrition and exercise
Reduce Your Prostate Cancer Risk
There are of course many things you can do to reduce your cancer risks. And that is around not smoking which reduces all cancer risks. Physical activity also reduces all risks of cancer. Also diet there are small studies that give evidence that diets that are lower in red meats and higher in plant sources of nutrition have lower prostate cancer risks. Lastly weight if you are carrying more weight than ideal then loss of weight can reduce your risk.
Also Check: How Can You Get Prostate Cancer
Vasectomy Is Not Risk
Statens Serum Institut emphasises that the biggest risk factor is whether the father or brother of the man who develops prostate cancer has the disease.
Just like studies indicate that birth-control pills increase women’s risk of developing breast cancer, a vasectomy is apparently not all risk-free either. Nothing in our study suggests that vasectomy does not increase the risk of developing prostate cancer.
There might also be an association between other elements of male reproductive health and the risk of developing prostate cancer, concludes Anders Husby.