American males face a risk of developing invasive, life-threatening cancer of the prostate 7 to 15 times that of men living in China, Japan or Korea. Scientists believe that lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise account for about 75 percent of this disparity. Generally, prostate cancer deaths are lowest in countries where the diet is low in animal fats and high in vegetables, fruits and fiber. 
[SOURCE: Jeff Novick, "Healthy Diet and Exercise Program Inhibits Growth of Prostate Cancer Cells," Health Science, Winter, 2002]

           Can Finasteride Help Prevent Prostate Cancer?                         


Finasteride (Proscar), a medication often prescribed to men suffering from non-cancerous prostate enlargement, is now being studied to determine if it might also help prevent the growth of cancerous cells in the prostate. Finasteride alters the activity of testosterone in the prostate and inhibits the production of dihydrotestosterone. The seven-year study, now underway, involves more than 18,000 healthy men aged 55 and over. Half will take finasteride and half a placebo pill. Results will be available in 2004. 
[SOURCE: "Is There Any Way to Reduce Your Risk of Prostate Cancer?" The Johns Hopkins White Papers, Prostate Disorders, 2002]

Diet Affects Tumor Cell Growth                                                                                                            


In one study examining the role of diet on prostate cancer, scientists injected human prostate cancer cells into mice and then observed the effects of three different diets: 2.3 percent fat, 11.6 percent fat and 40.5 percent fat. All of the animals were given the same number of calories, and there were no significant weight differences. Nevertheless, the mice on the low-fat and moderate-fat diets showed a marked decrease in tumor growth compared to those on the high-fat diet. 
[SOURCE: Lynn M. Fisher, "High-Fat Diet and Prostate Cancer: The Controversial Connection," Urologic Nursing, June, 2000; W. Fair, N. Fleshner and W. Heston, "Cancer of the Prostate: A Nutritional Disease?" Urology, 50(6), 840-848 (1997)]

Diet, Environment May Influence Risk of Aggressive Prostate Cancer                                                 


Microscopic evidence of prostate cancer is found in about 40 percent of men in their 60s and nearly all of those over 80 in all parts of the world. Prostate cancer mortality varies, however, from country to country and even from state to state. The incidence of prostate cancer death is lower in sunny areas such as the Southwest and in countries such as Japan where the diet tends to be low fat with a high intake of vegetables. One study found the risk of prostate cancer 35 percent lower among subjects who ate 28 or more servings of vegetables a week compared to those eating 14 or fewer servings. 
[SOURCE: The Johns Hopkins White Papers, "Prostate Disorders,", 2003]

Low Awareness of Prostate Cancer Risk                                                                                     


A pair of telephone surveys found that nearly 20 percent of men felt they had virtually no risk of getting prostate cancer, the second leading cause of cancer deaths among American men. About 189,000 cases were diagnosed last year, resulting in 30,200 deaths. About 60 percent of subjects, however, indicated having had a PSA test, usually based on the recommendation of a physician. 
[SOURCE: Conola B. Steele, et al, "Knowledge, Attitudes, and Screening Practices among Older Men Regarding Prostate Cancer," The American Journal of Public Health, October, 2000]

Men Eating Fatty Fish Reduce Risk
                                                                                               

A Swedish study that followed 6,300 men over 30 years found that men who ate fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, halibut and herring were two to three times less likely to develop prostate cancer than men eating little or no fish. Fatty fish contain high levels of omega-3 fatty acids. Men eating large quantities of fish may also have been less likely to eat red meat and other foods high in saturated fats. 
[SOURCE: "Fatty Fish Fight Against Prostate Cancer," Eurofood, June 21, 2000]

Pamphlet Explains PSA Facts                                                                                                 


An eight-page pamphlet produced by the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center explores the pros and cons of PSA screening for prostate cancer and reminds men that the decision is an individual one. A study at the hospital found that 41 percent of patients reading the pamphlet (compared to 31 percent of control subjects) raised questions and participated in decision making about whether to take the test. The pamphlet will be available in mid-April, 2003 at the medical center's web site: www.va.gov/sta/guide/facility.asp?ID=90. 
[SOURCE: Michele G. Sullivan, "Booklet Provides Patients with Pros, Cons of PSA Screening," Family Practice News, February 1, 2003; Melissa Partin, Ph.D., et al, "Effect of Prostate Cancer Screening Decision Aids on Decision Making Outcomes: Results from a Randomized Trial," unpublished paper, March, 2003]

PSA Test: How Often? 
                                                                                                           

PSA screening is usually performed on a yearly basis, but some men with low readings may be able to get by with less frequent testing, according to one study. After studying the test results 27,863 men enrolled in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial, researchers determined that 98 percent of men with PSA readings under 2 ng/mL could expect to have a satisfactory reading the following year. Nearly a quarter of men with readings between 2 and 4 ng/mL, however, had a higher reading the following year. 
[SOURCE: Sharon Wrocester, "Longer PSA Test Intervals Appropriate for Some Men: Little Risk at Values of 2ng/mL or Less," Family Practice News, July 1, 2002]