Prostate cancer has the distinction of being ranked as the second most prevalent cancer among American men. The American Cancer Society projects that in 2024, 299,010 men will receive a diagnosis of prostate cancer. The incidence of this disease continues to increase annually, and it is anticipated that the number of men in the United States diagnosed with prostate cancer will soon exceed 300,000.
Prostate cancer is a common cancer among men, and most of us know someone who has been affected by it. Men need to ask, “How can I reduce my risk of prostate cancer?” and “What every day habits can I adopt to help prevent this disease?”
What is known is that if a man lives long enough, most likely, they will develop cancer cells in their prostate gland. About 80% of men ages 80 and older live with some prostate cancer.
However, only a small percentage will develop an aggressive form of cancer that affects their quality of life and longevity. Therefore, the more critical questions men should ask are what lifestyle changes might delay the onset of prostate cancer (perhaps even prevent it) and reduce their risk of developing advanced prostate cancer. Here are three areas that observational studies have found may help:
Diet
Research has shown that the same types of diets associated with better heart and brain health are linked to a reduced risk of aggressive prostate cancer. In a study published in the March 2022 issue of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers who followed 47,239 men over 28 years found that men who reported eating primarily a plant-based diet, like the Mediterranean or DASH diets, had substantially reduced likelihood of developing aggressive prostate cancer.
Other studies have shown following these healthier diets also may lower the odds of dying from prostate cancer. While this benefit might be related to the omega-3 fatty acids in fish (a staple of the Mediterranean and DASH diets), taking a fish oil supplement has not been shown to reduce prostate cancer risk.
What you don’t eat also matters. One effective way to reduce the risk of developing advanced prostate cancer is by maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding obesity. Also, limiting meat and added sugars may be good for prostate health.
Exercise
Based on some evidence, engaging in regular exercise may potentially help lower the risk of developing prostate cancer in men. In 2019, Harvard researchers published findings that showed men who participated frequently in vigorous activity had a 30% reduced chance of having advanced prostate cancer and a 25% reduced risk of dying from this disease compared with men who exercised the least.
Ejaculation frequency
Here’s the habit that men are probably most interested in. The reason? Men who ejaculate regularly appear to have a lower risk of prostate cancer. In a comprehensive and enduring study, it was revealed that men who ejaculated more than 21 times per month exhibited a 20% lower propensity for prostate cancer when compared to their counterparts who ejaculated four to seven times within the same time frame. However, this study did not address the risk of advanced prostate cancer.
It’s not clear why frequent ejaculation is protective. Some experts believe the release of semen flushes harmful substances like chemicals or infection from the prostate that build up and may potentially cause cancer which is called the prostate stagnation hypothesis. Other factors that could be involved include that men who have frequent sex have healthier lifestyle habits and that men between the ages of 46 and 81, with a higher frequency ejaculation rate, have a lower risk of the disease.
Dr. David Samadi is the Director of Men’s Health and Urologic Oncology at St. Francis Hospital in Long Island. He’s a renowned and highly successful board certified Urologic Oncologist Expert and Robotic Surgeon in New York City, regarded as one of the leading prostate surgeons in the U.S., with a vast expertise in prostate cancer treatment and Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Prostatectomy. Dr. Samadi is a medical contributor to NewsMax TV and is also the author of The Ultimate MANual, Dr. Samadi’s Guide to Men’s Health and Wellness, available online both on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Visit Dr. Samadi’s websites at robotic oncolo gy and prostate cancer 911.