Reducing The Risk of Developing Prostate Cancer

Reducing The Risk of Developing Prostate Cancer

by Donald L. Smith

Prostatic cancer is the second most common cause of death from cancer in men of all ages, most common cause of death from cancer in men over 75 years old and rarely is found in men younger than 40 years of age. A recent study by Hanchette and Schwartz of the University of North Carolina titled "Geographic patterns of prostate cancer mortality--evidence for a positive effect of UVR" published in the journal Cancer contained important information for all men.

A New View

In 1998, 184,500 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer and 39,200 died for a mortality rate of 4.7 to 1. However, a recent study suggests that UVR may protect against clinical prostate cancer. In the study, the authors concluded that:

"Viewed in conjunction with the other recent data, including those demonstrating a differentiating effect of vitamin D on human prostate cancer cells, these findings suggest that vitamin D may have an important role in the natural history of prostate cancer."

In their article, Hanchette and Schwartz stated a number of findings that are very important. For instance, they stated that "because the major source of vitamin D is casual exposure to UVR, the authors examined the geographic distributions of UVR and prostate cancer mortality in 3,073 counties of the contiguous United States." In addition, the study found that "the geographic distributions of UVR and prostate cancer mortality are correlated inversely. Prostate cancer mortality exhibits a significant north-south trend, with lower rates in the south." Additionally, the data provided by the study showed that there was a 20 percent to 40 percent lower incidence rate of prostate cancer among men in southern latitudes and that men with photoype 6 skin (African Americans) had a much higher incidence rate in all areas than did Caucasian (phototype 1-4) men.

So what can residents of northern and eastern states, as well as African American men, do to reduce their relative risk of developing prostate cancer? Are they doomed to have a higher risk of developing this disease because they live in the wrong part of the country and/or have darker skin color? Since there is no such thing as artificial sunlight, it is possible that routine, year-round sensible, moderate and responsible exposure to UVR in a tanning bed may bring about a significant reduction in the relative risk of developing prostate cancer while he/she is developing a cosmetic tan.

Substantiating Data

An article published in European Urology by D.M. Peehl titled "Vitamin D and Prostate Cancer Risk," substantiated the premise set forth by Hanchette and Schwartz. Dr. Peehl stated that evidence from diverse areas of study--epidemiologic, molecular, genetic, cellular, animal models and clinical trials--suggests vitamin D may be an effective preventive agent against prostate cancer.

The question begs to be answered: Is the possibility of a 20 percent reduction in the relative risk of developing prostate cancer important? As mentioned previously, there were 184,500 new cases of prostate cancer diagnosed in 1998. A 20 percent reduction would mean that 36,900 men would not have had to suffer the trauma of this disease. In addition, the mortality toll of 39,200 would have been reduced by approximately 8,000 deaths.

Another question that often is raised is whether there is a risk of developing non-melanoma skin cancer by tanning indoors. In 1998, there were only 1,200 deaths attributed to non-melanoma skin cancer, the only form of skin cancer shown to have a link with repeated overexposure to UVR. Thus, there were, on a sex-adjusted basis, more than 65 deaths from prostate cancer for every one of non-melanoma skin cancer. Furthermore, the concept of sensible, moderate and responsible exposure to UVR that is advocated by the indoor tanning industry means that overexposure, which is defined as a dose of UVR that will cause sunburn, is avoided thereby reducing the minimal and manageable risks involved.

It is a proven fact that prostate cancer is a progressive, multistep disease and that by age 30 approximately 20 percent of all men have microscopic cancer. Over the years the incidence steadily increases and by the time a man is 90 years old, he has approximately a 100 percent chance of having prostate cancer.

Why then, despite the high incidence of microscopic cancer, do only 8 percent of the men in the United States develop clinically significant prostate cancer? Is it possible that vitamin D is one of the most important and effective preventive agents against prostate cancer? If so, anything that can help a man maintain year-round optimal levels of vitamin D should be considered and routine indoor tanning is the ideal way to accomplish this objective.

Furthermore, the evidence supporting the fact that African American men have a higher incidence and mortality rate of prostate cancer is alarming. Remember, skintype 6 individuals have four times more tolerance to UVR than do a 2A individuals and therefore require higher levels of exposure to stimulate the equivalent production of vitamin D.

When considering vitamin D analogs, you must keep in mind that supplements containing vitamin D can be toxic and care must be taken regarding the level consumed (cutaneously produced vitamin D has never been shown to be toxic). However, sensible, moderate and responsible consumption of supplements containing vitamin D should be considered in a well-rounded wellness program.