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- The prostate is part of the male reproductive system.
- Its most important function is to produce a fluid that carries sperm.
- One concern of prostate cancer is that men generally do not experience symptoms in the early stages.
According to the World Fund for Cancer Research, prostate cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed in men. The 2016 National Cancer Registry stated that the lifetime risk of men being diagnosed with prostate cancer in South Africa is 1 in 17. This is in accordance with world statistics showing a significant increase in incidence.
The prostate is a small gland found in the male reproductive system, just below the bladder. The most important function of the prostate is to produce a fluid that participates in the formation of semen.
Some of the risk factors for prostate cancer include age, ethnicity, family history of prostate cancer, obesity, being overweight, and a generally unhealthy lifestyle. Therefore, it is important to start screening as soon as possible.
Symptoms and screening
The worrying thing about prostate cancer is that, in the early stages of the disease, men usually don’t have any symptoms. Only at a later stage, some symptoms may appear such as frequent or painful urination, difficulty starting or stopping urination, painful ejaculation, and the appearance of blood in the urine or semen.
More advanced cancer can cause pain in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs. Therefore, it is especially important to have an annual exam to detect any problems as soon as possible.
This is done by a doctor who performs a digital rectal exam and a prostate specific antigen (PSA) test is done. PSA is a protein produced by cancerous and non-cancerous prostate tissue, and high levels are associated with prostate cancer.
However, there may be other reasons why PSA levels appear high, such as inflammation of the prostate and non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate.
Despite this, it is still considered to provide a good starting point for early detection of prostate cancer, so that you can get all the help you need as soon as possible. Most CANSA care centers can perform a PSA test.
A biopsy of the prostate gland remains the only conclusive diagnosis, as it can detect cancer cells, but will only be performed if cancer is suspected.
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The role of lifestyle
Smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and a sedentary lifestyle are factors that contribute to an increased risk of developing prostate cancer. Obesity is also a major risk factor for both the development and progression of this disease.
The good news, however, is that studies have found that vigorous activity, such as jogging, cycling, swimming, or any other activity that gets your heart pumping, is associated with a reduced risk of prostate cancer.
According to the WHO, you should get about 75 minutes of vigorous activity a week.
Nutritional dos and don’ts
Nutrition plays a key role in the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer.
A typical Western diet characterized by a high consumption of red and processed meats, fried foods, fast foods, whole dairy products, refined foods with starches and sugars, and a lack of fresh fruits and vegetables, vegetable oils, fish, nut seeds, legumes and whole grains can significantly increase your risk.
Lycopene is the pigment that gives foods like tomatoes, guava, papaya, ruby grapefruit, and watermelon their red color. This red pigment acts as a powerful antioxidant that inhibits the growth of certain cancer cells and is therefore one of the most studied nutrients in prostate cancer research.
Tomatoes are especially rich in lycopene and have been found to be better absorbed when heated and consumed with oil, making tomato paste, tomato sauces, and other tomato products a great source of this nutrient.
Research has shown that men who consume between 9 and 21 mg of lycopene per day reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer. There are 19 mg of lycopene in ¼ cup of tomato paste, 17 mg in ½ cup of tomato puree, and 7 mg in a cup of cooked tomatoes.
Men who consumed more tomato products prior to their diagnosis were also found to have better quality blood vessels in their prostate tumors, which was an indication of a better health outcome.
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Should you take supplements?
When it comes to nutrients, a food first approach is always the gold standard. For better absorption, functionality and bioavailability in the body, the nutrients act synergistically.
This means that tomato products contain additional nutrients that offer better lycopene functionality compared to lycopene taken in isolation through a supplement.
However, supplements can be beneficial for some people who do not like tomato-based products.
Currently, there is no conclusive evidence that a supplement consisting of a single nutrient can offer protection against prostate cancer, and sometimes supplementing with a single nutrient can do more harm than good.
Being deficient in nutrients is obviously not good, but too high levels of a certain nutrient can also be very harmful.
The Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT) evaluated the effect of vitamin E and selenium supplements on the development of prostate cancer. They found that men who already had high selenium levels at baseline had a 91% increased risk of high-grade prostate cancer.
They also found that high levels of vitamin E increased men’s risk of developing prostate cancer. Therefore, it is best to discuss the appropriateness of supplementation with your dietitian.
Putting it all together
If you focus on including a minimum of five servings of fresh, colorful fruits and vegetables, use tomato-based products, swap your saturated fats for unsaturated fats, limit red and processed meat, stay active, and maintain a healthy weight, you can significantly reduce your risk of developing prostate cancer.
To lose weight effectively, it is best to contact your dietitian. A dietitian can create an individual meal plan, menu, recipes, and shopping list to suit your lifestyle, budget, and cultural culinary preferences. They could also provide support to help you stick to a plan to achieve your ideal weight.
READ | Is teen alcohol use related to aggressive prostate cancer later in life?
References:
CANSA: Men and Cancer
Lycopene and the risk of prostate cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis
Prostate Cancer Progression and Mortality: A Review of Diet and Lifestyle Factors
Fruit and vegetable intake and risk of prostate cancer in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)
US Agricultural Research Service Food Data Center
WHO: Health Promotion – Physical Activity
Image Credit: Mohamed Hassan, Pixabay
