Researchers say a cheap, generic pill called finasteride (Propecia, Proscar) prevents almost 40 percent of low-grade prostate cancers without increasing the risk of dying from more aggressive tumors.
Finasteride is known as a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, which means that it blocks the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is the primary contributing factor in male pattern baldness. DHT plays a role in the development and exacerbation of benign prostatic hyperplasia, as well as prostate cancer, by enlarging the prostate gland.
There are, however, natural occurring 5-alpha reductase inhibitors that can be combined to effectively reduce this conversion of testosterone to DHT. The possible side effects are minimized with our complete holistic approach. At Restorative Health Clinic we specialize in Men’s Health and proper Hormone Optimization. Please contact us for complete information.
Finasteride May Safely Lower Prostate Cancer Risk.
USA Today (8/15, Szabo) reports that in a study funded by the National Cancer Institute and published in The New England Journal of Medicine, investigators found that “among men getting screened with the PSA, those randomly assigned to take the drug finasteride for seven years were 30% less likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer.” Researchers also found that participants taking finasteride had a 43% lower risk of being “diagnosed with a ‘low-grade’ prostate cancer – the kind most likely to lead to unnecessary treatment.”
The New York Times (8/15, Parker-Pope) “Well” blog reports that the medication has not approved the medication to prevent prostate cancer because research indicated that while it “clearly reduced the overall risk for prostate cancer, slightly more men who used the drug developed fast-growing tumors compared with men who took a placebo.” The new data suggest that finasteride “was not causing the aggressive tumors,” but was “more likely…reducing the size of a man’s prostate,” thus making it easier for aggressive tumors to be found.
The AP (8/15, Marchione) reports that the findings “could prompt a fresh look at using” finasteride to prevent cancer, with some “experts say[ing] it could prevent tens of thousands of cases each year.”