According to a 2014 World Health Organization publication, prostate cancer is the second-most common cancer in men worldwide, with an estimated 1.1 million cases and more than 300,000 deaths in 2012.
“Unfortunately, most men with early-stage prostate cancer have no symptoms attributable to the cancer,” said Dr. Steven Villegas, of St. Elizabeth Healthcare Business Health Services. “Prostate cancer is usually found before any symptoms develop.”
However, there are symptoms that may indicate early-stage prostate cancer:
- A need to frequently, urgently use the bathroom;
- A slow urine stream;
- Erectile dysfunction;
- Blood in the urine.
Bone pain is sometimes associated with prostate cancer. “But it’s usually due to a metastatic disease, which means it’s not much of an early warning sign,” Villegas said. “Once any of these symptoms appear, the patient needs to see their primary care physician as soon as possible.”
Although they say that there is no proven prostate prevention strategy, the Mayo Clinic recommends making healthy dietary choices to reduce the risk of cancer. That means:
- Choosing a healthy, low-fat diet;
- Eating more fruits and vegetables than animal protein;
- Eat more fish;
- Reduce dairy product intake;
- Maintain a healthy weight;
- Exercise on a daily basis.
There are a lot of vitamins and supplements on the market that claim they may improve prostate health, but they won’t stop prostate cancer from taking hold, Villegas said.
“There is credible medical evidence that using dietary supplements for chemoprevention to help reduce the risk of prostate cancer is ineffective,” Villegas said. In fact, studies from the National Cancer Institute have shown that taking more than the recommended dosage of vitamin E or folic acid can actually increase the risk of developing prostate cancer. Be sure to discuss any changes to your diet and regimen with your doctor.
So who should be screened for prostate cancer and how often? That depends on which experts you ask. The American Urological Association recommends against screening patients younger than 40, and doesn’t recommend screening average-risk men between the ages of 40 and 54. The AUA also doesn’t recommend screening for patients older than 70 or patients with a life expectancy of less than 15 years. Other organizations, such as the United Kingdom National Screening Committee, doesn’t recommend screening for prostate cancer at all.
Some groups, such as African Americans and men with first-degree relatives who have been diagnosed with cancer before age 65, are considered at higher risk. For them, the AUA recommends discussing screening beginning at age 40. Ultimately, if you’re worried, ask your doctor to see what’s right for you.
