If you are worried about prostate cancer, there are several ways to reduce your risk. These include eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, quitting smoking and getting regular checkups.
Prostate cancer is caused by certain genetic mutations in genes that control the growth of cells. Those genes can turn on oncogenes or suppress tumor-suppressor genes.
Eat a Healthy Diet
Fortunately, most prostate cancers can be prevented with a healthy diet and lifestyle. There are several risk factors that can't be controlled, such as age, race and family history (especially a first-degree relative).
The best way to reduce your prostate cancer risk is to make a change in your diet. Specifically, you want to reduce the amount of saturated fat and trans fat in your diet.
A diet high in fruits and vegetables, low in saturated and trans fats and high in omega-3 fatty acids is linked to a reduced risk of developing prostate cancer. Likewise, a diet low in red meat and processed meat is also linked to a lower risk of prostate cancer.
You can still enjoy your favorite foods, but you should only eat them a few times a week. Those meals should include lots of fresh vegetables and fruit, whole grains and lean protein. Limit the amount of calories, fat and added sugars in those meals.
Exercise Regularly
One of the best things you can do to prevent prostate cancer is exercise regularly. It can increase your energy levels and help keep you healthier, more resilient and happier.
If you’re not sure where to start, talk to your doctor or a fitness professional. They can recommend a routine that’s right for you and help you get started.
Exercising regularly also has many other benefits, from improving your mood and helping you sleep better to reducing your risk of diabetes, heart disease and certain types of cancer.
It also helps improve your body’s ability to fight off infections, like the common cold. It can make you more resistant to infections, and it can even help you get through the flu season a lot easier.
The goal is to work out several times a week for at least 60 minutes. It takes a little time to get into a routine, so start slow and gradually increase your workouts over a few weeks.
Quit Smoking
When you quit smoking, you will reduce your risk for many different cancers. These include lung, bronchus, trachea, larynx, stomach and kidney.
You will also be able to breathe easier and have more energy. You will be able to walk longer distances without feeling out of breath, and you will have more stamina for sports.
Quitting smoking can be a difficult decision, but it is essential to your health and well-being. Ask your doctor about all the methods that can help you quit, such as counseling and medications.
Besides being unhealthy for you, smoking is also a risk factor for prostate cancer. Tobacco smoke contains toxins that can weaken your immune system and make it harder for the body to kill cancer cells.
Get Regular Checkups
Getting regular checkups is one of the best ways to prevent prostate cancer. Early prostate cancer usually doesn’t have any symptoms, so it’s important to get checked as soon as possible, before it progresses.
Screening for prostate cancer can help find some forms of the disease when they’re easier to treat. This is credited for one-third of the recent decline in prostate cancer deaths.
Your doctor may recommend screenings for you based on your age and risk factors. They may include a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test or digital rectal exam.
If you have high-risk factors, such as being African-American or having a father or brother who had prostate cancer before age 65, ask your doctor whether you should be screened.
Regular checkups can also help your doctor detect other health conditions you don’t yet have. For example, a blood test to look for diabetes can reveal signs of high cholesterol.
