"At 82, I’ve been on AS for 14 years and plan to stay on it."--Howard Furer.

My Active Surveillance Journey: Lifestyle is the secret to my good health

(Editor’s note: Howard Furer has been a regular at the AnCan Virtual Support Group for Active Surveillance. He can often be seen chowing down on quinoa. He adamantly argues in favor of staying on active surveillance for as long as possible. The Active Surveillor.)

By Howard Furer

In 2008 at the age of 68, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, Gleason score 3+3 in one core out of 12 taken. The tumor size was less than 0.5 millimeters and the length of the core biopsy was less than 5%. 

I have very low-risk prostate cancer.

My doctor put me on Active Surveillance: I have had a PSA test every six months and visit my doctor every six months for a DRE (digital rectal exam), or a sonogram, and consultation. He also recommended switching to a more vegetarian diet.

While I was relieved that invasive treatments were not recommended, I freaked out just hearing that I had cancer. I spent the next several weeks researching all the books and other literature I could get my hands on with regard to cancer in general and prostate cancer specifically. 

 (I recommend you do the same.) 

 I have had a PSA test every six months for the last 14 years. Over the last five years, the test results range from a high of 3.19 to a low of 2.51. My most recent PSA was 2.81 earlier this month.

I am now 82 years old and have been on AS for 14 years. I plan to stay on AS as I move into my 90s. I will see my urologist every six months and get a PSA every six months. I will not request a biopsy as long as my PSA stays within the normal range and I remain asymptomatic. 

The main focus of my research has been on lifestyle, such as things that I could do to contain or, ideally, eliminate cancer cells from my body. 

What follows is a highly condensed version of lifestyle changes I've made based on my findings. 

Much of what follows is aimed at boosting the immune system and putting the body into an alkaline environment.

-I eliminated sugar from my diet; eliminated from my diet any foods that metabolize into blood glucose at a rapid rate, including white rice, white potatoes, pasta, highly processed foods, etc. (Confession: I do drink alcohol in moderation)

.

-I switched away from red meat toward a diet that was 90%+ plant-based. The centerpiece of my daily meals is a salad consisting of a large number of raw vegetables which have a high nutrient density, nuts, seeds, ground chia seeds, ground flaxseeds, hemp seed, maca powder, turmeric powder, turmeric root and ginger root. I also eat fish and occasionally chicken, in small quantities; whole grains, cooked beans and quinoa, miso, nut butters, oat milk, sweet potato.

-I avoid dairy, although it is hard for me to resist yogurt and cheese. I work hard to keep that at a minimum – –it's not easy!

-I take vitamin D3 as a daily supplement

-Just switching to a plant-based diet reduced my body weight from five to 10 pounds down to a weight that is appropriate for me. (Consult your doctor or a height/weight chart to determine your appropriate weight).

-I engage in daily, moderate exercise. I cannot stress enough how important this is. Strength/resistance training and aerobic exercise are both important. I typically rotate five activities in my weekly regimen – –yoga, weight lifting, walking, swimming, bike riding. Yesterday, I weight lifted and swam; the day before I attended a yoga class and did some bike riding. Tomorrow I will do some walking and go for a swim. 

-it is important for me to get at least seven hours per night of quality sleep.

-I endeavor to have a more loving and forgiving spirit, to relax and enjoy life, to have a positive attitude.

CONCLUSION

Today, at age 82, I am, arguably, in the best shape of my life. Note that I am not without health issues. I take medication for hypothyroidism as well as Dutasteride for my prostate. I've had both my hips replaced. My night vision has deteriorated over the years and so I no longer drive at night with the exception of short local trips. Despite these health issues and my advanced age, I am blessed to be pain-free and fully functional. It turns out that the anti-cancer lifestyle discussed above is good for – – EVERYTHING.

SOME INFORMATION THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST

-Research indicates that health and longevity outcomes are determined only around 30% by genetics, and as much as 70% by lifestyle and environmental factors which are under the individual’s control.

-Sugar is a cancer-feeder.

-Cancer cells thrive in an acidic environment. A meat-based diet is acidic.

-When a person’s immune system is strong the cancer cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumors

-An effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells by not feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply

-Milk causes the body to produce mucus. Cancer feeds on mucus.

-Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment. Exercising daily, and deep breathing help to get more oxygen down to the cellular level.

-The best fish to eat are small, oily fish such as anchovies, sardines, herring and mackerel — small because they have lower concentration of toxins from the ocean than larger fish, and oily because they have a higher concentration of omega-3 fatty acids . Salmon is also good because it is a fatty fish that contains significant amounts of vitamin D. Mackerel and sardines also contain significant amounts of vitamin D.

-Include probiotics in your diet.

-Adequate amounts of vitamin D in your diet may reduce prostate cancer risk.

-Excess body fat increases your risk for several cancers.

-Vegetables are best eaten raw since cooking lowers nutritional levels. Of course, many vegetables such as sweet potatoes and Brussel sprouts require cooking in order to be edible.

-While adopting any of the recommended practices would benefit your health, adopting most or all of them simultaneously would likely have a profound influence on how you look and feel, and improve your blood test results when you go for your annual physical (such as cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, insulin, etc). In my experience, you will likely find notable improvements in how you look and feel within five weeks, and for many people within three weeks.

Finally, “Prostate Disorders” is one of my best sources.

Biography:  A native Chicagoan, Howard Furer lived in the Second City until age 40 when he moved to California. He has a bachelor's degree in mathematics from the University of Illinois and an MBA in marketing from the University of Chicago. He did a short stint in law school.

Furer’s lifetime career was in consumer marketing research with a specialty in advertising research.

He worked at Apple computer from 1981 to 1984 as Director of marketing research.

He retired 15 years ago. A resident of Santa Cruz, he enjoys traveling, primarily to Israel, where he goes twice a year to visit family.

He spends most of his time hanging out with friends and engaging in exercise.  From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Thursday, he plays poker with other retirees. He loves to play chess and is an avid reader, including nonfiction books about health and fitness, especially healthy longevity, anthropology/evolution/what it means to be human, neuroscience, poker, travel, and history.