What's the Next Step After Prostate Cancer Symptoms Have Been Identified?

Prostate cancer symptoms are mostly similar with those of other prostate conditions, particularly benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). Although there are cases where they do not appear, particularly if the disease is in its earliest stage, some men do experience some symptoms. The most usual signs include a need to urinate frequently especially at night, difficulty in starting or holding back urine, pain or burning during urination, pain or discomfort during ejaculation, blood in the urine or semen and difficulty in having an erection.

If a man experiences any of the common prostate cancer symptoms, the next logical step would be to consult a doctor and undergo some tests to determine whether they are caused by cancer or other conditions. The first line of diagnosis in prostate conditions are prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test and digital rectal exam (DRE). The PSA test is a method that measures the level of PSA in the blood. DRE, on the other hand, is primarily used to determine any irregularity in the shape, size and texture of the prostate.

Although PSA and DRE have been widely used, both of these methods are not 100 percent accurate. For one, the level of PSA in a man's blood can be caused by other reasons. These reasons could be BPH, prostatitis or even the use of medications for baldness. Medications like finasteride and dutasteride can cause the PSA level to decrease by 50 percent, providing an inaccurate result that could lead to wrong diagnosis.

In cases when prostate cancer is suspected (after employing DRE and PSA), a more invasive technique is then used. Among the many diagnostic methods available now, biopsy is the only test that can confirm whether cancer is really present. Biopsy involves obtaining tissue samples from the prostate to get them examined under the microscope.

One of the important aspects of evaluating the microscopic features of prostate cells is to determine the stage of the cancer. Staging is done to determine whether the cancer is still confined to the prostate or has spread or metastasized to other parts of the body. The most common staging system used in cancer is the TNM. This system focuses on the size of the tumor, the number of involved lymph nodes and the presence of metastases.

TNM classifies prostate cancer as T1, T2, T3 or T4. The first two are used when the cancer is found only in the prostate while the last two are used to classify conditions wherein the cancer has spread beyond the prostate gland. If the cancer has already spread, computed tomography can then be used to evaluate the metastasis within the pelvis. Bone scans can also be employed to examine possible spread to the bones and endorectal coil magnetic resonance imaging to examine the prostatic capsule and the seminal vesicles.

Identifying prostate cancer symptoms is the first step towards knowing whether cancer is already present. Physicians have advised, though, that diagnostic methods should be used only if there is any suspicion of cancer or other disorders.

Mensglands.com provides you with info on prostate cancer symptoms, its treatments and symptoms and how to overcome or reduce the risk of getting it. http://www.mensglands.com/

Enlarged Prostate - An Overview

It is interesting to note that the aging dog (like his master) is also prone to prostatic enlargement, but (unlike his master) does not often develop retention of urine. However, due to the bulging upwards of the enlarged prostate the dog?s rectum is compressed. This engenders a feeling of continuous fullness in the rectum and induces straining. The prostates of eunuchs are small and underdeveloped, and enlargement of the prostate is unknown.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common diseases to affect men beyond the middle age. The prevalence goes up with age, and thus the total number of patients is increasing as a result of aging population. A majority of these people suffer gradual progression of symptoms and the concomitant discomfort, and require either medical or surgical treatment. The growth and development of the prostate is under the influence of male hormone ?testosterone?.

Rather surprisingly, there is no close correlation between the size of the prostate and the extent of outflow obstruction. However, the larger the prostate, the greater is the risk of BPH complications such as acute urinary retention and the need for surgery.

BPH is usually a slowly progressive condition. An average increase in the prostate is 1-2 cm per year. BPH is the most common condition affecting the prostate accounting for over 80 per cent of prostate disease. The defined risk factor for BPH is age. Clinical BPH seems to run in families.

In the early stages of the disease, the patient complains of hesitancy, a reduced stream and incomplete bladder emptying and then frequency, urgency and nocturia. Later on, prolonged micturition, acute urinary retention, urge incontinence, etc, can have a negative effect on the quality of life and may be associated with sexual dysfunction like erectile dysfunction and disorders of ejaculation.

The treatment of BPH can be with the help of drugs or by going in for surgery. Some of the drugs used are Finasteride, Duatasteride, Terazosin, Alfuzosin and Tamsulosin. Adverse side- effects of these drugs can be erectile dysfunction, decreased libido, reduced ejaculation, drowsiness, headache, dizziness, postural hypotention, etc.

Lucy Nicholas also writes on Acne. More information http://www.natural-acne-treatments-reviews.com/

Discover The Importance Of Natural Prostate Health

Modern men understand that it is vital to pay attention to their health as much as women. With illnesses such as prostate cancer, it is obvious that men must be more vigilant with their wellbeing.

Natural prostate health means that you must give your prostate the internal protection it needs. In order to help your body not to wear down and produce abnormal, tumour cells, you must find a natural health routine.

Natural prostate health also means that you must know which kind of supplements will protect and nourish your prostate.

If you do not have any prostate problems, your best option in the long run is a natural approach to prostate health. You will significantly cut the risk of getting cancer or other prostate irregularities, if you increase the amount of antioxidants you take and at the same time decrease the amount of preservatives you eat.

Natural prostate health is the best option that lots of men are making these days to guarantee their health. Men should be aware that indeed they can protect themselves from getting prostate cancer.

Natural prostate cancer institutes know that men must have the know-how, so that they will not be caught uninformed.

For this reason, you need to get in touch with your nearest natural health institute before you suffer irregularities to talk about what options you have.

Allow natural prostate health help you for the rest of your life. Rather than exposing your body to chemicals and radiation after you get cancer, deal with it proactively by living a healthier everyday life.

Make that commitment to your prostate health by committing yourself to a natural health lifestyle. It is your way to make sure that you are not unexpectedly caught by prostate cancer unaware.

Prostate cancer is one of the main causes of death among men. Visit Prostate Cancer Information for the latest news and information about this disease. You will learn the recent discoveries regarding prostate cancer treatment. http://www.cancer-data.com/blog/

Lycopene Effective with Prostate Cancer Treatment

Men with prostate cancer who take supplemental lycopene in addition to surgical removal of the testicles may experience less active disease, less bone pain, and live longer than those who only have surgical removal of the testicles, according to a new study in British Journal of Urology International (2003;92:375–8). This is exciting news for millions of men who have to undergo aggressive treatment for advanced prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer found in men over the age of 50 years, with more than 200,000 new cases each year in the United States. The cause of prostate cancer, like many other cancers, is unknown; however, some studies suggest alterations in testosterone metabolism may play a role in its development. Prostate cancer is generally slow growing and may not cause any symptoms until late in the disease. Symptoms may include frequent or painful urination, dribbling after urination, sensation of incomplete emptying of the bladder, or blood in the urine. The symptoms of prostate cancer are similar to those of a non-cancerous condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), so men experiencing these symptoms should consult their physician for an accurate diagnosis.

In the new study, 54 men with advanced prostate cancer were randomly assigned to have surgical removal of the testicles (orchidectomy) alone or orchidectomy plus oral supplementation with 4 mg of lycopene a day. Measurements of PSA (a blood marker of prostate cancer activity), bone scans, and urinary flow were taken initially and every three months for two years. Men receiving lycopene started on the day of their surgery.

After six months, PSA had significantly decreased in both groups, indicating a reduction in prostate cancer activity. However, PSA levels in those receiving lycopene were more than 65% lower than in those who did not receive lycopene. After two years, PSA levels in the lycopene treatment group had fallen into the normal range, while those who only underwent surgery still had PSA levels more than twice the upper limit of normal. Urinary symptoms significantly improved in both groups, but better improvement was again observed in the lycopene group. The lycopene group also experienced less bone pain.

The survival rates after two years in the lycopene-plus-surgery group and surgery-only groups were 87% and 78%, respectively, a statistically significant difference. No adverse side effects were observed in men taking lycopene.LycopeneLycopene is one of a group of compounds called carotenoids. It is found in high amounts in tomatoes.

The findings of this study corroborate the findings of other similar studies examining the effectiveness of lycopene in the treatment of prostate cancer. However, the amount used in the current study (4 mg per day) was substantially less than the amounts used in other studies (30 mg per day). It may also help stimulate the immune system and has been shown to cause cancer cells to die on their own. Although more research is needed to clarify what amount of lycopene is most effective, men with prostate cancer may benefit from taking daily lycopene supplements. Eating one moderately sized tomato a day also provides approximately 4 mg of lycopene. Other tomato products, such as an 8-ounce portion of tomato juice or tomato paste may provide up to 25 mg of lycopene.

Darin Ingels, ND, MT (ASCP), received his bachelor's degree from Purdue University and his Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University in Kenmore, WA. Dr. Ingels is the author of The Natural Pharmacist: Lowering Cholesterol (Prima, 1999) and Natural Treatments for High Cholesterol (Prima, 2000). He currently is in private practice at New England Family Health Associates located in Southport, CT, where he specializes in environmental medicine and allergies. Dr. Ingels is a regular contributor to Vitamin Herb University.marketing@webadvantage.net