What lifestyle changes should I make before starting Prostate Cancer treatment

Lifestyle Changes Before Starting Prostate Cancer Treatment

Great question—preparing your body and overall health BEFORE treatment begins can make a real difference in how well you tolerate therapy and maintain your quality of life. Here's what the evidence shows:

Key Lifestyle Areas to Address

1. Dental Health & Oral Hygiene (Do This First!)

Before starting androgen deprivation therapy (hormone therapy), make sure any needed dental work is completed and establish excellent oral hygiene habits. This is important because hormone therapy can affect your bones and teeth over time.

2. Exercise & Physical Activity

According to Cancer Patient Lab webinars featuring exercise oncology research, aim for 225 minutes of exercise per week, spread across 5 days (this recommendation is specifically for prostate cancer).

Why this matters: Exercise is one of the strongest evidence-based interventions available. It:

• Strengthens your immune system
• Improves cardiovascular health
• Helps maintain muscle mass (which treatment can affect)
• Enhances overall resilience during treatment
• Improves quality of life

How to approach it: Work with a qualified exercise physiologist or your oncology team to create a personalized plan based on your current fitness level. Include both aerobic exercise (cardio) and resistance training (weights).

3. Nutrition & Diet

The evidence strongly supports a Mediterranean or pescatarian diet (fish and plant-based foods):

Foods to emphasize:

• Colorful vegetables and fruits (aim for 30 different varieties per week)
• Whole grains, beans, and legumes
• Plant-based proteins (most meals should be plant-based)
• If eating meat: limit to about 3 times weekly, choosing grass-fed options like bison, venison, or lamb
• Foods with specific benefits for prostate cancer: broccoli, pomegranate, turmeric, and green tea
• Fermented foods like kefir and kimchi (support gut health)

Foods to limit or avoid:

• Processed and smoked meats
• Red meat (beyond the 3x weekly recommendation)
• Eggs (whole eggs are not recommended for prostate cancer)
• Sugar-sweetened drinks
• Alcohol

Why this matters: According to research presented at ASCO Urology, a phytochemical-rich diet (foods packed with plant compounds) combined with good gut health can slow prostate cancer progression, improve urinary symptoms, reduce inflammation, and increase strength.

4. Gut Health & Probiotics

Before treatment, consider establishing good gut health habits:

• Take probiotics, especially Lactobacillus species
• Increase prebiotic fiber intake (feeds good bacteria)
• Consume fermented foods

Why this matters: Your gut microbiome affects how well your immune system works and how effectively treatments work. Poor gut health can reduce immunotherapy effectiveness by up to 40%.

5. Body Weight & Composition

According to the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), maintaining a healthy weight is critical—adult body fatness is the only strong evidence-based risk factor for advanced prostate cancer.

Action steps:

• Work toward a healthy weight BEFORE starting treatment
• Focus on body composition (muscle vs. fat), not just the number on the scale
• This becomes harder during treatment, so establishing good habits now helps

6. Cardiovascular Health

This is especially important because some prostate cancer treatments can affect your heart:

• Get a baseline cardiovascular assessment
• Discuss lipid profile testing with your doctor (including ApoB levels)
• Address any existing heart disease risk factors
• Maintain regular physical activity

7. Stress Management & Sleep

• Establish good sleep habits (7-9 hours nightly)
• Practice stress reduction (meditation, yoga, counseling)
• Build a support network

Why this matters: Stress and poor sleep compromise your immune system, which you'll need to be strong during treatment.

8. Supplements: A Word of Caution

Don't take supplements for cancer prevention. While some supplements like turmeric show anti-inflammatory promise, they can interfere with certain cancer treatments. A "diet-first" approach is recommended—get nutrients from whole foods, then supplement only if needed and under guidance from an integrative oncology-trained practitioner.

Before You Start Treatment: Questions to Ask Your Doctor

1. "Are there any dental procedures I should complete before starting treatment?"
2. "Can you refer me to an exercise physiologist to develop a personalized exercise plan?"
3. "Should I work with a nutritionist experienced in cancer care?"
4. "Are there any supplements I'm currently taking that might interfere with my treatment?"
5. "What cardiovascular screening should I have before starting treatment?"

The Bottom Line

According to Cancer Patient Lab experts, the goal is to maintain your resilience. The treatments you'll receive are powerful—they're designed to fight cancer, but they also stress your body. The healthier and stronger you are going in, the better you'll tolerate treatment and maintain quality of life.

As one expert noted: "The more you can do to maintain your resilience, the better off you are." Think of it as preparing your body to be its strongest self when you need it most.

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This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult your healthcare team for personalized medical advice and decisions.