Prostate Cancer Free Yourself From Worry Know Your Options

Like other cancers, the cause of prostate cancer is not known; it appears to be more common in African American men and men with a family history of the disease. Prostate cancer is normally a slow growth cancer that can take years before it becomes deadly. Simply put, cancer that grows in the prostate gland is called prostate cancer.

The prostate is a small, walnut-sized structure that makes up part of a man’s reproductive system; it wraps around the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body - because of this can cause various urinary problems. If you have prostate cancer, are concerned about getting it, or if you’re looking out for the health of someone you love, this article can help. The second leading cause of cancer deaths among men in the U.S. is from prostate cancer.

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease are bone pain or tenderness, and abdominal pain. One of the most common symptoms is the inability to urinate, get checked right away. Some men will experience symptoms that might indicate the presence of prostate cancer.

The need to urinate frequently, especially at night is another symptom. Most prostate cancer symptoms, although associated with prostate cancer, are more likely to be connected to non-cancerous conditions. One prostate cancer symptom is difficulty starting urination or holding back urine.

Your doctor may use either one or two of the most common tests for prostate cancer detection. The decision about whether to pursue a PSA test should be based on a discussion between you and your doctor. A chest x-ray may be done to see if there’s a spread of cancer.

There are several potential downsides to PSA testing; for example a high PSA does not always mean a patient has prostate cancer. A prostate gland biopsy usually confirms the diagnosis. A PSA test with a high level can also be from a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland.

Surgery, radiation, hormonal therapy and chemotherapy all have significant side effects; know fully what they are before you proceed. Medicines can be used to adjust the levels of testosterone; called hormonal manipulation. If chemotherapy is decided upon after the first round of chemotherapy, most men receive further doses on an outpatient basis at a clinic or physician’s office.

Urinary incontinence can be one of the possible complications of surgery. Thoroughly discuss all your treatment options and concerns with your doctor and other health professionals; it never hurts to get a second or even third opinion or more if necessary - don’t be afraid to ask. Chemotherapy medications are often used to treat prostate cancers that are resistant to hormonal treatments.

Be aware that some men choose natural treatment options and forgo any surgery, radiation or chemotherapy. Surgery is usually only recommended after thorough evaluation and discussion of all available treatment options. Surgery, called a radical prostatectomy, removes the entire prostate gland and some of the surrounding tissues.

OHSU is beginning a study of acupuncture as a treatment for hot flashes for men with prostate cancer or prostate cancer survivors. Many men simply want the best treatment they can get but what’s important is choosing the best treatment for you. The conventional treatment of prostate cancer is often controversial.

If you’re not already doing so, make a serious effort to watch your diet closely. Use flaxseed oil or walnut oil in your daily dark green salad. Eat high-fiber snacks like raw nuts (soak them overnight first), raw seeds, and dried fruit, such as dates, and figs.

Making a ginger tea, by adding a thin slice or two of fresh gingerroot to hot water, is helpful to many people I know. Eat foods that contain the essential fatty acids. For natural treatment for the prostate make an appointment with a naturopathic doctor, called a naturopath; ask around for referrals.

Buy lacinato kale and juice it in your juicer with sweet carrots. Add a small handful of kale or spinach to your fruit smoothie and blend– know one will ever know. Make highly nutritious raw applesauce using a food processor and put in 3-4 cored pesticide-free apples, with the skin on, and mix for a minute; so much better for you than canned highly processed applesauce and add 1/4 tsp. cinnamon or two tablespoons of freshly ground flaxseed for another boost.

While the number of men diagnosed with prostate cancer remains high, survival rates are also greatly improving; perhaps because of dietary improvement. The one thing that you should not do however is rely on information obtained from the Internet to make your final decision; double-check everything. Make sure to read everything you can about natural and conventional treatment online and offline.

For more information on prostate cancer treatments and prostate cancer symptoms go to Helen Hecker R.N.’s http://www.BestProstateHealthTips.com
specializing in prostate and prostate cancer tips, advice and resources including information on prostate tests and natural prostate cancer treatments

March 5, 2008 | Filed Under Cancer | Leave a Comment

What You Must Know To Make An Informed Decision About Prostate Cancer Treatments

Detected in its early stages, prostate cancer can be effectively treated and cured. In most men, prostate cancer grows very slowly: most men will never know they have the condition. Prostate cancer is deadly but can be cured if it’s caught early enough.

At an advanced age, the risks of surgery for prostate cancer or other more radical treatments may actually be worse than the disease. It’s estimated that approximately 234,460 men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with it this year, and approximately 27,350 will die of the disease. The prostate gland is located directly beneath the bladder and in front of the rectum.

One of the most common symptoms is the inability to urinate at all. Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease are bone pain or tenderness, and abdominal pain. Because symptoms can mimic other diseases or disorders, men who experience any of these symptoms should undergo a thorough work-up to determine the underlying cause of the symptoms.

Some men will experience symptoms that might indicate the presence of prostate cancer. Having one or more cancer symptoms does not necessarily mean that you have prostate cancer. If cancer is caught at its earliest stages, most men will not experience any symptoms.

The decision about whether to pursue a PSA test should be based on a discussion between you and your doctor. A PSA test with a high level can also be from a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland. A number of tests may be done to confirm a diagnosis.

There are several potential downsides to PSA testing; for example a high PSA does not always mean a patient has prostate cancer. What is called a free PSA may help tell the difference between BPH (benign prostatic hypertrophy), an enlargement of the prostate gland, and prostate cancer. A prostate biopsy usually confirms the diagnosis.

Be aware that some men chose natural treatment options and forgo any surgery, radiation or chemotherapy. Prostate cancer that has spread (metastasized) may be treated conventionally with drugs to reduce testosterone levels, surgery to remove the testes, chemotherapy or nothing at all. Recent improvements in surgical procedures have made complications occur less often.

Anyone considering surgery should be aware of the benefits, risks and the extent of the procedure. Medicines can be used to adjust the levels of testosterone; called hormonal manipulation. In the early stages, surgery and radiation may be used to remove or attempt to kill the cancer cells or shrink the tumor.

In patients whose health makes the risk of surgery unacceptably high, radiation therapy is often the chosen conventional alternative. Besides hormonal drugs, hormone manipulation may also be done by surgically removing the testes. If chemotherapy is decided upon after the first round of chemotherapy, most men receive further doses on an outpatient basis at a clinic or physician’s office.

Other medications used for hormonal therapy, with side effects, include androgen-blocking agents, which prevent testosterone from attaching to prostate cells. Hormone manipulation is mainly used as a treatment to relieve symptoms in men whose cancer has spread. Surgery, called a radical prostatectomy, removes the entire prostate gland and some of the surrounding tissues.

Just about all men with prostate cancer survive at least five years after their diagnosis, 93% survive at least 10 years, and 67% survive more than 15 years.

As new research comes out adjust your treatment options accordingly. Because it’s a slow-growing disease, many men with this disease will die from other causes before they die from prostate cancer.

March 5, 2008 | Filed Under Cancer | Leave a Comment

Prostate Cancer Symptoms - What You Should Know

The prostate is a small, walnut-sized structure that makes up part of a man’s reproductive system; it wraps around the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body - because of this can cause various urinary problems. Early prostate cancer is confined to the prostate gland itself; most of the patients with this type of cancer can live for years without any problems. Detected in its early stages, prostate cancer can be effectively treated and cured.

Prostate cancer is deadly, but because it’s slow-growing can be cured if it’s caught early enough. Like other cancers, the cause of prostate cancer is not known; it appears to be more common in African American men and men with a family history of the disease. I suspect there is a dietary connection to prostate cancer; I cured myself naturally of breast cancer and others have cured themselves of all types of cancer using a living food diet.

Some men will experience symptoms that might indicate the presence of prostate cancer. There are other symptoms that may not be mentioned here. Having one or more cancer symptoms does not necessarily mean that you have prostate cancer.

Because prostate cancer symptoms can mimic other diseases or disorders, men who experience any of these symptoms should undergo a thorough work-up to determine the underlying cause of the symptoms. Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease are bone pain or tenderness, and abdominal pain. Other symptoms might include unintentional weight loss and lethargy.

There is a newer test called AMACR that is more sensitive than the PSA test for determining the presence of prostate cancer. Urine or prostatic fluid cytology may reveal unusual cells. Another test usually used when prostate cancer symptoms are present is a digital rectal exam (DRE) performed by the doctor, proctologist or oncologist.

A PSA test with a high level can also be from a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland. CT scans may be done to see if the cancer has metastasized (spread). There are several potential downsides to PSA testing; for example a high PSA does not always mean a patient has prostate cancer.

The approaches to treatment include: just ever watchful waiting to see whether the cancer is growing slowly and not causing any symptoms. An oncologist, a cancer specialist, will usually recommend treating with a single drug or a combination of drugs. What you can do now is begin to understand what exactly your treatment options are and where you’re going to begin.

Besides hormonal drugs, hormone manipulation may also be done by surgically removing the testes. Hormone manipulation is mainly used as a treatment to relieve symptoms in men whose cancer has metastasized (spread). Prostate cancer that has spread (metastasized) may be treated conventionally with drugs to reduce testosterone levels, surgery to remove the testes, chemotherapy or nothing at all.

Some drugs with numerous side effects are being used to treat advanced prostate cancer, blocking the production of testosterone, called chemical castration; it has the same result as surgical removal of the testes. OHSU is beginning a study of acupuncture as a treatment for hot flashes for men with prostate cancer or prostate cancer survivors. Medications can have many side effects, including hot flashes and loss of sexual desire.

Treatment options can vary based on the stage of the tumor. Other medications used for hormonal therapy, with side effects, include androgen-blocking agents, which prevent testosterone from attaching to prostate cells. Be aware that some men chose natural treatment options and forgo any surgery, radiation or chemotherapy.

Eat a lot of fruits and veggies every day, not just a token banana or apple. For natural treatment for the prostate make an appointment with a naturopathic doctor, called a naturopath; ask around for referrals. Eat foods that contain the essential fatty acids.

If possible eliminate all hormone-containing foods like meat and dairy from your diet. Studies done on antioxidant vitamins question their value when not contained in food; it’s clearly better to consume these antioxidants in living foods because they may also need to work with other nutrients present in the foods to work properly. Put two tablespoons of unbleached, unrefined and undeodorized coconut oil in your smoothies; coconut oil is plant-based, not animal-based and is actually good for us.

Get familiar with juicing and juice every day for an extra phytonutrient boost. If you’re not already doing so, make a serious effort to watch your diet closely. A good dietary, natural treatment approach is to avoid all acidic inflammatory foods; those are foods that aren’t alive.

If you’ve already been diagnosed with prostate cancer, essential the option that’s best suited to you and your continuing good health. If you haven’t been diagnosed but are concerned about symptoms you should call for an appointment to see your doctor; and if you’re a man older than 50 who has never been screened for prostate cancer (by rectal exam and/or PSA level determination) or not had a regular annual exam, or have had a family history of prostate cancer, make an appointment soon. While the number of men diagnosed with prostate cancer remains high, survival rates are also greatly improving; perhaps because of dietary improvement.

March 5, 2008 | Filed Under Cancer | Leave a Comment

Prostate Cancer Tips Tests And Treatments

The prostate gland is located directly beneath the bladder and in front of the rectum. About one man in six will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime, but only one man in 34 will die of the disease. Men have traditionally been less likely to seek medical attention than women, especially for minor problems which often serve as warning signs for more serious underlying illness.

The male hormone testosterone contributes to the growth of cancer. The most common cancer in American men, excluding skin cancer, is prostate cancer. The prostate is a small, walnut-sized structure that makes up part of a man’s reproductive system; it wraps around the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body.

There are several symptoms to be aware of. Some men will experience symptoms that might indicate the presence of prostate cancer. One prostate cancer symptom is difficulty starting urination or holding back urine.

If you have one or more prostate cancer symptoms, you should see a qualified doctor as soon as possible. One of the most common symptoms is the inability to urinate at all. One symptom is a need to urinate frequently, especially at night.

A PSA test with a high level can also be from a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland. A chest x-ray may be done to see if there’s a spread of cancer. CT scans may be done to see if the cancer has spread.

What is called a free PSA may help tell the difference between BPH (benign prostatic hypertrophy), an enlargement of the prostate gland, and prostate cancer. Your doctor may use either one or two of the most common tests for prostate cancer detection. The decision about whether to pursue a PSA test should be based on a discussion between you and your doctor.

Other medications used for hormonal therapy, with side effects, include androgen-blocking agents, which prevent testosterone from attaching to prostate cells. Recent improvements in surgical procedures have made complications occur less often. Surgery, radiation, hormonal therapy and chemotherapy all have significant side effects; know fully what they are before you proceed.

Surgery, called a radical prostatectomy, removes the entire prostate gland and some of the surrounding tissues. Besides hormonal drugs, hormone manipulation may also be done by surgically removing the testes. Impotence is a potential complication after the prostatectomy or after radiation therapy.

What you can do now is begin to understand what exactly your treatment options are and where you’re going to begin. Medications can have many side effects, including hot flashes and loss of sexual desire. In patients whose health makes the risk of surgery unacceptably high, radiation therapy is often the chosen conventional alternative.

Hormone manipulation is mainly used as a treatment to relieve symptoms in men whose cancer has spread. Whether radiation is as good as removing the prostate is debatable and the decision about which to choose, if any, can be difficult. Urinary incontinence can be a possible complication of surgery.

Some drugs with numerous side effects are being used to treat advanced prostate cancer, blocking the production of testosterone, called chemical castration; it has the same result as surgical removal of the testes. Be aware that some men chose natural treatment options and forgo any surgery, radiation or chemotherapy.

Just about all men with prostate cancer survive at least five years after their diagnosis, 93% survive at least 10 years, and 67% survive more than 15 years. Consider sites, such as this one, just a starting point where you can begin to learn about prostate cancer. The one thing that you should not do however is rely on any information obtained from the Internet to make your final decision.

March 5, 2008 | Filed Under Cancer | Leave a Comment

What You Must Know If You Suspect Prostate Cancer - From A Nurse

Men have traditionally been less likely to seek medical attention than women, especially for minor problems which often serve as warning signs for more serious underlying illness. The main job of the prostate gland is to make seminal fluid, the milky substance that transports sperm. Prostate cancer is deadly but can be cured if it’s caught early enough.

The prostate is a small, walnut-sized structure that makes up part of a man’s reproductive system; it wraps around the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body. Prostate cancer is normally a slow growth cancer that can take years before it becomes deadly. Prostate cancer is a malignant tumor of the prostate gland.

One prostate cancer symptom is difficulty starting urination or holding back urine. Blood in the urine or semen and frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs are often symptoms of cancer. Weak or interrupted flow of urine and painful or burning urination can be symptoms to watch out for.

Other symptoms might include unintentional weight loss and lethargy. If you have one or more prostate cancer symptoms, you should see a qualified doctor as soon as possible. Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease are bone pain or tenderness, and abdominal pain.

The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test measures the PSA enzyme in your blood for abnormalities. Another test usually used when prostate cancer symptoms are present is the digital rectal exam (DRE) performed by the doctor. A PSA test with a high level can also be from a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland.

What is called a free PSA may help tell the difference between BPH (benign prostatic hypertrophy), an enlargement of the prostate gland, and prostate cancer. A chest x-ray may be done to see if there’s a spread of cancer. A bone scan can indicate whether the cancer has spread or not.

Some drugs with numerous side effects are being used to treat advanced prostate cancer, blocking the production of testosterone, called chemical castration; it has the same result as surgical removal of the testes. The approaches to treatment include: ever watchful waiting to see whether the cancer is growing slowly and not causing any symptoms. Side effects of chemotherapy drugs depend on which ones you’re taking and how often and how long they’re taken.

In the early stages, surgery and radiation may be used to remove or attempt to kill the cancer cells or shrink the tumor. The conventional treatment of prostate cancer is often controversial. Medicines can be used to adjust the levels of testosterone; called hormonal manipulation.

Since prostate tumors require testosterone to grow, reducing the testosterone level is used to prevent further growth and spread of the cancer. Surgery, radiation therapy, and hormonal therapy can interfere with libido on a temporary or permanent basis. Many men simply want the best treatment they can get but what’s important is picking the best treatment for you.

Medications can have many side effects, including hot flashes and loss of sexual desire. If chemotherapy is decided upon after the first round of chemotherapy, most men receive further doses on an outpatient basis at a clinic or physician’s office. In patients whose health makes the risk of surgery unacceptably high, radiation therapy is often the chosen conventional alternative.

Radiation therapy to the prostate gland is either external or internal, both of which use high-energy rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Anyone considering surgery should be aware of the benefits, risks and the extent of the procedure.

With the advent of PSA testing, most prostate cancers are now found before they cause any symptoms. Consider articles, such as this one, just a starting point where you can begin to learn about prostate cancer. Just about all men with prostate cancer survive at least five years after their diagnosis, 93% survive at least 10 years, and 67% survive more than 15 years.

March 5, 2008 | Filed Under Cancer | Leave a Comment

Think You Have A Prostate Problem Or Prostate Cancer?

Many men, especially those later in life have made the decision with their doctors to simply watch and wait. About 80 percent of men who reach the age of 80 have prostate cancer. It’s deadly but can be cured if it’s caught early enough.

Like other cancers, the cause of prostate cancer is not known; it appears to be more common in African American men and men with a family history of the disease. The prostate gland is located directly beneath the bladder and in front of the rectum. The male hormone testosterone contributes to the growth of cancer.

Because the symptoms can mimic other diseases or disorders, men who experience any of these symptoms should undergo a thorough work-up to determine the underlying cause of the symptoms. Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease are bone pain or tenderness, and abdominal pain. There may be other symptoms not mentioned here.

Most prostate cancer symptoms, although associated with prostate cancer, are more likely to be connected to non-cancerous conditions. If cancer is caught at its earliest stages, most men will not experience any symptoms. One symptom is difficulty starting urination or holding back urine.

There are several potential downsides to PSA testing; for example a high PSA does not always mean a patient has prostate cancer. CT scans may be done to see if the cancer has spread. What is called a free PSA may help tell the difference between BPH (benign prostatic hypertrophy), an enlargement of the prostate gland, and prostate cancer.

A urinalysis may indicate if there is blood in the urine. A prostate biopsy usually confirms the diagnosis. The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test measures the PSA enzyme in your blood for abnormalities.

Recent improvements in surgical procedures have made complications occur less often. Medicines can be used to adjust the levels of testosterone; called hormonal manipulation. Surgery is usually only recommended after thorough evaluation and discussion of all available treatment options.

Prostate cancer that has spread (metastasized) may be treated conventionally with drugs to reduce testosterone levels, surgery to remove the testes, chemotherapy or nothing at all. Some drugs with numerous side effects are being used to treat advanced prostate cancer, blocking the production of testosterone, called chemical castration; it has the same result as surgical removal of the testes. Side effects of chemotherapy drugs depend on which ones you’re taking and how often and how long they’re taken.

An oncology specialist will usually recommend treating with a single drug or a combination of drugs. Chemotherapy medications are often used to treat prostate cancers that are resistant to hormonal treatments. Anyone considering surgery should be aware of the benefits, risks and the extent of the procedure.

Other medications used for hormonal therapy, with side effects, include androgen-blocking agents, which prevent testosterone from attaching to prostate cells. What you can do now is begin to understand what exactly your treatment options are and where you’re going to begin. Hormone manipulation is mainly used as a treatment to relieve symptoms in men whose cancer has spread.

In patients whose health makes the risk of surgery unacceptably high, radiation therapy is often the chosen conventional alternative. Whether radiation is as good as prostate removal is debatable and the decision about which to choose, if any, can be difficult.

Once diagnosed you may be want to join a support group whose members share their experiences and problems. As new research comes out adjust your treatment options accordingly. Consider articles such as this one, just a starting point where you can begin to learn about prostate cancer.

March 5, 2008 | Filed Under Cancer | Leave a Comment

More Young Adults Developing Cancer In Texas

According to the American Cancer Society, cancers such as colorectal, thyroid, and testicular are rising in individuals under 40 years of age in Dallas, Houston, throughout Texas, and in the rest of the nation. In addition, the National Cancer institute and the Lance Armstrong Foundation reports that cancer survival rates among that specific age group have not significantly improved in twenty years.

Dr. Karen Albritoon, director of adolescent and young adult oncology at Boston’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, asserts that research is crucial in determining why these cancers are rising among young people.

Trailing accidents, suicides, and homicides, cancer is the fourth-leading cause of death among young people. One reason that cancer may not be caught in its early stages is that neither the physician nor younger patients expects cancer to be a health problem.

In young women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, a tumor may be estrogen stimulated. In this case, physicians might recommend blocking the patient’s menstruation after chemotherapy treatment or even removing the ovaries. But, because women in this age-bracket are still in child-bearing years, the decision is difficult.

In young men, testicular cancer is on the rise and research has uncovered why. Thyroid cancer is another puzzle, as the only known cause of this type cancer is radiation.

Some of the other problems arising among the under-40 age group are not health related, but are thought to be due, rather, to emotional, mental, and financial issues. This age group is more likely to be starting their family or a career.

Plus, many in this age bracket do not carry health insurance. Dealing with severe physical changes, such as losing hair and extreme weight loss, at a time when health and physical characteristics should be at their peak, and experiencing guilt feelings of becoming a burden to other family members, are depressing, and can be devastating to young individuals, especially cancer victims.

There are a number of sources, both online and in libraries, that offer information on breast, colon and lung cancer, as well as other types of cancers, including information on its signs and symptoms, including diagnosis, treatments, and prognosis. The American Cancer Society has loads of cancer resources that can guide you to other cancer information resources.

In addition, you will be able to find comprehensive guides about different types of cancer, treatment options, various cancer drugs, and learn how to get involved in groups promoting cancer awareness and education.

To find out more about ongoing research and current cancer information, check the National Institute of Health’s cancer research group. They are an excellent source for cancer statistics, such as the occurrence of various forms of cancer, plus information regarding ongoing clinical trials, results of previous research, how clinical trials are performed, and how to locate a clinical trial in which you can take part.

To learn about cancer from more personal sources, join a local cancer support group or an online chat forum. Views and experiences of people with cancer or who’ve had cancer will be posted on their own personal websites. This is a great way to find out more about your situation and what to expect. Also talk with your primary care physician or gynecologist for information on various types of female concerns, including breast, uterine, ovarian, and cervical cancers. Just remember, if you or your loved ones get a diagnosis of cancer, there are a myriad of useful information resources that are easily available.

You’ll discover that what affects your health also will eventually affect your bank account, and cancer is about as serious as it can get. With the incidence of cancer increasing, it’s good to find out as much as you can about the disease.

Pat Carpenter writes for Precedent Insurance Company. Precedent puts a new spin on health insurance. Learn more at http://www.precedent.com

March 5, 2008 | Filed Under Cancer | Leave a Comment

Prostate Cancer Symptoms What You Can Do About It

The prostate gland is located directly beneath the bladder and in front of the rectum. It’s estimated that approximately 234,460 men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year, and approximately 27,350 will die of the disease. About one man in six will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime, but only one man in 34 will die of the disease.

The most common cancer in American men, excluding skin cancer, is prostate cancer. Early prostate cancer is confined to the prostate gland itself; most of the patients with this type of cancer can live for years without any problems. Like other cancers, the cause of prostate cancer is not known; it appears to be more common in African American men and men with a family history of the disease.

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease are bone pain or tenderness, and abdominal pain. Having one or more cancer symptoms does not necessarily mean that you have prostate cancer. If cancer is caught at its earliest stages, most men will not experience any symptoms.

One symptom is a need to urinate frequently, especially at night. One prostate cancer symptom is difficulty starting urination or holding back urine. If you have one or more prostate cancer symptoms, you should see a qualified doctor as soon as possible.

When a digital rectal exam is performed it often reveals an enlarged prostate with a hard, irregular surface. A chest x-ray may be done to see if there’s a spread of cancer. A number of tests may be done to confirm a diagnosis of prostate cancer.

A PSA test with a high level can also be from a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland. The decision about whether to pursue a PSA test should be based on a discussion between you and your doctor. A urinalysis may indicate if there is blood in the urine.

Medications can have many side effects, including hot flashes and loss of sexual desire. Surgery is usually only recommended after thorough evaluation and discussion of all available treatment options. Besides hormonal drugs, hormone manipulation may also be done by surgically removing the testes.

Urinary incontinence can be a possible complication of surgery. An oncology specialist will usually recommend treating with a single drug or a combination of drugs. Surgery, called a radical prostatectomy, removes the entire prostate gland and some of the surrounding tissues.

In patients whose health makes the risk of surgery unacceptably high, radiation therapy is often the chosen conventional alternative. Some drugs with numerous side effects are being used to treat advanced prostate cancer, blocking the production of testosterone, called chemical castration; it has the same result as surgical removal of the testes. Radiation therapy is used primarily to treat prostate cancers classified as stages A, B, or C.

Thoroughly discuss your treatment options and concerns with your doctor and other health professionals; it never hurts to get a second or even third opinion or more if necessary. Impotence is a potential complication after the prostatectomy or after radiation therapy. Recent improvements in surgical procedures have made complications occur less often.

Since prostate tumors require testosterone to grow, reducing the testosterone level is used to prevent further growth and spread of the cancer. Treatment options can vary based on the stage of the tumor.

Just about all men with prostate cancer survive at least five years after their diagnosis, 93% survive at least 10 years, and 67% survive more than 15 years. Make sure to read everything you can get your hands on and mull it all over. The one thing that you should not do however is rely on any information obtained from the Internet to make your final decision.

March 5, 2008 | Filed Under Cancer | Leave a Comment

Nurse’s Easy Guide To Prostate Cancer

The prostate is a small, walnut-sized structure that makes up part of a man’s reproductive system; it wraps around the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body. If you have prostate cancer, are concerned about getting it, or if you’re looking out for the health of someone you love, this article can help. The most common cancer in American men, excluding skin cancer, is prostate cancer.

The prostate gland is part of the male reproductive system. At an advanced age, the risks of surgery for prostate cancer or other more radical treatments may actually be worse than the disease. Prostate cancer is characterized by ‘grade’ and ’stage’; grade is given to indicate how quickly a cancer is growing — the higher the grade, the more likely it is that the cancer will grow and spread rapidly and the size and extent of the tumor will determine its stage.

Weak or interrupted flow of urine and painful or burning urination can be symptoms to watch out for. Some men will experience symptoms that might indicate the presence of prostate cancer. If cancer is caught at its earliest stages, most men will not experience any symptoms.

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease are bone pain or tenderness, and abdominal pain. One prostate cancer symptom is difficulty starting urination or holding back urine. One symptom is a need to urinate frequently, especially at night.

CT scans may be done to see if the cancer has spread. There is a newer test called AMACR that is more sensitive than the PSA test for determining the presence of prostate cancer. A PSA test with a high level can also be from a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland.

A bone scan can indicate whether the cancer has spread or not. When a digital rectal exam is performed it often reveals an enlarged prostate with a hard, irregular surface. The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test measures the PSA enzyme in your blood for abnormalities.

Whether radiation is as good as removing the prostate is debatable and the decision about which to choose, if any, can be difficult. Surgery, radiation therapy, and hormonal therapy can interfere with libido on a temporary or permanent basis. Some drugs with numerous side effects are being used to treat advanced prostate cancer, blocking the production of testosterone, called chemical castration; it has the same result as surgical removal of the testes.

Since prostate tumors require testosterone to grow, reducing the testosterone level is used to prevent further growth and spread of the cancer. Prostate cancer that has spread (metastasized) may be treated conventionally with drugs to reduce testosterone levels, surgery to remove the testes, chemotherapy or nothing at all. Surgery, called a radical prostatectomy, removes the entire prostate gland and some of the surrounding tissues.

Recent improvements in surgical procedures have made complications occur less often. An oncology specialist will usually recommend treating with a single drug or a combination of drugs. Medications can have many side effects, including hot flashes and loss of sexual desire.

Anyone considering surgery should be aware of the benefits, risks and the extent of the procedure. In patients whose health makes the risk of surgery unacceptably high, radiation therapy is often the chosen conventional alternative. Hormone manipulation is mainly used as a treatment to relieve symptoms in men whose cancer has spread.

Surgery is usually only recommended after thorough evaluation and discussion of all available treatment options. What you can do now is begin to understand what exactly your treatment options are and where you’re going to begin.

It’s important to get as informed as possible and read all the newest books, ebooks and research available. Once diagnosed you may be want to join a support group whose members share their experiences and problems. Make sure to read everything you can get your hands on and mull it all over.

March 5, 2008 | Filed Under Cancer | Leave a Comment

Finding The Perfect Prostate Cancer Treatment For You

The prostate gland is part of the male reproductive system. Many men, especially those later in life have made the decision with their doctors to simply watch and wait. About 80 percent of men who reach the age of 80 have prostate cancer.

About one man in six will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime, but only one man in 34 will die of the disease. Men at higher risk for prostate cancer include African-American men older than 60, farmers, tire plant workers, painters, and men exposed to cadmium. the lowest number of cases occurs in Japanese men and those who do not eat meat who reach the age of 80. The male hormone testosterone contributes to the growth of cancer.

One symptom is a need to urinate frequently, especially at night. There are several symptoms to be aware of. Most prostate cancer symptoms, although associated with prostate cancer, are more likely to be connected to non-cancerous conditions.

One prostate cancer symptom is difficulty starting urination or holding back urine. If cancer is caught at its earliest stages, most men will not experience any symptoms. One of the most common symptoms is the inability to urinate at all.

CT scans may be done to see if the cancer has spread. A urinalysis may indicate if there is blood in the urine. A chest x-ray may be done to see if there’s a spread of cancer.

A prostate biopsy usually confirms the diagnosis. What is called a free PSA may help tell the difference between BPH (benign prostatic hypertrophy), an enlargement of the prostate gland, and prostate cancer. Urine or prostatic fluid cytology may reveal unusual cells.

Impotence is a potential complication after the prostatectomy or after radiation therapy. Recent improvements in surgical procedures have made complications occur less often. Since prostate tumors require testosterone to grow, reducing the testosterone level is used to prevent further growth and spread of the cancer.

Surgery, radiation, hormonal therapy and chemotherapy all have significant side effects; know fully what they are before you proceed. The approaches to treatment include: ever watchful waiting to see whether the cancer is growing slowly and not causing any symptoms. Medicines can be used to adjust the levels of testosterone; called hormonal manipulation.

Surgery, called a radical prostatectomy, removes the entire prostate gland and some of the surrounding tissues. Whether radiation is as good as removing the prostate is debatable and the decision about which to choose, if any, can be difficult. Besides hormonal drugs, hormone manipulation may also be done by surgically removing the testes.

An oncology specialist will usually recommend treating with a single drug or a combination of drugs. Surgery, radiation therapy, and hormonal therapy can interfere with libido on a temporary or permanent basis. If chemotherapy is decided upon after the first round of chemotherapy, most men receive further doses on an outpatient basis at a clinic or physician’s office.

Radiation therapy is used primarily to treat prostate cancers classified as stages A, B, or C. Anyone considering surgery should be aware of the benefits, risks and the extent of the procedure.

The one thing that you should not do however is rely on any information obtained from the Internet to make your final decision. If you’ve already been diagnosed with prostate cancer, pick the option that’s best suited to you and your continuing good health. In the end, only you with the help of your doctors, knowing your individual situation, can determine the best treatment program for you.

March 5, 2008 | Filed Under Cancer | Leave a Comment

Categories