Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers among men in the United States, and today, more than three million men are living as prostate cancer survivors. Advances in early detection and treatment mean that many men live long, healthy lives after diagnosis. As survival improves, attention is increasingly shifting toward long-term health after cancer, including environmental pollutants and behaviors that can affect quality of life and longevity. Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death among men with prostate cancer, making it especially important to understand factors that may influence heart health during survivorship.
Dr. Iyer led a large, multistate study examining whether long-term exposure to air pollution is associated with higher mortality among men diagnosed with prostate cancer. While air pollution has long been linked to heart disease in the general population, less is known about how it affects people living with cancer. This study focused on fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, which consists of microscopic particles in the air that can be inhaled deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream.
The study found that higher exposure to certain PM2.5 components was associated with increased overall mortality, driven largely by deaths from cardiovascular disease rather than prostate cancer itself. Evidence linking air pollution to prostate cancer–specific mortality was less consistent, suggesting that air pollution may primarily affect survivorship through non-cancer pathways such as heart and vascular health. These findings highlight the importance of considering environmental exposures as part of prostate cancer survivorship care and underscore the need for policies and prevention efforts that reduce harmful air pollution and support healthier outcomes for survivors and their communities.
Read the paper here