How to Reduce Your Chance of Prostate Cancer Recurrence
Published on August 25, 2026
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Prostate cancer can return if some cancer cells survive treatment, and it’s normal to feel concerned about this possibility. “Many people worry that a recurrence is entirely out of their control,” says Elisabeth Heath, MD, chair of the department of oncology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
But while no lifestyle change can guarantee against prostate cancer recurrence, healthy habits can improve your overall health and quality of life, says Dr. Heath. Some habits can decrease inflammation in your body, which helps protect against cancer development.
“Every patient's situation is different, so it's important to work with your healthcare team to develop a plan that's right for you,” says Heath.
Keep Up With Your Follow-Up Appointments
The most important step for preventing prostate cancer recurrence is to follow your treatment and follow-up plan, says Heath. “Keep all scheduled appointments, have recommended PSA blood tests, and tell your healthcare team about any new symptoms.”
Returning prostate cancer may cause no symptoms, but regular prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood tests can catch recurrence early.
If you do have symptoms, they may include:
- Blood in your urine
- Inability to hold urine in
- Back or bone pain
- Fatigue and weakness
- Unplanned weight loss
Tell your provider if you notice any of the symptoms above.
Follow a Healthy, Balanced Diet
Eating a healthy, balanced diet may help lower your risk of prostate cancer returning. “Diet can significantly impact the risk of prostate cancer recurrence by reducing inflammation, managing hormone levels, and providing protective antioxidants,” says Nitin Yerram, MD, the co-director of urologic oncology at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey.
Dr. Yerram also recommends eating a variety of these healthy foods:
- Colorful fruits and vegetables
- Fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, like salmon and sardines
- Whole grains
- Plant-based proteins like beans and soy
Research suggests that a diet high in whole milk and high fat dairy products can also increase the risk for prostate cancer recurrence, so limiting your fat intake may offer some protection.
“Limit or avoid foods high in saturated and trans fats, including red and processed meats, high-fat dairy products like whole milk and cheese, and sugary drinks or highly processed foods that can lead to weight gain,” says Yerram.
Exercise Regularly
Regular exercise after a prostate cancer diagnosis may increase survival, according to research. “Physical activity works in several ways to create an environment in the body that is less hospitable to cancer growth,” says Yerram.
Exercise protects against cancer through:
- Lower chronic inflammation
- Increased immune system ability to find and destroy cancer cells
- Healthy weight maintenance
- Improved sensitivity to insulin
Physical activity also helps improve bone strength when prostate cancer treatment weakens them. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise per week, plus strength training two days a week.
Before you start exercising, ask your healthcare provider about any limitations. They can help you develop an activity plan that starts slow and builds to your goal.
Avoid Smoking and Limit Alcohol
To lower your risk of prostate cancer recurrence, limit alcohol consumption and quit smoking, says Yerram. Research shows that people who smoke after a prostate cancer diagnosis have a higher risk of recurrence.
Alcohol causes damage to several organs and makes your immune system weaker. Try to limit your alcohol intake to two or fewer drinks per day. While research on alcohol is evolving, the World Health Organization says drinking less or not at all is better for your health. If you would like help to quit smoking, ask your provider for their recommendations, or visit smokefree.gov for free resources.
Manage Other Health Conditions
Stay at a healthy weight and get treatment for other medical conditions, like diabetes or high blood pressure, says Heath.
Here’s how these conditions can raise your risk:
High Blood Pressure Experts think high blood pressure may boost inflammation in your prostate. Inflammation has been linked to repeated tiny injuries in the prostate, which may then develop into cancer in some men.
Diabetes People with diabetes have a higher risk of prostate cancer recurrence. High levels of sugar in your blood may help cancer grow.
Obesity Some research suggests prostate cancer cells may use excess fat to help them grow. And obesity has been linked to more aggressive types of prostate cancer.
Mental Health A research study of over 10,000 men who were diagnosed with depression and prostate cancer found that they had a lower risk of prostate cancer recurrence if they took antidepressants. Those with depression who did not take antidepressants were 34 percent more likely to experience recurrent prostate cancer. Scientists do not yet understand why — it may be an indirect effect — but these findings stress the importance of mental health.
Your healthcare team can help you manage other conditions to lower your risk of prostate cancer recurrence.
Get Enough Sleep
When you don’t get enough quality sleep, stress hormones like cortisol can increase. This hormone can lead to more inflammation and make it easier for prostate cancer to grow. Try to get at least seven hours of sleep each night.
Set the stage for good sleep by adopting some healthy sleep habits like these:
- Create a soothing pre-bed routine with no screens and dimmed lights.
- Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, even on days off.
- Make your sleeping space comfortable, cool, dark, and quiet.
- Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and heavy meals too close to bedtime.
- Add outdoor physical activity to your days.
If you follow these sleep habits but still have trouble sleeping, tell your provider, who can help you troubleshoot your sleep.
Resources We Trust
- Mayo Clinic: Prostate Cancer Recurrence: Symptoms and Causes
- Cleveland Clinic: Prostate Cancer
- Zero Prostate Cancer: Prostate Cancer Recurrence
- American Cancer Society: After Treatment: Living as a Prostate Cancer Survivor
- The Prostate Cancer Foundation: Recurrent Prostate Cancer
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
- Prostate Cancer Recurrence: Symptoms and Causes. Mayo Clinic. November 21, 2025.
- García-Perdomo HA et al. Impact of Lifestyle in Prostate Cancer Patients. What Should We Do? International Brazilian Journal of Urology. August 15, 2021.
- Prostate Cancer Recurrence. Zero Prostate Cancer.
- Langlais CS et al. Post-Diagnostic Dietary and Lifestyle Factors and Prostate Cancer Recurrence, Progression, and Mortality. Current Oncology Reports. March 10, 2021.
- Jurdana M. Physical Activity and Cancer Risk. Actual Knowledge and Possible Biological Mechanisms. Radiology and Oncology. January 12, 2021.
- Alcohol. World Health Organization. June 28, 2024.
- Stikbakke E et al. Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure, Prostate Cancer Risk, Treatment, and Survival. The PROCA‐Life Study. Cancer Medicine. December 22, 2021.
- Pagano AP et al. Association Between Diabetes and Risk of Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies. World Journal of Men's Health. June 24, 2024.
- Saha A et al. Obesity and Prostate Cancer — Microenvironmental Roles of Adipose Tissue. Nature Reviews Urology. May 17, 2023.
- Haque R et al. Antidepressant Medication Use and Prostate Cancer Recurrence in Men With Depressive Disorders. Cancer Causes and Control. September 9, 2022.
- How Much Sleep Is Enough. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. March 24, 2022.
- Healthy Sleep Habits. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. March 24, 2022.
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