Preventing prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK. To date there is no evidence that prostate cancer can be prevented. However you may be able to reduce your chances of developing the disease.

Steps include:

• Being a healthy weight
• Taking regular exercise
• Eating a healthy balanced diet - with more fruit, vegetables and oily fish - and less red meat, unhealthy fats, sugar and processed foods.

Do any special foods help?

Prostate Cancer UK says there's some evidence foods like tomatoes that contain lycopene, and Brazil nuts and other food containing selenium, may help reduce prostate cancer risks. Pulses and foods containing vitamin E may also be beneficial.

Screening guidelines

The UK does not routinely screen men for prostate cancer. The NHS Cancer Screening Programmes say that potential harm from offering routine prostate cancer testing outweighs any benefits it might bring.

That decision has been backed by studies. One Swedish study in 2010 involving more than 9,000 men over 30 years found screening brought no significant reduction in prostate cancer deaths, but it did increase the risk of treating men who didn’t need treatment.

Men who have concerns can still ask their GP to be tested. The Prostate Cancer Charity says all men at a higher risk of prostate cancer, including men over 50, those with a family history of the disease and African Caribbean men, should get balanced information and support as they decide whether to have a PSA blood test.