Prostate Cancer

This month it is national prostate cancer awareness month, so, in this month’s Healthy Campus blog, we will be looking at the signs and prevention of this disease.

In the UK, approximately 1 in 8 men will get prostate cancer at some point in their lives. Older men (50 years and over), those with family history of prostate cancer and those of Afro-Caribbean origin are regarded as at higher risk.

What are the signs and symptoms of prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer can grow slowly or very quickly. Most prostate cancer is slow-growing to start with and may never cause any symptoms or problems in a man's lifetime. However, some men will have cancer that is more aggressive or 'high risk.' This needs treatment to help prevent or delay it spreading outside the prostate gland.

If a man does have symptoms, such as problems urinating, they might be mild and happen over many years. For some men the first noticeable symptoms are from prostate cancer which has spread to their bones. If this happens, you may notice pain in your back, hips or pelvis that was not there before. These symptoms could be caused by other problems such as general aches and pains or arthritis, but it is still a good idea to get them checked out by your GP if you are worried.

Most men with early prostate cancer do not have any symptoms.

How can prostate cancer be prevented?

We don't know how to prevent prostate cancer, but a healthy diet and lifestyle is likely be important. Eating healthily and being active can help you stay a healthy weight. This may mean that you are less likely to be diagnosed with aggressive or advanced prostate cancer. A healthy lifestyle can also improve your general wellbeing and reduce your risk of other health problems such as diabetes, heart disease and some other cancers. 

More men in Western countries get prostate cancer compared to men in East Asian countries such as China and Japan. But when men from Asian countries move to Western countries they are as likely to get prostate cancer as Western men. This may be because of the Western diet, which contains less fruit, vegetables and fish, and more meat, dairy, sugar, fat and processed foods. 

What is a healthy diet?

Eating a healthy, balanced diet with a wide variety of foods and plenty of fruit and vegetables may help to prevent prostate cancer. A balanced diet should contain all the food groups in the picture below so that your body has all the energy and nutrients it needs, without containing too much fatty and sugary foods which can lead to weight gain.

The picture shows the five main food groups and the proportions that you should eat every day.

Which foods may lower my risk of prostate cancer?

There are some specific foods which might be important in helping to prevent prostate cancer. You might want to eat more of these foods, listed below. Scientists are studying these as we still need more research before we can say for sure whether they protect against prostate cancer, and how much you would need to eat.

Soy foods and pulses. Soy foods include soy milk, tofu, soy beans (you can buy these frozen), soy yoghurt, miso and tempeh. Pulses include beans, peas and lentils.

Green tea. You need to drink around six cups of green tea a day for it to have an effect, and brew the tea for 5 minutes to release the protective nutrients. Try drinking it instead of your usual hot drinks.

Tomatoes and lycopene (a compound found in tomatoes).The best sources of lycopene are cooked and processed tomatoes such as tomato sauces, soups, purees and pastes. Try to eat cooked or processed tomatoes regularly at least twice per week.

Selenium.  Selenium is found in Brazil nuts, fish, seafood, liver and kidney. Selenium supplements don't seem to have an effect.

Cruciferous vegetables. These include broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, pak choy, spinach and kale.

Supplements

Some people like to take supplements to try and help prevent cancer but the evidence doesn't show that supplements lower your risk. In fact, they might even increase it. For example high doses of Vitamin E supplements have been linked to a higher risk of prostate cancer. Supplements also don't contain all the nutrients found in foods. If you do take supplements, make sure you don't take more than the recommended daily allowance.

How much physical activity should I do?

Exercising regularly throughout your life helps you stay healthy. It can help you keep to a healthy weight and may also help to lower your risk of prostate cancer and other health problems. The more physical activity you do, and the more vigorous the activity, the lower your risk of prostate cancer. But even a little is better than none at all.

What else can I do to help reduce my risk of prostate cancer?

If you smoke, give up!!

Keep your alcohol intake within recommended limits (21 units per week or 3 to 4 units per day for men; 14 units per week or 2 to 3 units per day for women)

Know your body! It is important to recognise any changes or unexplained symptoms and to get medical advice about whether they might be serious.