I'm 51, Gleason 6, and my PSA has ranged from 5.5 to 9.2 over the past year. I get a PSA test every 3 months.
I want to drink protein shakes after working out (3-4 times/wk), but a few months ago when I did that, my PSA went from 5.5 to 9.2. I stopped the protein shakes, and my PSA dropped to 7.5. It may have just been a coincidence, but I thought I'd ask this intelligent community if anyone knows if high-protein powder is bad for men with prostate cancer. Thanks!
No. Protein is good for the body. I would ask your doctor. You might have something else going on related to the PC, or not
There are several possible reasons for a rise in PSA besides an increase in tumors.
A major cause of a rise in PSA is inflammation in the prostate. That can be due to an infection, either bacterial or viral. Other irritations can also cause inflammation, including the effects of a digital rectal exam. I've had a couple of truly brutal DREs, that I believe caused an increase in PSA and hemorrhoid problems. Some say that bike riding can do it. It is known that an orgasm within a couple of days can have an effect. Also, a very impressive doctor at the National Cancer Institute once told me that PSA varies from day to day by as much as 30% and no one knows why.
I've not heard anything about protein intake causing an increase in cancer. I think that's unlikely because protein seems to be both useful and benign.
So I think you should be concerned and should keep getting PSA tests, but I don't think you necessarily have a problem. If you've got prostatitis (an infection or an irritation of the prostate), it can take many months or even longer to clear up. If you've got any pain or sensitivity in the prostate that may actually be a good sign because it can indicate prostatitis.
If the PSA keeps going up, consider getting another biopsy and possible treatment. If it just bounces around, sometimes up, sometimes down, with no long term trend up, you're probably good to keep going on your active surveillance.
Whey protein is at least safe for, maybe even directly beneficial to, prostate cancer patients. The problem, if there is one, may be with the casein form of protein supplements. The evidence is not clear, but is of sufficient concern that I backed off on my casein protein supplements. Whey is an excellent, highly nutritious, very easily assimilated source of protein, and older men need more protein than younger men, cancer/ADT or not. Heavy exercise bumps our need for protein even more. That 60 gms a day stuff is for survival, not for optimal health. My primary sources include meat (any animal flesh, by my definition), whey, cheese (full-fat, of course), eggs, and nuts. If my low-carb eating style permitted it, I'd add beans to the list.
I am curious as to where u r with this now? I just experienced the same thing. I started ingesting 105 + grams of protein shakes per day as part of a high protein diet, and my PSS has jumped up from 3.8 to 4.2 to 6.0 over about 5 month. Did your levels come back down?
I'm 61, Gleason 6, and my PSA is 8.5. It was about 4 in 2013; about 5 in 2015 and 2016. From 2017 to these days (2019 December) began to increase gradually from 6 to 8.5. When I started to make exercise and drinking protein shakes after working out (2 times/wk) 15 days ago, my PSA went from 8.5 to 10.5 in 15 days. I stopped the protein shakes, but did not measured my PSA yet. I will measure it after a week, and let you know the result. What is your PSA measure now, did you quit taking protein powder.
Hello, how is your health and Prostate problems now. I have observed same thing.
I'm 61, Gleason 6, and my PSA has ranged from 5.5 to 8.5 over the past year. I get a PSA test every 3 months.
I want to drink protein shakes after working out (2 times/wk), but a few months ago when I did that, my PSA went from 8.5 to 10.5. I stopped the protein shakes, but did not measured my PSA yet. Thanks a lot.
That was a couple of years ago, so I don't really remember if I kept drinking protein shakes or if I stopped. Anyway, my PSA kept rising and I had my prostate removed. But I found a great surgeon and I didn't have problems with continence or ED. Life is back to normal for me.
The problem with protein, if there is one, would be the stimulation of growth hormone, which in turn can stimulate cancer growth. Exercise helps by making your muscles more sensitive to growth hormone, resulting in lower hormone levels overall.
The problems with insufficient protein are far greater, IMHO. Loss of muscle, impaired immune function, etc.
I use whey protein and eat meat, but am slowly trying to transition at least some of my diet to plant based protein such as nuts and soy. What's holding me back is whey in milk is much tastier than pea protein in soy milk, which is a bit like drinking sand.
When I was in chemo, my PSA dropped no matter what I ate. My PSA is undetectable now, so I can't tell if there are small variations with diet.
Dear friend, thanks a lot for your reply. I'm 61, Gleason 6, and my PSA is 8.5. It was about 4 in 2013; about 5 in 2015 and 2016. From 2017 to these days (2019 December) began to increase gradually from 6 to 8.5. When I started to make exercise and drinking protein shakes after working out (2 times/wk) 15 days ago, my PSA went from 8.5 to 10.5 in 15 days. I stopped the protein shakes, but did not measured my PSA yet. I will measure it after a week. My question is that; is the exercise has positive on prostate cancer; whether whey protein powder increases the PSA level and has negative effect on prostate cancer. Thanks a lot, wish you good health, all the best.
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