The Mediteranian Diet

Is the Mediteranian Diet a natural and effective treatment for Prostate cancer? A growing body of scientific evidence suggests that consuming a Mediterranean-style diet yields significant health benefits including the reduced likelihood of cardiovascular disease and cancer. This approach to nutrition refers to an age-old eating pattern typical of the traditional diets found in Southern Italy, Greece, and Spain. This diet is particularly important for men undergoing androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), also called hormone therapy, since they are at higher risk for both cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome (pre-diabetes).

The Mediterranean diet focuses on fresh, whole foods as compared to the highly processed foods found in the typical American diet. The diet is higher in vegetables, legumes (beans and peas), fruits, nuts and whole grains. The main fat used is olive oil and there is less use of highly saturated fats like butter and lard. Instead of beef and poultry as the main animal protein, the Mediterranean diet suggests mostly fish with some dairy products. Most of the dairy foods are in the form of cultured products like cheeses and yogurt. The lower intake of poultry and red meats is coupled with a moderate consumption of red wine, preferably with meals.

For a book that will provide specific recipes that conform to the principles discussed here I recommend The Miami Mediterranean Diet: Lose Weight and Lower Your Risk of Heart Disease with 300 Delicious Recipes found at Amazon.com for about $12.

The Mediterranean Diet has been proven to reduce the degenerative factors that lead to many of our most dangerous diseases. While this pattern of eating has been touted primarily as a way to prevent cardiovascular disease and diabetes, many Prostate Cancer specialists suggest that it also provides significant benefits in slowing the progression of Prostate Cancer. They speculate that these benefits are related to the olive oil and fish oil, both major components of the Mediterreanean diet.

Oleic acid is a monounsaturated fatty acid that is the main component of olive oil and has been shown to block an oncogene that boosts the growth of cancer cells. Also, the polyphenol-rich compounds in olive oil are powerful antioxidants which reduce oxidative DNA. The omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), have shown promise in slowing the progression of prostate cancer by reducing dangerous inflammation and promoting healthy gene expression. If you find it too difficult to adhere to this type of diet the Life Extension Foundation (see banner upper right) has an excellent supplement called “Super Omega-3” providing large quantities of both components. However, it is always preferable to get your nutrients from fresh whole foods.

Although the Mediterranean diet is moderately high in fat, it is primarily monounsaturated fat from olive oil and nuts. Red wine is also a staple of the Mediterranean diet and has certain cholesterol reducing effects. Studies suggest that Prostate Cancer is worsened by high Cholesterol. In one study it was found that men with prostate cancer were more likely to have had high cholesterol levels than men without prostate cancer. The association was more pronounced for men who had high cholesterol at a younger age and for men over 65. This research corresponds to recent findings that men taking prescription statins (medication to reduce cholesterol such as Crestor, Lescol, Lipitor, Mevacor, Pravachol, and Zocor) experienced a slowing of progression in their prostate cancer. If you have Prostate cancer and your cholesterol is over 200 you should talk to your doctor about adding one of the statin drugs.

In summary, the Mediterranean diet works because it significantly reduces saturated fat consumption and totally eliminates trans fats from your diet. The net result is a reduction in atherosclerosis and significant improvement in overall cardiovascular health. This pattern of eating also reduces inflammation while providing significant quantities of free radical-fighting antioxidants.

"Proton Surgery"

Proton surgery should be one of the first treatments considered for any form of cancer. Not really surgery this term is used to describe a specific form of radiation therapy. Radiation therapy is often utilized as the first treatment for low-grade cancer that has not spread outside the prostate gland, or has spread only to nearby tissue. It is also sometimes used if the cancer was not completely removed or recurs after surgery. Progression-free survival for men treated with radiation is about the same as for men having surgery. When the cancer is more advanced, radiation may be used to shrink the tumor and provide relief from symptoms. This article is dedicated to a discussion of Proton Therapy which represents the most advanced type of radiation available today.

Differing from high-energy X-rays, proton beams deposit almost all of their energy on their target, with a low amount of radiation deposited in tissues from the surface of the skin to the front of the tumor. Also, there is virtually no impact on tissue beyond the tumor. This attribute allows doctors to hit tumors with higher, more effective radiation doses than is possible with gamma radiation.

While proton therapy is thought to be the most advanced form of radiation therapy available, the cost and physical size of the equipment have limited the technology's use to a very small number of cancer centers. The promise of Proton Surgery, as it's sometimes called, lies in its ability to destroy cancerous cells while sparing nearby healthy cells. This feature greatly reduces potential side effects. It also allows doctors to increase the amount of radiation, theoretically improving cure rates.

One important study of Proton Therapy for Prostate Cancer, published in the June 1, 2004, issue of the International Journal of Radiation and Oncology, evaluated 1,255 men who were treated for localized prostate cancer in the 1990s at the Loma Linda University Medical Center's Proton Treatment Center. The study concluded that treatment with proton radiation resulted in disease-free survival rates similar to those of surgery or conventional radiation, but with reduced side effects, such as incontinency and sexual dysfunction.

Existing Proton Radiation facilities include the following:

Proton Treatment and Research Center at Loma Linda University Medical Center – located in California east of Los Angeles

Francis H. Burr Proton Center at Mass. General Hospital – in Boston, Mass.

Midwest Proton Radiotherapy Institute at Indiana University - in Bloomington, Indiana

The University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute – Jacksonville, Florida

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center's Proton Center - Houston, Texas

Proton Centers are under construction at the following locations:

Proton Therapy Center at University of Pennsylvania – Philadelphia, Pa. Scheduled to open in 2009

Hampton University Proton Therapy Institute –near Norfolk and Williamsburg, Virginia - Scheduled to open in 2010

Northern Illinois University Proton Therapy Center - 35 miles west of Chicago - Scheduled to open in 2010

ProCure Proton Therapy Center, Oklahoma City, located at the INTEGRIS Cancer Campus - Scheduled to open in 2009

As radiation treatment progresses, it may cause patients to become tired. Resting is important, however doctors usually advise patients to try to stay as active as they can. Studies have indicated that exercise helps to reduce fatigue and improves quality of life during radiation therapy. While Proton Therapy results in a lower frequency of side effects, all radiation has the potential to cause some of the following problems:

1) Frequent urination, burning while passing urine.

2) During and after treatment you may experience diarrhea, rectal leakage, and an irritated large intestine. Most of these problems go away over time.

3) Problems controlling your urine or problems with leaking. Although this side effect is less common than after surgery, the chance of incontinence goes up each year for several years after treatment.

4) Sexual dysfunction

I believe that a major component of my success at slowing the progress of my Prostate Cancer has been the vitamins and supplements that I take each day. After months of trial and error I found the best source for information, research and the products themselves at Life Extension Health Concerns
Go to their website and search Prostate Cancer for some of the best information around.

Prostate Cancer Diet - Live Longer

Is nutrition and diet a natural and effective way to slow the progression of Prostate Cancer? As described in My History blog entry I was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer six years ago. The cancer had spread to my spine and my Gleason score, which reflects the aggressiveness of the cancer, was a very poor 9 out of 10. The prognosis at the time was not very optimistic. So I did exactly what you’re doing now, I read everything I could about my condition. The problem of course is that the internet presents as much bad information as it does good information. So what do you believe? The doctors had placed me on Hormone therapy which suppresses your testosterone in an effort to starve the prostate cancer. My response to this treatment was good but I knew I had to do more. There are vitamins, supplements and various foods that we are told will help slow down the progress of advanced prostate cancer. I will deal with vitamins and supplements individually but this entry is a discussion of diet.

While my research was thorough, implementation of what I learned was another matter. While the following information may stop you from reading the rest of this entry I suggest you hang on a little bit longer. I was always overweight and a poor eater. I currently weigh 260 lbs. of which at least some can be attributed to the hormone therapy. Weight gain is an unfortunate side effect. The real irony occurs during support group meetings when the leader asks me to present my latest findings on nutrition. My presentation is always preceded by an elbow from my wife who is always trying to have me eat healthier. The irony is clearly not lost on her.

A prostate healthy diet is not too different from the basic heart healthy diet. They recommend you have no red meat and increase your fruits and vegetables. But here is the dilemma. What do you do when you’re told at age 59 that you only have a few more years to live? 1) Do you go on a strict diet of limited calories and few of your favorite foods? or 2) Do you decide that it makes no sense to deprive yourself of some simple pleasures during the last few years of your life?

Regardless of how you answer those questions there are some basic changes in your diet that can help fight the cancer. For me it’s more about what I’ve added to my diet rather than what I’ve eliminated.
The two diets associated with longevity and reduced risks for prostate cancer are a traditional Japanese diet and a Southern Mediterranean diet. The Japanese diet is high in green tea, soy, vegetables, and fish, as well as low in calories and fat. The Mediterranean diet is high is fresh fruits and vegetables, garlic, tomatoes, red wine, olive oil, and fish. Both are low in red meat.
Specifically, you should incorporate these principles when reevaluating your daily diet:
1)Research has indicated that excess animal fat, primarily red meat and high-fat dairy, stimulates prostate cancer to grow. This is the one I have the most difficulty following. I do enjoy a good steak once in awhile. But now I limit my intake to the leanest cuts of beef.
2)Also avoid trans-fats, which are known to promote cancer growth. Labeling has helped to identify foods with trans-fats. These include margarine as well as fried and baked foods.
3)Not all fats however, are unhealthy. You should increase your consumption of fish which contains significant concentrations of cancer-fighting fatty acids EPA and DHA. The best choice is cold-water fish such as sardines, mackerel, salmon and trout, at least two to three times a week. Do not fry or char (as in barbecue) the fish. I would also avoid farm raised fish such as Atlantic Salmon. Instead seek out the wild Alaskan Salmon.
4)Avoid eating too many high-calcium foods. Studies have suggested that these foods may stimulate prostate cancer growth.
5)As virtually all healthy diets suggest, increase your fresh fruit, herb, and vegetable consumption daily. These foods contain powerful anticancer nutrients. Eat foods in varying colors as they tend to contain different groups of important nutrients. Your diet should include fruits, vegetables, fresh herbs, leafy green vegetables, seeds, berries and nuts.
6)Increase your natural vitamin C consumption. Foods high in this vitamin include citrus, berries, spinach, cantaloupe, sweet peppers, and mango. Be careful with grapefruit however, as evidence indicates that it neutralizes the effectiveness of prescription drugs.
7)Drink green tea which unlike black tea, is not subjected to high temperatures in the drying process. This results in greater levels of a beneficial polyphenol called EGCG.
8)Resveratrol is another beneficial polyphenol that research suggests can slow the growth of Prostate Cancer. This substance is found in red grapes, red grape juice, and red wine.
9)Avoid preserved, pickled, or salted foods.
10)Tomatoes and especially tomato products are very high in lycopene, a powerful anticancer substance. This substance is found primarily in tomato based foods that have been exposed to heat. Therefore, pizza sauce, tomato paste, and ketchup. contain more lycopene than fresh tomatoes.
11)Olive oil is rich in vitamin E and antioxidants. It is also a staple of the preferred Mediterranean diet. This should be your primary source of oil. I make my own slad dressing using olive oil, either balsamic vinegar or lemon juice and spices.

I believe that a major component of my success at slowing the progress of my Prostate Cancer has been the vitamins and supplements that I take each day. After months of trial and error I found the best source for information, research and the products themselves at Life Extension Health Concerns
Go to their website and search Prostate Cancer for some of the best information around.

What is Prostate Cancer?

Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer found in American men, with the exception of non-melanoma skin cancer. This disease is second only to lung cancer as the most common cause of cancer-related deaths among men. Prostate cancer is caused by a series of changes or mutations in the genes of prostate cells. These changes allow the cells to grow in an abnormal pattern until they form tumors. Prostate cancer is often curable when caught early. Nonetheless, too many men have their prostate cancer diagnosis delayed when their general practitioners and sometimes even urologists fail to perform appropriate screening tests.

The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system located just below the bladder and in front of the rectum. When cells in the prostate become cancerous (malignant), they initially form small islands of cancer that are confined to the prostate. While the disease will claim nearly 31,000 deaths this year, there is growing evidence that educational efforts leading to early detection and diagnosis are resulting in lower mortality.

Screening for Prostate Cancer generally involves a blood test to determine PSA (prostate specific antigen) and a doctors exam to perform a DRE (Digital Rectal Exam) to see if they feel any nodules that might suggest a tumor. However, both of these are merely indicators of possible prostate cancer. Confirmation can only be achieved through a biopsy. PSA is a substance made by the prostate gland. Although PSA is mostly found in semen, a small amount is also found in the blood. PSA testing may identify very slow-growing tumors that are unlikely to threaten a man's life. Also, PSA testing may not help a man with a fast-growing or aggressive cancer that has already spread to other parts of his body before being detected.

As a rule symptoms associated with Prostate Cancer are rare until urinary obstruction occurs. Typically, Prostate cancer is a very slow growing tumor, often causing no symptoms until advanced stages. In my case the only symptom I had was back pain which occurred after the cancer had spread. (See My History) Most men with prostate cancer die of other causes -- many without ever realizing that they have the disease. Prostate cancer is generally found mainly in older men. (late 50’s and up)

Prostate cancer is a complex, heterogeneous disease. At the extremes of the spectrum, if left untreated, some prostate cancers behave aggressively, metastasize quickly, and eventually cause mortality, while others are slow to progress and never cause harm. One of the measures of how aggressive Prostate Cancer may be is the Gleason Score. This is determined after a biopsy has been performed and a pathologist views the cancer cells under a microscope. The Gleason score is the result of a system that rates how closely a prostate tumor resembles normal prostate tissue. A grade is assigned to the two largest areas of cancer within the tissue and then added together to produce the score. A tumor with a low score is likely to be slow-growing; one with a high score is likely to grow more aggressively. In my case I had a very aggressive Gleason 9 (10 is the maximum).
This explains why the cancer spread rapidly to my spine.

Treatment options include external-beam radiation, implantation of radioactive isotopes, and surgery. Hormonal manipulation by chemical castration or orchiectomy (removal of the testes), is generally used once the cancer has spread and occasionally in conjunction with surgery and/or radiation. This process decreases the levels of testosterone which feeds the cancer. I will deal with each treatment type in greater detail in subsequent articles.

I believe that a major component of my success at slowing the progress of my Prostate Cancer has been the vitamins and supplements that I take each day. After months of trial and error I found the best source for information, research and the products themselves at Life Extension Health Concerns
Go to their website and search Prostate Cancer for some of the best information around.

My Cancer History

Most men are diagnosed with Prostate Cancer as a result of a routine physical, including blood work, or because of symptoms that are present such as urinary problems. My situation was a little different. For several months I had back pain and thought it was a disc problem. I even tried a chiropractor for several weeks. Finally I went to an orthopedist and he ordered an MRI. The shock came when the radiologist that read my MRI suggested I return immediately to my doctor to discuss the results. He packed up my MRI and report and handed it to me without further comment. When I got to my car I read the report. The findings were couched in medical terms but the conclusion was unmistakable. One of my vertebrae was riddled with cancer. At that point in time we didn’t know the source of the cancer however, after some testing it was clear that I had prostate cancer that had metastasized to my spine.
I suppose I should have been grateful that is was Prostate Cancer since the prognoses for other types of cancer are potentially worse. Once cancer has spread beyond the prostate there is normally no attempt to treat the cancer through surgery or radiation. However, more recently there are several major hospitals that recommend removal of the prostate in an effort to reduce the total cancer burden and then treat the systemic condition with hormone therapy or sometimes in more extreme cases chemotherapy. My treatment protocol was limited to hormone therapy which I will discuss in detail in following blogs. The good news is that six years after my initial diagnosis I am in remission. While metastatic Prostate Cancer is incurable the goal in treatment is to slow it down sufficiently that you eventually die from something else.
Based on my initial prognosis I am fortunate to have gone this long without my cancer progressing. My Gleason score which reflects the level of cell abnormality associated with my cancer is a very poor 9 out of 10. So the question remains have I just been lucky or have the various other non-medical techniques that I’ve used been beneficial.
These include visualization exercises suggested by a psychologist I visited to help me deal with my condition. I also take a variety of vitamins, supplements and prescription drugs that are believed to affect the progress of Prostate Cancer. The blogs that follow will deal in detail with all of the approaches I’ve tried and whatever supporting documentation I can find to help you with your decision making process.

I believe that a major component of my success at slowing the progress of my Prostate Cancer has been the vitamins and supplements that I take each day. After months of trial and error I found the best source for information, research and the products themselves at LifeExtension.com Go to their website and search Prostate Cancer for some of the best information around.