certain bacteria to thrive. However, researchers still strongly believe the microbes are involved, just as Helicobacter pylori infections raise the risk of stomach cancer.
“If you knew for sure that a species of bacteria was causing prostate cancer, you could work out an antibiotic to remove it and that would prevent progression, one would hope,” Cooper said. But this is not as straightforward as it sounds, he cautioned. “There are many complications. Antibiotics don’t get into the prostate very well and you would need to choose an antibiotic that only kills certain bacteria,” he said.
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What this means for the future of prostate cancer
While the study doesn’t prove that bacteria drives or exacerbates prostate cancer, more research that is currently underway can confirm their role. This will help researchers develop tests that can identify men most at risk and potentially find antibiotics to prevent the cancer from claiming thousands of lives each year.
“This is an exciting discovery that has the potential to truly revolutionize treatment for men,” says Dr. Hayley Luxton of Prostate Cancer UK, which co-funded the research.
“It is not yet known if they are causative but if this could be proven then we have a potential route for prevention,” Prof Rosalind Eeles, a cancer geneticist on the study at the Institute of Cancer Research in London says. “The way that we may be able to prove this is to look to see if these organisms are never found in prostate samples which have no cancer.”
Scientists have already pieced together how bacteria may behave in the body, including what toxins and other substances they might release thanks to genetic information on the microbes. They have already developed half a dozen hypotheses around how the bugs could cause prostate cancer.
“We currently have no way of reliably identifying aggressive prostate cancers, and this research could help make sure men get the right treatment for them,” Luxton adds.
“If the team can demonstrate that these newly identified bacteria can not only predict, but actually cause aggressive prostate cancer, for the first time we may actually be able to prevent prostate cancer [from] occurring. This would be a huge breakthrough that could save thousands of lives each year.”
Detecting prostate cancer
Black men in the U.S. are about 60% to 80% more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and twice as likely to die from prostate cancer compared to men of other races in the U.S, according to the American Cancer Society.
However, in some cases patients may experience the following:
- Frequent urination
- Weak or interrupted urine flow or the need to strain to empty the bladder
- The urge to urinate frequently at night
- Blood in the urine
- New onset of erectile dysfunction
- Pain or burning during urination, which is much less common
- Discomfort or pain when sitting, caused by an enlarged prostate
If you have any signs or symptoms that worry you or if you want to discuss your risks and the option of screening, consult with your doctor.