Prostate Cancer Prevention - Columbia Urology

Prostate Cancer - Prostate Cancer Prevention

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About Preventing Prostate Cancer

Men who are at high risk for developing prostate cancer or who have a pre-cancerous condition such as prostatic intra-epithelial neoplasia (PIN) or atypical small cell acinar proliferation (ASCAP) may benefit from therapies aimed at slowing the progress or development of the disease. Prostate cancer prevention is an important aspect of Columbia Urology's core mission. At our Center for Holistic Urology, doctors and practitioners assess a patient's risk factors, including hereditary susceptibilities, the condition of his prostate, and his overall health. Their goal is to prevent, reverse, stabilize, or slow the progress of prostate cancer. If it is appropriate, they will recommend specific chemopreventive therapies or diet and lifestyle changes. Center practitioners spend time with each patient educating them about their condition and promoting healthy life-habits.

Chemoprevention for Prostate Cancer

Center for Holistic Urology doctors and practitioners may recommend chemopreventive therapies for men at risk of prostate cancer. These natural or man-made agents, vitamins, and herbs are aimed at reversing, suppressing, or preventing prostate cancer growth. Lycopene, green tea, soy, selenium, and vitamin E are some of the compounds that can help promote prostate health.

The Center for Holistic Urology recently completed a study of the herbal preventive zyflamend in men with pre-cancerous conditions. This herbal supplement contains a combination of herbs, green tea, and baikal skullcap. The results of the study are very promising, and showed that zyflamend was effective in slowing prostate cancer progression. The supplement has anti-inflammatory properties that may be active in preventing prostate cancer, and may interfere with a cell-signaling pathway at work in prostate cancer. Under normal conditions, 60 percent of patients in this group would develop prostate cancer but in the study 50-60 percent returned to a normal prostate.

Diet and Lifestyle to Prevent Prostate Cancer

A high-fat diet, especially one with lots of animal fat and dairy products, may increase a man's risk of developing prostate cancer. Studies are needed to determine if a low-fat diet with more fruits and vegetables helps prevent prostate cancer. But because diet is a risk factor that patients can control, Center practitioners may recommend that a patient adopt a diet that has lots of vegetables, fruits, and grains and is low in fat.