While we can’t change our genes or avoid the aging process, there are certain things we can do that may help to lower the risk of prostate cancer. The cancer care specialists at the Saint Francis Cancer Center want to help you lessen the chances of getting prostate cancer by educating you on the risk factors and providing prevention guidelines.

Prostate Cancer Prevention

1.Lower DHT levels: Prostate cells grow in response to the hormone Dihydro-testosterone. Production of this hormone from testosterone can be blocked with several prescription medications, or with the over-the-counter supplement Saw Palmetto. Lowering DHT is the most effective means for lowering the overall number of prostate cancers and has been recommended by the American Urological Association and the American Society of Clinical Oncology. 

2. Eat your cruciferous veggies: It’s no wonder your mother encouraged you to eat your broccoli. Men who eat broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower, kale, cabbage, bok choy and similar green leafy vegetables more than once a week are 40 percent less likely to develop prostate cancer. 

3. Bring on the tomato products:  Diets rich in tomato products have been linked to a reduced risk of prostate cancer. This may be due to the anti-oxidant lycopene although this is still uncertain. Studies have also found that canned or processed tomato products may be more effective than fresh tomatoes from the grocery store.

4. Have frequent sex: Studies have shown that men who ejaculate more frequently may have a lower risk of prostate cancer.  

5. Eat a healthy diet: Increased  prostate cancer risk has been associated with diets that are high in saturated fats, particularly those from red meats. Limiting red meat consumption, maintaining a high intake of fruits and vegetables and limiting alcohol intake to moderate amounts have all been associated with lower prostate risk.

6. Eliminate belly fat: There’s nothing good about visceral fat (the fat inside the abdomen). It produces inflammatory chemicals and alters hormone ratios in ways that increase the risk of many types of cancer, including prostate cancer. Even if you don’t lower your total weight, shifting fat from visceral belly fat to much less dangerous subcutaneous fat (fatty tissue lying directly under the skin) can lower your health risks. Following a low glycemic index diet and maintaining high levels of physical activity can reduce your visceral fat.

Prostate Cancer Risk Factors

While the cause of prostate cancer is not completely understood, researchers have discovered several factors that might play a role in its development. These risk factors include:

• Age:  Prostate cancer is rare in men under the age of 40; yet, the possibility of developing it increases rapidly after age 50. Approximately two out of three prostate cancers are found in men over the age of 65.
• Race/ethnicity: Prostate cancer occurs more often in African American men than in men of other races. African American men are also more likely to be diagnosed at an advanced stage, and are more than twice as likely to die of prostate cancer as Caucasian men. Prostate cancer occurs less often in Asian American and Hispanic/Latino men than in non-Hispanic whites. The reasons for these racial and ethnic differences are not clear.
• Family history: Prostate cancer seems to run in some families, which suggests there may be an inherited or genetic factor. Having a father or brother with prostate cancer more than doubles a man's risk of developing this disease. (The risk is higher for men who have a brother with the disease than for those with an affected father.)
• Diet: Men who consume a lot of red meat or high-fat dairy products, as well as less fruits and vegetables, appear to have a slightly higher chance of developing prostate cancer. 

Learn More About Prostate Cancer

About Prostate Cancer
Prostate Cancer Test and Diagnoses
Treatment of Prostate Cancer

Learn More About Common Types of Cancer

To learn more about different types of cancer, please review the links below. For additional Saint Francis Cancer Center information or to schedule a consultation with a cancer specialist, please call the Saint Francis HealthLink at 918-488-6688.

Breast Cancer
Colon Cancer
Head and Neck Cancers
Hodgkin's Disease
Leukemia
Lung Cancer
Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Prostate Cancer
Skin Cancer
Pediatric Cancers