Prostate Cancer and Alcohol

Overview 

Definition of prostate cancer

Prostate cancer develops in the prostate gland (reproductive region of the male). Commonly, prostate cancer is diagnosed before it majorly spreads all over the area.

The types of prostate cancer are: 

• Sarcomas 
• Transitional cell carcinomas 
• Small cell carcinomas 

Overview of alcohol consumption

Alcohol consumption is when alcohol or any beverage consumed mainly contains ethanol.

Prostate cancer

What is prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer develops when there is an abnormal growth rate in cells of the prostate gland. 

The two stages of prostate cancer are 

• Advanced stage - where the cancer has spread outside the prostate gland
• Metastatic prostate cancer - cancer spread in the distant parts of the body

 Risk factors for prostate cancer

• Age is a huge risk factor for prostate cancer. The older the person, the higher the risk of getting prostate cancer
• Genetic factors - if you have had first-degree relatives / direct relatives with prostate cancer, the chances of getting prostate cancer are high
• Ethnicity - prostate cancer is more common in African American men 
• Diet - men who intake a lot of dairy products are more likely to have prostate cancer for prostate cancer

 Symptoms of prostate cancer 

The following are the symptoms of prostate cancer:

• Slow urine flow 
• Painful urination 
• Loss of bladder or bowel control 
• Difficulty of starting or stopping a stream 
• Blood in semen 
• Bone pain 
• Losing weight without trying 

Diagnostic methods of prostate cancer 

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test

Statistics show that:

• If the PSA is more than 10, the chance of having prostate cancer is over 50%
• Men with a PSA level between 4 and 10 (often called the “borderline range”) have about a 1 in 4 chance of having prostate cancer.
• Most men without prostate cancer have PSA levels under 4 ng/mL of blood
• Prostate biopsy 
• Genetic testing 

Alcohol consumption

Definition and types of alcoholic beverages

As mentioned above, alcohol consumption is the consumption of beverages that contain ethyl alcohol (colourless liquid with a burning taste and wine-like odour). 

The types of alcoholic beverages are:

• Beer 
• Wine 
• Spirits 
• Vodka 
• Cider 
• Whiskey 

Current guidelines on alcohol consumption

The normal intake of alcohol for men is 2 or less drinks a day. Drinking less is much better than consuming more alcohol. 

Even moderate drinking shouldn't be done if you are 

• If you are younger than 21 
• If you have already existing medical conditions
• Controlling the amount you drink (if you are already drinking more)

Relationship between alcohol and prostate cancer

The risk of prostate cancer can be dependent on the level of alcohol consumed (moderate, high, or low consumption). 

Alcohol, depending in the level of alcohol consumption, can alter hormonal growth. Alcohol alters the hormonal milieu and contains chemical substances such as flavonoids (red wine), which may alter tumour cell growth. 

Drinks like wine can cause liver problems, heartburn, etc which leads to a high risk of cancer. Hard liquor is also seen to have a high percentage of alcohol. Not only prostate cancer but the more the consumption of alcohol, has higher the risk of liver, and other cancers as well. 

Recommendations for men at risk of prostate cancer

• Choose a low-fat diet
• Increase intake of fruits and vegetables 
• Reduce the amount of dairy products 
• Maintain a healthy weight balance
• Frequently keep in contact with your doctor

Strategies for reducing alcohol-related cancer risk

The following are the ways to reduce alcohol-related cancer risk:

• Eliminate tobacco use 
• Maintain a healthy diet and balanced diet
• Limit alcohol consumption 
• Limit exposure to environmental risk factors

FAQs

What should you avoid if you have prostate cancer?

Red and prostate meat, saturated fat, and salt.

What kills prostate cancer cells naturally?

Allium vegetables (garlic, onion, chives, etc).

What makes prostate cancer worse?

Social, environmental factors, and lifestyle (dietary) factors. 

Is coffee bad for prostate cancer?

Men who consumed six or more cups of coffee per day had a 20% risk of developing prostate cancer. 

What can one drink to clean their prostate?

Water, tomato juice, and citrus juice 

What is the biggest contributor to prostate cancer?

• Ageing 
• Ethnicity
• Genetics 
• Hormone levels 

Does fasting work for prostate cancer?

Fasting may increase energy levels and improve the quality of living in patients with metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer. 

What happens if you ignore prostate cancer?

The disease will continue to increase much more if left untreated. 

Summary 

Prostate cancer develops in the prostate gland which is the reproductive region of the male. It occurs when there is an abnormal growth in the cells of the prostate gland. Alcohol consumption is the consumption of beverages that contain ethyl alcohol. 

Prostate cancer occurs due to genetics, dietary imbalances, ethnicity, and most importantly alcohol. The more alcohol consumed, the higher the risk of prostate cancer. Alcohol indirectly affects the risk rate of having prostate cancer because the consumption of alcohol leads to effects in areas like the liver, and can also cause heartburn as well. To eliminate the risk of prostate cancer one must control their diet, reduce the intake of alcohol, etc.