Research Shows This Type Of Diet Could Increase A Man's Chances Of Surviving Prostate Cancer

Although prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men (just behind skin cancer), Johns Hopkins Medicine says it has a nearly 100% five-year survival rate, especially when it's detected early through a prostate cancer screening. Prostate cancer treatment might involve surgery, hormone therapy, or chemotherapy depending on your symptoms, overall health, and the stage of the cancer.

However, you might not need immediate treatment if you've been diagnosed with prostate cancer, according to the National Cancer Insitute. Older men who don't have prostate cancer symptoms might be told to wait to see if the prostate cancer progresses. 

Additionally, research indicates that your diet could increase your chances of surviving prostate cancer. According to a 2024 study in Urology, the men who ate the most plant-based foods had a 47% lower risk of cancer progressing compared to the men who ate more animal-based foods. Eating more plant foods was even more effective if prostate cancer was graded 7 or higher on the Gleason scale, which indicates a more aggressive cancer. Also, it wasn't that these men ate healthier foods overall or adopted a specific plant-based diet; fruit juices and refined grains were also considered plant-based.

If you're younger than 65, you might consider eating more plant-based foods to reduce your risk of prostate cancer. A 2022 study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition tracked more than 47,000 men over several decades, looking at their diets and overall health outcomes. Eating more plant foods lowered the risk of prostate cancer by 16% and it lowered the risk of lethal prostate cancer by 44%. It also lowered the risk of dying of prostate cancer.

Once you've been treated for prostate cancer and are cancer-free, the American Cancer Society says it's important to follow up with your medical care team in case the prostate cancer returns. If you have prostate cancer, there's a 40% risk that the prostate cancer will return, according to Zero Prostate Cancer. One sign of the cancer possibly returning is rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. In a 2006 study in Integrative Cancer Therapies, men who incorporated a plant-based diet and stress management program into their lives slowed down their rising PSA levels. Four men saw their PSA levels drop after six months.

You don't need to become a vegan to reduce your risk of prostate cancer, but a 2019 article in Visceral Medicine highlighted some cancer-prevention nutrition changes recommended by the World Cancer Research Fund. Specifically, it recommended at least 400 grams of fruits and vegetables a day and 30 grams of fiber. You can also get this fiber from whole grains and beans. These are foods typically included in a plant-based diet.

A plant-based diet isn't necessarily meat-free, either, so you can add chicken, fish, eggs, and dairy to fill out your plate. You'll need to limit your intake of red and processed meat to no more than 500 grams per week. Processed foods are often loaded with fat, starch, and sugar that can lead to weight gain, so these should be limited as well. Alcohol and sugar-sweetened drinks should be limited or avoided altogether to avoid weight gain and prevent some types of cancer. Along with these nutritional changes, you'll also need to get regular exercise and maintain a healthy weight to reduce your risk of prostate cancer.