Prostate Cancer: Risk Factors
We're constantly hearing news about cancer-fighting foods and supplements that can reduce your risk of developing the disease. But, with so many different reports and recommendations, how do you know which preventative measures are safe and effective, and which ones aren't? The answer: proven research.
“One of the most common questions asked in regards to prostate cancer is “what can I do to reduce my risk of getting the disease?” says Dr. Peter Black, a urologist active in the Men's Health Initiative of BC. “And, there are a lot of things that are being explored. There's good data that some things, for example, lycopene, which is in tomatoes, and may help reduce the risk of prostate cancer.”
A study of over 40,000 health professionals showed that men who ate more than 10 servings of tomato-based foods daily (like cooked tomatoes and tomato sauce,) had a 35 percent lower risk of developing prostate cancer than men who ate fewer than 10.
“There's a new idea that a group of medications may help, and they're called 5-alpha-reductase,” says Dr. Black. “They affect how testosterone is metabolized in the prostate. A couple of very new studies indicate that taking this medication may reduce the risk of getting prostate cancer, and that's something men have to talk to their general practitioner about and see if it's the right thing for them.”
However, remember that you can't believe everything you read! There was a large study published recently that looked at the effectiveness of vitamin E and selenium in preventing prostate cancer.
“The general thinking is that something like that can't harm, but the study actually showed that maybe it does cause harm,” says Dr. Black. “There's an increased risk of prostate cancer in men getting vitamin E, and an increased risk of men getting diabetes in men taking selenium. So you have to be careful, and it's wise to take things only where there's good evidence that it actually helps.”
Discuss safe and effective prostate cancer prevention with men's health providers near you.
Risk Factors for Prosate Cancer
What should I do if I'm at high risk of prostate cancer?
