Your health with Pharmacist Advice

Men's Health - Prostate Cancer

DEFINITION

Prostate Cancer refers to cancer that develops in the glandular cells of the prostate. The prostate is a walnut-sized gland located in front of the rectum underneath the bladder. The prostate is only found in men. It contains gland cells that produce fluid which protects and nourishes sperm cells in semen.(1)

DESCRIPTION

There are several cell types in the prostate, however, over 99% of Prostate Cancers develop from the glandular cells in the prostate.(2)

 

RISK FACTORS FOR DEVELOPING PROSTATE CANCER (3)

  • Age. Prostate Cancer is found mainly in men over 55 years of age.
  • Family history. Men with a family history of the disease are at greater risk of developing it.
  • Race. (E.g. Prostate Cancer is more common in African American men than in white men.)
  • Diet. A diet high in animal fat may increase the risk of developing Prostate Cancer.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Early Prostate Cancer may produce no symptoms. As the disease progresses, the following symptoms may be present:(4)

  • Frequent need to urinate, especially at night.
  • Difficulty starting urination or holding back urine.
  • Inability to urinate.
  • Weak or interrupted flow of urine.
  • Painful or burning urination.
  • Difficulty in having an erection.
  • Painful ejaculation.
  • Blood in the urine or semen.
  • Frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips or upper thighs.

HEALTH MANAGEMENT

Always consult your Doctor for diagnosis and advice. In no way is this information intended to replace the advice of a medical practitioner.

 

SCREENING FOR PROSTATE CANCER


Prostate Cancer screening tests include: digital rectal exam (a Doctor examines the prostate via the rectum to check for hard or lumpy areas) and a blood test for prostate-specific antigen (PSA). This involves taking a blood sample and measuring the levels of PSA in the blood. These levels may rise if the person has Prostate Cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia or infection in the prostate.(5) The American Cancer Society recommends that Doctors offer men over 50 years of age the option to be tested for early detection of Prostate Cancer. The Society also recommends that men at high risk (family history/race) should begin testing at age 45.(6)

DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT (7)

If you have symptoms or test results that suggest you may have Prostate Cancer, your Doctor will recommend further examinations and tests (such as a digital rectal exam, a urine test and a blood test to check for PSA). Your Doctor may order further procedures such as a transrectal ultrasonography (where the probe is inserted into the rectum to produce pictures of the prostate area) or a cystoscopy (a procedure which involves looking into the urethra and bladder through a thin, lighted tube). If these tests suggest Prostate Cancer, a biopsy will be performed, where a sample of tissue is taken from the prostate to be analysed.


If Prostate Cancer is diagnosed, treatment will depend on the stage of the disease (e.g. is the cancer contained within the prostate or has it spread to other parts of the body) and the grade of the tumour (how abnormal the cells look and how likely they are to grow or spread). Treatment may involve surgery, radiation therapy and/or hormonal therapy or "watchful waiting", where the man's health is closely monitored and treatment is begun if symptoms occur or worsen.

PHARMACIST

Ask your Pharmacist for advice.

  1. Follow the Diet Hints.
  2. Try to stop smoking. Ask your Pharmacist for information and products to help you quit smoking.
  3. Try to minimise stress.
  4. Exercise regularly. Swimming and walking are two good examples.
  5. If the diet is inadequate, consider the supplements suggested in this topic.

DIET HINTS

The following guidelines are recommended to achieve a healthy diet. Some of these guidelines have been shown to protect against the development of certain Cancers.(8)

  • Eat a variety of nutritious foods.
  • Eat plenty of wholegrain breads and cereals, vegetables and fruits.
  • Eat a diet low in fat and, in particular, low in saturated fat.
  • Maintain a healthy bodyweight by balancing food intake and regular physical activity. Being overweight or obese places you at a greater risk of developing Prostate Cancer.
  • If you drink alcohol, limit your intake.
  • Eat only a moderate amount of sugars.
  • Choose low-salt foods and use salt sparingly.
  • For information regarding diet hints during cancer therapy, please refer to the Cancer - Chemotherapy and Cancer - Radiotherapy topics on the Healthpoint.

VITAMINS/MINERALS/HERBS

Always consult your Doctor before taking any dietary supplements for advice on any possible side effects or drug interactions. This is particularly important during cancer therapy, as many chemotherapy drugs act by blocking the effects of certain vitamins.

  • Zinc supplements may help to fight Prostate Cancer(9).
  • Saw Palmetto may help fight Prostate Cancer by stopping cancer-promoting chemicals from forming in the body.(10) (11)
  • Phytosterols (plant sterols) may offer protection from Prostate Cancer(12). It is believed they help boost the immune system and interfere with the growth of cancerous tumours.