What can men do to help prevent prostate cancer? What role does diet play in prevention?
Every man between the ages of 50 and 70 should have a yearly digital rectal exam and a PSA blood test. African-American men and men with a family history of prostate cancer should be screened beginning at age 40. Recent studies have shown that screening leads to the detection of more organ-confined cancers and decreases the chance of being diagnosed with advanced disease. There is no definitive proof as yet that dietary fat increases the risk of developing prostate cancer. However, in countries such as China and Japan where diets are low in saturated fats (especially animal fats), the incidence and death rate from prostate cancer is among the lowest in the world. Other studies have suggested that a balanced diet low in fat and high in fiber, vegetables (beans, lentils, green peas), and fruit may be helpful in lowering risk. The relationship between dietary fat, selenium, vitamin E, and other supplements and the risk of developing prostate cancer is currently being addressed in the SELE
