It may be time to start working on trimming your waistline. A recent study found that men who have larger waistlines have higher risks of developing an aggressive kind of prostate cancer.
The University of Oxford research, which examined 140,000 men in eight European countries, found that males who have a 4-inch (10 cm) larger waistline are 13 percent more likely to develop aggressive prostate cancer, according to a report from BBC. Men who have waistlines wider than 37 inches (94 cm) have the highest likelihood of developing the illness.
Aside from those findings, the researchers found that men with higher body mass index, or BMI, and larger waistlines are more likely to die from prostate cancer. Women with a waist circumference of more than 31.5 inches (80 cm) are facing health dangers as well.
Prostate Cancer: What You Need To Know
Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer among men, second to skin cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer usually targets older men aged 65 and above. This year, there are almost 181,000 new prostate cancer cases and around 26,000 fatalities due to the disease. One man in seven will have prostate cancer during his lifespan.
Early prostate cancer does not exhibit symptoms, but the more advanced stage does. Some of those symptoms are problems in urinating, blood in the urine or semen, erectile dysfunction, loss of bladder or bowel control and pain in the hips, back, chest and spine. There's also weakness or numbness in the legs or feet.
FDA Approves Diagnostic Agent To Detect Prostate Cancer
Just recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, approved an injectable radioactive diagnostic agent to detect recurrent prostate cancer. Fluciclovine, a synthetic amino acid, is approved to be used alongside PET imaging on men with recurrent prostate cancer even after undergoing treatments, Medscape reported.
According to Dr. Libero Marzella, director of the division of medical imaging products at FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said low levels of elevated prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, is difficult to detect with only imaging tests. Fluciclovine, however, can provide a clearer imaging method.
A 2015 research found that high consumption of dairy products such as milk and cheese increases prostate cancer risk, Glenwood Springs Post Independent reported. Poultry also raises prostate cancer risk due to cooked meat carcinogens, and eggs because of the choline found in egg yolks.
Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and kale can reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer by half, the news outlet listed. Eating ground flaxseed every day can also lower prostate cancer risk.
