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Dr. Kim Mulvihill ReportingOne in three American men are obese. A new study links obesity with the worst kind of prostate cancer.
At the American Urological Association meeting in San Francisco, a new study on prostate cancer spells bad news for overweight men.
Dr. Christopher Kane: “Indeed we found that among overweight, obese, and very obese men, increasing obesity was associated with the worst prostate cancer.”
Dr. Christopher Kane of UCSF and his team analyzed data from over ten thousand prostate cancer patients across the country. They found the higher the body mass index - that's the ratio that looks at height and weight - the higher the risk of prostate cancer.
What's more, among obese and very obese men, researchers found the cancer became more advanced and aggressive.
Dr.Kane: “It may have to do with the male hormone testosterone and its ratio to other important hormones like estrogen. Or it may have to do with hormones that regulate insulin. There is some research suggesting that some of the insulin regulating hormones may be different in obese patients.”
Researchers believe keeping a normal weight and healthy routine may help extend your life.
Andre Bolaffi was diagnosed with prostate cancer ten years ago. He says, “Once I realized there was this cancer that it was either going to lick me or I was going to lick it, and the only way to insure I was going to lick it was that I intensified doing what I was doing.
And what Andre was doing, and continues to do, is to stay in shape. “I said to myself, ‘You better make sure not to skip a day of either my health regimen, or my diet or my positive attitude.’”
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of death from cancer in men. Obesity is just one risk factor among many, but unlike race, family history or age, men can do something about their weight.
A radical surgery is one option for men diagnosed with prostate cancer. But another study released at the conference shows obese patients who elected for this surgery had worse outcomes than patients of normal weight.
