Preventing Prostate Cancer and Using PSA Testing
The incidence of prostate cancer has increased by 2.3% per year since 1994 and more recently by 3.0% per year among white men and by 2.3% per year among black men. Death rates, on the other hand, have been steadily declining and now stand at 32.9/100,000 (30.2 among white men and 73.0 among black men). This may in part be due to other increasing causes of mortality including heart disease and lung cancer.
PSA Screenings are Controversial and Not recommended as a Screening against Prostate Cancer…but can be helpful for in other areas.
Some experts argue that the increased use of PSA testing is responsible for the decline in mortality; however, the subject of screening for cancers is a highly controversial one. Dr. M.J. Quinn of the UK National Cancer Intelligence Centre points out that the use of the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test for screening purposes is not recommended by the US Preventive Services Task Force or in the European Code Against Cancer. He is clearly opposed to the use of PSA testing for screening purposes by conventional urologists and family doctors because it may lead to unnecessary biopsies and dangerous treatments without any proven reduction in mortality.
On the other hand, PSA testing by preventive doctors acts like a smoke detector and reflects hormonal stress, lifestyle and dietary needs. Keep up your annual nutritional evaluations and complete blood work including a PSA. As a general guideline, get a baseline total PSA before you are 40. Recheck PSA every 5 years until age 55 then check it annually.
Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is a major component of flax seed oil and has been associated with significant cardiovascular benefits. Some studies, however, have shown that a high intake of ALA is associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer. A prestigious team of researchers from the National Cancer Institute, the Harvard Medical School, the Harvard School of Public Health, and the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm has just released the results of a study aimed at settling the controversy as to whether or not ALA is detrimental when it comes to prostate cancer.
A Positive Effect of Using Fish Oils
The researchers also determined the positive effect of other fatty acids, including fish oils, on prostate cancer risk. Dr. Brouse is a strong advocate for measuring blood levels of fish oils (DHA and EPA) against potentially dangerous dietary fats such as Arachadonic Acid. Arachadonic Acid is are the fats that increase inflammation in the body.
Shaklee Corporation makes a Ultra Pure Form that does not have the contaminants such as mercury and PCB’s. You have to be very careful when buying fish oils. See Posts on why a major manufacturer of well known brands of fish oil was sued.
Benefits of Selenium
At least five major clinical trials have concluded that higher levels of selenium (in blood or hair clippings) are associated with a sharply reduced risk of prostate cancer. The Nutritional Prevention of Cancer (NPC) trial found that supplementing with up to 200 micrograms/day of selenium cuts prostate cancer risk in half. Researchers at the Harvard Medical School now weigh in with another study confirming the beneficial effects of selenium. Their study involved 22,000 healthy, male physicians who were enrolled in the study in 1982 and had blood samples taken at that time. Sufficient samples to analyze for selenium content and PSA level were available for 586 men diagnosed with prostate cancer as well as for 577 controls matched for age and smoking status.
Since prostate cancer is increasing at an alarming rate and men in general are living longer, prevention and careful planning before a diagnosis of prostate cancer is important. Just as we plan our summer vacations, plan to be healthy. Use the scientific tools available to keep track of your health and do not wait until someone detects the presence of disease.
Call Dr. Brouse at Sunny side health clinic for more info on testing 503-654-3225
