Can an active lifestyle protect a man from prostate cancer? Research reported in the journal Cancer Causes and Control (Volume 19, page 107) suggests that it might …
Much effort has been devoted to searching for lifestyle or environmental factors that might serve as promoters for prostate cancer. The incidence of microscopic prostate cancer (cancers too small to be seen except under a microscope) is similar among men in the United States and in all other countries that have been examined. However, the mortality rates from prostate cancer differ from one country to another and even within different regions of the United States.
These differences suggest that factors such as diet, exercise, body weight, or exposure to certain substances or forces influence prostate cancer's progression from microscopic tumors to clinically significant ones. Some factors are believed to encourage the growth of prostate cancer, whereas others may have a protective effect.
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A long-term study of men working in the aerospace industry suggests that having a physically active job may reduce the risk of prostate cancer by nearly half.
Researchers studied the effects of occupational physical activity on prostate cancer risk among 2,167 men who had worked at a nuclear and rocket engine testing facility in Southern California between the 1950s and 1990s. Over a 10-year period between January 1988 and December 1999, 362 of the men developed prostate cancer.
Compared with men who did not develop the prostate cancer, these men were more likely to have had sedentary jobs that mainly involved sitting. Sedentary jobs included positions such as managers, data analysts, inspectors, administrators, and senior engineers. Jobs requiring high levels of continuous activity included positions like junior mechanics, patrolmen, firemen, electricians, janitors, truck-lift operators, and welders.
Bottom line: The researchers speculated that men who are continually active during the day may have lower levels of androgens (male hormones), which can be altered with physical activity. If you have a sedentary job, try to compensate by engaging in regular exercise and physically challenging sports or hobbies. It's good for your heart and could help your prostate as well.
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If activity is the key in this study, then please explain why my husband and his father, both very active in construction work and both slender, have, and had, prostrate cancer. My husband's father was diaganosed late in life, but died of Alzhimers. My husband was in his late 50's and was very active in construction, but also generally as I think he could be classified as adult hyperactive. One of my husband's favorite snacks was to eat a head of broccoli out of hand. If my husband's grandfather had prostate cancer if would have been very late in life and not obvious to others as there is not record of his having had it.
My husband's cancer was found by accident when he went in for a kidney stone problem and the doctor "didn't like the looks" of the prostate.
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Posted by: mergatroid | February 2, 2010
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After reading the article and the comment posted to it by mergatroid on Feb 2, 2010, let me first say how sorry I am for the situation of your husband and his father.
There were at least 4 items mentioned in the article that could lead to a progression of clinically significant prostate cancer or else have a protective effect.
You responded your husband was very active, and did not have a weight problem and that he liked broccoli, but you failed to mention the rest of his diet. You mentioned he was in construction. Could he have been exposed him to hazardous substances?
I was diagnosed with prostate cancer through a routine annual physical. Having been diagnosed, I opted out of conventional therapy and chose to discover the cause of my cancer and not just cut it out. My discovery goes hand in hand with this article. More specifically, diet and exposure to hazardous substance seem to play a huge role, especially diet. I too wondered how in the world I could have this since I had no family history and I exercised 1 - 2 hours every morning. I also have not had been exposured to hazardous substances, but my diet left a lot to be desired.
Since being diagnosed, I have eliminated all meat from my diet and receive my protein through a plant based diet. Some studies seem to link high amounts of protein to increased risk of these types of cancers.
I have also completely eliminated processed sugar from my diet.
Although I would never attempt to advise anyone else how to treat their situation since I am not a medical practitioner, I will say, for me, it was the best decision I have ever made. I feel better and am in better health than I have ever been in my entire life and I am 54 years old. I have several friends that have done the same thing and have had the same results, so I think I will stick with it.
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Posted by: svavden | February 6, 2010
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Congratulations, svavden, on your dietary changes. Did it result in a change in your PSA on subsequent testings?
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Posted by: openwider | February 6, 2010
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I'm 54 and recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer. One of the 12 areas in my needle biopsey tested positive. Interviewing 3 Doctor's, each had a different solution from wait and watch for a few years, immediate robotic operation and the other to change my diet with exercise. I'm not over weight and physically in very good shape. Being retired I take advantage of my free time. Like most men, my concern is my sexual disfunction after surgery. Any suggestions concerning my condition, and where is the best medical doctor's for surgery procedures?
Gary
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Posted by: gmany777 | February 6, 2010
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im 57 tears old , . gleason of 6 , psa 2.8, my dr said stay on wait and watch , my question is any data on men in there 50s , on wait and watch ,and what are they waiting for and watching for, . . lotsa of anxties, , scard of all side affects , . im healthy , not overweight, eat well , excercise . and drink red wine a few glasses with supper, , will i wake up one morning finding out my cancer has spread outside of prostate and my treatments are limited , or not affective, , and are there any new discoveries that will have less sideaffects , re sexual , etc, , should i do something now or stay on wait and watch, thank you , thank you very much , tony,
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Posted by: carmen | February 6, 2010
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My PSA was 23 not 2.3, but I really have no fear of it spreading. There is alot to learn. I would never have surgery. Do yourself a favor and read the book Cancer:Step out of the Box and the China Study. They are real eye openers. Cancer is a serious business, so I am not saying "do nothing". But there are many alternatives to surgery, radiation and chemo. With Cancer in one of 12 biopsies, (which mine was as well) surgery seems a little radical and still doesn't address the root cause, which I personally believe has alot to do with diet. All I am saying is educate yourself very well. Once the prostate is gone, it ain't growing back. sdv
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Posted by: svavden | February 6, 2010
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