By JONATHON HOWARD
TO find out more about prostate cancer prevention and treatment, Noosa Today put the hard questions to Associate Professor Eric Chung during his visit to Noosa recently.
What are the current remission success rates of post prostate cancer surgeries?
Remission success rate depends on a lot of factors such as grade and stage of cancer, surgical outcomes (organ confined; margins clearance and subtype of prostate cancer), as well as response to and choice of primary vs subsequent treatments (additional radiation). Success rate of surgery can be defined as overall survival, cancer-specific survival or biochemical survival (based on postoperative PSA level). It is important for patients to have an open, frank and informed discussion with his doctor about his prostate cancer, and the benefits and risks of various treatment options. Over the last few years, there have been considerable advances made in terms of imaging technologies and treatment strategies.
What can men do to reduce their chances of prostate cancer?
Nothing much unless you can reverse ageing and change your genetics. But recent studies have shown that certain diets such as lycophene (bright red anti-oxidant foods) and isoflavones (soy), less animal fat, more fruits and vegies, and food rich in omega 3 (fish) may reduce your risk of developing prostate cancer. Furthermore, healthy diet, exercise and lifestyle and quitting smoking minimise risks of prostate cancer. The effect of certain classes of drugs such as 5-alpha reductase inhibitors in preventing or lowering the risk of prostate cancer remains controversial. Could you please explain why prostate cancer is becoming more prevalent in Australian men?
Excluding skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in Australian men, accounting for 30 per cent of cancer diagnosed and 13 per cent of cancer deaths according to PCFA data. Several proposed theories for the high prevalence include genetics, diets and increased screening and diagnostic detection of prostate cancer among the public.
