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Prostate cancer: Risk factors, Complications and Prevention

by — Last updated: 2016-08-22 in Cancer

Table of Contents

A study shows that Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT), to treat prostate cancer, offers a higher cure rate than other more traditional treatments.

Definition

Prostate cancer is a malignancy that occurs in the prostate gland of men. The prostate is responsible for supplying semen to sperm. This cancer is usually slow growing and contained to the prostate where it never causes any further issues.

Aggressive prostate cancers may grow rapidly and even invade through the prostate and affect other areas such as the bladder or rectum. Prostate cancer cells can also spread via the blood stream and the lymphatic system to bones (especially the lower back) as well as other organs.

Risk factors

The following are factors which can increase the chance of developing prostate cancer:

  • Age - advancing age increases the chance to develop this problem.
  • Race - African men seem to have a greater chance of developing prostate cancer as compared to other races. The cancer can also be more aggressive or advanced in these men and the reason for this is still unknown.
  • A family history of first-degree relatives (father, mother or siblings) with prostate or even breast cancer, increases the risk of developing prostate cancer.
  • Obese men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer are more likely to have advanced prostate disease that's harder to treat.

READ Diet for a Healthy Prostate: Vitamins and Supplements

Prevention

A person can follow certain suggestion which can possibly reduce one's risk of developing prostate cancer. These include the following:

  • Dietary changes - reduce the intake of food that is highly refined as well as high in fat and sugar content. One should incorporate more fruits and vegetables as well as whole-grain foods as these contribute more to healthy living.
  • Rather choose foods high in vitamins, mineral and nutrients rather than relying on supplements.
  • Physical exercise - there is some evidence to show that sedentary men tend to have higher levels of PSA in their blood, which can indicate a higher risk to developing prostate cancer. One should try and combine aerobic exercises, such as walking and swimming, with weight training on most days of the week.
  • Maintain a healthy weight - since obesity is a risk factor, reducing weight by increasing physical exertion and reducing calorie intake could only therefore reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer.
  • High risk men should consult their doctors - certain medications could be prescribed in order to help reduce the risk of developing this issue. There are studies which suggest that medications such as finasteride and dutasteride could help reduce the associated risk. These drugs though could also increase the risk of developing more serious prostate cancers, so consultation with a doctor is vital when making this decision. 

READ Prostate Health and Prostate Problems - What You Need to Know

Complications

The complications of prostate cancer and the treatments associated with it may include the following issues:

  • Urinary incontinence - both prostate cancer and its associated treatments may lead to urinary incontinence. 
  • Erectile dysfunction - this is an issue which may resolve depending on the treatment used to manage prostate cancer. There are medications and devices though which may be used to help deal with this condition.
  • Metastatic cancer -  prostate cancer tends to metastasize the the bones of the lower back and can cause pain there as well as fractures. Once prostate cancer spreads, it unfortunately can't be cured but it may still be controlled.