Prostate Cancer Prevention and Risk Management
Most men will get prostate cancer, if they live long enough. However, if you understand the risk factors and ensure that you get screening appropriate to your level of risk, you can be sure to get any treatment you may need to cure or manage the disease.
A risk factor is anything that increases your chance of getting cancer. There are two types of risk factors: genetic and nongenetic. A genetic factor is inherited from your parents and cannot be changed. A nongenetic, or environmental, factor is something in your environment, which often can be changed. Nongenetic factors may include diet, exercise, or exposure to various substances.
As with many cancers, prostate cancer has both genetic and nongenetic risk factors.
Heredity or Genetic Factors
Researchers have estimated that approximately 9 percent of prostate cancers may be the result of parental inheritance. Approximately 15 percent of men with prostate cancer have a first-degree male relative (father or brother) with prostate cancer, compared with 8 percent of the general population.
One gene that has been identified as increasing the risk of prostate cancer is the hereditary prostate cancer 2 (HPC2) gene. Mutations of this gene can increase the risk of cancer from 1.5 to 10 times that of the general population.
Nongenetic Factors
Researchers do not know why one man will develop prostate cancer and another will not. Interestingly, when people from areas with low prostate cancer rates move to areas with higher prostate cancer rates, their risk of prostate cancer increases. This suggests that nongenetic factors play a major part in prostate cancer. Although the causes of prostate cancer remain uncertain, researchers have identified several risk factors that are associated with prostate cancer.
Age - It is unusual for prostate cancer to occur in men under the age of 50. Prostate cancer is most common in men over 55, with the average age at diagnosis being 70. The risk of prostate cancer increases exponentially after age 50. In fact, by the age of 60, as many as 34 percent of men show early evidence of prostate cancer. Seventy percent of men in their 80s have the disease.
Diet - There is increasing evidence that diet plays a role in the development of prostate cancer. Clinical studies have shown that high fat intake may increase the risk of prostate cancer by as much as 40 percent.
Several studies have suggested that diets high in nutrients, such as lycopene, vitamin E, and selenium may reduce the risk of prostate cancer. In contrast, a recent NCI study suggested that vitamin supplementation can actually increase the risk of advanced prostate cancer.
More research is needed to establish the link between diet and prostate cancer. (See the Prevention section below.)
Hormones - Some research indicates that high testosterone levels may increase the risk of prostate cancer. However, men with localized prostate cancer and lower levels of testosterone may have a poorer prognosis.
Race - Prostate cancer rates are highest among African Americans, intermediate among Caucasians, and lowest among native Japanese and Native Americans. African-American men are nearly twice as likely to develop prostate cancer as Caucasian men and are twice as likely to die from the disease.
Prevention
Diet - There is an enormous amount of information available about diet. Unfortunately, much of it is confusing and contradictory. However, some common behaviors related to diet are clearly and strongly linked to cancer risk.
Excess body fat greatly increases the risk for many types of cancer. A high-calorie diet usually results in a high body mass index. It makes no difference whether the calories come from fats or carbohydrates. The best way to prevent excess body fat is to reduce the number of calories you consume. Regular exercise can help you to maintain your weight once you have reduced it.
Diets that are high in fat, red meat, or dairy products increase cancer risk. One way to reduce this risk is to replace red meat with chicken, fish, nuts, and legumes.
Lycopene - Lycopene is a carotenoid found primarily in tomatoes and tomato products. Lycopene has been associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer in many studies. It is also known to reduce prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels by as much as 20 percent.
Vitamin E and selenium - Vitamin E is available in two forms: alpha-tocopherol and gamma-tocopherol. Alpha-tocopherol is the major form of vitamin E in supplements, whereas gamma-tocopherol is the main form of vitamin E in the diet. Both of these micronutrients have been associated with a reduced risk of prostate cancer.
Selenium is an essential trace element that is necessary for the formation and function of at least 13 proteins. Studies performed in animals have shown that increasing the dietary intake of selenium can lead to a reduction in the incidence of some cancers. Several studies have indicated an association between increased selenium intake and reduced risk of prostate cancer in humans. However, there are still no definitive answers on the role of vitamin E and/or selenium in prostate cancer prevention.
It is best to consult your physician for nutrition guidance. A large randomized national study conducted by the Southwest Oncology Group—called SELECT (Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial)—is evaluating the effects of selenium and vitamin E on rates of prostate cancer. SELECT is the first study to examine directly the effect of selenium and/or vitamin E on prostate cancer.
Exercise - Higher levels of physical activity may reduce the incidence of some cancers.
This content was last modified on
August 07, 2007
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