Here are some cold hard facts from the Canadian Prostate Cancer Foundation about prostate cancer every man needs to know. Every 25 minutes a new prostate cancer case is diagnosed in Canada and every two hours another Canadian male dies of this disease. Now we all know every one needs to die of some disease but I would like to give you some tips on how you can get proactive right now in preventing or postponing prostate cancer for many years to come. Naturopathic medicine or Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM as it is now also referred to) is all about taking charge of your health and making changes right now to experience healthy aging.

Many CAM practitioners see a relationship with the increase of breast cancer in women and the increase of prostate cancer in men. Recent research is looking at the relationship of hormone mimicking substances in our environment and food that may be triggering these cancers and some suggest that this cause and effect relationship accounts for up to 70% of all cancers that we are seeing today. What can you do about it? The first thing is to get the hormones out of your diet. They are usually found in meats of all kinds and even dairy products. Certified organic animal products are raised without hormones and antibiotics. You may call the office for some local sources of healthier meat sources. The second thing is to avoid plastics in the storage of food and especially in the re-heating of foods in the microwave. Calcium D-glucarate as discussed in a previous article helps your body excrete unhealthy estrogens which applies to men as well.

1. Every man of any age should be taking selenium 200mcg per day. The research is over -whelming in the prevention of prostate cancer. The best type is the yeast based although I recommend any type.
2. Lycopene is an antioxidant in the carotene family, found most notably in cooked tomatoes, however, if you are sensitive to tomatoes, can also be found in pink grapefruit and watermelon. Lycopene and natural source mixed carotenes (ie algae) are available in supplement form.
3. Vitamin E decreases the incidence of prostate cancer and stimulates cancer cells to commit suicide (apoptosis)
4. Prostate removal may have no long- term effect on survival if you are in your 60’s or 70’s and the prostate cancer is slow growing.
5. Every man with prostate cancer needs to know that PC-Spes is effective in the treatment of prostate cancer. It is a form of saw palmetto and mushrooms that lower the PSA levels remarkably and improves a sense of well being.
6. The PSA test is not the only test you should be getting yearly to rule out prostate cancer. Free PSA, IGF-1 and lycopene levels are much more diagnostic than PSA and can be used to monitor effectiveness of your treatment as well.
7. If you are getting up during the night to urinate that is the first sign that your prostate may be enlarged and I recommend treating that right away. If you improve your prostate health I believe you also lower your risk of developing prostate cancer!