Approximately 217,730 American men were diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2010, according to the American Cancer Society. Prostate cancer is the second leading cancer death among American men. You may know turmeric, a perennial plant, as the main ingredient in some curries. However, herbalists have used turmeric medicinally for many centuries. As of 2010, researchers have started testing turmeric, as well as its active ingredient curcumin, as treatment for many different ailments, including prostate cancer. Always consult your oncologist before using turmeric or any herbal supplement medicinally.
Turmeric
Turmeric grows natively in the tropical regions of India, Asia and China. The plant is a relative of ginger and grows approximately five to six feet tall with oval leaves and dull yellow trumpet shaped flowers. Turmeric's main ingredient, curcumin is a powerful antioxidant protecting cells from damage and destruction and preventing dangerous particles known as free radicals from tampering with DNA. Researchers are examining the use of turmeric and curcumin for treatment of diabetes, digestive complaints, atherosclerosis, osteoarthritis and several types of cancer.
Prostate Cancer
The prostate gland is a small gland that wraps around a man's urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder. The prostate is approximately the size of a walnut and makes up part of a man's reproductive system. Prostate cancer starts in the prostate gland but may spread to other parts of the body. It is more common in men over the age of 60 and rarely occurs in men younger than 40. African-American men are at greater risk for developing prostate cancer, as are men who have a brother or father who had prostate cancer.
Most physicians begin doing a blood test to screen for prostate cancer known as a prostate specific antigen, or PSA, test and many times this catches prostate cancer before symptoms occur. Symptoms may include delay or slow start of urine stream, dribbling or leaking after urinating, blood in urine or semen, bone pain and tenderness in the pelvic bones or lower back as well as straining during urination or urinary retention. The most common treatments for prostate cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and hormone therapy.
The Science
The American Cancer Society explains that research relating to the use of turmeric on cancer cells is promising in its early stage. When scientists applied curcumin to cancer cells in a lab dish, many cells were destroyed and the remaining cells showed impaired growth. In animals with tumors, curcumin appeared to shrink the tumors by impairing the blood flow to the tumor. Though data related specifically to prostate cancer is scarce, the University of Maryland Medical Center says that this early research shows that curcumin may help prevent, control and treat prostate cancer as well as breast, skin and colon cancer. With human trials in their earliest stages, conventional prostate cancer treatments are still the best option. Always talk with your oncologist before considering alternative therapies or supplements.
Warnings
Turmeric may interfere with clotting medications such as warfarin and aspirin, increasing the risk of bleeding complications. It may also interfere with medications that help you reduce stomach acid, such as omeprazole, possibly complicating the underlying condition.
