Prostate cancer prevention: Ways to reduce your risk
If you value your prostate health, avoiding cancer should be your number one priority. Although there is currently no cure, a healthy lifestyle and good management of previous illnesses could reduce the possibility of contracting the disease.
We can’t do anything about some of the risk factors for prostate cancer; that’s true of all cancers. Although research into the genetic and external factors associated with prostate cancer has progressed, no clear strategies for avoiding the condition have been identified. The research further supports the need of adapting strategies to each individual’s prostate health needs and the promising achievements in the battle against prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer prevention is tough due to a lack of particular methods and variable study outcomes. Diet and lifestyle changes may lower a man’s risk, but that’s no guarantee. These lifestyle changes enhance health, extend life, and reduce malignant prostate cancer risk. Despite uncontrollable factors like age and family history, taking a holistic approach to health is advisable for those with average prostate cancer risk.
Changeable Factors: Aging, Race, And Genetics
- Prostate cancer is primarily linked to ageing, with the likelihood increasing as individuals grow older.
- Race and genetics play significant roles; African American individuals are at double the risk compared to white American men.
- Family history, particularly if a father, brother, or multiple blood relatives had prostate cancer, raises the likelihood.
- Despite challenges posed by these risk factors, early and frequent screening improves the chances of timely diagnosis and treatment of Prostate cancer.
Factors You Can Change: Diet And Lifestyle
– Prostate cancer rates are significantly elevated in western countries compared to Asia.
– Dietary differences between Eastern and Western civilizations, particularly diets high in fats and animal proteins, are among suspected reasons.
– Bad eating patterns, especially those combining high-fat and animal protein diets, may harm DNA and help cancer grow.
Regardless of age, colour, or genetics, men at greater risk may lower their risks of prostate cancer by changing their diets and way of life.
Family History Risk Factors:
– Men whose father or brother has been diagnosed with prostate cancer may have a twice risk of inheriting this disease as compared to those without afflicted relations.
– If the illness was discovered at a younger age—below 60—or if many family members are suffering, the risk becomes worse.
– Always check with your doctor if you have a history of cancer in your family, whether it’s prostate, breast, ovarian, colon, pancreatic, endometrial, or any other kind of cancer.
Ten Prostate Cancer Prevention Steps
1. Eat colourful veggies, less red meat, sweets, processed meals, and dairy.
2. Control calories and exercise to prevent fatal prostate cancer.
3. Choose almonds, tofu, and leafy greens over pills for calcium.
4. Avoid inflammatory saturated fats and choose plant-based foods and fish over red meat.
5. Eat broccoli and sautéed tomatoes with olive oil weekly.
6. For better health, quit smoking and drink moderately.
7. Treat stress, hypertension, diabetes, excessive cholesterol, and depression to enhance life quality and prostate cancer survival.
8. A balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, seafood, and healthy oils may replace megavitamins.
9. Live a peaceful, pleasurable life to lower cortisol, kill cancer cells, and improve survival.
10. Discuss PSA and rectal examination risks and benefits with your doctor for males 45 or older (40 for Black men or those with a family history).
Preventive Medications For Prostate Cancer
1. Men diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) often receive finasteride or dutasteride, drugs that lower dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
2. Extensive studies indicate a potential 25% reduction in prostate cancer risk with these drugs.
3. Caution is advised as patients developing cancer while on these medications may face a higher risk of aggressive forms of the disease.
4. Discuss both advantages and disadvantages with your doctor to make an informed decision about these preventive drugs.
Medications For Prostate Cancer Risk:
Consult With Your Urology Doctor About Your Risk.
Some drugs might help reduce the risk of prostate cancer.
- 5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors:
- Finasteride and dutasteride may lower prostate cancer risk, but potential side effects exist.
- Not FDA-approved for this purpose; consult your doctor.
- Aspirin:
- Daily use may lower prostate cancer risk, but risks include digestive tract bleeding.
- Most doctors don’t currently recommend it solely for this purpose.
Although these medications could be used “off label” for this purpose, the FDA has not authorised them for minimising a prostate cancer risk. Men looking for further detail on these medications ought to consult with their doctors.
See your urologists about the specific risk you could be in.
Consult the urology doctor if you are at high risk of developing prostate cancer. Even though the probability of developing this ailment can differ significantly, some men are more susceptible to the development of prostate cancer than others because of the following factors. Thus, individuals with high genetic probability of having the condition may try to reduce the probability by use of specific drugs.