prostate cancer
The Truth about Prostate Cancer
Posted by Max Hammonds on
Martin Ware sat on the edge of the exam table, dressed only in his underwear, barely covered by a paper thin examination gown. “I hope we get this over with soon,” he thought. Martin was worried.
Dr. Doren breezed into the room, a patient chart in his hand and a smile on his face. “Good morning, Martin. How are we doing today?” The doctor’s eyes took in the stiff posture and the worried facial expression of his patient.
“I’m a little worried about what’s going to happen today.” Martin fidgeted on the end of the table.
Dr. Doren sat down on the little roll around stool and crossed his legs. “What about?” he asked.
“I’ve been reading in the papers about prostate cancer and I know you had them draw my PSA last week.” Martin was talking rapidly, anxiously. “And I saw that some doctors want to do digital exams every year and some don’t think you need to. And my friends said that I was in for it today. And I just wondered . . . what would happen.”
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Vitamin E Supplements May Raise the Risk of Prostate Cancer
Posted by Fred Hardinge on
Selenium and Vitamin E do not help prevent prostate cancer.
A large randomized trial has demonstrated that men taking vitamin E supplements experienced a small but statically significant increase in their risk of prostate cancer. Participants were part of the SELECT (Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial) and were 50 years and older. The authors noted that this study demonstrated that these supplements do not prevent cancer.
PositiveTip: All should be skeptical of health claims for unregulated, over-the-counter products in the absence of strong clinical evidence of benefit.
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Smoking Increases Risk of Prostate Cancer Recurrence
Posted by Fred Hardinge on
Smokers diagnosed with prostate cancer have higher risk of recurrence.
Men who are currently smoking at the time of being diagnosed with prostate cancer have significantly higher risks for recurrence than those who have never smoked. This is also true for those who had smoked at least one pack a day for more than 20 years, even though they had quit by the time of diagnosis.
PositiveTip: There's no better time to quit smoking than now!
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Diet and Lifestyle Change Can Significantly Affect Genes
Posted by Galen Bosley on
Good and bad genes can be influenced by what you eat and how you live.
A study was conducted to determine whether a pure vegetarian diet, exercise and stress management could modify the progression of prostate cancer. After one year, those following the program showed significant improvements in weight, abdominal obesity, blood pressure and blood fats. The research found that over 500 genes changed function -- some were turned "on" and others turned "off" in favor of controlling the cancer. We all have bad genes and are exposed to cancer-causing agents, but our lifestyle and diet can determine whether those genes are activated.
PositiveTip: Are you helping to turn "off" cancer genes by choosing a vegetarian diet and exercise to lower your risk of cancer?
Fast Walking Slows Prostate Cancer
Posted by Elvin Adams on
Prostate cancer is common in older men. Usually slow growing, it often bears watching rather than aggressive surgical or chemotherapy treatment.
The progression rate of prostate cancer can be estimated fairly accurately using the Gleason Score, based on cellular characteristics of the cancer cells seen on tissue obtained by needle biopsy at the time of first diagnosis.
Prostate cancer can be slowed by a person's walking speed during exercise, after a diagnosis is made.
Chicken and Eggs Make Prostate Cancer Grow
Posted by Elvin Adams on
Processed meat and fish have been shown to be associated with the risk of developing advanced prostate cancer. There are only two studies that have looked at the kinds of foods that cause prostate cancer to grow and spread once the diagnosis of prostate cancer has already been made.
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Weight Gain Increases Risk of Prostate Cancer
Posted by Fred Hardinge on
Can you still fit the pants you wore in college? If so, you may be at lower risk for prostate cancer!
A new ten year study of almost 84,000 men in Hawaii and California found that men who put on extra weight after age 21 have significantly greater odds of prostate cancer. This is especially true for white males. Those who gained 10 pounds were twice as likely to develop advanced or aggressive prostate cancer than their slim peers. However, in black men the risk didn't increase until the weight gain topped 25 pounds, but only for less aggressive tumors. These racial differences may be due to the different ways people store their excess fat.
PositiveTip: This study did not look at the benefit of weight loss on risk for prostate cancer, there are many good reasons to keep off the unnecessary pounds.
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GEMINAL Study Suggests Benefits of Diet and Lifestyle
Posted by Fred Hardinge on
Tampering with your DNA through diet and lifestyle may benefit the progression of prostate cancer.
Early results from the GEMINAL study may hold exciting potential for those with prostate cancer. This pilot study demonstrated that intensive lifestyle and nutrition changes positively modulated gene expression in patients who already had prostate cancer. Significant changes to biological processes were observed in systems that play a role in how tumors grow. Those patients who made the most changes experienced significantly slower tumor growth!
PoistiveTip: A low fat diet,with lots of fruits and vegetables, legumes and soy products combined with physical activity and stress management may be the future treatment for prostate cancer!