Diet, lifestyle and prostate cancer

The prostate is a walnut-sized gland that sits behind the bladder and in front of the rectum and secretes fluid into semen. Prostate cancer (PC) is the most common cancer in men in the UK and the second commonest globally. There are different stages of PC, all arising from a precancerous stage, which then progresses to localised cancer (within the prostate) followed by advanced cancer (outside the prostate). PC can be tracked in the blood by measuring a protein secreted by the prostate called prostate-specific antigen (PSA).

Prostate cancer affects men all around the world, with rising rates related to ageing, population growth and active screening. Black men have a significantly increased risk of prostate cancer, in part due to inherited genetic factors, and are more likely to be diagnosed at an advanced stage compared to other ethnic groups. Certain inherited genes can also be a driver of PC in White and other ethnicities. Other emerging risk factors include dairy products, deficiencies in vitamin E and selenium and occupational exposure to pesticides.

PC is not typically considered a cancer related to lifestyle behaviours, nonetheless, diet and lifestyle habits can still help to reduce the risk of developing PC and living well after a diagnosis of PC.