文章基本信息

标题：Prostate cancer prevention: 7 THINGS YOU MUST KNOW
作者：Liz Brown
期刊名称：Better Nutrition
出版年度：2001
卷号：March 2001
出版社：Active Interest Media

Prostate cancer prevention: 7 THINGS YOU MUST KNOW

Liz Brown

All right, class. Take your seats.

It's time for a crash course in prostate cancer prevention. Why, you ask? Consider that this debilitating disease strikes about 200,000 American men each year. In addition to the pain and suffering many of them endure, 38,000 die. Those who do survive treatment, including surgery or radiation, often suffer from long-term side effects, including incontinence and impotence. One or more of these men could be someone close to you, or even you, yourself.

If you're lucky, prostate cancer hasn't hit close to home -- yet. Prevention is the best way to help keep it at arm's length and that's why you're here right now, ready to learn.

This is an introductory course with a list of seven things you should know about this widespread disease -- and how to help prevent it is a good place to start. And pay attention: There may be a test at some point -- when it affects you or a loved one.

1 DICTIONARY, PLEASE

Prostate cancer occurs when abnormal, malignant cells grow out of control in the walnut-shaped, male sex gland known as the prostate.

The prostate is located below the bladder and in front of the rectum, surrounding the upper section of the urethra. The prostate produces fluid that is incorporated into the semen and it relies on testosterone to function. Abnormal, malignant cells can add up, becoming tumors.

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among American men, exceeded only by lung cancer. Though it's often not diagnosed until very late in life, many middle-aged men have been found to have latent forms of prostate cancer that may act up later. Left unchecked, prostate cancer can spread to the bones, liver, brain, lungs, spinal cord and elsewhere. In fact, 11 percent of all male cancer-related deaths are caused by prostate cancer.

2 SYMPTOMS? MAYBE. TESTS? DEFINITELY.

Prostate cancer in the early stages often doesn't cause symptoms. However, a need to urinate frequently, difficulty controlling urine flow, painful urination and ejaculation, blood in the urine or semen, and/or pain or stiffness in the hips, upper thighs and lower back are possible symptoms of the disease. Some of these signs, however, may be indicative of a less serious, non-cancerous condition, such as BPH, or benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Medical tests can help determine the source of the problem. A blood test measures the levels of prostate-specific antigens (PSA) and prostatic acid phosphatases (PAP) (proteins made by prostate cells), as high levels of these are common among prostate cancer patients. But high levels of PSA and PAP may also be indicative of less serious conditions, such as BPH or an infection. Other common tests include the digital rectal exam and the biopsy.

Dr. Larry Clapp, author of Prostate Health in 90 Days Without Drugs or Surgery, recommends a relatively new test called the Biological Terrain Assessment, or BTA, to measure the "deep health" of the body by monitoring several measurements of the blood, saliva and urine. The BTA test, he says, measures the health of the body's terrain and, therefore, its ability to maintain health when faced with challenges. Clapp also emphasizes that men in their 40s should have a PSA test, as well as an Expressed Prostate Secretion (EPS) test, then each year after age 50. Paying attention to your body's signs is an important piece of the prevention puzzle.

3 RISKY BUSINESS

Age, race and family history are three big risk factors for prostate cancer, notes Bob Arnot, chief medical correspondent for NBC and author of The Prostate Cancer Prevention Plan. Disease risk increases exponentially with age, so even though a man's risk may be low at age 30, it increases greatly by age 60. (This may be due, in part, to hormonal changes later in life.)

Chinese men living in China have the lowest rate of prostate cancer, followed by other Asians, then South Americans, southern Europeans and northern Europeans. The highest prostate cancer rate is among men of African origin (though prostate cancer rates in Africa are relatively low). Rates of prostate cancer are higher in countries where a lot of animal fat is consumed (including the U.S.), suggesting a correlation between saturated fat intake and cancer.

Family history of prostate cancer and a history of benign prostatic disease also increase risk, and greater sexual activity and frequency of venereal disease in cases of prostate cancer suggest that a sexually transmitted agent may be the cause in some cases. Emotional distress, muscular pressure, exposure to environmental toxins and radiation are other potential risk factors.

4 ANCIENT CHINESE SECRET

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, or TCM, prostate cancer can be the result of blocked energy, or chi. As a result, there is stagnation in the prostate, which may lead to tumor genesis, explains Diane Therese Miller, licensed acupuncturist.

Miller works with prostate cancer patients, many of whom are also being treated with chemotherapy or radiation, using TCM herbs to cleanse the body by detoxing, then reducing tumor growth and, finally, boosting immunity. Clapp agrees that stagnation in the prostate can lead to cancer, which is why he recommends a healthy sex life (to move fluid regularly through the area) and massage. Massaging the prostate and surrounding tissue, says Clapp, increases blood flow while softening and shrinking the prostate gland and relaxing the surrounding muscles for improved circulation. (See Prostate Health in 90 Days for instructions on prostate massage.)

5 NOTEWORTHY NUTRITION

When it comes to cancer prevention, Dr. Barbara Levine of the Strang-Cornell Cancer Prevention Center and the Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, says "Go back to the garden."

A diet high in fresh, organic fruits and vegetables, and legumes provides powerful antioxidant vitamins and phytochemicals. These limit damage to cells and DNA itself by neutralizing free radicals that can contribute to cancer. Cooked tomato products contain bioactive lycopene, a carotenoid that has been shown to decrease prostate cancer risk in numerous studies. Good sources of bioactive lycopene are tomato juice, tomato sauce and watermelon. The prostate-friendly carotenoid, lutein comes from green, leafy vegetables like spinach and kale, as well as from egg yolks. A multivitamin containing lutein is also a good source.

Eat whole grains instead of refined products, Levine says. Choose organic, lean meats and fish as opposed to commercial varieties that may contain environmental contaminants or antibiotics. If you do choose to eat dairy foods, choose organic and consume sparingly. Clapp also suggests cutting down on sugar, tobacco, processed foods, soda, spicy foods, caffeine and alcohol, while drinking plenty of spring water. Olive oil is a better choice than corn or safflower oil for cooking. Levine and Clapp agree that the verdict on whether or not soy foods decrease cancer risk is still out. The best news about the diet favored by these practitioners is that it's also a heart-healthy one.

Clapp also recommends a very specific 8-day fast (outlined in his book) to detoxify the colon and the rest of the body in order to help prevent a broad range of health maladies. (Because the colon is next to the prostate and touches one-third of its area, leaking toxins and parasites from the colon can migrate easily to the prostate, he says, so eliminating these nasty critters is one major goal of the fast.)

6 SUPER SUPPLEMENTS

A variety of supplements can be helpful in reducing prostate cancer risk and garlic extract is one of these. Cooked garlic has benefits, but its odor can be a drawback to eating beneficial amounts. Odor-controlled garlic and garlic-derived supplements, on the other hand, may inhibit the growth or prostate cancer cells, according to recent study results.

Levine also emphasizes the importance of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), for cancer prevention. This omega-3, polyunsaturated fatty acid is beneficial for nerve function, too. Levine suggests getting 100 mg of DHA per day, either in the form of three to five fish meals a week or in supplement form. DHA supplements are available in a form derived from algae, making them an ideal source for vegetarians and others seeking convenience.

Recent research suggests that vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) can encourage the death of prostate cancer cells. In one in vitro study, vitamin E significantly inhibited two prostate cell lines by encouraging apoptosis, or cell suicide. A common dosage is 400 IU of natural vitamin E (d-alpha tocopherol in combination with mixed tocopherols and tocotrienols). This is more than we can get in our diets, so supplements are a preferred source. Anyone taking blood thinners, however, should consult her/his doctor before taking vitamin E. Taking mega-doses of vitamin E, however, can be harmful.

Saw palmetto, zinc and selenium are considered beneficial in prostate cancer prevention. (Saw palmetto is also recommended to alleviate BPH.) Selenium has been shown to reduce the incidence of prostate cancer in subjects taking 200 micrograms of selenium per day for 5 years.

Prostate cells accumulate the highest zinc levels in the body, but prostate cancer patients have much lower levels. According to the findings of a recent study on human prostate cancer cell lines, zinc inhibits human prostatic cancer cell growth, perhaps due to stopping the cancer cell cycle and causing apoptosis. Several prostate formulas now available combine some of the ingredients listed above and additional herbs for convenient protection.

7 GET MOVING!

Exercise is important to cancer prevention (and health, in general), stresses Levine: It keeps our weight in check by boosting metabolism and burning calories and it increases circulation, resulting in better blood flow (and oxygen) delivery to cells to keep them healthy. Incorporating aerobic activity into one's life is key. Climb the stairs instead of riding the elevator from now on, take up regular brisk walking, ride a bike or join a local sports team. Even some forms of yoga--including Arnot's favorite, the Bikram method--offer substantial aerobic benefits, while helping to relieve stress.

There is currently no proven correlation between high stress levels and cancer incidence, but Arnot and other practitioners point out that relaxation is important to overall good health and might even contribute to decreased cancer risk. This theory is based on the fact that high stress increases production of the hormone cortisol, which weakens white blood cell function. In fact, cortisol is considered an immunosuppressant. Decreased immune function limits the body's ability to fend off invaders, possibly including cancer cells. Traditional meditation, yoga, prayer, Qigong (a Chinese medical art), tai chi, visualization (or guided imagery), stretching and deep breathing are effective stress-busters for many people.

Last, but certainly not least, leading a joyful life with a sense of purpose is one of the best ways to improve your quality of life and maintain good health. If you major in that, you'll pass life's tests with flying colors.