Rod Stewart urges fans to get checked for prostate cancer
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Early indicators of prostate cancer include urinary issues, such as needing to urinate more frequently, often during the night. As with any cancer, if the tumour hasn’t spread, the more likely treatment will be successful. Lead researcher Xiaoqiang Wang presented the breakthrough discovery that mushrooms could help quell the abnormal reproduction of cancerous cells. Wang explained: “Androgens, a type of male sex hormone, promote the growth of prostate cancer cells by binding to and activating the androgen receptor, a protein that is expressed in prostate cells.
“White button mushrooms appear to suppress the activity of the androgen receptor.”
The investigation was prompted by an earlier study where Dr Shiuan Chen, who conducted a “phase one” clinical trial of white button mushroom powder in patients with recurrent prostate cancer.
The men in Chen’s trial had reduced levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in their blood after consuming mushroom powder, with minimal side effects.
Heightened blood levels of PSA may indicate the presence of existing prostate tumours.
However, there is caution surrounding PSA testing, because it can be “unreliable”, said the NHS.
PSA testing can produce “a false-positive result”, which is when high PSA levels suggest prostate cancer when there isn’t a really a tumour.
“Furthermore, up to 15 percent of men with prostate cancer have normal PSA levels,” said the NHS.
The national health body added: “The PSA test can find aggressive prostate cancer that needs treatment.
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“But it can also find slow-growing cancer that may never cause symptoms or shorten life.”
Regardless, Wang wanted to investigate the link between mushrooms and prostate cancer further.
For his experiment, his research team studied the effects of mushroom extract on mice implanted with human prostate tumours.
The researchers discovered that white mushroom extract suppressed androgen receptor activity in prostate cancer cells.
They also found that mice treated with white mushroom extract – for only six days – had a prostate tumour growth that was “significantly suppressed”. In addition, levels of PSA in the blood had also decreased.
Wang commented on the findings: “We found that white button mushrooms contain chemicals that can block the activity of the androgen receptor in mouse models, indicating this fungus can reduce PSA levels.”
He added: “While more research is needed, it’s possible that white button mushrooms could one day contribute to the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer.”
The animal model will be more reliable once the research is implemented in human clinical trials.
The warning signs of prostate cancer
The NHS outlined the early warning signs of prostate cancer, which include:
- Needing to pee more frequently, often during the night
- Needing to rush to the toilet
- Difficulty in starting to pee (hesitancy)
- Straining or taking a long time while peeing
- Weak flow
- Feeling that your bladder has not emptied fully
- Blood in urine or blood in semen
“These symptoms do not always mean you have prostate cancer,” added the NHS.
It could be a sign of prostate enlargement (which isn’t cancerous), but it’s always best to discuss these symptoms with your GP.
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