Diet and Prostate Cancer Recurrence - An Overview

What Is Prostate Cancer?

The prostate is a small ping-pong ball-sized gland located in the pelvis below the urinary bladder towards the front of the rectum in men. This small gland secretes fluid that gets mixed up with semen, keeping the sperm healthy. This fluid makes the semen fit enough to bring conception and pregnancy. The cancer of the prostate gland is called prostate cancer and is a serious disease. Most people with prostate cancer get diagnosed in the early stage, preventing the spread of cancer to other parts. In addition, treatment in the early stages eliminates prostate cancer.

What Are the Symptoms of Prostate Cancer?

Prostate cancer rarely shows symptoms in the early stages. Symptoms start showing as the disease progresses or worsens. Some of them are:

• Weak urinary system.

• Need to urinate frequently.

• The urgency to urinate at night.

• Urinary incontinence (the uncontrollable leakage of urine due to problems associated with bladder control is called urinary incontinence). In simple terms, the individual accidentally urinates when they do not want to.

• Weight loss.

• Bone pain.

• Reduced force in the urine outflow.

• Weak urine flow.

• Urine flow starts and stops intermittently during the episode.

• Dysuria (pain, discomfort, or burning sensation while passing urine). Discomfort may happen during or after urination.

• Fecal incontinence or accidental bowel leakage (accidental leakage of stool through the anus due to the inability to control bowel movements). As a result, the patient accidentally leaks the stool from the rectum. It is also called bowel incontinence. The leakage may occasionally happen along with the passage of gas or completely losing total control.

• Erectile dysfunction (the inability to achieve an erection or keep the achieved erection for a longer time). It is also known as impotence.

• Painful ejaculation.

• Hematospermia (the condition where blood passes along with semen).

• Hematuria is also called bloody urine in simpler terms. It is the passage of blood along with urine.

• Pain in the lower back, hip, or chest.

What Are the Causes of Prostate Cancer?

Prostate cancer gets formed when the cells in the prostate gland divide faster than usual. The cancer cells are immortal and further divide to form a lump of cancerous cells called a tumor. As the multiplication of the cancerous cells continues, a part of the tumor breaks off and moves to another part of the body. This is how cancer gets spread to a different body area. This method of spread of cancer is called metastasis. Prostate cancer grows slowly and gets diagnosed before it metastasizes.

What Are the Risk Factors of Prostate Cancer?

The common risk factors of prostate cancer are:

• Age: As age progresses, the chances of getting prostate cancer increase. Studies show that the risk is higher in men over 50 to 65 years of age. Therefore, carrying out a screening test in middle age is important.

• Family History: The genes for prostate cancer run in the family. It is the most heritable type of cancer.

• Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI): Sexually transmitted infections are linked to prostate cancer. Sexually transmitted diseases in men can lead to inflammation, like prostatitis. It can gradually lead to prostate cancer.

• Increased Height: Increased height of the individual increases the risk of prostate cancer.

• Calcium Intake: Higher calcium intake is a risk factor for prostate cancer.

• Obesity: It is not the body mass index of an obese patient that leads to prostate cancer, but they are more likely to get the disease.

• Sedentary Lifestyle: Lack of exercise or a sedentary lifestyle is also a risk factor for prostate cancer.

• Race: The risk is higher if the person has African ancestry.

• Genetics: If the person has inherited mutated genes, the risk of prostate cancer is higher.

• Prostatitis: Inflammation or swelling of the prostate gland due to an infection, injury, or lack of immunity is named prostatitis.

What Are the Diet Tips for Prostate Health?

• Eating Fruits and Vegetables: Consuming more vegetables and fruits helps fight against cancer as they contain antioxidants, fibers, and minerals. Beta-carotene in carrots, lycopene in tomatoes, and phytochemicals in cruciferous vegetables can fight against cancer. In addition, fruits like pomegranates, grapes, avocados, apples, and oranges also prevent cancer. Capsaicin found in jalapenos, and pepper neutralizes cancer-causing chemicals.

• Consuming Green Tea: Green tea contains antioxidants and other substances which can fight against cancer. Green tea slows down the spread or entirely prevents prostate cancer.

• Consuming Soy and Soy Products: PSA or prostate-specific antigen levels may be reduced by consuming soy and soy products.

• Decreasing Fat Intake: Replacing trans and saturated fats with healthy fats and omega-3 fatty acids will be beneficial.

• Sticking on to a Plant-Based Diet: Eating a plant-based diet like plant proteins, legumes, beans, and whole grains will be beneficial to prevent prostate cancer.

• Limiting Sugar: Processed and refined sugar has the potential to induce cancer. Limiting the intake of unhealthy sugars will be beneficial.

What Is the Benefit of Having Nutritious Food After Cancer Treatment?

Maintaining a healthy weight helps in easy recovery after prostate cancer treatment. It may also prevent the recurrence of cancer. Since obese men are at higher risk of getting prostate cancer, losing weight by having a healthy and nutritious meal is essential. In addition, getting adequate nutrients will help to recover from the disease quickly. Being physically active also helps in gaining muscle mass and losing fat tissues. The cancer treatment may cause many alterations in appetite, taste, and likeness of food. But taking advice from a dietitian or nutritionist will help to get on a healthy eating track.

Conclusion

Good food choices are the best investments. A fulfilling meal implies eating a visually appealing meal containing plenty of nutrients and filling the heart with joy. Such a diet can prevent any disease and keep the soldier mechanism within the body alert and active. In addition, getting assistance from an experienced nutrition or dietary advisor can help manage cravings.