Diet and smoking affect the risk of developing prostate cancer

It's well known that men are less attentive to cancer prevention than women, and unfortunately, it's still true. What's perhaps less well known is that the most common cancer in men is also linked to lifestyle. Smoking increases the risk of this malignancy by 20%, and obesity tends to lead to more aggressive tumors. Yet smoking and severe obesity are still widespread, affecting 27% and 11% of adult males in Italy, respectively.

The AIOM Foundation (Italian Association of Medical Oncology) is recalling this, following the experience of the Amerigo Vespucci's "Mediterranean Tour," which raised awareness among the population—including men—about cancer risk factors. This initiative, which took place this summer, also included AIOM, the AIRC Foundation, and the Italian Society of Medical and Interventional Radiology (SIRM).

Prostate tumors

The incidence is 8,200 each year, and over 485,000 men in Italy live after a prostate cancer diagnosis. According to the latest estimates, this number will increase by 1% each year until 2040. Five-year survival rates are good, exceeding 90%, but the disease's impact is still significant. In fact, in our country, there are over 8,200 deaths each year, and this figure will continue to rise along with the rising average age and incidence of the disease. "Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men, a fact common in almost all Western countries," emphasizes Saverio Cinieri , president of the Aiom Foundation. "Therefore, we must focus on primary prevention to reduce its impact, since there are no screening programs. And also tertiary prevention, to reduce the risk of recurrence."

Symptoms and treatments

In the early stages, the tumor usually doesn't produce symptoms that can facilitate early diagnosis, as Marco Maruzzo , Director of the Oncology Unit 3 at the Veneto Oncology Institute, points out: "As the disease progresses at the local-regional level, the first signs may appear, including reduced urinary stream strength, hematuria, or pain." After diagnosis, there are several options: active surveillance, which consists of constant monitoring of the disease when it is less aggressive; surgery, radiotherapy, or hormone therapy to reduce the production of hormones linked to the development of the disease. For patients with non-metastatic castration-resistant tumors and hormone-sensitive metastatic carcinomas, new-generation hormone treatments are available. "These oral therapies have an excellent tolerability profile, which allow for disease control," Maruzzo continues. "Furthermore, combining some of these molecules with chemotherapy can lead to significant benefits, especially in patients with more extensive disease."

Cases related to genetic mutations

Another form of prevention is monitoring certain categories of potential patients. It's well known that family history is a factor influencing the onset of the disease, and if a first-degree relative has the tumor, the risk is at least doubled. "About 10% of all prostate cancers develop hereditarily, and these cases are usually diagnosed earlier," says Nicola Silvestris , national secretary of AIOM. "Through specific genetic tests, we can identify men carrying pathogenic variants linked, for example, to the BRCA genes, and then initiate the patient into monitoring or treatment for the disease."

Prevention campaigns aimed at men are needed

All these aspects were addressed during the Vespucci Tour, where thousands of people were able to meet at the Villaggio IN Italia. "This ambitious initiative represents a concrete step in our commitment to supporting people living with prostate cancer," emphasizes Arianna Gregis, Head of Pharmaceuticals at Bayer Italia, who supported AIOM during the Amerigo Vespucci's Mediterranean Tour. "Prostate cancer," she concludes, "is one of the most discussed topics in men's health. Yet, as experts emphasize, prevention in Italy must also be promoted through targeted awareness campaigns."