Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting men, but there are ways to reduce your risk. While no method is foolproof, research shows that lifestyle choices can help prevent it. Knowing how to avoid prostate cancer can help you adopt healthy habits to lower your risk.
Small changes in your diet and activity level can support your prostate health and overall well-being. Early detection also matters, which is why regular screening is just as important as prevention.
What Is Prostate Cancer?
Cancer develops when cells within the prostate grow out of control.
In many instances, prostate cancer grows slowly. Some forms, however, are more aggressive and can spread to other parts of the body if not caught early.
You can take steps to help lower your risk, and regular screening plays a major role in early detection.
How to Avoid Prostate Cancer: 5 Tips
While there’s no guaranteed way to prevent prostate cancer, research points to several lifestyle changes that may help.
1. Eat a healthy, balanced diet
What you eat can have an impact on your prostate health over time.
- Focus on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
- Cut back on red meat and high-fat dairy products.
- Choose healthy fats, like those found in nuts, olive oil, and avocados.
2. Stay active
Regular activity helps manage weight and reduce inflammation. It can also improve and help regulate hormone levels. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week. You can meet this goal by doing activities like
- Walking
- Cycling
- Pickleball
- Swimming
3. Maintain a healthy weight
Having extra body weight can increase your risk of having more aggressive forms of prostate cancer. Staying active and eating a balanced diet will help you manage your weight and support prostate health.
4. Don’t smoke
In addition to causing other serious diseases, smoking has been linked to worse outcomes in men diagnosed with prostate cancer. Quitting may lower the risk of complications if prostate cancer develops.
5. Limit alcohol intake
Drinking alcohol can affect hormone levels. If you drink, keep it moderate, having no more than two drinks daily.
The Importance of Prostate Cancer Screening
Screening isn’t a way to avoid prostate cancer.
But, it can help find it early and before it spreads, when treatment is most effective. Early-stage prostate cancer often causes no symptoms. That’s why screening is so important.
What is the Screening Process?
Prostate cancer screening usually includes:
- PSA test (Prostate-Specific Antigen): A simple blood test that measures the level of PSA, a protein made by the prostate. Higher levels may indicate cancer, but other prostate conditions, like enlarged prostate, can also raise PSA.
- Digital Rectal Exam (DRE): A quick physical exam where the doctor checks the prostate for hard or lumpy areas.
Screening helps:
- Detect cancer before symptoms appear
- Avoid advanced prostate cancer, which is harder to treat and more likely to spread
- Open the door to less invasive treatments with fewer side effects if cancer is found early
Screening guidelines vary depending on age and risk level. Talk to your doctor about when to start screening and how often it should be done.
Schedule Your Prostate Cancer Screening
Prostate cancer is common, but so is the ability to catch it early and treat it successfully. If you want to learn how to avoid prostate cancer or just keep your health on track, talking with your doctor is a simple step that can make a big difference.
Don’t worry about prostate cancer – call (541) 334-3350 to schedule your screening appointment today!
Related:
- Prostate Cancer Causes: What You Should Know
- Advanced Prostate Cancer: What You Should Know
- Is Prostate Cancer Curable? Urology FAQs