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When it comes to the subject of men’s health, prostate cancer comes up more often than any other condition. And in terms of prevention, the PSA test is most commonly mentioned when it comes to prevention of prostate cancer.
The PSA test measures blood levels of a protein made by the prostate. Levels of less than 4.0 (nanograms of protein per milliliter of blood) are usually considered within the normal range, while levels of greater than 4.0 are said to show an increased risk for prostate cancer.
The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening test for early prostate cancer has been surrounded by controversy ever since it was introduced. To the surprise of many, there is no proof that the use of this blood test to screen symptom-free men will spare anyone a prostate cancer death. In short, cancer researchers do not know whether PSA screening saves more lives than it ruins.
First of all, let me be clear: I'm not against prostate cancer screening.
I'm a tremendous supporter of the real American Cancer Society (ACS) recommendation, which is: Within the physician-patient relationship, men should be offered PSA screening and should be informed of the potential risks, as well as the potential benefits and be allowed to make a choice.
The prostate cancer outcomes from a study conducted by the National Cancer Institute shows that close to 40% of men who undergo a radical prostatectomy (surgical removal of the prosate) will have a PSA relapse within two years.
If you have a group of men diagnosed as a result of PSA screening, 30-40% don't need to know that they have prostate cancer because it's meaningless in terms of risk to their health. And for somewhere between 30% and 40% of the men with prostate cancer, no matter what [treatment is given], the disease is not curable. And then maybe there are about 20% who actually benefit. These facts are from clinical studues done by credible researchers from credible instutions.
Men who are screened for prostate cancer are usually relieved when their prostate specific antigen [PSA] levels come back to normal. But according to a new study in The New England Journal of Medicine, the results may be misleading.
The study found that 15 percent of the men who had “normal” PSA levels still had prostate cancer. High-grade cancer was found in about 2.3 percent of those so-called “normal” men. It appears that the lower the PSA level, the smaller the risk—the likelihood of having cancer rises as PSA levels rise. But there is no clear PSA level at which a person can be guaranteed cancer-free. Some incidence of high-grade cancer—the most aggressive—was found at every PSA level. At this point in time, it is not known for sure that having PSA screening actually reduces a man’s risk of dying from prostate cancer.
So how do doctors differentiate between more and less aggressive versions of prostate cancer?
The way the prostate feels. If your doctor can feel the cancer outside the prostate, that’s a bad sign. But most prostate cancers detected today in men who are being screened are confined to the prostate. In those men, the main way they can tell something about the aggressiveness of the cancer is by the Gleason score, or the grade: the appearance of the cancer under the microscope. That can run from a number of 2 to a number of 10—10 being the most aggressive, 2 being the least.
And now a word about a few of the more popular “natural” remedies for prostate cancer:
Lycopene is a prominent member of the carotenoid family of chemical compounds, found in certain plants (like tomatoes. Research indicates that Lycopene’s powerful antioxidant properties may also protect humans against certain disorders, such as prostate cancer and perhaps some forms of cancers, and coronary heart disease.
In a recent trial, men with prostate cancer were randomly given Lycopene or a placebo for three weeks before undergoing prostate surgery. Upon examining the prostate tissue of these men, it was found that those who received Lycopene had significantly less aggressive growth of cancer cells.
Selenium (measured in the blood or in tissues such as toenail clippings), may be a risk factor for developing cancer, particularly prostate cancer (19). Population studies suggest that people with cancer are more likely to have low selenium levels than healthy matched individuals.
The high content of Flax Seed is believed to be the defense mechanism against cancers that are primarily hormone-dependent. Lignans are a type of natural plant chemical (scientifically known as a phytochemical) contained within flaxseed. Lignans are considered to act as plant hormones. Researchers believe these plant hormones mimic the body’s own estrogen type of cells and can block the formation of hormone-based tumors or growths. Flaxseed has anywhere from 75-800 times more lignans than vegetables or other grain products.
There are several things that you can do to reduce the risk of prostate cancer. For example, reduction of caloric intake increases in number of vegetables one eats, etc. - the same things that reduce risk of heart disease, stroke, and hypertension.
Remember I’m not a doctor. I just sound like one. Take good care of yourself and live the best life possible.
By Glen Ellis
Glenn Ellis lectures and is an active media contributor nationally and internationally on health related topics, including health education and health promotion particularly relevant to the African-American community.
e-mail me at info@glennellis.com
For more good health information, visit: www.glennellis.com
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