Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 6/7/2007

Question
I come from a long line of prostate cancer patients including my dad and my grandpa on my mom's side as well as several cousins and uncles, so basically I'm doomed. I am 21 now but I would like to learn about diets and other ways to help prevent it as long as I can while I can. I know this isnt quite your field but I hope you could help out.

Thanks,

Tim H.

Answer
Oh this was a hard one! The causes of prostate cancer is basically unknown even though we know that male sex hormones are involved. A man who has been castrated early in life can not develop prostate cancer (females can not either since they do not have one). Obviously that is however nothing I can recommend as a prophylactic measure! Every man - if he lives long enough - will develop prostate cancer! Those who die without it managed to die from something else before it developed in their case. However there are ethnic differeces. Afroamerican males are at higher risk while Chinese and Japanese males are at a lower risk.  There are speculations that these differences are at least partly due to differences in diet and a large amount of soy bean products (which include chemical substances related to FEMALE sex hormones - mainly estrogen) in the Chinese-Japanese diet have been pointed out as the reason behind these findings. But this is at present just speculations, no one KNOWS for sure! What is probably true however is that obesity increases the risk, but even that is uncertain. That genetic factors can play a role - as they seem to do in your case - is rather certain and they MAY also play a role - at least to some extent - in the ethnic differences. Based on this I'm sure you understand that it is difficult to give you any sound and sure advice on diets etc. The best advice I can give you is to start check ups early - in your 40'ies or 50'ies - and to follow progress in prostate cancer research. There may be advances that better can answer your questions ahead!