Since we're getting medical ...
I have benign prostate enlargment. I've also been diagnosed with prostate cancer, early stage (from a biopsy). My PSA is about 5, and has been at that level for the past 7 months. The surgeons are keen to remove my prostate, but they're OK with my decision to take a wait-and-watch approach. According to them, it's just a matter of time before I'll have to let them slice me up.
The specialists I've spoken to are all sceptical about the efficacy of dietary supplements. In a field like this different ideas abound, and it's hard to know who to believe. I have a book that seems sensible, and has been well reviewed: Dr. Peter Scardino's Prostate Book (2005). He has this to say about lycopene:
LYCOPENE: A diet rich in this powerful antioxidant, found in tomatoes and certain other fruits, is under study as a possible means of cancer prevention. The form of ingestion seems to be important, since oil promotes lycopene absorption. Consequently, tomato sauce and pizza would theoretically be more effective than tomato juice. Nevertheless, no studies to date have proven that if men ingest tomatoes, much less lycopene supplements, they can reduce their prostate-cancer risk.
Of course this isn't the final word, and maybe recent studies have now confirmed lycopene's usefulness.
Anyway, thanks to all for the suggestions and info. I'll explore this angle. |
