Can weight reduction help prostate cancer? 

Question: I'm a 65-year-old man recently diagnosed with a Gleason 3 + 3 = 6 adenocarcinoma of the prostate because my PSA was 6.3. My DRE (digital rectal exam) was normal. I am overweight and have not paid much attention to my diet or health. Will weight reduction help my prognosis?

Answer: There are several studies indicating that obesity may contribute to causing and possibly spreading prostate cancer. I would seriously consider a weight reduction program with a half hour of exercise five times per week and a low-fat diet with an emphasis on vegetables, especially cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, bok choy, and kale), fruit, whole gains, and fish. Tomato and tomato products may be beneficial as well, and a decrease in intake of milk products should also be part of your program. However, it has not been shown that weight loss improves a patient's outcome.

Is red wine useful in patients who have prostate cancer?

Question: I'm a 65-year-old man recently diagnosed with a Gleason 3 + 3 = 6 adenocarcinoma of the prostate because my PSA was 6.3. My DRE (digital rectal exam) was normal. I am overweight and have not paid much attention to my diet or health. Should I drink wine?

Answer: There has been one study that showed that for every glass of red wine consumed per week, there was approximately a 6 percent decreased incidence of prostate cancer. It is not clear if red wine will slow down the progression of known prostatic carcinoma.

Does tea help prostate cancer?

Question: I am a 61-year-old African-American diagnosed with prostate cancer about 2 years ago. I am currently on hormonal therapy and doing well after completing intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). I have three brothers that I'm also concerned about. Is green tea or black tea useful to prevent or treat prostate cancer?

Answer: There is some evidence that there is a decreased incidence in Chinese men who drink tea, but it is not clear if this also generally applies to Americans. It probably will not hurt and may be helpful to drink both green and black tea.

Can soy help to prevent prostate cancer?

Question: I am a 61-year-old African-American diagnosed with prostate cancer about 2 years ago. I am currently on hormonal therapy and doing well after completing intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). I have three brothers that I'm also concerned about. Do soy products help prevent or slow the progression of prostate cancer?

Answer: There is some evidence that an increase in soy may decrease both the risk and recurrence rate of prostatic cancer. There is no direct evidence that a diet high in soy will slow the progression of known recurrent prostate cancer.
How about calcium supplements?

Question: I'm a 65-year-old man recently diagnosed with a Gleason 3 + 3 = 6 adenocarcinoma of the prostate because my PSA was 6.3. My DRE (digital rectal exam) was normal. I am overweight and have not paid much attention to my diet or health. What is the role of calcium supplementation in patients with prostate cancer?

Answer: High doses of calcium, especially in milk products, have been implicated in causing and/or increasing the risk of metastatic prostate cancer. Recent data show that 1,000 milligrams of calcium per day may help prevent the occurrence of prostate cancer. However, supplementation of 1.0 to 1.5 grams of calcium in men who are on hormonal therapy is probably not detrimental and has been shown to help decrease the risk of fracture as a result of osteopenia and osteoporosis (weakened bones).

What about pomegranate juice? 

Question: I am 68 and was diagnosed with prostate cancer a year ago. I have had surgery to remove the cancer, but at my last doctor appointment the PSA test showed a rise. I've heard pomegranate juice might help stem the growth of cancer cells. Is this true?

Answer: It might be. In one of the first studies of pomegranate juice, researchers had those treated with surgery or radiation-and a rise in their PSA level-drink 8 ounces of pomegranate juice a day until the disease began to progress. The researchers found that drinking the juice significantly increased the amount of time it took for PSA levels to double-from an average of 15 months to 54 months. In addition, the rate at which abnormal prostate cells committed "cell suicide" or apoptosis increased, and the rate at which abnormal cells divided decreased.

Although this was a very small trial on just 50 men, the results were very promising. The juice contains powerful plant chemicals that reduce inflammation and protect cells from damage from free radicals, which can lead to abnormal cells. It also contains chemicals that help induce the death of abnormal, or cancerous, cells. A larger confirmatory trial is under way.