How to Detect Prostate Cancer

Emma Howard: Hello! I'm Emma Howard and I'm joined by Dr. Jonty Heaversedge, he is an expert on men's health problems. Hello! Dr. Jonty Heaversedge: Hi Emma! Emma Howard: Question here from, I think a young man saying that there is a history of prostrate cancer in his family, how likely is it that I’ll contract it as well as what I can do to prevent it? Dr. Jonty Heaversedge: Yeah, absolutely, I mean this is really interesting because obviously prostate cancer is something that all men worry about particularly with increasing age. The fact as a family history may be important there have been some genes that have been identified associated with prostate cancer but actually they is not as clearer link with a family history as there is say with ovarian or breast or bowel cancer where we are developing much clearer picture of the fact that’s it’s an inherited problem with many people. Emma Howard: But you wouldn’t want to leave it. If there is a family history you might as well go and get it checked out. Dr. Jonty Heaversedge: Absolutely, well I think there are two things, aren’t there? One is, it makes you more sensitive to any symptoms that you experience that could suggestive of prostate cancer, any difficulty passing urine, decrease in the stream of the flow of urine, getting up more frequently at night, those sort of things you go and checked out. And the other thing is, in terms of research as to what might prevent it, which is obviously as this is a young man he is obviously concerned about developing prostate cancer in the future. There is not a huge amount that’s very specific, but what’s quite interesting is they have found that prostate cancer is not as common in countries where people eat more fruit and vegetables and less saturated fats. Now it’s hard to know whether it’s affected the saturated fat causing the cancer or the vegetables that are protecting against the cancer, but actually a diet high in fruit and vegetables is probably a really good way forward. Emma Howard: Especially if you are young, you’ve got a long time to build up hopefully resistance then. What’s the target age for prostate cancer, what age in most men when it’s a problem for them? Dr. Jonty Heaversedge: Anytime after the age of 50 you’ll start to notice symptoms potentially for prostate cancer, so any of the symptoms that we’ve already mentioned are important from that point of view. The other think I want to mention is tomatoes, because I was reading the other day. Emma Howard: A super food. Dr. Jonty Heaversedge: A super food, absolutely, and we are all hearing more-and-more about super foods, and tomatoes have like lycopenes in them which are antioxidant and actually there is some research showing that they may be helpful in preventing prostate cancer specifically. As the soya, that has like a fighter estrogens plant estrogens in it which may also be helpful. So there is a couple of specific suggestions for this young man, but actually in general, I think is having healthy life-style, plenty of food, and veg is the best you could do at the moment. Emma Howard: Thank you very much for that, Jonty. Well, if you have a similar problem, we hope we might have given you some help, but remember it’s always best to go and see your own doctor for medical advice. Thanks for watching, we’ll be back with more health questions and answers.