As a wife, a sister, and for my male friends and relatives, I am concerned about the men in my life.

Prostate cancer is common. In the United States, it accounts for approximately 27–29% of all new cancer diagnoses in men. About 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed during their lifetime.

Globally, prostate cancer represents roughly 14–15% of all cancers diagnosed in men, making it the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in men worldwide.

When detected early:

Localized prostate cancer has a 5-year survival rate greater than 99%
Regional (nearby lymph node) disease also carries very high 5-year survival
Distant metastatic disease has a lower 5-year survival (~38%), which is why early detection and comprehensive care matter

Cancer biology is complex. There is no single cause. But one piece of the terrain that continues to gain attention is chronic inflammation.

Chronic Inflammation and the Prostate

Inflammation is not always dramatic. It can be low-grade, Silent, Metabolic.

Chronic inflammatory signaling may influence:

DNA damage and repair
Immune surveillance
Hormone signaling pathways
Insulin resistance
Tissue microenvironment

This does not mean inflammation “causes” prostate cancer in a simplistic way. It means the environment in which cells live matters. And that environment is modifiable.

A 67-Year-Old Patient’s Story

A 67-year-old man came to me after a long medical journey.

He had his prostate removed. He went through radiation.
Later, cancer was found in the lymph nodes — stage 3 involvement.
He began ADT therapy (Lupron).

He was active. He gardened. He worked with his hands.

But he was overwhelmed.He asked one question: “What can I actually do now?” Not what can cure it. Not what can reverse everything.

What can I do? That question matters. Because even when cancer treatment is medical, terrain support is daily. Functional Health Care professionals focus on the terrain

What Changes on ADT (Lupron)

Androgen Deprivation Therapy lowers testosterone.

When testosterone drops, we commonly see:

Decrease in muscle mass
Increase in fat mass
Bone density decline
Increased insulin resistance
Higher cardiovascular risk
Fatigue

This is where inflammation management becomes even more important.

The goal is not extreme dieting, but to reduce the pro-inflammatory load.

The Action Plan: Simple, Sustainable, Evidence-Informed

Nothing dramatic.Just consistent shifts. What is recommended

1. Protect Muscle (High Priority on ADT)

25–35 grams of protein at each meal
High-protein breakfast maintained
Resistance training 2–3 times per week

Muscle is metabolic armor.

2. Increase Fiber Daily

The patient previously skipped lunch and drank 3 sodas per day.

We added:

Greek yogurt + walnuts + berries
One apple mid-day
Beans or lentils several nights per week

Fiber supports:

Gut microbiome balance
Hormone metabolism
Blood sugar stability
Inflammatory regulation

3. Replace Sugar-Sweetened Beverages

We used a step-down method:

Week 1: 3 sodas → 2
Week 2: 2 → 1
Then sparkling water with lemon.

No shock. Just reduction.

4. Bone Protection

With ADT, bone health is not optional.

I recommended:

Vitamin D testing
Adequate dietary calcium
Weight-bearing movement
DEXA monitoring through oncology

5. Reduce Processed Meats Most Days

Bacon and sausage were daily habits.

We shifted to:

Eggs + yogurt
Fish twice weekly
Beans added regularly
Processed meats occasionally, not daily

Reduction, not perfection.

What This Is Not

This is not blame.
This is not “lifestyle caused cancer.”
This is not a promise of cure.

This is about influence.

The Pro-Inflammatory Reduction Framework™

In my work, I focus on identifying and reducing pro-inflammatory lifestyle factors across:

Nutrition
Blood sugar stability
Gut health
Environmental exposures
Stress regulation
Movement
Sleep

We cannot control everything about cancer.

But we can support the terrain in which healing, recovery, and long-term resilience occur.

And that matters.

References

American Cancer Society. Prostate Cancer Survival Rates.
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/prostate-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/survival-rates.html

American Cancer Society. Key Statistics for Prostate Cancer.
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/prostate-cancer/about/key-statistics.html

International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO). Global Cancer Observatory.
https://gco.iarc.fr

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. United States Cancer Statistics – Prostate Cancer.
https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/prostate/statistics

National Cancer Institute. Prostate Cancer Treatment (PDQ®).
https://www.cancer.gov/types/prostate

Stephanie Larmour Sanders