Prostate cancer, a disease of the male reproductive system, is the second-most common cancer and the second main reason of death among men in the United States. It is important to ensure your prostate health.
What is Prostate Cancer?
Men older than 50 are at the highest risk of developing prostate cancer. According to facts gathered by the National Cancer Institute in 2019, approximately 174,650 cases are diagnosed in the U.S. every year.
Approximately 11.6 percent of men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point during their lifetime, based on 2014-2016 facts. In 2016, more than three million men were living with prostate cancer in the U.S. The 5-12 months survival rate is 98%.
Although specific causes aren’t completely understood, doctors believe that some risk factors increase a person’s likelihood of developing the disease. These risk factors can include age, ethnicity, family history, and diet. Asbestos exposure is another potential risk factor that has been studied.
Multiple treatment alternatives are available to patients who’ve been diagnosed. While specific risk factors may increase your chance of developing prostate cancer, these factors do not guarantee that you’ll actually develop the disease.
Asbestos Exposure and Prostate Cancer
Multiple studies have been performed that show a potential link between asbestos exposure and prostate cancer. Although none have produced conclusive results, many have shown potential correlations. A 1993 Danish study tested workers at an asbestos cement factory for their exposure to asbestos. A wide number of prostate and lung cancer cases were recorded by some of the workers. Researchers found a 36 percent increase in the observed number of prostate cancers in comparison to the expected amount.
The American College of Chest Physicians launched a similar have a look at in 1980. The study, “Presence of Asbestos Bodies in Organs Other than the Lung,” examined 37 individuals who died from asbestos-related pulmonary issues. It determined that a person with asbestos fibers or residue in the lungs was likely to have them in other organs as well. Doctors looked at various organs and discovered about half contained asbestos. Of 14 prostate samples, six contained asbestos bodies.
More recently, a 2003 study analyzed participants of the Finnish Asbestos Screening Campaign. The study followed the health of 23,285 men and 930 women who worked with asbestos. These individuals were studied for 8 years for cancer occurrence. Results indicated a much higher incidence of prostate cancer when compared to the entire Finnish population. Participants were also at a significantly higher risk to develop mesothelioma and lung cancer.
A research report in February 2020 concluded there was sufficient evidence to suggest asbestos exposure increases prostate cancer risk. Environmental and occupational exposure correlated with an increased risk of prostate cancer, and the main method of absorption was inhalation.
These studies show an association between asbestos publicity and prostate cancer. Although big research on the topic is limited, those present findings do provide some insight into potential causal relationships. More studies and research are required to offer definitive conclusions on this relationship.
WRITTEN BY
Suzanne Dixon
Suzanne Dixon is a registered dietitian, epidemiologist, and experienced medical writer.