What We Eat, How Long We Live and Prostate Cancer – Is There A Link?

Well…I’m not sure how to approach this. I have mixed feelings cause my comments will be directed 100% at me. Hopefully as you read them you’ll understand where I’m coming from and perhaps, YES PERHAPS, you’ll do what I have chosen to do – TAKE ACTION.

You see…I am a prostate cancer survivor. I’m just a regular guy like anyone else – right now, happy to be alive. I’m one of the lucky ones – I seem to be cancer free (and hope it stays that way).

When I was first diagnosed I did what just about every man I’ve talked do did (or had his partner do), I went to the internet and researched, bought all the books I could find and tried to figure out what to do. I didn’t want to have cancer and I did want a quality of life (assuming that life was an option).

One thing I quickly read was the direct correlation between diet and prostate cancer. It seems that most Americans don’t eat real well. In other words we eat a lot of what we shouldn’t or a lot of what contributes to cancer growth. Big juicy steaks along with high fat diets don’t help when it comes to fighting or “preventing” cancer. Now, let me say…I am not sure that anyone suggests that diet along can prevent prostate cancer, but prostate cancer is lower in populations who have substantially different eating habits that do we Americans.

So to the point…

Some of my regular readers know that I am writing a book on Prostate Cancer and have been doing case research to support the book. Thus far less than 5% of the men surveyed – when asked the following question responded – YES. Here’s the question: Once you were diagnosed with Prostate Cancer did you change your diet? The follow up question is: After your treatment for Prostate Cancer did you change your diet?

Most men responded that they did not change their diet at all. In fact, recently one man stated, “Well, after I found out I had cancer it was too late. I figured then I may as well eat the damn steak, the damage was already done.”

Other men reported (and they were a minority – and frankly I would be included in this bunch) that they did change their diet before surgery (or treatment) but once they either had the prostate removed or felt they were cancer free – they (we) went back to our old eating habits. “After all,” as one man reported, “I don’t have a prostate to worry about now.”

I have to admit that writing a book and doing the related research is interesting. When doing that you find that you generally read what others have written in order to do a thoughtful and thorough job. In doing so I was reading by Sheldon Marks, M.D. entitled: Prostate and Cancer – A Family Guide to Diagnosis, Treatment and Survival. In his book the following is written that got my attention. Read it and see what you think.

I had thought David M., a successful businessman in his early 60’s with a fairly aggressive prostate cancer, understood the importance of diet and nutrition. Following a successful prostatectomy, he returned for his follow-up visit. I learned that he continued to eat a high-fat diet. He felt that as long as he took a few supplements, he was fine. He didn’t understand that supplements along weren’t going to make a difference – until the cancer returned. Following additional treatments and a change in his diet, David is doing well, with no evidence of cancer recurrence.

As I read that entry from Dr. Marks book – the words that hit me were: “until the cancer returned.” Now three and one-half years cancer free – perhaps it would be in my best interest to change my diet. I would rather be cancer free and eat right than eat poorly and hear those words said to me.

So what to eat…

Basically a Southern Mediterranean diet – per Dr. Marks: garlic, tomatoes, red wine, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, low in beef and dairy products. Likewise, fish, minimal meat, plenty of soy and green tea work as well – a Asian diet. Here’s a list of Prostate friendly foods: Herbs, Soy, Tomatoes, Red Grapes, Peas, Citrius, Raspberries, Strawberries, Blueberries, Apples, Watermelon, Rosemary, Fish, Aged garlic, Green tea, Spinach, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Carrots.

Which would you rather hear – (1) Wow…you’re looking good, must be eating healthy; or (2) I’m sorry, but your cancer has returned? Don’t know about you, but my eating habits have changed!

Some Links for you:

http://urology.jhu.edu/newsletter/prostate_cancer512.php

http://www.healthcastle.com/prostate_cancer_diet.shtml

http://www.malecare.com/prostate-cancer-diet_47.htm

http://www.malecare.com/milken’s_prostate_cancer_guide.htm

Prostate Cancer Prevention and Tomatoes – Is There A Link?

Today, on a social networking site I belong to, the following question was posed on a discussion board I started related to prostate cancer.   As a prostate cancer survivor and motivational speaker, I am writing a book on the many issues that men and their families face when receiving that devastating diagnosis.  Here’s the question.

My father was just diagnosed with stage 6 or 7 prostate cancer and is going to have surgery. Are there any individuals who know of dietary considerations that will help inhibit prostate cancer and help him mend post-surgery?

I found the question interesting.  As part of my research for the book I ask each interviewee the following question – “did you modify your diet after you were diagnosed with prostate cancer?”  I have to admit I am astounded by the response.  Overwhelmingly the answer is “NO!”  In fact, most of the men seem to pause before answering as if that is the first time they had ever had someone even pose such a thought to them.

AMAZING!

So, let’s go down one path for the purpose of this entry.  There is substantial evidence that tomatoes can lower prostate cancer risk.  In an article by NBC San Deigo:

While ongoing studies are still assessing the value of antioxidant supplements, food scientists say they are already comfortable advocating that men eat a more vegetable-based diet to lower their risk of prostate cancer, not to mention heart disease and colon cancer. Below, Dr. John Erdman, a professor of food science and human nutrition at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, discusses how your diet, and your weight, can affect your prostate cancer risk.

There is also quite a bit of observational evidence that tomato and broccoli consumption reduces risk of prostate cancer. In the tomato products, experts are focusing on nutrients called lycopene, which is responsible for the tomato’s red color. In broccoli, there are a number of sulfur compounds that are thought to detoxify carcinogens, substances capable of causing cancer.

Let me point out that this particular article combines the “purported benefits” of lycopene, selenium, and vitamin E.  Now while this report touts the benefits of selenium and vitamin E a major research study on these two was halted stated that there was no correlation.  That will continue to be debated for years.  But back to tomatoes.

Excess oxidation in the body is harmful because it generates free radicals that can disrupt normal chemical reactions in the body. The theory is that if you oxidize DNA, you alter cell replication, which can cause normal cells to mutate into cancer cells. It is thought that many cancers are the result of an imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants, and therefore, if you consume components of the food that enhance your antioxidant capacity, there is less chance for cancer development.  Ding…that means Tomatoes!

Again the NBC article states:

Data from a study of prostate cancer in animals suggest that consumption of tomato products, for example, is more advantageous than taking a lycopene supplement. Lycopene is one of the components of tomato that’s very important, but it’s not the only one. “In fact, we consume a large percentage of our vitamin C and vitamin E from tomatoes and tomato products,” says Erdman. “And there are other nutrients in tomatoes that we are also studying, such as beta-carotene.“

Here are some more questions asked in the article which I think might be of interest:

How many tomato-based products do you recommend weekly?
Seven to ten servings a week, which is only one serving a day. If you count tomato juices and raw tomatoes and pasta products, that is not hard to get. In fact, most men, particularly teenagers, when they consume pasta or even pizza, get a lot more than one serving at one time.

Does the way the tomatoes are prepared affect their impact on prostate cancer risk?
Some nutrients, particularly carotenoids like lycopene, are very poorly absorbed from raw foods, so some heating really helps. Consumption with a little fat helps, too. For example, you will only get 1 or 2 percent of beta-carotene absorption from raw carrots, but you will get much more if you lightly steam those carrots with a small amount of oil, or if it’s part of a casserole recipe. The same thing is true for tomatoes.

Can antioxidant foods prevent prostate cancer or just delay its onset?
“We don’t really know” says Erdman. “The information we have supports more of delay in the onset of the disease.” At least one out of six men has prostate cancer when they die, but that doesn’t mean they died from prostate cancer. In fact, many men will die with the early stages of prostate cancer and not even know it. So by eating more healthfully, instead of coming down with prostate cancer when you’re 65, maybe you can push it out until you’re 80. At that age, it may grow so slowly it won’t have any impact on your lifespan and you will be likely to die of something else. Likewise, when prostate cancer diagnosed in the 70s watchful waiting is not unusual at all. But if you get prostate cancer in your 50s, you’ll most likely undergo an operation to remove the prostate, and then chemotherapy or radiation.

What foods increase prostate cancer risk?
A high amount of animal food consumption, as opposed to plant food consumption, appears to increase risk. This is most likely due to high amounts of saturated fat in animal food.