Is it possible to prevent prostate cancer?
Not at this time. There is one major clinical trial to see whether a pharmaceutical called finasteride may be able to prevent the development of prostate cancer. It is also clear that if you eat a diet high in saturated fat you are more likely to have prostate cancer than if you eat a diet lower in fat.
No, not as far as we know at this time. It has been strongly argued (with good but probably not conclusive supporting evidence) that if a man wishes to lower his risk of developing prostate cancer he should avoid a diet high in saturated fats. There is an ongoing clinical trial involving 18,000 men over 55 years of age to examine the possibility that long-term finasteride (Proscar/Merck & Co.) treatment may be able to lower the risk of prostate cancer in appropriate males. For more information about this trial, see Prostate cancer prevention.
The present paper gives a comprehensive overview of recent data, especially prospective randomized trials, which support an important role for nutrition in the development of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer seems to be an ideal candidate for chemoprevention, in order to interfere by modification of nutritional habits with its onset, its incidence and ultimately with its progression, especially in high risk groups.
Service d’Urologie, Hôpital Erasme, U.L.B. The present paper gives a comprehensive overview of recent data, especially prospective randomized trials, which support an important role for nutrition in the development of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer seems to be an ideal candidate for chemoprevention, in order to interfere by modification of nutritional habits with its onset, its incidence and ultimately with its progression, especially in high risk groups.
