I just checked several page on PubMed regarding lycopene, selenium, and
PCa. Found nothing adverse in dozens of articles, though I did not search
farther back than August 2005. Everything I found was positive.

Seems to me that it would be a good idea for the patient to, in a
not-too-challenging manner, ask the medic for references to studies on the
subjects.

Regards,

Steve J

"'MD' does not mean 'Medical Deity.'"
-- Stephen B. Strum, MD

It sounds like this MD doesn't know what he is talking about.  The FDA
is currently considering granting lycopene manufacturers the right to
claim that it helps prevent prostate cancer.  If there were any evidence
that lycopene promoted prostate cancer, then it would be a slam dunk
decision - they would reject the claim.

The findings with selenium are even more bogus.  Selenium is known to
increase apoptosis (the killing of prostate cancer cells) when combined
with vitamin E succinate
(http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/full/63/20/6988).  There
is a trial underway to investigate the protective effects of vitamin E
plus selenium.  If there were any evidence that selenium were dangerous,
then they would have pulled the plug already on this trial.

Ed Friedman

My doc specifically prescribed both for my PCa and a couple of other
supplements for my bone density.