Prostate cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men, the University of Maryland Medical Center notes. However, prostate cancer responds well to treatment if it is caught early enough. If you have prostate cancer, your doctor may refer you for surgery in order to remove cancerous prostate tissue, or you may be given chemotherapy, radiation therapy or hormone therapy. Some supplements may aid conventional cancer treatment and prevent the development of prostate cancer, but they should never been used in place of prescribed treatment. Talk to your doctor before using supplements as they may cause side effects or interfere with your treatment.
Examples
Supplements that may have cancer-fighting properties include lycopene, vitamin E and the herb, green tea. Lycopene is an antioxidant found in tomatoes and may inhibit cancer cell growth, while vitamin E, also an antioxidant, may prevent the growth of cancer cells and help to stave off prostate cancer in men that smoke, UMMC notes. Green tea is made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant and may help to treat prostate cancer.
Scientific Evidence
A study published in the March 2010 issue of "Cancer Science" shows that a compound found in green tea, known as epigallocatechin-3-gallate, induced prostate cancer cell death. However, the study was performed in a prostate cancer cell line, not in men with the disease. The findings of a preclinical trial published in the October 2010 issue of the medical journal "Prostate" show that a lycopene-enriched diet may decrease the incidence of prostate cancer. However, the study was carried out in an animal model, not humans. The results of a clinical trial published in the October 2010 issue of "Nutrition and Cancer" cast doubt on the ability of vitamin E to prevent prostate cancer. Lead author, B.K. Dunn, notes that taking a vitamin E supplement did not prevent prostate cancer in previously healthy men.
Supplement Safety
Although lycopene, green tea and vitamin E are naturally-occurring substances, they all have the ability to cause side effects and interact with other drugs you may be taking. As such, you should always speak to your doctor before using them. Although lycopene is unlikely to cause side effects when taken at the recommended dose, consuming large quantities of lycopene-rich foods may cause skin discoloration, the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center notes. Short-term use of green tea is likely safe, but drinking more than five cups daily may cause irritability, nausea and dizziness. It also interacts with several drugs including antibiotics and the cancer drug, bortezomib. High doses of vitamin E may affect the blood's ability to clot.
Things to Consider
While supplements may or may not help to prevent or treat prostate cancer, undergoing regular screening will help to catch prostate cancer in its early stages, increasing the likelihood of successful treatment. UMMC also notes that lifestyle factors such as eating a healthy balanced diet, exercising regularly and avoiding smoking, can all help to lower your chances of developing prostate cancer in the first place.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Prostate Cancer
- PubMed:(-)-Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Induces Du145 Prostate Cancer Cell Death Via Downregulation of Inhibitor of DNA Binding 2, a Dominant Negative Helix-Loop-Helix Protein
- PubMed: Chemoprevention of Prostate Cancer with Lycopene in the TRAMP Model.
- PubMed: A Nutrient Approach to Prostate Cancer Prevention: The Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT)
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Lycopene
- MedlinePlus: Green Tea
