Back in the days of elementary school, birthday party invitations held a lot of status meaning. They were early lessons in exclusion and inclusion. If you got one, the message was clear: you were “in” with that kid. Also, the wording of the invitation was another clear message. It told you everything you needed to not miss out. There was key information on the date, time and location so there was no excuse for failing to show up. You could look forward to a good time and treats.
Now you’re all grown up, but the arrival of an evite to a special occasion is still a welcome sign that you matter. Particularly if you have prostate cancer, you matter to a team of clinical researchers out of the Mount Sinai Health System. They have issued you an invitation. It starts, “The mostly indolent natural history of prostate cancer (PCa) provides an opportunity for men to explore the benefits of lifestyle interventions.”[i]
It didn’t arrive as an evite but as an online journal article titled “The influence of lifestyle changes (diet, exercise and stress reduction) on prostate cancer tumour biology and patient outcomes: A systematic review.” While it’s not exactly a chance to eat ice cream and cake, it’s time to come to the party that celebrates wellness and better PCa treatment results. This timely call to action was issued in April, 2023 by a clinical research team out of Mount Sinai Health System. The party date? Today. The time? Now. The location? Your own home.
The authors combed through published literature on the effects of diet, physical exercise, and stress management for evidence that personal choice may govern a patient’s disease course. They settled on 75 high quality studies covering the effects of lifestyle interventions on a) tumor biology, b) treatment outcomes/cancer control, and c) mental health. Some studies focused on a single variable such as diet or physical activity, while other studies combined lifestyle variables.
While there are some exceptions or discrepancies among studies, I summarize the authors’ findings as:
- PCa tumor biology – keeping chronic systemic inflammation as a precursor for cardiac disease and other metabolic disorders, as well as PCa and other cancers, there is some evidence that lifestyle interventions reduce inflammation biomarkers, but more research is needed to determine if this is useful for predicting PCa risk and the natural course of tumors.
- Treatment outcomes/cancer control – The majority of studies (diet only, exercise only, diet and exercise combined) had definite positive outcomes when clinical factors such as PSA, PSA velocity, tumor size, surgical margins, and tumor pathology were tracked. In other words, there’s plenty of evidence that dietary changes (noninflammatory foods and supplements) and vigorous exercise are beneficial for overall health and improved treatment effectiveness.
- Mental health – 10 out of 15 studies specifically assessing mental/emotional health among PCa patients determined that noninflammatory diet, physical activity, and stress reduction were beneficial in terms of uplifted attitude and outlook. The other 5 studies demonstrated no influence on mental health.
On balance, this review of the literature affirms that healthy lifestyle decisions, which no one can make for us but which we can choose each and every day, offer not only survival value but overall robust health and enjoyment.
Birthday parties celebrate another year of life. The influence-your-own-PCa party celebrates the possibility of a long and happy life thanks to wise choices in what we eat, how often and vigorously we move our bodies, and the ways in which we reduce the impact of negative stress on our quality of life. Why not RSVP to the invitation with a resounding YES, and begin the party now?
NOTE: This content is solely for purposes of information and does not substitute for diagnostic or medical advice. Talk to your doctor if you are experiencing pelvic pain, or have any other health concerns or questions of a personal medical nature.
[i] Dovey Z, Horowitz A, Waingankar N. The influence of lifestyle changes (diet, exercise and stress reduction) on prostate cancer tumour biology and patient outcomes: A systematic review. BJUI Compass. 2023 Apr 6;4(4):385- 416.
About Dr. Dan Sperling
Dan Sperling, MD, DABR, is a board certified radiologist who is globally recognized as a leader in multiparametric MRI for the detection and diagnosis of a range of disease conditions. As Medical Director of the Sperling Prostate Center, Sperling Medical Group and Sperling Neurosurgery Associates, he and his team are on the leading edge of significant change in medical practice. He is the co-author of the new patient book Redefining Prostate Cancer, and is a contributing author on over 25 published studies. For more information, contact the Sperling Prostate Center.
