WARNING!
This is an older article that may not reflect Dr. Mercola’s current view on this topic. Use our search engine to find Dr. Mercola’s latest position on any health topic.
The diagnosis of cancer often has a profound effect on men and their families. The word “cancer” signals a life-changing issue that may be accompanied by feelings of fear, depression and anxiety. Sometimes these feelings linger for years after diagnosis and treatment.
The American Cancer Society believes that in 2020 there will be an estimated 1,806,950 new cases of cancer diagnosed and 606,520 people with cancer will die.1 Of these, the top three primary tumor locations are in the breast, lung and bronchus, and prostate, in that order.
A diagnosis of prostate cancer is second only to lung cancer in men and is the fifth leading cause of death worldwide.2 In the early stages of the disease you may not experience any symptoms.
The American Cancer Society estimates that 1 in every 9 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, which has a higher likelihood of happening to men 65 and older and those who are African-American.3
Watch for These Symptoms
Since there are few to no early signs of it, most men are diagnosed with prostate cancer after an early screening. However, this presents different challenges I’ll discuss below.
The prostate is a gland located just below the bladder and in front of the lower part of the intestinal tract. The urethra, which carries urine from the bladder out of the penis, travels through the prostate gland. The size of the gland changes as a man ages: It’s about the size of a walnut in younger men and naturally grows larger with age.4
There are four types of cancer that can start in the prostate. Most prostate cancers are slow-growing adenocarcinomas. But they can also include transitional cell carcinomas, small cell carcinomas, neuroendocrine tumors and sarcomas. The American Cancer Society reports:5
"… autopsy studies show that many older men (and even some younger men) who died of other causes also had prostate cancer that never affected them during their lives."
Growth of the prostate gland can create challenges in the urinary system, which is where many of the symptoms of prostate cancer originate. However, not all urinary symptoms are signs of prostate cancer since benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), also known as enlargement of the prostate, can cause similar problems. Symptoms of prostate cancer may include:6,7,8
Urinary urgency and frequency, especially at night |
Difficulty starting to urinate or stopping the stream |
Decreased amounts of semen ejaculated |
Difficulty having an erection |
Blood in the urine or semen |
Pain or burning during urination |
Weakened or interrupted flow of urine |
Loss of bladder control |
Pressure or pain in the rectum |
Pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, thighs or pelvis |
If prostate cancer spreads (metastasis), it may press on nerves coming from the spine, triggering numbness or pain in the hips, legs or feet. Metastases may also cause bone pain and fractures.
Prevention Is Always the Best Medicine
No one really knows the exact cause for prostate cancer, but there are some risk factors to keep in mind. You have control over some, but not all of them. These include:9,10,11
Age — The older you get, the greater your risk |
Race — Black men are more likely to get prostate cancer than men of other races |
Family history — Your risk increases if you have male relatives who’ve had prostate cancer; breast cancer in a family member also increases the risk |
Obesity — Men with high BMI may be more likely to have advanced disease at diagnosis; one study found reducing obesity could decrease the risk disparity in the incidence of cancer between African-American men and white men.12 |
Smoking |
Sedentary lifestyle |
Geography — Prostate cancer is more commonly found in North America, Australia, Caribbean Islands and northwestern Europe |
Chemical exposure — Firefighters may have an increased risk from exposure to chemicals |
Inflammation of the prostate — Prostatitis, an inflammatory condition, may increase your risk |
Nothing is guaranteed, but you may be able to reduce your potential risk for prostate cancer by making some simple lifestyle choices. Modifiable factors include getting at least 30 minutes of exercise each day and moving consistently throughout the day.
Although exercise is important, spending the rest of the day sitting — the “sitting disease” — causes problems of its own. Regularly moving around, getting plenty of exercise, eating a balanced diet and paying attention to your gut microbiome will help with weight management and reduce your risk for obesity, which is one of the risk factors.
Chronic exposure to chemicals and toxins in fires places firefighters at greater risk for all cancers. The leaders of two statewide surveys of 1,300 active firefighters in Ohio found that about half believed cancer was their greatest occupational risk, up from 5% surveyed 10 years before.13
Specifically, fighting fires is associated with a higher risk of melanoma, acute myeloid leukemia, and various types of cancers including that of the prostate.14
Include These Foods and Avoid Others
Scientists are continuing to study the relationship among nutrients, supplements and prostate cancer, searching for a link that may help prevent or treat the growths. Currently, there is conflicting data on whether vitamin E and selenium are protective or if they increase the risk.15
Information from the SELECT trial that began in 2001 showed that men with a low selenium status didn’t benefit from supplementation, but those with high levels of selenium had an increased risk of high-grade prostate cancer. Men with low levels of selenium taking a vitamin E supplement also had a higher risk.16
Another study was designed to focus on the effects of phytonutrients. The data revealed that in the lab, a combination of phytonutrients and vitamins had a synergistic effect against hormone-dependent prostate cancer cells.17
There is data to support that a cup of hot green tea has the ability to inhibit the growth of prostate cancer cells in advanced prostate cancer.18 The antioxidant lycopene, found in tomatoes, has demonstrated anticancer properties: In one metanalysis, data pointed to a lower risk of prostate cancer in men with higher levels of lycopene.19
Cautiously Use Results From a PSA Test
It can be difficult to know what to do with the results after a prostate cancer screening test. The blood test measures prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and is routinely recommended for men over 50.20 When the level is elevated it could mean prostate cancer, or it could be due to other causes.
For instance, your PSA level naturally rises as you age. Men with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH),21 a urinary tract infection22 or prostatitis23 can have an elevated PSA level. The authors of one study found elevations after the men ejaculated.24 High levels of parathyroid hormone25 and prostate inflammation from a vigorous digital examination, injury or surgical procedure26 are other reasons.
Additionally, the result of one PSA test isn’t really enough to determine if a biopsy is warranted, but rather a steady rise over a two- to four-year period in men ages 45 to 70. Scientists from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center believe there is evidence that:27
"… prostate cancer is often so slow growing that it would not cause a man any problems during the course of his life. For that reason, many men do not benefit from treatment for prostate cancer and may unnecessarily suffer from its side effects, such as long-term problems with urinary and sexual function."
The American College of Physicians released new clinical guidelines in 2013 recommending:28
"… clinicians inform men between the age of 50 and 69 years about the limited potential benefits and substantial harms of screening for prostate cancer. ACP recommends that clinicians base the decision to screen for prostate cancer using the prostate-specific antigen test on the risk for prostate cancer, a discussion of the benefits and harms of screening, the patient's general health and life expectancy, and patient preferences."
Taken together, it is evident that most prostate cancer grows slowly enough that screening may not effectively reduce the potential for mortality. In fact, it may be more effective to make lifestyle choices that help prevent further development of prostate cancer if you have an elevated PSA.
Treatment Without Drugs, Radiation or Surgery Is Possible
One elevated PSA test should be followed up within two to four years with a second, so you have the opportunity to make changes to treat any cancer without life-altering drugs, radiation or surgery. In my interview with Peter Starr, award-winning filmmaker, he discusses the journey he took to survive the disease.
After an elevated PSA and a concerning digital rectal examination, he went on to get a biopsy. The recommendation was a $43,000 radical prostatectomy with the likely result of urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction.29
After learning everything he could about conventional and unconventional treatments, he put together his own program. Three years later doctors were unable to find any signs of cancer. After four years of being cancer-free he began making his documentary, Surviving Prostate Cancer Without Surgery, Drugs, or Radiation.
He traveled to eight countries on three continents and included 56 doctors’ interviews in the film. He discovered biopsies are not risk free and some people were dying from the treatment, not the cancer.
Starr used a four-step program that started with an analysis of his nutrition status. Your body has an amazing capacity to heal when given adequate nutrition. Starr began his treatment program with an understanding of the nutritional deficiencies he might have had, and took steps to correct them.
The remaining three steps of his program, plus his recommendations for prostate cancer screening and his surprising discovery of how emotional trauma may impact prostate health, can be found in "How to Survive Prostate Cancer Without Surgery, Drugs, or Radiation."