Food choices linked to prostate ailments?

CEBU, Philippines - No clinical studies yet have established of a direct link to certain food types that cause prostate ailments like benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostatitis and prostate cancer. However, common observations noted of certain food items that could act as trigger.

Dr. Bonifacio Cabahug, Jr. who sits as chairman of the Department of Urology at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center said during the “Prostate Cancer Lay Forum” at the Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center last June 22.

He cited of Asians, particularly the Japanese, as previously less susceptible to developing prostate cancer cells owing to the difficulty in raising cows (or production of beef products) because of climatic conditions. He said that those in Japan who are fish-eaters and vegetable consumers are found to have protected themselves from the ailment. However, those Japanese hired as “sakadas” (farmhands) in pineapple plantations in Hawaii who developed the culture of consuming red meat are found to have been struck by prostate cancer.

“There is no such thing as an ideal meal plan for somebody suspected and or diagnosed of prostate-related ailments, despite the fact that some lifestyle patterns are observed to have triggered certain conditions – eating red meat included,” Dr. Cabahug said when asked on food choices as a direct tie to the rising cases of prostate cancers in Metro Cebu.

For the lack of studies, connection of certain food stuff to developing of cancer cells couldn’t be verified yet but the reported rise in cases among Filipinos who have adopted a Westernized food culture such as consumption of fast foods and instantly cooked items may give the impression of the vulnerability to prostate infections, he added.

The question was raised because of the observance of July as Nutrition Month, which seeks to primarily guide consumers on how to plan a daily meal menu especially those who have members in the family either suspected or diagnosed to have been suffering from prostate ailments.

Urgent: Early medical intervention to prevent prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is the number 1 cancer among men in America; number 2 cause of mortality among men in the world; and ranks third among the various types of cancer responsible for mortality incidents among men in the Philippines.

The prostate gland located at the neck of the bladder is about the size of a “sineguelas” or a Spanish plum. It is responsible for the production of the liquid portion of the seminal fluid. According to Dr. Cabahug, in the event of prostate ailments, there’s a substantial decrease or stop in the flow of urine from the bladder because of the pressure or inhibition of the urethra.

“Ang lisod ra ba kay kasagaran walay bation,” Dr. Cabahug said. “And if patients do feel certain pain, this already indicates that the cancer cells have already complicated other vital organs of the body like the lungs and the liver.”

Other symptoms include chronic back pain, loss of weight, pallor, loss of appetite.

“Gamay lang ni siya pero dakong kahasol ang mahatag labi na if edad-edaran na ta. When swollen, motuok ni siya sa bladder. Mao nang lisod ang pag-urinate,” the urologist added.

Most susceptible are those aged 45 and above, with cancer cases prevalent in familial history; adopting lifestyle of red meat consumption, and those of Afro-American descent.

“Mokunsulta sa urologist for an examination yearly, may bation man o wala. Matuki og sayo, dako ang purohan maayo pa,” Dr. Cabahug advises the public.

Here are the rest of the guide questions: Any problems in urinating? Frequent trips to the toilet? Frequent urination even at bedtime? Experiencing weak urine flow? Interrupted urine flow? Total urinary blockage? Takes time to start urinating? Exerts effort to start urination?

Prevention, achieved through early medical intervention, is the advocacy of Dr. Cabahug’s team. In fact, he encourages the public to avail of free consultation services through the “PaDRE program (Pa-Digital Rectal Examination)” offered every last Friday of the month from 2 p.m. onwards at the Out-Patient Department of VSMMC. As of this writing, it was learned that around 200 patients availed of the services of four urologists under the said program. The service has been offered since 1998 as supported by the Philippine Urological Association in Central and Eastern Visayas Chapter.

DRE is only one of the ways to properly diagnose prostate cancer. This method identifies prostate size, contour and consistency. The other ways are through Prostate-Specific Antigen Test (blood exam), ultrasound (to find nodules as indicated by hazy or blurry image), and biopsy of the prostate (use of biopsy needle).

Cure would be achieved through observation, medicines (tablets/injections), radiation therapy and operation. If all four fail, the next step would be to undergo chemotherapy.