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How can I make my prostate healthy?

There’s are some things you can’t change, such as your age, your family history and ethnicity.

Things you can change to help keep your prostate healthy:

a) Eat healthily b) Limit alcoholic drinks c) Stop smoking d) Exercise regularly
Prostate cancer
In the UK about 48,600 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year. Prostate cancer is more
common over the age of 65. You have a higher risk of prostate cancer at a younger age if you are
Black or have a strong family history of prostate cancer.

In UK there is an informed choice programme, called prostate cancer risk management, for healthy
men aged 50 or over who can ask their GP about PSA testing. If results show you have a raised PSA
level your doctor may refer you for MRI scan. If the scan shows a problem, it can be targeted with a
biopsy from the prostate and later examined in a laboratory.

If cancerous cells are found, they can be studied further to see how quickly the cancer will spread. This
is called “staging and grading” and helps doctors to decide which treatment is the most appropriate.

If there’s a significant chance the cancer has spread from your prostate to other parts of the body
PET scan will be done. An isotope bone scan can tell if the cancer has spread to your bones.

Treatments for Prostate cancer
For many people with prostate cancer, no treatment will be necessary. Main aim is to cure or control the
disease. If the cancer has already spread, the aim is not to cure it but to prolong life and delay symptoms.

Surgically removing the prostate gland (radical prostatectomy) is an option for curing prostate
cancer that has not spread beyond the prostate. Studies have shown that radiotherapy after prostate
removal surgery may increase the chances of a cure.

Radiotherapy is an option for curing prostate cancer that has not spread beyond the prostate. Radiotherapy
can also be used to slow the progression of prostate cancer that’s spread and relieve symptoms.
Brachytherapy is a form of radiotherapy where the radiation dose is delivered inside the prostate
gland by using several tiny radioactive seeds surgically implanted into the tumour.

Hormone therapy may be recommended after radiotherapy to reduce the chances of cancer returning.

It can be used to slow the progression of advanced prostate cancer and relieve symptoms.

If the cancer has reached an advanced stage, it’s no longer possible to cure it but it may be possible
to slow its progression, prolong life and relieve symptoms. Treatment options include radiotherapy
with or without hormone therapy.

If the cancer has spread to the bones, bisphosphonates may be used to help reduce bone pain and bone
loss. Chemotherapy is often used to treat prostate cancer that’s spread to other parts of the body.

You may decide against treatment for prostate cancer, particularly if you are at an age where you
feel treating the cancer is unlikely to significantly extend your life expectancy.

Please remember Prostate cancer will affect 1 in 8 men… and remember 1 man dies from prostate
cancer every 45 minutes!

Dr Jitendra Kakad