In our everyday life, there are many small factors which have direct impact on our health. Diet and genetics might not appear to be having big impacts but in the long run they can prove to be very significant to our health.
Good practices can assure us a long healthy life while on the other hand ill habits can bring ailments and life threatening diseases.
However, it is quite surprising to note that certain diseases can be prevented and even cured by following a strict regimen of a well-balanced diet and healthy lifestyle. But, these major risks of life can be best prevented by becoming aware of the causes and symptoms of the diseases.
Today, in this article I would like to share with you some vital information about one particular disease that causes death of several men every year.
Yes, I am talking about prostate cancer, which is the second most occurring cancer in men.
Statistics reveals that more than 1.11 million men worldwide were estimated to have been diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2012. In India, incidences of prostate cancer increased by nearly 1% every year from 2001 to 2011.
Hence, it is important for every man to know about prostate cancer the prostate cancer symptoms, causes, and the methods of prevention.
First, let’s get an insight into what is prostate cancer.
What is Prostate Cancer?
Prostate cancer is a type of cancer that only affects males. It develops in the prostate, an exocrine gland of the male reproductive system that is located under the bladder, in front of the rectum.
It all starts with changes in the shape and size of the prostate gland cells, a condition known as prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN). Nearly 50% of all 50-year old men have PIN and depending on the changes in the cells, doctors describe it as low-grade or high-grade PIN.
A prostate biopsy reveals weather a person has a high-grade PIN or low grade pin. If one is diagnosed with the former, he stands a higher risk of having cancer cells in his prostate.
Cancer cells gradually develop in the prostate and spread to other parts of the body, particularly the lymph nodes and bones. Therefore, it is imperative to know the stage of the cancer and how far the cancerous cells have spread.
Now, let us know the symptoms, causes, and methods of prostate cancer prevention.
Prostate Cancer Symptoms
To understand prostate cancer symptoms in men, we’ll have to first determine the stage of cancer. There are many prostate cancer stages and the symptoms vary in every stage.
In the early stages, prostate cancer reveals negligible symptoms, and most men find out only after a routine check-up or blood test.
However, if any symptoms do exist, then they include
- Frequent urination
- Increased urination at night (Nocturia)
- Blood in the urine (Hematuria)
- Difficulty in maintaining a steady stream of urine
- Painful urination (Dysuria)
In many cases, prostate cancer disrupts the sexual life due to problems like erectile dysfunction or painful ejaculation.
In advanced stage, prostate cancer can display additional symptoms such as
- Pain in the bones of the spine, ribs, or pelvis
- Weakness in the legs
- Faecal and urinary incontinence
Now that we know what is prostate cancer and symptoms, it is time to know the causes of prostate cancer.
Prostate Cancer Causes
Prostate cancer is very rarely found in men younger than 45, but might become more evident with increasing age. 80% of men have been diagnosed with prostate cancer at the age of 70 while 30% of men at the age of 50.
Some common prostate cancer causes are:
1. Genetics
Specific genes like Hereditary Prostate Cancer gene (HPC1) and the TMPRSS2-ETS gene can contribute to the risk of prostate cancer.
Men who have a first-degree relative (brother or father) with prostate cancer have twice the chance of developing prostate cancer while those with two affected first-degree relatives have a five-fold higher risk as compared to those with no family history.
2. Diet
Insufficient intake of fruits and vegetables in your diet has been associated with prostate cancer occurrence.
Some studies claimed that higher meat consumption has been linked with a higher risk of developing prostate cancer.Lower levels of vitamin D in the blood may increase the risk of being afflicted by prostate cancer.
3. Sexual Factors
Starting sexual activity early in life or having many sexual partners may substantially increase your risk of prostate cancer.
Sexually transmitted infections like syphilis, gonorrhoea or chlamydia may also be responsible for prostate cancer causes.
4. Other Factors
Some other factors like age, overweight or obesity and medication also contribute to the causes of prostate cancer. A previously unknown retrovirus, XMRV or Xenotropic MuLV-related virus has also been associated with prostate tumours.
How to Prevent Prostate Cancer?
Consumption of cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, kale, broccoli, and cauliflower and other vegetables such as beans, legumes, and soy may be linked with a lower risk of prostate cancer.
Increase the intake of vegetables and fruits in your diet – they are full of vitamins and nutrients that will help lower the risk of prostate cancer.
Choosing low-fat diet and eating fat from plants instead of fat from animals is healthier. For example, you could try a dressing of seeds and nuts on your salad instead of cheese.
Drink more green tea or consume green tea extract supplements that have been found to reduce the risk of prostate cancer.
Add more soy to your diet as soy contains specific nutrients called isoflavones that will reduce the risk of prostate cancer.
Consume more omega-3 fatty acids from fatty fish such as sardines, salmon, and tuna. You can also opt for fish oil capsules or flaxseeds for getting sufficient omega-3 fatty acids.
Drink more green tea or consume green tea extract supplements that have been found to reduce the risk of prostate cancer.
Add more soy to your diet as soy contains specific nutrients called isoflavones that will reduce the risk of prostate cancer.
A regular program of exercise involving vigorous activity is necessary to maintain a healthy weight that will lower the risk of prostate cancer and help in prostate cancer prevention.
Nutritional products such as selenium and lycopene supplements also help protect you from the risk of prostate cancer.
Now that you have complete knowledge about prostate cancer, do your part and share it with all your loved ones and help them live a healthy life. Let us come together and create a huge awareness and move towards a cancer-free world.
