1. Prostate Cancer Slideshow Pictures
2. Medical Illustrations of the Prostate Image Collection
3. Screening Tests Every Man Needs Slideshow Pictures

Medical Author:

Kevin C. Zorn, MD, FRCSC, FACS

Kevin C. Zorn, MD, FRCSC, FACS

Dr. Kevin Zorn is a dual-board-certified (US and Canada), minimally-invasive uro-oncology, fellowship trained urologist at the University of Chicago. His main focus of clinical and scientific interest is in the surgical treatment of renal and prostate cancer. He is also an expert in performing surgery with the DaVinci Surgical Robotic System to manage localized prostate cancer and small renal masses. Dr. Zorn studied medicine and urology at McGill University in Montréal.

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Coauthor:

Pierre-Alain Hueber, MD, PhD

Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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The high lifetime risks of prostate cancer development, the morbidities associated with treatment of established prostate cancer, and the inability to eradicate life-threatening metastatic prostate cancer offer compelling reasons for prostate cancer prevention.

However, because the cause of prostate cancer is uncertain, preventing prostate cancer may not be possible. Certain risk factors, such as age, race, sex, and family history, cannot be changed. Nevertheless, because diet and other lifestyle factors have been implicated as a potential cause, living a healthy lifestyle may afford some protection.

• Proper nutrition, such as limiting intake of foods high in animal fats and increasing the amount of fruits, vegetables, and grains, may help reduce the risk of prostate cancer.
• The following supplements should NOT be used to prevent prostate cancer:
• Vitamin E
• Selenium
• Vitamin C

5-alpha reductase Inhibitors (5-ARI):

• Using 5-ARIs for prostate cancer is controversial.
• Initial studies have shown that finasteride decreased the risk of developing prostate cancer by 25% (Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial). However, initial reports indicated that high-grade prostate cancer was more likely to occur in men treated with finasteride. Even though this increased risk with finasteride may be due to a selection bias, there is no proof that finasteride would not increase the true incidence of high-grade cancer.
• In the Reduction by Dutasteride of Prostate Cancer Events (REDUCE) trial, dutasteride decreased the risk of developing Gleason score 5 to 6 cancer but not Gleason 7 to 10 cancer.
• In both trials 5-ARIs increased the risk of erectile dysfunction and loss of libido.
• Although it is possible that 5-ARIs reduced the risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer, it is unknown if this will translate into reduced mortality.
• 5-ARIs are not FDA approved for the prevention of prostate cancer.

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