Prostate cancer targets older Aussies
Older Australian men show more possible warning signs of prostate cancer than those born in other countries. A report, published online last week in the Medical Journal of Australia, reveals Australian-born men aged 70 years and over have higher prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels than those born overseas.
Older Australian men show more possible warning signs of prostate cancer than those born in other countries.
A report, published online last week in the Medical Journal of Australia, reveals Australian-born men aged 70 years and over have higher prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels than those born overseas.
Those born in Italy, Greece, Britain or Ireland, reportedly had particularly lower PSA levels than Australian-born men.
In what has been described as the “largest general population study to be conducted in men” in this age group, researchers examined PSA levels of more than 1,430 men living in ethnically-diverse areas around Sydney’s Concord Hospital.
Elevated PSA levels are often associated with “early warning indicators” of prostate abnormalities, such as prostate cancer.
Professor Robert Cumming, one of the lead researchers, claims the ‘Mediterranean diet’ may play a part in maintaining lower PSA levels.
The diet, which is known for having higher olive oil consumption, consists of foods such as vegetables, moderate consumption of dairy and wine and moderate to high consumption of fish. Health benefits to this diet can reportedly improve longevity and a person’s quality of life.
Professor Cumming tells AAP tomatoes have also, in the past, been linked to lowered prostate cancer risk.
“If we wanted to pinpoint one thing, it may well be that tomato intake is protective,” he adds.
More research is reportedly needed to explore the care of men diagnosed with prostate cancer in order to quantify if over-detection or over-treatment is occurring in those aged over 70 years.
