September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month so this a good chance for us to fully appreciate this important ‘male-only’ gland and the benefits of keeping it healthy.
The prostate gland sits directly below your bladder and encircles the tube that carries urine from your bladder out through your penis.
The job of the prostate is to produce the majority of the fluid making up your semen, which carries and sustains your sperm cells. There is also smooth muscle in the prostate and this acts as a pump during ejaculation and also helps prevent accidental urine leakage.
Why should you care?
Prostate cancer is estimated to be the most commonly diagnosed cancer in males in Australia.
There is a 72% increase in suicide risk after the diagnosis of prostate cancer.
The earlier you get diagnosed the better. If cancer spreads beyond the prostate the consequences can worsen. Early diagnosis can also assist with management of collateral urination or erection issues and men diagnosed with prostate cancer now have a 95% chance of surviving at least 5 years.
Prostate health concerns range from benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlargement of the prostate) to prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate) to cancer of the prostate.
Note that many of the symptoms of these 3 conditions overlap with each other, so signs and symptoms which should lead you to speaking with your doctor are:
Risk factors for prostate cancer:
Getting older: under age 75 your chance of prostate cancer is 1 in 7 and after age 85 it is 1 in 5. It is recommended all men over 50 get checked.
Genetics: Your risk goes up 5x if two or more close male relatives have been diagnosed. If your father or brother was ever diagnosed it doubles. If there is breast or ovarian cancer in your family your risk also increases.
What can you do?
In addition to being aware of risk factors and symptoms, optimizing your wellness goes a long way towards protecting yourself from cancer, as well as improving your odds if you are diagnosed.
Decreasing alcohol, eating healthily and exercising are lifestyle choices that you have control over.
A large study by Kenfield et al. has demonstrated that even a modest amount of physical exercise will result in 49% lower risk of all-cause mortality and 61% lower risk of prostate cancer death.
A recent study by Gregg et al. has also highlighted the benefits of a Mediterranean diet in slowing prostate cancer progression.
We can help!
Whether you are interested in embracing a preventative health approach or you are dealing with the possibility/ reality of post-surgery incontinence and erectile dysfunction, or you need a
customized exercise program come and see us. We can set you up with dietary advice specific to your needs, pre and post prostate surgery pelvic health programs and cancer specific exercise advice.
Importantly, take charge of your own health. You can’t manage what you don’t measure, so make sure that if, as described above, something seems abnormal to you go to your doctor and get it
checked! You have the power to shape your own future and we are here to help you achieve your goals.
To book an appointment, call our clinic on 42319777 or visit our online booking page here
References
Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and grade group progression in localized
prostate cancer: An active surveillance cohort Justin R. Gregg MD, Xiaotao
Zhang PhD, Brian F. Chapin MD, John F. Ward MD, Jeri Kim MD, John W. Davis
MD, Carrie R. Daniel PhD First published: 07 January 2021
https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.33182
Matteo Ferro, Giuseppe Lucarelli, Carlo Buonerba, Daniela
Terracciano, Giovanni Boccia, Giuseppe Cerullo, Vincenzo Cosimato, Narrative
review of Mediterranean diet in Cilento: longevity and potential prevention for
prostate cancer, Therapeutic Advances in
Urology, 10.1177/17562872211026404, 13, (175628722110264), (2021)
Kenfield SA, Stampfer MJ, Giovannucci E, Chan JM (2011) Physical activity and
survival after prostate cancer diagnosis in the health professionals follow-up
study. J Clin Oncol 29 (6):726-732. doi:10.1200/JCO.2010.31.5226
Exercise maintains sexual activity in men undergoing androgen suppression for
prostate cancer: a randomized controlled trial Authors: Prue Cormie, Robert
Newton, Dennis Taaffe, Nigel A. Spry, David J. Joseph, et al. Publication: ECU
Publications 2013
Exercise medicine for prostate cancer Authors: Robert U. Newton, Daniel A.
Galvao Publication: ECU Publications 2013
Physiotherapist and Naturopath
Wellness Embodied
