How COVID-19 affect Men with Prostate Cancer
As time goes on, COVID-19 and its associated strains will continue to be in our consciousness
That is part of our new way of life.
As a urology and male health care practitioner, I’m focused on figuring out how my prostate cancer patients are particularly vulnerable to this COVID and how I can help protect them.
Are men with prostate cancer more vulnerable to COVID-19?
Most men with prostate cancer are not necessarily more vulnerable to COVID-19.
But there are some exceptions…
In general, despite prostate cancer, men are more vulnerable to COVID-19 and viral infections as a whole.
The other exception is men undergoing chemotherapy for advanced prostate cancer can naturally develop a weakened immune system, so they don’t have proper immune strength to fight off a viral infection like COVID-19.
Lastly, men undergoing Androgen Deprivation Therapy, also known as ADT, or hormone therapy are NOT more susceptible to COVID-19 from ADT alone but can be more vulnerable if they develop a metabolic disease from the hormone treatment.
Metabolic diseases are a cluster of markers that increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
People with metabolic diseases are significantly more vulnerable to COVID-19 (and the flu).
Lastly, most prostate cancer procedures are considered not a priority during this time. Radiation therapy can cause lower numbers in immune cells called lymphocytes (lymphocytopenia).
I have prescribed numerous dietary supplements to patients who undergo treatment with radiation treatment (RT) for prostate cancer, as I don’t think certain supplements interfere with the RT but can enhance it.
Some dietary supplements I recommend during RT include curcumin, melatonin, and vitamin C.
Let your radiation oncologist know what you are taking, but realize they may discourage you from doing so for weak theoretical reasons.
Finally, on ADT, let me say this…
You don’t need to have any metabolic disease or metabolic syndrome while having depleted testosterone levels.
Practicing physical exercise, good dietary practices, and targeted nutraceuticals help lower that risk.
Nutraceuticals I recommend for a healthy immune system and nutritional support during ADT are some that I have formulated so that I may be a bit biased here.
All biases aside, patients are reporting excellent outcomes from taking them or the specific ingredients in them.
Remember, no dietary supplement replaces good, clean eating, and exercise. Ever.