3 Ways to Reduce Your Risk of Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer can become a trigger for panic when we hear that 13 out of every 100 men in the United States will have it at some point in their lives. Although you cannot change your age or genetics, which certainly factor when calculating your risk of prostate cancer, you can take active, preventative measures to decrease your chances.

Diet

Maintaining a healthy, well-balanced diet can decrease your risk of developing cancer. This is hard for studies to show, however, men in western countries have a higher rate of prostate cancer than in Asia or India, for example. And the discrepancy is not small. This had led researchers to thinking that unhealthy diets and food processing can be a contributor to increased risk.

Fruits and vegetables (especially raw) contain nutrients that help your body break down carcinogens in the body. By increasing your intake of fruits and vegetables with vitamins and minerals that help fight against cancer, you decrease your risk of prostate cancer.

In addition of increasing your fruit and veggie intake, you should decrease your fat and dairy intake and limit red meat. Fish (especially salmon) can be a source of ‘good fat’ if you are looking for a solid source of protein.

Exercise

Studies often show that men who exercise regularly have a decreased risk of prostate cancer. Exercise is universally beneficial and can decrease your risk for many health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease as well. Exercise decreases your stress levels which in tandem increases your immune system and could prevent cancer in long-term cases. Regular exercise can include walking, jogging, swimming, weightlifting, and yoga. Talk to your doctor before starting a new exercise regimen to make sure it is safe for you and your body.

Aside from exercise, you should avoid smoking at all costs as it increases your risk for a plethora of health conditions.

Medication

While there is evidence to support certain medication in the prevention of prostate cancer, you can talk to a urologist about your options, especially if you have a family history of the disease. With every medication come side-effects and your doctor will consult with you, if it is worth prescribing.

Screening

There are times where we simply cannot prevent prostate cancer. But speaking to a qualified and experienced urologist who specializes in prostate cancer, like Dr. Engel, can offer a great deal of insight into its progression and treatment. First, Dr. Engel uses trend-based PSA testing to see if prostate cancer is truly a concern – remember that not all prostate cancers are fast growing and aggressive. Second, if prostate cancer is caught early enough, usually with a proper screening protocol, a myriad of treatment options open up to the patient, often leading to better outcomes

 The Bottom Line

It is easy to lose control when it comes to the mention of cancer. However, the first and best step is to speak to someone who has the experience and knowledge to guide you in the right direction. If you would like to talk to a doctor about your risk of prostate cancer and how you can take action to lower it, contact us today. The physicians at USW have extensive experience in preventing, diagnosing, and treating prostate cancer.