Obesity
Linked To Worse Outcome For Prostate Cancer
Experts
Say Hormones Linked With Heavy Weight Increases Risks
Prostate
cancer is more aggressive and harder to treat in obese men, according
to two studies reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
The
finding could help explain why prostate cancer is a special problem
for African-American men, who are more likely to be obese than Caucasian
men, says Dr. Stephen J. Freedland, lead author of one of two studies
reporting essentially similar findings.
"We
suspect that worse outcomes among African-American men with prostate
cancer are related to obesity rather than race," says Dr. Freedland,
a clinical instructor at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
"If
we can target obesity in the African-American community, we may be able
to reduce the burden of prostate cancer among black men," Dr. Freedland
says.
Experts
Advise Weight Control
But
men of all races can heed the lesson about keeping weight under control,
Dr. Freedland adds, noting that "obese men often have other medical
problems." Obesity has been linked to a higher risk of many conditions,
most notably heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular problems.
"The
general recommendation should be to avoid obesity," says Dr. Christopher
L. Amling, lead author of the other report, an assistant professor of
urology at the Navy Medical Center in San Diego. "Both papers indicate
that maintaining normal weight throughout your lifetime reduces your
risk of developing more aggressive prostate cancer."
Dr.
Freedland's study came from an analysis of data on 1,106 men who underwent
surgery for prostate cancer. Men classified as obese on the basis of
a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or higher - equivalent to a weight of
245 pounds for a 5 foot, 10 inch man - had a 60 percent risk of cancer
recurrence within three years, more than double the risk of non-obese
men.
Dr.
Amling's study included 3,162 prostate cancer patients and defined obesity
as a BMI of 30, equivalent to a weight of 210 pounds for that same 5
foot, 10 inch man. The 19 percent of men in the study who met that definition
were 20 percent more likely to have the cancer recur.
Obesity Leads
to More Aggressive Cancer
Tissue
analysis showed that cancers from obese men also scored consistently
higher on a scale of aggressive growth, both studies say.
"The
results are very similar," Dr. Amling says. "Both studies suggest that
obesity results in more aggressive cancers."
The
best explanation for the finding is that obesity causes changes in levels
of hormones such as testosterone, estrogen, and proteins such as leptin
and insulin-like growth factor, which are involved in cell growth and
division, Dr. Freedland says.
Obese
men should be especially careful to have the annual test for prostate-specific
antigen recommended by the National Cancer Institute,
he says.
"Annual
testing should be able to pick up prostate cancer early enough for us
to treat it aggressively," Dr. Freedland says. "One way to protect yourself
is to maintain a healthy weight, with an exercise regimen involved."
Always
consult your physician for more information.
Online
Resources
American
Cancer Society
Healthfinder,
US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
National
Cancer Institute
National
Institutes of Health (NIH)
National
Prostate Cancer Coalition
|
February
2004
Obesity
Linked To Worse Outcome For Prostate Cancer
Experts
Advise Weight Control
Obesity
Leads to More Aggressive Cancer
Symptoms
of Prostate Cancer
Online
Resources
Other
Resources:
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a St. John's Mercy Physician
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& Therapy Services at St. John's Mercy
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Health Information
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John's Mercy Classes and Programs
Symptoms
of Prostate Cancer
There are usually
no specific signs or symptoms of early prostate cancer - which is why
prostate screening is so important.
An annual physical
examination, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test, and digital
rectal exam (DRE) provide the best chance of identifying prostate cancer
in its earliest stages.
The following are
the most common symptoms of prostate cancer:
-
weak or interrupted
flow of urine
-
urinating
often (especially at night)
-
difficulty
urinating or holding back urine
-
inability
to urinate
-
pain or burning
when urinating
-
blood in the
urine or semen
-
nagging pain
in the back, hips, or pelvis
-
difficulty
having an erection
The symptoms of
prostate cancer may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Always
consult your physician for a diagnosis.
As a man gets older,
his prostate may grow bigger and obstruct the flow of urine, or interfere
with sexual function.
An enlarged prostate
gland - a condition called benign prostate hyperplasia - may require
treatment with medicine or surgery to relieve symptoms.
This common benign
prostate condition, which is not cancer, can cause many of the same
symptoms as prostate cancer.
Always consult your
physician for more information.
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