Healthier Lifestyle and Diet Linked to Longer Life After Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

Leading a healthier lifestyle after being diagnosed with non-metastatic prostate cancer was linked to a more than 30% decrease in risk of dying from any cause and a similar improvement in risk of cardiovascular death, a new study showed.

Furthermore, among Black patients, a healthier lifestyle after diagnosis was tied to about a 54% decrease in risk of death from prostate cancer itself, researchers wrote in JAMA Network Open. A healthy lifestyle includes regular physical activity, avoiding tobacco, and maintaining a healthy body weight.

Like past studies of patients with prostate cancer, this one also linked eating a healthy plant-based diet to a lower risk of death. In contrast, a diet that promoted high insulin levels—such as one with a lot of sugary beverages and processed carbohydrates—was tied to a heightened risk of overall death in all patients, and to a higher risk of death from prostate cancer itself in Japanese American and Latino men.

High insulin levels have been shown to stimulate tumor growth and spread, and can make it harder for the immune system to find and kill cancer cells. Examples of foods that cause insulin levels to spike include pastries, frozen waffles, white bread and rice, processed breakfast cereals, chips, sodas, and sweetened energy drinks.

Most patients with prostate cancer in past diet and exercise studies have been White, making it hard to know if results applied to other racial and ethnic groups. The current study was far more diverse—it included 2,603 men with non-metastatic prostate cancer (meaning it hadn’t spread to distant parts of the body), of whom 29% identified as Japanese American, 25% White, 22% Latino, 19% African American, and 5% Native Hawaiian.

Researchers tracked the men’s physical activity, smoking, body mass index (BMI), dietary habits, and health outcomes for about 11 years. In all, 85% of deaths were from causes other than prostate cancer. This makes sense, since non-metastatic prostate cancer usually isn’t fatal if appropriately treated.

Cardiovascular disease was the most common cause of death among study patients, and a healthy lifestyle had a big impact on this outcome, reducing risk of cardiovascular death by about 33%. The findings show the need to address the full spectrum of health risks among patients with prostate cancer, such as by counseling patients on how to adopt a healthy lifestyle and diet, the authors wrote.

PCF offers specific, science-based lifestyle and diet recommendations to reduce the chances of prostate cancer worsening or coming back. Many of these tips also help prevent cardiovascular disease or slow its progression.

• Each week, aim for a total of 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise (feel free to “mix and match” as needed). Also get in two strength training sessions a week. Learn more here. Be sure to consult your healthcare provider if you are in treatment or new to exercise.
• Try to stop smoking or cut back—studies suggest that smoking increases the risk of cancer returning after treatment. Speak to your healthcare provider for help.
• Aim for a healthy body weight.
• Center your diet around brightly colored vegetables and whole, unprocessed foods. Learn more.
• Focus on getting plenty of protein from plant sources, like nuts, beans, and soy. Avoid or consume only small amounts of saturated fat from animal sources, such as red meat and whole milk.
• Avoid charred meats and nitrate-containing processed meats (lunch meats), since these can promote cancer.

PCF offers a free Wellness Guide with lots more science-backed recommendations, fully tailored for individuals with prostate cancer.

Several researchers in this study have received past funding from PCF, including senior author Dr. Christopher A. Haiman, and co-authors Dr. June M. Chan and Dr. Stacey A. Kenfield.