Diet

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Comment by PaulC on June 29, 2008 at 2:44pm

The controversy regarding soy concerns IGF-1 and the p53 oncogene. To refresh my memory, I googled and got a ton of results, which I quickly skimmed. If I'm understanding one article correctly, men with normal uncompromised p53 genes can decrease their prostate cancer risk by taking soy to downregulate IGF-1 receptor ability, but men with compromised p53 who take soy might be increasing the ferocity of the cancer. However, another article is down on anything that increases IGF-1. But all this has to be weighed against the potentially beneficial effects of soy's genistein and other isoflavones.

The argument against dairy is made in many places, many of them somewhat shrill and paranoid, others quite plausible, and at least one of them both.

About selenium: We should be getting some solid results from the SELECT trials within a few years. Until then, the information is conflicting. The initial spark came from a selenium and skin cancer study that showed an unexpected benefit of decreasing prostate cancer risk. The standard recommendation was 200 mcg per day, although at least one researcher (S. Lieberman) recommended 400 mcg per day. However, a later study showed that some men have problems if they take more than about 150 to 200 mcg of selenium daily.

Comment by Dr Brent Wilson on June 22, 2008 at 5:10pm

Hi David

Can you possibly show some links to studies supporting some of your decisions? You state, for example, that numerous reports indicate that although soy can act as a preventative against prostate cancer, it can (emphasis on the can?) have the opposite affect once you have the cancer. On another thread, I believe, Dr Krongrad says that selenium can be harmful (but provides no link), while you are taking 400 mcg daily. Why no dairy?

I ask because I am doing my utmost to eat a sensible diet that does not aggravate my own PCa. Meanwhile, I am fighting a losing battle trying to keep my weight down while taking Androcur, and have had several arguments with my wife as to (a) whyy I put on weight when I eat normally, and (b) why I have no energy when I follow the South Beach Diet and, rather than lose weight, merely stay where I am. Of course, most of those using the South Beach Diet successfully are not taking Androcur . . . .

Comment by David on June 1, 2008 at 5:52am

I think Paul's diet is very much on the ball and similar to my own but with just a few variations. But variation is the name of the game even in my own regimen. I change product manufacturer and even the product type from time to time.

Following along the lines of Paul's submission, I will address my own...

* Low fat, low sugar, low sodium
* No red meats, no processed meats, no dairy foods, using Oat milk and Rice milk instead of dairy milk.
* Pomegranate Juice - Organic, double strength. 40 ml per day
* Kakadu Juice 60 ml per day (Resveratrol plus)
* Papaya 35 (fermented pawpaw) 30 mls per day
* Raw Pineapple juiced 30 ml per day (see notes)
* Green Tea and Lemon Grass Tea
* Oil blend 3-6-9
* Fish caught locally - twice weekly
* Sunlight - daily exposure 30 minutes on 2 km walk.

Supplements:
* vitamin E 670 mg (natural only)
* selenium 400 mcg daily
* vitamin C obtained from juices, particularly Kakadu Juice
* Organic esential greens or Spirulina 3000 mg,
* magnesium 300 mg
* Maca powder 1/2 t/spoon
* Zinc 1/4 t/spoon
* Colloidal minerals 5 ml per day

Notes:
* Lemon grass (I grow my own) confirmed by the Ben Gurian University to kill prostate cancer cells and other types of cancer cell too.
* Papaya 35 I take with the Pineapple juice, the theory being that the pineapple juice removes the protective coating on the cancer cell therby giving access to the cancer killing papaya juice (Papain?)
* I consumed Soya milk for many years but stopped when I read numerous reports indicating that although it can act as a preventative against prostate cancer it can have the opposite affect once you have the cancer. In other words it may worsen it.
* Kakadu Juice, Australia's best kept secret, is currently only available in Australia and New Zealand. Plans are afoot to open in the US later in the year. For a preview go to:
www.kakadu-health-wellbeing.com
* I agree with Paul's comments about avoiding vit a supplimentation but I would go further than that. I say avoid any supplementation that is not natural. Your body can happily handle natural supplements but no one has yet shown that the body can equally handle chemical, synthetic imitations. It's a very grey area indeed.
* I am also handling other health issues but primarily by using natural medicines. Consequently, I have to check to ensure that no two ingredients or supplements are likely to interact negatively.
* Selenium. The jury is still out as to what constitutes too much.
It is recognised in the medical profession that most of the regulated and recommended safe doses for supplimentation, particularly for natural substances, is well short of the mark. This aspect is currently under review by various august medical bodies. There is plenty of medical research results showing a much higher dose of selenium does not consitute a danger.(this is my opinion as derived from research - not medical advice).

Well, there you have it. It seems that Paul and are traveling the same road and with the same accoutrements.

For other prostate caner information you might try my blog site, at
www.prostateruminate.com

Comment by PaulC on April 10, 2008 at 7:09pm

Below is a regimen of diet and supplements thought to help fight prostate cancer. I'd be interested in comments of all kinds.

Diet / lifestyle:
* generally: low-fat, low-sugar, low-sodium
* no beef or pork; as little dairy as possible
* Pom juice, 4oz per day
* green tea and soy milk
* ground flaxseed (NOT flaxseed oil)
* cold-water fish (or fish oil capsules; see below)
* half-glass of red wine (or resveratrol; see below)
* moderate exposure to sunshine (and/or vitamin D3; see below)
* 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise every day

Supplements:
* vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) 4000 IU per day
* vitamin E (alpha tocopherol) 400 IU per day -- don't overdo!
* selenium, 200 mcg per day -- don't overdo!
* lycopene, 30 mg per day
* fish oil (omega-3 and -6), 1200 mg per day
* resveratrol, 320 mg per day
* vitamin C, 500 mg per day
* quercetin (?)
* if on ADT, or over age 65: calcium supplement

Notes:
* avoid vitamin A supplementation
* no testosterone supplementation!

I also take other things for other conditions, but I'm careful
not to overdo vitamin A or E.

There is probably some synergy or overlap between a regimen that fights heart disease (e.g., statins, co-enzyme Q) and one that fights prostate cancer.