Genes and Prostate Cancer
January 4th 2009 05:46
Back in September last year I wrote a piece called, Good News on the Prostate Front. It probably should have been entitled, Mostly Good News on the Prostate Front because in fact, even though there's now a test available that's more accurate than the biopsy one that's presently done (and which some of you may have noticed I had to endure recently!), this test is only telling us that there's a possibility of prostate cancer in later life. It doesn't actually tell you how you're going to avoid it.
The test is a genetic one and it identifies five gene markers for hereditary prostate cancer. So far so good. You can get the test done at any stage of your manhood, long before the PSA might be showing up some negative signs.
But then the question is: what next? All this test is telling you is that you may be likely to get prostate cancer. Or not. If you are likely to get it, what can you do about it?
Well, the short answer is, Not a lot.
This article is fairly typical of the supposed 'answer' to avoiding prostate cancer. The usual things: drink lots of water, avoid excess alcohol, keep your weight under control, eat tomatoes because they contain Lycopene which is supposed to help you avoid the cancer, eat carrots, and last but not least, maintain a good mental attitude.
Dare I say, Oh, puleeese! Without sounding like a know-all, I don't think any of these are necessarily going to stop the possibility of cancer. I continue to eat tomatoes and carrots as I've always done. I drink water, I don't particularly drink alcohol (just because I never have). My weight isn't quite at the right place it should be, but I'm not carrying a lot of it - and I've always walked a lot.
As for mental attitude: this is one of those approaches to medicine that most of us would love to indulge in but which don't come easily. We can't always avoid anger, stress, even depression. Some of these things we just have to live and sort out the best we can.
My biopsy showed I didn't have cancer, but what if it had? Would all that walking, tomato and carrot-eating, etc have actually proved anything? Could I crow about my 'good' behaviour? I doubt it. If anything, I was fortunate, lucky, blessed - whatever.
A good friend of mine developed breast cancer last year. She'd always eaten healthy food - almost to the point of obsession. The connection isn't proven, is all I can say.
Of course it's better to be eating good stuff, exercising and generally avoiding unhealthy emotions. It's also a fact of life that we live in a world where nothing is perfect in terms of health.
Incidentally, the gene test isn't readily available from your GP as yet. Or from anyone else. It's coming, but you may have to wait a while.
The test is a genetic one and it identifies five gene markers for hereditary prostate cancer. So far so good. You can get the test done at any stage of your manhood, long before the PSA might be showing up some negative signs.
But then the question is: what next? All this test is telling you is that you may be likely to get prostate cancer. Or not. If you are likely to get it, what can you do about it?
Well, the short answer is, Not a lot.
This article is fairly typical of the supposed 'answer' to avoiding prostate cancer. The usual things: drink lots of water, avoid excess alcohol, keep your weight under control, eat tomatoes because they contain Lycopene which is supposed to help you avoid the cancer, eat carrots, and last but not least, maintain a good mental attitude.
Dare I say, Oh, puleeese! Without sounding like a know-all, I don't think any of these are necessarily going to stop the possibility of cancer. I continue to eat tomatoes and carrots as I've always done. I drink water, I don't particularly drink alcohol (just because I never have). My weight isn't quite at the right place it should be, but I'm not carrying a lot of it - and I've always walked a lot.
As for mental attitude: this is one of those approaches to medicine that most of us would love to indulge in but which don't come easily. We can't always avoid anger, stress, even depression. Some of these things we just have to live and sort out the best we can.
My biopsy showed I didn't have cancer, but what if it had? Would all that walking, tomato and carrot-eating, etc have actually proved anything? Could I crow about my 'good' behaviour? I doubt it. If anything, I was fortunate, lucky, blessed - whatever.
A good friend of mine developed breast cancer last year. She'd always eaten healthy food - almost to the point of obsession. The connection isn't proven, is all I can say.
Of course it's better to be eating good stuff, exercising and generally avoiding unhealthy emotions. It's also a fact of life that we live in a world where nothing is perfect in terms of health.
Incidentally, the gene test isn't readily available from your GP as yet. Or from anyone else. It's coming, but you may have to wait a while.
| 64 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
Comment by Cheryl J
Rhythmatism
Budget Centsability
Comment by Mike Crowl
Webitz
Work Report
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Comment by Mike Crowl
Webitz
Work Report
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Comment by Mike Crowl
Webitz
Work Report