Prostate Cancer Treatment Can Cause Belly Growth, Metabolic Issues: Nutritionist

Prostate cancer patients undergoing hormone therapy may notice their bellies growing larger, even without significant changes in diet. This common side effect is linked to the body's hormonal shifts during treatment, which can accelerate muscle loss and promote fat storage. The changes can also impair the body's ability to regulate blood sugar, leading to weight gain and potentially abnormal blood pressure and lipid levels.

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Male hormone reduction may accelerate muscle loss, increase fat accumulation, and worsen blood sugar control, leading to weight gain, and abnormal blood pressure and lipid levels.

Nutritionist Tseng Chien-ming explains that while medical advancements have improved prostate cancer survival rates, the hormone therapy used to starve cancer cells by reducing male hormones can have these unintended consequences. He emphasizes that patients should not fear gaining weight to the point of restricting food intake. Instead, they should focus on consuming enough protein, such as from fish and eggs, and pairing it with vegetables and healthy fats to maintain energy for fighting cancer.

Tseng also highlights the critical role of exercise in preserving muscle mass. He notes that relying solely on supplements like vitamins or protein powders has limited effectiveness. "The best special medicine is exercise," he states, recommending activities like brisk walking and simple strength training at home, such as mini-squats or lifting water bottles. Building muscle not only helps maintain physical strength but also improves the body's ability to metabolize sugar.

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The best special medicine is exercise.

Finally, Tseng advises patients to regularly track their weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, and blood sugar, treating these metrics with the same importance as cancer indicators. This consistent monitoring, alongside regular check-ups, allows patients and their medical teams to proactively manage any adverse changes and ensure a better quality of life during the long-term battle against cancer.

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Cancer treatment is not just about living longer, but also living with quality.