Regarding diet: I have absolutely no idea how my diet has affected (and does affect) my prostate cancer. AS far as I know, it would be rather difficult to assess this scientifically, if not impossible, in part because it is virtually impossible to predict the development of one's PCa. Were I to base the impact my diet has by comparing it to the impact my diet apparently had on my cholesterol situation, I would say it has had no impact (diet changes led nowhere except to being prescribed statins). On the other hand, were it not for my diet I might have had to be treated actively a few years ago.
So: diet includes a lot of raw vegetables and fruits, red meat about 3 or 4 times a year, fish and shellfish regularly, various kinds of grain both unprocessed and processed (bulghur, quinoa, brown [and white] rices), lots of almonds and sunflower seeds (and flax, ground and unground), too much bread of various types, a fair amount of yogurt, and sugar only in desserts--never in coffee or tea (I make great apple and apple rhubarb crisps).
My diagnosis of PCa was, eventually, a wake up call. The VA Urologist told me nothing, but that I had a Gleason 3+3 and could postpone treatment, and possibly postpone treatment for many years.
My first year after diagnosis was spent drinking and snacking. When I climbed out of that depression, I joined a PCa support group, who led me to a path of self education. By that time my BMI had reached 30.0, and I woke up and started taking care of my health.
I have a similiar diet and exercise to that described, and I love the results. I also believe it has enabled me to postpone treatment more than without these changes.
Double blind studies have shown PCa to be effected by lifestyle.
Of course, AS is a postponement of treatment, it is not a cure.
I was recently diagnosed with a very small Gleason 3+3 carcinoma in one fusion biopsy core sample out of 16. I have been exercising 6 or 7 days a week and on a mostly fish, organic poultry and plant-based diet for more than 10 years, which helped me reverse an increase in PSA from 3.0 up to 5.0 and then back down to around 2.0. I went on Finasteride at the same time and tried a few supplements that didn't help my BPH symptoms, but I suspect the good diet and regular exercise was the most important aspect to manage my PSA and overall good health. Since my Gleason 3+3 diagnosis and Howard Furer's comments, I have eliminated the remaining rare diet exceptions. I hope by doing all the right things under my control that I will be able stay on Active Surveillance indefinitely and manage my BPH symptoms.
Randy from what I have read Finasteride lowers PSA I believe it was as much as 50%. Matter of fact it is important to be aware of this because a PSA of 4 on Finasteride is not the same as without it. As a result of being on Finasteride I read many men were not getting biopsies or follow up MRI when needed because it was not realized that without the Finasteride the PSA would have been much higher. Sounds like you are doing a great job with diet and exercise. I have been on AS for 15 years and use same approach with added prayer. Keep up the good work
Thanks for your reply and your positive feedback, RL100. I should have mentioned that I have been on Finasteride for many years and without it, my PSA had been and still would be much higher. That is one of the reasons I used percentage change in my PSA as a better metric to factor out the Finasteride impact. Congratulations on your 15 years on AS! Thanks again and best wishes to you!
Hi Howard - I would be willing to do that. How would you want me to submit it to you i.e. via email? How much detail would you want? I think my biggest experience to share was when I had my 11th or 12th biopsy, and it was determined I had Gleason grade 8 disease. This was confirmed by John Hopkins and then through many months and questions and participating in a clinical trial it was determined by a renowned pathologist (not John Epstein) that it was a misread. Ultimately it is now approx 3 years since that misread and I have had two biopsies since, and both show no disease other than high grade PIN.
Thanks, RL. Please tell the whole story. 1,000 words. 2,000. Whatever you think works. God, 11-12 biopsies. I had six and thought I had a lot. I was messed up by a high-grade PIN. All pathologists make misses. Even the greats. But Epstein saved your bacon? Inquiring minds want to know. Tell us about the trial. Please write to me at howard.wolinsky@gmail.com and send your high-rez photo along with some bio on yourself--age, working/retired, what sort of work did you do, did your partner/spouse support AS, were you anxious, did you get pushback on AS, start off describing getting that Gleason 8, what did you think, how did you feel, how has this affected your approach to a biopsy now? We take no prisoners. Howard, The Active Surveillor.
I used to read in the 70's that animal fats had a cellular link to cancer. Since becoming AS in 2012 I have gradually removed beef and nonorganic chicken from my diet. With exercise and a few supplements I manage my PSA and have a healthy heart, weight and BMI of 22. A few sugars from desserts but no ice cream. Follow the UCSF PC diet online.
No red meat, very little dairy, sugar or processed foods. Lots of nuts, fruit & veggies. Exercise 3 or 4 times per week. No weight change, but had lost 25 pounds (on purpose) just before diagnosis in 2019. New to this blog - thanks for doing this Howard.
Regarding diet: I have absolutely no idea how my diet has affected (and does affect) my prostate cancer. AS far as I know, it would be rather difficult to assess this scientifically, if not impossible, in part because it is virtually impossible to predict the development of one's PCa. Were I to base the impact my diet has by comparing it to the impact my diet apparently had on my cholesterol situation, I would say it has had no impact (diet changes led nowhere except to being prescribed statins). On the other hand, were it not for my diet I might have had to be treated actively a few years ago.
So: diet includes a lot of raw vegetables and fruits, red meat about 3 or 4 times a year, fish and shellfish regularly, various kinds of grain both unprocessed and processed (bulghur, quinoa, brown [and white] rices), lots of almonds and sunflower seeds (and flax, ground and unground), too much bread of various types, a fair amount of yogurt, and sugar only in desserts--never in coffee or tea (I make great apple and apple rhubarb crisps).
My diagnosis of PCa was, eventually, a wake up call. The VA Urologist told me nothing, but that I had a Gleason 3+3 and could postpone treatment, and possibly postpone treatment for many years.
My first year after diagnosis was spent drinking and snacking. When I climbed out of that depression, I joined a PCa support group, who led me to a path of self education. By that time my BMI had reached 30.0, and I woke up and started taking care of my health.
I have a similiar diet and exercise to that described, and I love the results. I also believe it has enabled me to postpone treatment more than without these changes.
Double blind studies have shown PCa to be effected by lifestyle.
Of course, AS is a postponement of treatment, it is not a cure.
I was recently diagnosed with a very small Gleason 3+3 carcinoma in one fusion biopsy core sample out of 16. I have been exercising 6 or 7 days a week and on a mostly fish, organic poultry and plant-based diet for more than 10 years, which helped me reverse an increase in PSA from 3.0 up to 5.0 and then back down to around 2.0. I went on Finasteride at the same time and tried a few supplements that didn't help my BPH symptoms, but I suspect the good diet and regular exercise was the most important aspect to manage my PSA and overall good health. Since my Gleason 3+3 diagnosis and Howard Furer's comments, I have eliminated the remaining rare diet exceptions. I hope by doing all the right things under my control that I will be able stay on Active Surveillance indefinitely and manage my BPH symptoms.
Randy from what I have read Finasteride lowers PSA I believe it was as much as 50%. Matter of fact it is important to be aware of this because a PSA of 4 on Finasteride is not the same as without it. As a result of being on Finasteride I read many men were not getting biopsies or follow up MRI when needed because it was not realized that without the Finasteride the PSA would have been much higher. Sounds like you are doing a great job with diet and exercise. I have been on AS for 15 years and use same approach with added prayer. Keep up the good work
Thanks for your reply and your positive feedback, RL100. I should have mentioned that I have been on Finasteride for many years and without it, my PSA had been and still would be much higher. That is one of the reasons I used percentage change in my PSA as a better metric to factor out the Finasteride impact. Congratulations on your 15 years on AS! Thanks again and best wishes to you!
~Randy
Thanks, RL100. Would you be interested in writing about your 15 years on AS and some of the ins and out? Howard
Hi Howard - I would be willing to do that. How would you want me to submit it to you i.e. via email? How much detail would you want? I think my biggest experience to share was when I had my 11th or 12th biopsy, and it was determined I had Gleason grade 8 disease. This was confirmed by John Hopkins and then through many months and questions and participating in a clinical trial it was determined by a renowned pathologist (not John Epstein) that it was a misread. Ultimately it is now approx 3 years since that misread and I have had two biopsies since, and both show no disease other than high grade PIN.
Thanks, RL. Please tell the whole story. 1,000 words. 2,000. Whatever you think works. God, 11-12 biopsies. I had six and thought I had a lot. I was messed up by a high-grade PIN. All pathologists make misses. Even the greats. But Epstein saved your bacon? Inquiring minds want to know. Tell us about the trial. Please write to me at howard.wolinsky@gmail.com and send your high-rez photo along with some bio on yourself--age, working/retired, what sort of work did you do, did your partner/spouse support AS, were you anxious, did you get pushback on AS, start off describing getting that Gleason 8, what did you think, how did you feel, how has this affected your approach to a biopsy now? We take no prisoners. Howard, The Active Surveillor.
I used to read in the 70's that animal fats had a cellular link to cancer. Since becoming AS in 2012 I have gradually removed beef and nonorganic chicken from my diet. With exercise and a few supplements I manage my PSA and have a healthy heart, weight and BMI of 22. A few sugars from desserts but no ice cream. Follow the UCSF PC diet online.
WFPB whole food plant based diet. And continually learning about food and inflammation. Yes, I absolutely feel that diet impacts prostate cancer.
No red meat, very little dairy, sugar or processed foods. Lots of nuts, fruit & veggies. Exercise 3 or 4 times per week. No weight change, but had lost 25 pounds (on purpose) just before diagnosis in 2019. New to this blog - thanks for doing this Howard.
Slim and trim. Good work Alan. The Active Surveillor.
Mostly plant based. No progression since diagnosis 18 months ago. Lost almost 50 pounds. Urinary urgency now very rare.