One in eight Canadian men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. It’s not only the most common cancer among men but also the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the country.

Despite these alarming statistics, there’s a silver lining: prostate cancer is highly treatable when detected early.

As the Executive Director of the Vancouver Prostate Centre and Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Urologic Sciences at the University of British Columbia, I’ve witnessed firsthand the life-saving impact of early awareness and healthy lifestyle changes.

Understanding prostate cancer, recognizing the risk factors, and making informed lifestyle choices can significantly reduce your risk. 

What is prostate cancer?

The disease develops when cancer cells form and multiply in the tissue of the prostate, a gland below the bladder in men that produces some of the fluid that makes up semen. The average age of diagnosis is 65, but men may be diagnosed as young as their late 30s and beyond their 80s. 

What causes prostate cancer?

Many prostate cancer cases are related to unhealthy lifestyle choices. You can significantly reduce your risk of prostate cancer by eating healthier, exercising and quitting smoking.

Prostate cancer is more common in Canada and the U.S., especially when you compare it to Asian countries. In fact, when men move from these countries to North America, they quickly acquire our risk profile.

North American diets are high in saturated fats, trans fats, refined sugars and red meat. This might be why Asian populations, which tend to consume less of these unhealthy ingredients, have lower rates of prostate cancer than Canada and the U.S. Asians also tend to eat foods containing more omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish and nuts, which may help to prevent prostate cancer. 

Foods that help prevent prostate cancer

Researchers don’t fully understand the connection between prostate cancer and diet. However, studies suggest eating more of these foods can reduce your risk of prostate cancer:

  • Leafy greens, tomatoes, and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower
  • Soy protein, like edamame and tofu
  • Green tea
  • Dark chocolate
  • Whole grain products
  • Fish 
  • Foods and/or dietary supplements containing Vitamin D (like milk), fortified soy beverages, egg yolks, and fish. Fun fact: Spending time in the sunshine helps your body naturally produce Vitamin D. 

Exercise and cancer prevention

Regular exercise can help prevent most forms of cancer and many other diseases by strengthening the immune system, reducing inflammation, and fighting some of the negative health effects of a sedentary lifestyle. 

Even moderate exercise after a positive diagnosis can be very effective in lowering cancer growth and recurrence rates.

How genetics affect prostate cancer

Between 5 and 10 percent of cases may be genetic or hereditary. These include a family history of prostate cancer and being of Black ethnicity (including African or Caribbean ancestry).

Screening and early detection

When prostate cancer is caught at an early stage, it can be curable in the majority of cases.

Regular screenings are recommended starting at age 50—or as early as 40 if you are at higher risk—because prostate cancer can grow without symptoms for years. 

Potentially life-saving early detection includes a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and digital rectal exam conducted by a healthcare practitioner. 

A PSA test cannot diagnose prostate cancer but can signal that there may be a problem with the prostate. A digital rectal exam is a physical exam of the prostate through the rectum to feel for lumps or anything else that seems abnormal. Both tests together are better than one alone. Your first results will determine the frequency of future tests, which range from once a year to every 2-3 years. 

Thankfully, cutting-edge research is steadily improving prostate cancer screening and diagnosis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests, for instance, are reducing the need for biopsies, with research underway to determine if it can be introduced earlier in the screening process. 

Potential future screening tests, like genetic risk assessments through cheek swabs or saliva samples, are also being investigated. Potential PSA alternatives, meanwhile, include studies of new biomarkers such as ribonucleic acid (RNA) in urine.

Symptoms and diagnosis

Symptoms usually only show up as the cancer advances, though those listed below can also be due to other problems and must be checked out by a healthcare professional:

  • Frequent urination, especially at night
  • Urgent need to urinate
  • Difficulty starting or stopping urine flow
  • Weak or slow urine stream
  • Burning or pain when urinating
  • Blood in the urine or semen
  • Painful ejaculation
  • Trouble getting an erection
  • Pain or stiffness in the back, hips or pelvis that doesn’t go away
  • Fatigue

If a blood test reveals higher than normal PSA levels, and/or a physician feels something abnormal in a digital rectal exam, other tests may follow to diagnose prostate cancer. These can include MRI tests or follow-up sequential PSA testing, but the ultimate diagnosis is based on a biopsy of the prostate. Further tests may be performed if the results confirm cancer.

Treatment 

Treatment plans depend on the type, stage and risk factors of prostate cancer for each individual case. Detected early and assessed as low or very low risk, prostate cancer can be monitored closely over time without any invasive treatment other than modifying diet and lifestyle.

Surgery to remove the prostate and/or radiation are common treatments for more aggressive forms of prostate cancer. If cancer has spread beyond the prostate, hormone withdrawal therapy may be recommended.

Taking control of your health

Since prostate cancer usually has no symptoms in the early stages, it’s important to understand your risk level and when to get screened.

Use the free Men’s Health Check tool to assess your risk level for prostate cancer and seven other common men’s health conditions.

Download the Men’s Health Checklist for a complete list of which tests you need and when to consider doing them to screen for common men’s health conditions, including prostate cancer. 

Remember that lifestyle plays a huge role, so finding new ways to eat healthier and exercise more goes a long way in preventing prostate cancer.

At what age did you first start to think about getting tested for prostate cancer? We’d love to hear your comments below.