| Friday,
November 14, 2008
Dear
Friends,
Did
you know that, next to skin cancer, prostate cancer
is the most common form of cancer found in men? Did
you know that it is the second leading cause of cancer
death in males? Although doctors are still unsure
of the exact cause of the disease, they are certain
of many risk factors that are linked to prostate cancer.
Thanks to the American Cancer Society, we would like
to provide you with, and encourage you to share, the
following prostate cancer risk factors. (For the full
article, we invite you visit "What
Causes Prostate Cancer?")
RISK
FACTORS LEADING TO PROSTATE CANCER
Age:
Age is the strongest risk factor for prostate cancer.
The chance of getting prostate cancer goes up quickly
after a man reaches age 50. Almost 2 out of every
3 prostate cancers are found in men over the age of
65.
Race:
For unknown reasons, prostate cancer is more
common among African-American men than among men of
other races. African-American men are also more likely
to have a more advanced disease when it is found and
are more likely to die of the disease. Prostate cancer
occurs less often in Asian-American and Hispanic/Latino
men than in non-Hispanic whites. The reasons for these
racial and ethnic differences are not clear.
Nationality:
Prostate cancer is most common in North America, northwestern
Europe, and a few other places. It is less common
in Asia, Africa, Central and South America. The reasons
for this are not clear. More testing in some developed
countries likely accounts for at least part of this
difference, but other factors are likely to be important,
too.
Family
history: Prostate cancer seems to run in
some families. Men with close family members (father
or brother) who have had prostate cancer are more
likely to get it themselves, especially if their relatives
were young when they got the disease.
Genes:
Scientists have found several inherited genes that
seem to raise prostate cancer risk, but they probably
account for only small number of cases overall. Genetic
testing for most of these genes is not yet available,
and more study is needed in this area.
Diet:
The exact role of diet in prostate cancer
is not clear, but several different factors have been
studied. Men who eat a lot of red meat or high-fat
dairy products seem to have a greater chance of getting
prostate cancer. These men also tend to eat fewer
fruits and vegetables. Doctors are not sure which
of these factors causes the risk to go up.
Obesity:
Most studies have not found that being obese (having
a high amount of extra body fat) is linked with a
higher risk of getting prostate cancer. Some, but
not all, studies have found that obese men may be
at greater risk for having more advanced prostate
cancer and of dying from prostate cancer.
Exercise:
Exercise has not been shown to reduce prostate cancer
risk in most studies. But some studies have found
that high levels of physical activity, particularly
in older men, may lower the risk of advanced prostate
cancer. More research in this area is needed.
Infection
and inflammation of the prostate: Some studies
have suggested that prostatitis (inflammation of the
prostate gland) may be linked to an increased risk
of prostate cancer, but other studies have not found
such a link. Some researchers have also looked at
whether sexually transmitted infections might increase
the risk of prostate cancer. So far, studies have
not agreed, and no firm conclusions have been reached.
From
(The American Cancer Society. “What Causes Prostate
Cancer?” September 26, 2008.)
**************************************************************************
Training
Tip
As
usual, we would like to provide you with this week’s
training tip. If you have any questions or comments,
please do not hesitate to contact one of our Cancer
Exercise Specialists at 970-920-5836!
TRAINING
TIP:
If
you have finished chemotherapy and you (with the permission
of your oncology team) are ready to get back to your
‘normal’ life which includes regular physical
activity and/or structured exercise, consider having
your heart and lungs checked during a cardiopulmonary
exercise test. This physiological assessment is designed
to evaluate breathing and circulatory dynamics during
incrementally harder exercise. If your heart and lungs
are fine, there is a very good chance you can resume
exercise at relatively high level and under the guidance
of cancer exercise specialist. The cardiopulmonary
exercise test should be considered by any cancer survivor
who is considering returning to competitive athletics
at any level.
**************************************************************************
In
health,
Riggs
|
