According to the American Cancer SocietyFrom the age of 65, the risk of prostate cancer increases significantly, affecting a significant percentage of individuals and, in fact, six out of ten cases are diagnosed around this age.
Previously, the risk is quite low and it begins to manifest itself slowly from the age of 50, where it can be confused with benign inflammations of the prostate, which in the absence of treatment can also be a promoting cause of the mentioned cancer.
And although prostate cancer is a tumor that has its appearance of heredity, it can also appear in males where it has not occurred before, and its causes are also not clearly known, although food causes are suspected. (while sitting), sitting or smoking, etc.
What is prostate cancer?
Reminder that this type of cancer is Abnormal and malignant growth of prostate tissuewhich can spread to other nearby organs and create metastases, which aggravates the problem.
It is very important to prevent prostate cancer Conducting control through blood analysis Where the evolution of the prostate antigen PSA is studied, which, although an imprecise estimate, can give an idea of ​​the probability of pathologies and therefore open the test for further tests.
Previously, rectal tract tests were also done to analyze the size of the prostate, but Macro research has shown that this practice is ineffective 99% of the time When it is used only for the prevention of cancer, because it does not allow to evaluate the growth in the first stage.
This cancer has one of the best prognoses if detected early, but its prognosis worsens as it reaches more advanced stages, as the risk of metastasis and surgical complications that cause incontinence and sexual impotence persist.
What symptoms do you have?
Although control tests are not exact, they can give us an approximate idea and improve their success rate when the patient cooperates by detecting early symptoms of prostate cancer and is referred to specialists as soon as possible.
It’s cancer One of the best prognosis is early detection And, on the other hand, its prognosis worsens if it is allowed to progress to more advanced stages, because the risk of metastasis continues, as well as postoperative complications that lead to incontinence and sexual impotence.
As early symptoms, attention should be paid to:
- increase frequency of urinationespecially at night.
- Difficulty starting to urinate or holding urine.
- A feeling that the bladder is not completely empty.
- A sudden need to urinateSometimes even with loss of urine before reaching the bathroom.
- Painful urination
Although these symptoms can also be explained by benign inflammation of the prostate, urinary tract infections, diabetes or a sexually transmitted disease, it is advisable to consult a urologist if they are not punctual and last for several weeks in a row.
If they cause the following symptoms, our visit to the urologist is urgent, because they are already talking about an advanced stage of prostate cancer:
- Presence of blood in the urine.
- erectile dysfunction: Problems maintaining an erection, painful ejaculation or blood in the semen.
- Weakness or numbness in the legs or feet.
- Pain or stiffness in the lower back Thighs or upper thighs.
- Unexplained weight loss.
Mediterranean diet, protective effect
There are two daily activities that help protect against this cancer. The first is quite predictable and composed Avoid diets rich in animal fats and carbohydratesWhat is known as the “Western Diet”.
This is confirmed by a Harvard University study known as A study of the health of doctors and was conducted over 15 years on 926 prostate cancer patients whose diet was studied.
The result was that men who ate a Western diet (high in fat and sugar) were 2.5 times more likely to die from prostate cancer and 67% more likely to die from other diseases.
So the alternative is to follow a diet low in these elements and high in vegetable fiber, antioxidants and natural anti-inflammatories, white meat and protective vegetable oils and fats, as well as white fish, nuts, fruits and vegetables, etc. In short, foods from the Mediterranean diet.
And not only does consistency tell us, but science seems to confirm this fact, or at least point in that direction. And so it happens A Spanish study conducted by the Network Biomedical Research Center and the National Center of Epidemiology of the Carlos III Institute of Health..
It concludes that “high adherence to the Mediterranean diet may reduce the risk of developing aggressive prostate cancer.” In other words, there are indications that the Mediterranean diet may have a protective effect against the most aggressive types of this cancer.
The Spanish study, which is from 2017, is supported by another study from 2021 carried out University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The researchers found that men whose diets included more fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains and fish had a lower risk of cancer growth and spread.
This risk also decreased by 10% for each point increase in Mediterranean diet, according to study samples. Moreover, they confirmed it The relationship appears to be stronger in African-American individualswhich are most susceptible to this type of cancer.
Association between persistent masturbation and reduced risk
roughly, Masturbation is a protective factor throughout a man’s sexual life against prostate cancer, although the causality of this fact is not completely clear.
So he concludes this The study was published in the British Journal of Urology International in 2008 and in which the sexual habits of a wide range of men, both with and without cancer, were studied.
The findings were that men who masturbated a lot, or had a lot of intercourse (between five and seven orgasms a week), between the ages of 20 and 30, had a higher risk of prostate cancer. Up to 80% more.
However, this data is valid only for people who have a lot of sexual activity in their youth, which is not preserved after 50 years. If the said sexual activity, even if it is not very irritating, is constant from this age (orgasm in two to five weeks), masturbation begins to play an important role. Protective effect against cancerIt reduces the risk up to 70%.
The authors of the study suggest that this is related Excretion of prostate toxins in ejaculation. In this way, masturbation in maturity reduces the risk caused by it and the sexual life in general in fiery youth.
A possible explanation for the increased risk of frequent sexual activity in young adults offered by the authors is that it was due to High levels of male hormoneswhich cause excessive stress and inflammation on the genitals.
If sexual activity stops sharply after 50 years, we will talk about a man who is subject to the period of his life. Hormonal disorderBecause this pattern is not normal with age.
On the other hand, a man who maintains high sexual activity – alone or with a partner – throughout his adult life may be due to an awakened libido, but without hormonal imbalance.
In this regard, A learning A study of nearly 21,000 people over the age of 40 in Japan showed that Men with low sexual desire were more likely to die Because of cancer or any other reason, except those who claimed to maintain their libido.
Source: El Diario
