Private MD News

Obesity may lead to worse prostate cancer treatment outcomes

Category: Prostate

Obese men are more likely to receive unhealthy PSA test results, even after they have been treated for prostate cancer, according to new study from researchers at the Duke University Medical Center.

The team found that overweight individuals were three times more likely have their cancer spread to the bone and five times more likely to have the cancer metastasize.

As part of the study, the researchers examined the medical records of 287 men who had their prostate surgically removed at one of five Veteran's Affairs hospitals throughout Virginia between 1988 and 2009.

Given the fact that both obesity and prostate cancer are increasing in the U.S., the researchers said that their findings are not necessarily that surprising. This could have important implications for how men with prostate cancer are treated.

"If obesity is bad for prostate cancer, we may have to be more aggressive in our treatment," said Stephen Freedland, one of the lead investigators. "Ultimately, we aim to learn why, which in turn can lead us to better treatments for these men."