Prostate Cancer Is The Second Most Common Cancer Among Men In The United States
Prostate cancer is most common in older men. In the U.S., about one out of ten men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. Most men diagnosed with prostate cancer do not die of it.
See the following PDQ summaries for more information about prostate cancer:
- Avoiding risk factors and increasing protective factors may help prevent cancer.
- The following risk factors may increase the risk of prostate cancer:
- Age
- Family history of prostate cancer
- Race
Top 10 Considerations For Preventing Prostate Cancer
To understand how to prevent prostate cancer, one must first understand what causes it. There are four major factors that influence ones risk for developing prostate cancer.
Age: The average age at diagnosis of prostate cancer in the United States is 69 years and after that age the chance of developing prostate cancer becomes more common than any other cancer in men or women.
Race: African-Americans are more likely to develop prostate cancer and have more than twice the risk of dying from it. Conversely, Asian men who live in Asia have the lowest risk however when they migrate to the west, their risk increases.
Family history: A man with a father or brother who developed prostate cancer has a twofold-increased risk for developing it. This risk is further increased if the cancer was diagnosed at a younger age or affected three or more family members. You should discuss with your Doctor if you have a family history of not only prostate cancer, but also breast cancer, colon cancer, or pancreatic cancer.
Where you live: The risk of developing prostate cancer for men who live in rural China is 2% and for men in the United States is 17%. When Chinese men move to the western culture, their risk increases substantially men who live north of 40 degrees latitude have the highest risk for dying from prostate cancer of any men in the United States this effect appears to be mediated by inadequate sunlight during three months of the year which reduces vitamin D levels.
Preventive Practices To Reduce Your Prostate Cancer Risk
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Though prostate cancer is the second most common form of cancer in American men and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in U.S. males its causes are still unknown.
This makes coming up with a clear prevention plan difficult.
However, we do know that certain lifestyle adjustments that benefit your overall health eating well, exercising, etc. go a long way toward preventing cancer, including that of the prostate.
The following are four preventive practices that may reduce your risk.
Focus on Healthier Food
Choosing a diet that is low in fat and high in plant-based foods have been shown to reduce prostate cancer risk.
Fruits and vegetables contain vitamins and minerals that some studies suggest may ward off certain cancers. They also contain fiber, which helps make you feel full, leaving less room for high-fat junk foods!
While its good to limit the amount of fat you eat each day, make sure you do get some fat in your diet from plant-based sources, such as nuts, seeds and avocados.
Fatty fish, such as salmon and tuna, also are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, which have been linked to reducing prostate cancer risks.
Enhance Your Exercise Routine
Aim to exercise most days of the week. Getting your body moving on a regular basis not only has been shown to reduce your risk for prostate cancer, it also helps you reach or maintain a healthy weight. This is important because men who are obese may have an increased risk of prostate cancer.
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How Do You Lower Your Risk Of Prostate Cancer
The success in treating prostate cancer has also provided more knowledge on how to lower our risks of prostate cancer. While there are many factors, such as genes, age and race, that we arent able to control there are a few factors that we can control to help lower risks, including:
- Schedule a physical with your doctor each year. This is important because the beginning stages of prostate cancer have few or no symptoms. An annual physical can help detect the disease in the earliest stages.
- Eating a healthy diet that includes at least 2.5 cups of fruits and vegetables each day. Vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, tomatoes, and cauliflower are especially good.
- Avoiding obesity by keeping your body at a healthy weight.
- Exercising on a regular basis.
- Avoid smoking, or quit if you already smoke.
- Talk to your doctor. If you feel that you are at a greater risk to develop prostate cancer, talk to your doctor about additional vitamins, mineral, or medications that you can take to help lower your risks.
For help with this disease in the Maryland and Washington, D.C., area, contact us to make an appointment with one of our prostate cancer specialists. Our staff members are up-to-date on the latest clinical trials and cancer research and will help you choose the best treatment option to successfully battle this disease.
Overview Of Cam Use In Prostate Cancer
Studies of CAM use to treat prostate cancer have shown the following:
- Men who have prostate cancer are more likely to take dietary supplements and eat certain foods than men who do not have prostate cancer.
- Men who have prostate cancer and who have healthy eating habits are more likely to take dietary supplements.
- Men who have prostate cancer use CAM treatments to help boost the immune system, improve quality of life, and lower the risk of the cancer coming back, but only half of them tell their doctors about their use of CAM.
Studies of CAM use to lower prostate cancer risk or to prevent it from coming back have shown the following:
- A study of men with a family history of prostate cancer found that over half used vitamins or other dietary supplements for prostate health or to prevent cancer.
- A study of men at a prostate cancer screening clinic found that over half took multivitamins and some took herbal supplements.
- A study of prostate cancer survivors found that up to one-third took vitamins or minerals.
See the PDQ summary on Prostate Cancer Prevention for more information on prostate cancer prevention.
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What Causes Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer forms when the DNA in prostate cells develops mutations that may disable their ability to control cell growth and division. In many cases, these mutated cells die or are attacked by the immune system. However, some mutated cells may escape the immune system and grow out of control, forming a prostate tumor.
Understanding the risk factors may help men take preventive measures to reduce the likelihood of developing this disease.
The Basics Of Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is just like any other type of cancer. It occurs when the body starts to produce abnormal cells that multiply at an alarming and uncontrollable rate. These blood cells damage the body and organ tissues. Prostate cancer is much the same. Over time, the abnormal blood cells can overwhelm the prostate, cause it to swell, and eventually erode at the glands tissue.
Prostate cancer can be fatal. It is estimated that one man dies from cancer every 15 minutes. That is a rate of about 93 deaths caused by prostate cancer every day. It is no wonder every man wants to know how to prevent prostate cancer.
However, prostate cancer can be treated, and some believe that it can be avoided altogether. Prostate cancer isnt always fatal especially when detected early. Thats why its crucial to keep up with prostate exams as you get older.
The only surefire method on how to prevent prostate cancer seems to be to stop aging. And since thats impossible, you have to be extra careful and vigilant. Thats because prostate cancer primarily affects men over the age of 60.
It is recommended that men should have their first prostate exam around the age of 50. However, if you display certain prostate cancer risk factors, you should have your first prostate exam around the age of 40.
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Being Armed With Information Is Vital To Begin The Fight
Use the menu to see other pages. Skip to content search menu on this page: Learn about the risk factors for prostate cancer, what you might be able to do to help lower your risk, and early detection of the disease. But hearing the words can still be scary. Enter search terms and tap the search button. Although screenings for prostate cancer are one tool for early detecti. However, as with other types of cancer,. You will learn more about clinical trials, which are the main way that new medical approaches are tested to see how well they work. A message from editor in chief marc garnick, m.d. For example, adding soy products and coffee to the diet may help. Enter search terms and tap the search button. Principal investigator ian thompson, m.d., sorts out the findings of the prostate cancer prevention trial and outlines the risks and benefits of finasteride. Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer diagnosed in men.
Although screenings for prostate cancer are one tool for early detecti. It may grow slowly and it’s typically treatable. Enter search terms and tap the search button. You will find out more about the factors that increase. The earlier the detection of prostate cancer, the better the patient’s chance of survival is.
Maintaining Good Nutrition During And After Treatment
Maintaining a healthy diet can help you prepare for and recover after cancer treatment. It may also help to prevent the prostate cancer from coming back.Watching your weight may also reduce your risk of dying from prostate cancer. Recent studies have indicated that the risk of dying from prostate cancer is more than double in obese men diagnosed with the disease compared with men of normal weight at the time of diagnosis. Obese men with local or regional disease have been shown to have nearly four times the risk of their cancer spreading beyond the prostate or metastasizing.
Prostate cancer treatment may affect your appetite, eating habits, and weight, but it is important for you to maintain a healthy weight, get essential nutrients, and remain as physically active as possible.If you have difficulty eating due to side effects from treatment, there are ways to make eating more comfortable. Working with a registered dietitian/nutritionist can help make sure you are getting the nutrition you need.
Unfortunately it is possible for the side effects of surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy to cause you to lose your appetite, eat less and lose weight. On the other hand, some treatments, such as androgen deprivation therapy may cause weight gain for some men.
, Prostate Cancer and Nutrition featuring Margaret Martin, RD, MS, LDN, a nutrition educator from PearlPoint Nutrition Services.
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The best way to cite this PDQ summary is:
PDQ® Screening and Prevention Editorial Board. PDQ Prostate Cancer Prevention. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute. Updated < MM/DD/YYYY> . Available at: . Accessed < MM/DD/YYYY> .
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How To Use Turmeric
The roots of the turmeric plant are boiled, dried, and then ground into a fine consistency to create this spice. Its used in everything from food and textile dye to herbal medicine. In addition to a cooking spice, turmeric is also available as:
- a supplement
- a fluid extract
- an herbal tincture
You should aim for 500 milligrams of curcuminoids, or about 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder, per day. Doses of 1,500 mg of curcuminoids, or about 1 1/2 teaspoons of thermic powder, per day may cause side effects.
If you dont want to take it as a supplement, you can also use the spice when cooking. Add a dash of the spice to your egg salad, sprinkle it on some steamed cauliflower, or mix it into brown rice. For best results, add black pepper to the recipe. The piperine in the pepper will help your body properly absorb the curcumin.
You can also enjoy turmeric as a relaxing tea. Simmer together water and a blend of the following ingredients for 10 minutes:
- turmeric
- clove
- nutmeg
Once youre done simmering, strain the mixture and add milk and a drop of honey for sweetness.
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Men: Are You At Risk For Prostate Cancer
Every man and those who love him should know how to prevent prostate cancer. This is because a man is diagnosed with prostate cancer every three minutes. Fortunately, thanks to strides in cancer research and cancer clinical trials, this disease is often preventable and has a very high survival rate, if detected in the early stages.
Things You Can Change: Diet And Lifestyle
Men in western countries have much higher rates of prostate cancer than men in Asia. While no one can definitively explain this phenomenon, experts suspect differences in eastern and western diets are to blame. Poor eating habits and diets that heavily rely on fats and animal proteins can cause DNA damage and lead to cancer.
Even men who are already at greater risk due to age, race or genetics can reduce their chances of developing prostate cancer by adopting healthy diets and lifestyles.
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What’s The Best Way To Start The Conversation With Your Family
Some families may be easier to talk to and have more information more easily accessible than others. Here are some tips to navigate a range of family dynamics.
Find your “family historian.” Research shows many families have one or two people who organize information about family health on behalf of the whole family, said Dr. Michael Hall, chair of the department of clinical genetics at Fox Chase Cancer Center at Temple Health. He recommended starting with this person.
Ask beyond your immediate family. The more people you talk to in your family, the more likely it is you’ll be able to create an accurate picture of who was diagnosed when, Hall said. While it’s natural to assume the information a parent gives you about extended family is accurate, actually speaking to those members could uncover even more helpful info. He added that research shows women tend to be more up to date on family health information than men.
Follow A Healthy Diet
First and foremost, I would recommend general healthy diet guidelines to encourage overall health, recommends Justin R. Gregg, M.D., a urologist at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Some evidence suggests the Mediterranean diet specifically may help protect against prostate cancer, he says. While more research is needed, he says, its still an awesome health choice for other reasons . Want to eat more of a Mediterranean diet? Work on increasing your intake of fruits and veggies, whole grains, healthy fats, and lean protein like fish, suggests the Mayo Clinic.
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Put The Cigarettes Away
Smoking has been linked to a multitude of diseases and illnesses, and this continues to hold true for cancer of the prostate.
People who smoke are at an increased risk of developing prostate cancer, and are also more likely to have a more aggressive form of prostate cancer.
Its never too late to quit.
What Are The 5 Early Warning Signs Of Prostate Cancer
Early prostate cancer symptoms Burning or pain during urination. Difficulty urinating, or trouble starting and stopping while urinating. More frequent urges to urinate at night. Loss of bladder control. Decreased flow or velocity of urine stream. Blood in urine Blood in semen. Erectile dysfunction.
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What The Research Says
Steps to reduce cancer risk often include a lot of things you shouldnt do. So, it may be welcoming news to learn that something many men find pleasurable may help reduce your risk of prostate cancer.
Researchers dont understand exactly why frequent ejaculation might provide protection against prostate cancer. One theory is that ejaculation rids the prostate gland of cancer-causing materials, infection, and matter that can cause inflammation.
Despite strong evidence in favor of frequent ejaculation, the theory remains controversial. And there are . The greatest controversy regarding these studies is about the age when ejaculation occurs.
A 2008 determined that men were more likely to develop prostate cancer if they were very sexually active in their twenties and thirties. The study also found no conclusive evidence that masturbation provide greater risk than intercourse.
Prostate cancer is the second most common kind of cancer men get. Skin cancer is the most common cancer. In the United States, one in seven men will get prostate cancer at some point in their life.
The following factors affect your risk of getting prostate cancer:
You may also have an increased risk if youve had sex with 30 or more women or if youve had a sexually transmitted disease. This may be because of your sexual habits. Alternately, it could be that you have a stronger sex drive due to higher levels of male hormones, which can be a risk factor.