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How to lower your risk of cancer

Provided by: Sun Media
Written by: FRAN BERKOFF
Nov. 8, 2009

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in Canadian men. Every year, around 25,000 Canadian men are newly diagnosed and at least one in every six Canadian men is expected to develop prostate cancer in their lifetime. If diagnosed at an early stage, it can be curable. Age, heredity and diet have all been identified as risk factors.

Diet plays a role in maintaining prostate health and may help ward off prostate cancer. Here are some of the dietary strategies:

You've likely heard about the role tomatoes play in lowering prostate cancer risk. Lycopene, a powerful antioxidant found in tomato products, has been well studied for its cancer fighting properties. More recently, studies have shown that lycopene supplements are not effective and that the whole foods are more likely to provide this benefit. The best sources are heat processed tomato products such as tomato sauce, tomato paste, tomato juice, pizza sauce and even ketchup.

In addition to tomatoes, eating lots of fruits and vegetables is another way to help fight prostate cancer. Vegetables in the cruciferous family, including broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and kale, are all protective. Some research is looking at the protective role of compounds in pomegranates and pomegranate juice.

Earlier this year, researchers reviewed evidence regarding diet and prostate cancer and suggested that a Cretan Mediterranean style diet with lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and legumes, olive oil as the main fat source, a low intake of red meat and moderate to high intake of fish may help lower risk.

Lentils, beans, soy foods and foods containing vitamin E (nuts and seeds, vegetable oils, dark green leafy vegetables) may also offer protection.

Foods rich in selenium, an essential trace mineral, and important antioxidant may lower risk. The best sources are Brazil nuts, sunflower seeds, seafood, turkey, chicken, eggs and whole wheat grain products.

Despite the role of certain nutrients in foods, supplements may not be the answer. "SELECT", a large prostate cancer prevention study was stopped early because it found that selenium or vitamin E supplements did not prevent prostate cancer. In fact, some results suggest that vitamin E supplements may slightly increase risk of developing the disease.

There is some evidence that a high fat diet, especially high saturated fat, may increase risk so it makes sense to choose the leanest cuts of meat, remove skin from poultry, use lower fat diary products and keep your meat portions smaller.

There is also some evidence that being obese can increase your risk.

While vitamin D is not directly linked to prostate cancer, the Canadian Cancer Society recommends taking 1000 IU of vitamin D in the fall and winter, and all year round if you are over 50, have dark skin, don't go outdoors often or wear clothing that covers most of your skin.

The good news is that if caught early and treated, prostate cancer has a high cure rate. I encourage all men over the age of 40 to talk to their doctor about screening. In my family, my brother-in-law is a success story. He had the disease picked up on routine screening, had treatment and has been cancer free for almost five years.

"Movember: Changing the Face of Men's Health" is an initiative from Prostate Cancer Canada, a national, not for profit, charitable organization which raises funds for the development of programs related to awareness, public education, advocacy, support of those affected and research into the prevention, detection, treatment and cure of prostate cancer. This fun, fundraising effort takes place through the month of November and you can learn more or lend your support by visiting their website at ca.movember.com or Prostate Cancer Canada's site at prostatecancer.ca.

FRAN.BERKOFF@SUNMEDIA.CA

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