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What causes it in the first place?

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Posted 5/12/2011 3:00 PM (GMT 0)
Does anyone have a philosophy/theory/idea as to what caused the prostate cancer in the first place?  Was it exposure to chemicals, diet, stressful life events?  (I know in some cases genetics may be a factor.)  There are so many different age groups on this forum that it's not just an "old man" disease.  Is it simply just a man thing?  I've read alot about diet being a factor in this type of cancer.  But I'd like to know if any of you had significant stressful events in life years before the diagnosis.  Or if you feel that the industry you worked in was a factor. 
Posted 5/12/2011 3:05 PM (GMT 0)
Since one man in six gets it, I think the main determiner is that it's simply a man thing. As you say, we see such wide experiences here, it would be hard for any statistician to figure it out. Randomness seems to be the only constant. smilewinkgrin I worked 32 years in a chemical plant, but others spent over 40 in academia or other seemingly safe places, yet we all got it.

I would have to say that I have a very stress free life, for the most part. I have actually been blessed with good health, as well as my families good health. There's no huge stressors that stand out. PCa is/was the only large health issue I have had. Af couple broken bones, 2 cases of the full blown flu, that's it.
Posted 5/12/2011 3:30 PM (GMT 0)
As the Fish man said, "But I'd like to know if any of you had significant stressful events in life years before the diagnosis."

I guess I can say that I had some stress in my past since I had Chemo, Radiation and Surgery back in 1981 and had until recently just about completely forgot the entire episode after about 29 years of having all those "wonderful" memories bouncing around in my mind.
The cancer I had back then was known as CLEAR CELL SARCOMA. After all this time of cheating the Grim Reaper I got the PC diagnosis about a year ago. So, yes there was some stress in my past but my Urologist and Oncologist did indicate that the cancer I had experienced years ago had absolutely NO connection with my prostate cancer. I'm sure he is correct but I'll always have that little bit of doubt in my old mind.
Posted 5/12/2011 3:50 PM (GMT 0)
Now lets define-> "significant stressful events."

And we'd have to factor in how each person deals with stress and come up with some sort of calculation smhair

I lost 35 pounds in six weeks twenty years ago due to a relationship ending with a redheaded witch... That was more then stressful for me.... Myabe that's were all my gray hair came from...

Posted 5/12/2011 4:14 PM (GMT 0)
Oh, heck, stress is the great excuse. Most of us have encountered stressful situations.

By that measure, 90% of people will get cancer.

The questions asked here can be asked for ANY cancer.

I personally believe it is a combination of genetic, dietary, and environmental factors.

Mel

Posted 5/12/2011 4:17 PM (GMT 0)
Through the years one remembers things said.

One of them for me was from different doctors, and many years apart.

Both Doctors thought that if we all live long enough, we would get cancer.

Certain things would speed it up.

With medical advances, and as morbid as it may sound,

we are trying to live longer than Mother Nature wants us to.

Can't help but think of that margarine commercial from years ago.

Despite my phycho bable, I'm giving this PCa both barrels.

Posted 5/12/2011 4:17 PM (GMT 0)
Never meant for that icon, was accident
Posted 5/12/2011 5:08 PM (GMT 0)
Fish,
the most interesting read I've done on this topic is a book titled "Anti-Cancer, a New Way of Life". David Servan-Schreiber, Md, Phd.

The author postulates that stress is certainly a factor, but that diet, and the resultant inflammation from a bad diet, plays the predominant role. He cites an amazing amount of data supporting this theory.

One of the more fascinating examples has to do with curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric and curry, staples of Indian cuisine. I re-read it 2 days ago in response to a post about curcumin and resveritrol. Here's an interesting fact. Indian men have a massively lower rate of PC than western men. They consume much less (if any at all) beef and consume lots more curcumin (in the turmeric and curry). They are exposed to substantially more pollutants and generally poorer sanitation.

Schreiber continues that curcumin is the single most powerful anti-inflammatory food ingredient. Indeed, he contends that inflammations often result in cancers and that diet is essential in avoiding inflammation. There is a wealth of info on diet and its effect on a wide range of cancers.

It really is an astonishing book. From my perspective, a must read.
Posted 5/12/2011 6:36 PM (GMT 0)
I was extremely stressed, but who isn't these days?

It's genetics.
Posted 5/12/2011 6:58 PM (GMT 0)
Here's my unscientific, scientific answer. I'm guessing genetics are responsible for 50% of it.
If you are the first in your family then you picked it up by being exposed to certain chemicals - known carcinogens, radiation, or you were in the path of a cosmic ray that traveled a billion years from a far off galaxy just so it could enjoy spending 0.2 ns inside your prostate.

If you like, you can come here in September and we'll nuke some part of your anatomy with UV-C and see what mutations develop.
Jeff
Posted 5/12/2011 7:02 PM (GMT 0)
When I was around 40 years old, during a routine physical, I asked the doctor what he thought was going to kill me..His response was quick..."I don't know what is going to kill you, but if you live long enough, prostate cancer will.." I asked him why.. He said: " ALL men will develop prostate cancer sooner or later.. it's just part of being a man. The older you get, the higher the risk." Most men die of heart attacks and strokes before prostate cancer gets them.
Posted 5/12/2011 10:39 PM (GMT 0)
In my case, I'm guessing it was caused by many years of weak kidney function with high creatinine levels. It's been chronic with me, and I read that it was related to higher risk of prostate cancer. Not that I could do that much about the kidney issue.

So much of it is random, though. Good friend tried to cheer me up when I was first diagnosed by telling me it would take 15 years to kill me. He himself had great PSA but died suddenly a couple of days ago from acute pancreatitis, with no warnings that I knew about. The older I get, the more I understand that we have to be ready each and every day to meet our maker.
Posted 5/12/2011 10:46 PM (GMT 0)
All of the above offer good explanations and plausible causes. Cancer is still an unknown world to a very large degree.

In the simplified world of my "Every Day is A Bonus", mentality, I tend to boil it down to two words;

"CRAP HAPPENS" and even to the best and fittest of us.

Sonny
Posted 5/12/2011 10:49 PM (GMT 0)
"The older I get, the more I understand that we have to be ready each and every day to meet our maker."

You got it Reachout...Everyday when I wake up, I look around and say to myself: "Looks like I get another day, better make it a good one..."

Sitting here on the computer, obsessing about PC is counter-productive...
Posted 5/12/2011 10:57 PM (GMT 0)
reachout,

from the moment of your conception, you genes had already plotted your ultimate desitny with PC. The "blame" game is a fruitless one in my opinion, playing the "solution" game is far more productive.

I agree with Bro. Sonny, "Crap" happens, you deal with the cards you are dealt, there are many things in life that defie logic and understanding, yet you still have to deal.

david in sc
Posted 5/13/2011 3:08 PM (GMT 0)
Fish,

I watched a twenty minute video online the other day that was about diet and cancer but touched on the subject. The oncologist giving the talk suggested that the cancer is in our bodies at birth and very small. Something triggers the body to begin developing a network of blood vessels that supply the tumorous cells with nutrients and the tumor grows. Unfortunately by the time it is detectable it is already well on it's way. The video was about using anti angiogenesis agents to starve the cancer cells by preventing the growth of blood vessels. He also noted that the blood vessel development to the tumor is what allows it to spread.

How much is true I do not know as I am not a doctor but it made sense.

Don
Posted 5/13/2011 3:28 PM (GMT 0)
My thought about the cause of cancer in general is virus related. Somewhere along the road of life we come in contact with a virus that triggers cancers. Atlanta, Ga., my hometown, is known to lead the country in PC. Many people I know and have been around all of my life have developed PC just in the last 5 years and around the age of 50. Did we all come in contact with a virus in our schools, churches, gyms etc? The virus is a very mysterious disease. There are billions of strains and we do not understand a whole lot. If we did, the common cold would be a thing of the past. There is no history of PC in my family. My father lived to 85 and my grandfather to 95. No PC in them.
Posted 5/13/2011 3:29 PM (GMT 0)
There are definitely certain populations which seem to have lower PCa rates, but it is incredibly hard to figure out why. It could be genetics or diet or it could just be that those are places that do less PCa screening.

A statement that India has lower PCa rates rather ignores the fact that India is a large country with many different ethnic groups. Similarly, there is no "Indian diet" since traditional cooking varies greatly by region. My point here is that the data necessary to actually tease out the factors which are truly associated with PCa is rarely available.
Posted 5/13/2011 6:06 PM (GMT 0)
As wife I've heard it all.

Diet did it.
Omega 3 did it.
I did it (??????????????????????????????)
Too much sex did it.
Some old infection did it.
Genes did it.
Who gave it to me, how did I get this????

There is very little in asian people, like in Japan. But they have tsunamis. Which is worse?
We will never really know, I guess its a little bit of everything.
Posted 5/13/2011 6:17 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah, but here's the kicker. Asians, Indians.....any of the groups who have substantially lower rates of PCa, that advantage is lost when after the second to third generation, the migrate to areas with high rates (USA, Northern Europe) and develop completely similiar PCa rates as the rest of the population.

This assumes that they adopt a western diet, which is accounted for in the studies referenced in the book I mentioned.

And yes, India is a big place, with multiple ethnicities. The people with a diet high in turmeric have a much, much lower rate of PCa than here in the USA and Europe.

If those who haven't read the book I've already referenced would do so, end of debate.
Posted 8/27/2011 1:17 PM (GMT 0)
I've also been struggling with what may have caused my prostate cancer. Although there is a history of cancer in my family there is no history of prostate cancer whatsoever. I ate meat but had a balanced diet with lots of fruit and vegetables and I exercised regularly.

One thing that I've noticed is that an extremely stressful event often takes place 2-6 years before a cancer diagnosis - whether it be divorce, an unusually stressful work environment, an abusive relationship, etc. For me it was the financial crisis where I saw about half my financial portfolio evaporate into thin air (mostly back now) combined with a psychologically abusive employer. I'm convinced that extreme stress is one of the most dangerous factors and possibly worse than smoking. If I had any advice to those trying to avoid cancer it would be to somehow find ways to manage stress and to avoid stressful environments if at all possible.

I've also had some exposure to toxins, especially in work environments during my younger years -- so who knows?

I'm surprised that researchers don't ask people diagnosed with cancer to fill out a detailed questionnaire regarding such things as exposure to various environmental agents.

I know that it may be like closing the barn door after the horse has gone but I would be interested in others opinions regarding potential causes, particularly among those who don't have prostate cancer in their families.
Posted 8/27/2011 2:49 PM (GMT 0)
I don't buy the stress argument. Take any 6-year period and you probably had times of stress. Stress is commonplace. I'm sure stress contributes to a ton of diseases.

Mel

Posted 8/27/2011 2:51 PM (GMT 0)
Why? The million dollar question! What caused it? The multi million dollar question!
Stress, I had my fair share of it working in law enforcement for twenty plus years. It did some very strange things to my body. Stiffened almost every muscle in my body, mainly effected my neck. Skin rashes, hair loss, vision problems. Did it lead to cancer, I have a feeling in it's own way it was a contributing factor.
Diet, I haven't eaten red meat for years, in hopes it would help lower my cholesterol. I eat my veggies and I like many of the high fiber foods. Could I have a better diet, sure, less fats, carbs..
Genetics, there are cancer victims on my Dad's mother side of the family. Breast cancer, but no known Prostate cancer. Far as anyone knows I the first to have (had) PCa.
Chemicals, from my youth to the current day, exposure to all kinds of nasty stuff. There was asbestos (car brakes), cleaners used (Carb-Brake-lubes--), Red lead paint, Non-skid,
benzene, insecticides (chlordane). It can't be good to have been exposed to all these.
Did any or all of these factors cause my cancer? Who knows. I more of the thought that it was a roll of dice, and I came up kraps!
Posted 8/27/2011 2:53 PM (GMT 0)

Steve n Dallas said...
Now lets define-> "significant stressful events."


And we'd have to factor in how each person deals with stress and come up with some sort of calculation [img]/community/emoticons/smhair.gif[/img]



I lost 35 pounds in six weeks twenty years ago due to a relationship ending with a redheaded witch... That was more then stressful for me.... Myabe that's were all my gray hair came from...

In my case it was 6 years ago, 30 lbs and a blonde. Right or wrong, I'm sticking with not enough sex.
Now with ED, I wonder what the future holds for me besides ART?
Posted 9/2/2011 12:23 AM (GMT 0)
I know that everyone has stress.  I was really wondering more about a trauma - like a death of a child, spouse, etc.  Something more than the daily grind kind of stress.  I really wanted to know if anyone had something that they attributed to it other than the three typical contributing factors like age, genetics and diet.  Really question it because if there is something that my husband is doing to contribute to it, it would be nice to stop!!! 

 

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