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PCa in Asia is on the rise

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Posted 12/12/2009 5:27 AM (GMT 0)
Much has been made of books like "The China Study" which depicts the varied environmental and dietary differences as the cause of increased cancer rates in the US. And it may be true for many cancers. However, prostate cancer is on the rise in many Pacific Rim countries. The cause of this is not known, but obesity has also been on the rise in those countries. This study, Chang et al. is showing the effects in Singapore. Interesting read:

prostatecancerinfolink.net/2009/12/11/prostate-cancer-news-reports-friday-december-11-2009/#more-7401

Tony
Posted 12/12/2009 2:47 PM (GMT 0)
Tony,

Was an interesting story, yet somehow not entirely surprising, though I can't put my finger on it. Those that swear diet is the cause of PC (and I do not hold to that theory) will jump on this as proof, as a lot of traditional Asian diet has been replaced by Western style diets in the Oriental countries that have climbed up the economic scale in the past decade.

It is interesting to me too, that PC rates are very low in countries where they have no regards to pollution, toxic dumping, smog, and little concern to environmental matters in general. Seems like an inconsistency when you try to tie a cause to PC to that arean as well.

We are dealing with a fickled beast, PC. Is that why research on it has been so hard over the years? It certainly isn't do to the lack of cases.

David in SC
Posted 12/12/2009 5:36 PM (GMT 0)
It's quite a stretch to reach any conclusion based on the snippit of information in that link.  I don't see much, or really any, value in it.
Posted 12/12/2009 6:41 PM (GMT 0)
There isn't much value in it to a prostate cancer patient on an individual basis. But increase in prevalence in the US in the 80's is being realized elsewhere in the world. Japan has been on the rise, as has Taiwan. Interestingly, autopsies in these countries shows very similar rates to the us, but less aggressiveness. That too is showing signs of change in various studies. Perhaps this data is valuable to anyone watching the demographics of prostate cancer.

Tony
Posted 12/12/2009 10:19 PM (GMT 0)
Tony,
An informative read. It is interesting that as a society develops economically then diseases such as vascular and cancer increase. It is a fairly safe assumption that it is a result of lifestyle changes. Most cardio-vascular problems can be sheeted home to high fat diets and lack of physical exertion in advanced societies, but what of the increase in the rate of cancers, asthma, behavioral and learning problems in children etc. In addition to diet there are many things to which we are exposed in a modern society that, while tested and deemed safe short term, who really knows the effects of a lifetime or cumulative generational exposure. Formaldehyde in furniture, insect sprays we all use, plastic packaging, food additives and colourings. The list of things that the citizen of a modern developed society is exposed to that are not present in less developed societies is very long. But I guess that's modern life.
Bill
Posted 12/12/2009 11:02 PM (GMT 0)
Long term exposure of fomaldehyde in the mid 70s in my background was the number one suspect when I went through my 3 bouts of porocarcinoma in the past. That is some nasty stuff.
Posted 12/13/2009 12:01 AM (GMT 0)
now days China has very high level of pollution, much higher than US in may place. Many children getting cancer because the house paint and building materials are toxic. Plus, fast food, fat food, and people able to afford eat more food are all causing cancer arising.

Another is Asian PC patients who live in US are rising as well, go figure!
Posted 12/14/2009 6:09 PM (GMT 0)
Where McDonalds' goes, PCa follows!

Westerners have been going to the old Chinese remedies....tofu and green tea, while our Chinese friends are gorging fast food and smoking cigarettes like there is no tomorrow. 

Other than heriditary factors, I believe that a man's diet controls his destiny 

Posted 12/14/2009 7:18 PM (GMT 0)
To a large degree, I agree with that statement, Joey.
But do we need to do anything more than a heart healthy diet? Remember that life expectancy in China is barely higher than that in the US. Even with a lifetime of different dietary habits. But our brand of deodorant may also contribute to prostate cancer, so other environmental things apply as well. China and Taiwan are also dealing with wide spread pollution in recent years and that too may be contributing to the rise in prostate cancers as well as other cancers that are making their way into the demographics.

Tony
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