Prostate Cancer Prevention
Daily Green Tea Stops 90% Of Tumors*

Prostate Cancer News Updates

This is Part 1 of a 3-part series.

Prostate cancer prevention is the best hope for most men

Prostate cancer currently claims 80% of men by the time they are 80 years old.

But because it can take decades to develop, men have the opportunity to choose prostate cancer prevention strategies.

*Green tea prevents 90% of prostate cancer

Researchers in Italy studied 60 volunteers with high cancer risk who had tested positive on biopsy for high-grade prostate intraepithelial neoplasia (HG-PIN). PIN is a prostate cancer test that has become an accepted sign of premalignancy. Men who have a positive biopsy for PIN are considered at high risk for prostate cancer.

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The volunteers were divided into two matched groups and took either 3 capsules (200 mg. each for 600 mg. daily) of green tea daily for one year or a placebo daily for one year (Bettuzzi, 2006).

The research results showed:

• 90% prevention of prostate cancer with green tea
• No side effects

At the end of the year, only one man in the green tea group had developed a tumor while nine men in the placebo group developed tumors. These results of 90% prevention of prostate cancer were statistically significant, although conclusions are considered preliminary.

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No side effects with daily green tea

In the green tea group, International Prostate Symptom Scores improved significantly, urinary tract symptoms improved, and there were no side effects.

The annual cost of daily green tea is estimated at $120.

Drugs that only prevent up to 25% of prostate cancer

The recent Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial (NCI, 2003), studied finasteride, a drug currently approved for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Researchers tested finasteride for prostate cancer prevention with 18,882 men for approximately 7 years. They studied only men who were low risk by testing negative for prostate cancer.

The results showed that finasteride prevented 25% of prostate cancer with side effects including impotence, loss of libido, as well as an increase in aggressive high grade prostate cancer.

The annual cost of daily finasteride is estimated at $800-$1200.

In a different study, a 12 year follow-up found that daily aspirin for more than five years was associated with a 20% prevention of prostate cancer. (Jacobs, 2007)

Side effects from daily aspirin can include gastrointestinal bleeding.

Green tea works in many ways

While these results are considered preliminary, other green tea studies on prostate cancer prevention research show similar results. Almost 80 studies on green tea (Camellia sinensis) and prostate cancer have shown that green tea kills cancer cells through apoptosis, prevents cancer adhesion, prevents cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis, prevents DNA damage from free radicals, and protects normal cells. Many positive results have been attributed to EGCG, epi-gallocatechin gallate, the primary polyphenol catechin antioxidant in green tea.

Start prevention strategies now

Take advantage of regular early testing , especially if you are in a high risk group (African-American, over age 55, family history of prostate cancer).

Discussions with your health care provider should include safe and inexpensive lifestyle changes such as daily green tea and low fat diets (check this list of high saturated fat food).

Related articles:

Continue to Part 2--Prostate cancer prevention research summaries

Continue to Part 3--Prostate cancer research on green tea and soybean in the diet

Return from Prostate Cancer Prevention to Green Tea Health News Home

Prostate Cancer Information Prostate cancer statistics for the United States for 2007 estimate 218,890 new cases with 27,050 prostate cancer deaths (National Cancer Institute). Prostate cancer stages are: no prostate cancer detected (Stage 0, TX, T0) Prostate cancer Stage 1 or I (or A1/A2 or T1) is localized to the prostate only and cannot be palpated during exam. The Gleason score is low. Prostate cancer Stage 2 or II (B1/B2 or T2) is local, but can be detected with DRE or ultrasound. Gleason score is 2-10. Prostate cancer Stage 3 or III (C1/C2 or T3/T4) has spread to seminal vesicles, but not the the lymph nodes. Gleason score is 2-10. Prostate cancer Stage 4 or IV (D1/D2/D3 or T4) has metastasized to lymph nodes and other parts of the body such as bones, lungs, bladder, rectum, muscles, etc. Gleason score is 2-10. Lower numbers on the Gleason score indicate the tumor is more likely to be slow growing. Higher numbers indicate high grade prostate cancer that may grow quickly. Lymph node involvement are N0 (none), N1, N2, N3 (highest spread to lymph nodes). MX or M0 are no metastasis detectable. M1a, M1b, M1c indicate metastasized prostate cancer. PSA blood level is also considered in the individual prognosis from the health care provider. With early detection, the 5-year survival rate for prostate cancer has dramatically improved in the United States over the last few decades. For 1995-2002, the survival rates for prostate cancer in white men was 99.9% and 97.6% for black men.