Hormone Therapy for Prostate Cancer

For prostate cancer treatment we give the patient hormones that will suppress the male hormones (andrones) in their body. Androgens (male hormones) are produced mainly in the testicles. Sometimes androgens will stimulate the growth of prostate cancer and speed up the growth of the cancer cells. If the levels of the androgens is lowered then the cancer will grow much slower and possibly shrink. Hormone therapy is not meant to cure the cancer in the prostate but if used in conjunction with other therapy such as radiation or surgery if their is a risk of recurrence.

There are numerous ways that the androgen levels can be lowered in the bloodstream:

Orchiectomy - is the surgical removal of one or both of the testicles which are the main source of androgen production in the male body. By removing the testicle or testicles the levels of male hormones will drop enough to slow the growth of the cancer

Luteinizin hormone-release hormone analogs (LHRH) - often chosen instead of having an orchiectomy, LHRH analogs are injected or inserted as small implants underneath the skin. These injections are usually given every month or ever 3, 4, 6 or 12 months. The LHRH analogs that are used most of the time are Lupron, Viadur, Eligard, Zoladex or Trelstar.

Antiandrogens - are given to block the action of the androgens (production of male sex characteristics). Antiandrogens are given in daily pill form and the drugs used are Eulexin, Casodex, and Niandron. Antiandrogen treatments is often used in conjunction with an Orchiectomy because even after the orchiectomy there are sill androgens that will be produced by the adrenal glands.

Estrogens - largely replaced by LHRH therapy because of severe side effects, the use of estrogens (hormones that produce female sex characteristics) was often used in the past as a substitute for Orchiectomy

Side Effects of Hormone Therapy

The side effects for Orchiectomy and LHRH treatment are basically the same:

-reduced or no libido (sexual desire)

-impotence

-hot flashes (these may go away with time)

-breast tenderness and growth of breast tissue

-osteoporosis (weakening of bones) leading to bone fractures

-anemia (low red blood cell counts)

-decreased mental acuity

-loss of muscle mass

-weight gain

-fatigue

-decrease in HDL ("good") cholesterol

-depression

The Side Effects of Antiandrogen Treatment

-diarrhea

-nausea

-liver problems

-tiredness

*Note that the biggest difference between the side effects of LHRH treatment and Antiandrogen treatment is when Antiandrogens treatment is given alone their are less sexual side effects. The patients libido and potency can still be maintained.

Many of the side effects noted above can be treated so if they do arise consult with you doctor about what can be done to reduce them.

Steven Wallace provides information about Prostate Diseases and Prostate Cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment options at http://prostate-answers.com

A Simple Urine Test Can Early Detect Prostate Cancer

Human cells grow all the time. This is a specific way the body replaces useless cells with new ones. The new cells remain on the same tissue of organ, assuming the same function as the old ones. This is a controlled growing targeting the body development process.

Sometime the cells begin to grow out of control and form a mass called tumor. Tumors are cancerous only if they are malignant. This means due of uncontrolled growth they leave the 'parental' place and invade nearby tissues or spread throughout the body.

Prostate cancer happens when cells in prostate begin to multiply out of control and leave the prostate gland.

Treatment for prostate cancer may vary according to the stage of the cancer. Regular screening for prostate cancer can help in early diagnoses and in treatment effectiveness.

The most usual screening is done by routine yearly digital rectal examinations (DRE) beginning at age 40. The procedure involves a gloved finger in the rectum for a measurement of the size of the gland and feel for possible prostate tumor (nodule) cancer.

In addition, beginning at age 50, an annual PSA test is necessary because it is substantially more sensitive for men health than DRE when it comes to detecting early, tiny, or even microscopic cancers that are confined to the prostate gland.

But in many cases PSA testing is irrelevant as many men with normal test results are prostate cancer sufferers. Recent studies have found that a simple urine test may improve the diagnosis and treatment of this male disease. Urine screening can reveal the presence of thymosin ?15, a protein that sustain malignum tumor development by stimulating cell migration. This protein is produced almost exclusively by cancerous cells and it is detectable in urine.

Valerian D is a freelance writer specialized in health issues affecting men like prostate cancer treatment

What Is Prostate Cancer - Understanding It From All Aspects

What is prostate cancer? This is a question many people have asked themselves after they, like millions of others, have been diagnosed by their doctors with the problem. An answer to the question of "What is prostate cancer" isn't an easy one either.

Defining the Disease

The first step to finding the answer to this fairly common question is to understand the basic nature of the disease. Prostate cancer is a growth of abnormal cells in the prostate gland. It can be caused by a number of factors, and if it is treated immediately, it is unlikely to be fatal.

Who Gets Prostate Cancer?

This question is a bit tougher to answer than "What is prostate cancer." Scientists are desperately trying to find a connection among victims of this horrible form of cancer so as to better understand the course of the disease itself. In general, prostate cancer victims are thirty percent of all male cancer cases in the United States. Black men tend to suffer from the problem more than white men, and the older you get, the higher your risk factors are for prostate cancer. The country at highest risk for prostate cancer is Scandinavia, and men in China are at the lowest risk in the world for developing the disease.

When Should I Start Checking?

Doctors suggest that only nine percent of men in their twenties develop prostate cancer, but, interestingly enough, many men who die of other, varied causes, show signs of prostate cancer in a posthumous examination environment. Because it can be so hard to spot, most doctors recommend that men start checking for this deadly killer by the time they reach age forty. Many suggest a prostate exam is necessary on a yearly basis.

Understanding the answer to the question "What is prostate cancer," is truly necessary for the complete eradication of this horrible condition.

Dean Iggo is the webmaster of www.prostatehealthadvice.com which provides the causes of prostate cancer and treatments of everything from an enlarged prostate to prostate cancer

Prostate - How To Keep A Healthy Prostate

Most men over the age of 50 are liable, according to statistics, to get prostate cancer. For American men, about 300,000 new cases are diagnosed each year, and some 35,000 men die of this disease annually. The numbers are increasing as well.

This article is all about simple ways of keeping your prostrate healthy.

What is the problem?

The prostate is a chestnut-shaped gland and organ that sits right below the bladder and is wrapped around the urethra. Other than closing the urethra during erection, the prostate has nothing to do with a man's urinary system.

The prostate is needed for ejaculation, as the ejaculate passes through the same urethra as the urine does. The prostate gland's basic job is to add special fluid to the sperm before it exits the penis during ejaculation.

This is why the prostate sits below the bladder, and also why prostate problems interfere with a man's ability to urinate and to have sex.

The prostate is affected three ways:

1. infection

2. enlargement

3. cancer

What are the problem's symptoms?

For infection (called prostitis) there is a great deal of pain, fever, and uninary problems. There are medicines and conventional therapies, however following the dietary rules below are very beneficial for prostitis.

Englargement (known as BHP or benign prostatic hypertrophy) is a non-cancerous enlarement of the prostate. The symptoms are hesitancy in urinating, dribbling of urine before and after urinating, frequent urination, straining to start the stream, urgency of urination, and getting up several times at night to urinate.

Cancer of the prostate symptoms are quite the same as BHP and many men are quite unaware they have cancer of the prostate, as there are often no symptoms at all. A PSA test done every 6 months is now a necessity for every man over 45.

What can be done about it?

Actually a lot. Diet and stress appear to be the main culprits. Here is a list of "do eat" and "do not eat" that is quite time tested.

Eat the following

lots of fresh vegetables and fruits, legumes (peas, beans, and lentils). fresh fish. And especially fish from cold ocean waters (such as salmon, sardines, mackerel, and cod) have large amounts of essential fatty acids. whole grain in moderation, rather than refined (white) breads, pasta, crackers, rice, and other grains.

Dont eat the following

fatty meats, fatty meats, excess of salts, hydrogenated oils, such as those found in margarine, donuts, cookies, cakes, other desserts, potato chips, and other deep-fried foods. canned, packaged, or otherwise processed foods, sodas, alcohol, black teas (which includes most iced teas), or coffee, and dairy foods, especially if they have been pasteusterised.

Are there Special Foods that Can Cure the Cancer?

Perhaps; and this is still a subject open to debate,but chilli peppers have been shown to inhibit the cancerous cells of the prostate. There was a study done recently at UCLA in California which indicate as much.

Also there are several herbs and food additives known for their beneficial action on the prostate. They are:

*Saw palmetto: This herb is now well-known to shrink enlarged prostates and to lower PSA..

*Green tea: The catechins found in green tea are the likely "medicines" for the prostate, although it is not known exactly how they prevent or combat existing prostate cancer. The usual dose is no less than 6 cups per day.

*Pygeum: Pygenum has been used to treat diseases of the prostate and urinary tract for many years.

*Nettle: The Nettle is rich in vitamin C, iron, and other proven nutrients that bolster the prostate.

*Kelp: This is seaweed, and plentiful in iodine and contains minerals that help to prevent and treat prostate cancer. Asian men, with high doses of kelp in their diet (than American men) have a much lower incidence of any prostate problem.

If you follow the above you will have and keep a healthy prostrate.

On prostrate health and other health problems and solutions, including, articles, features and magazines:

http://www.net-planet.org

On prostrate health and other health problems and solutions, including, articles, features and magazines:

http://www.net-planet.org

Prostate Health Exams - Protecting Prostate Health

As you begin to get older, many men begin to wonder about their prostate health. Prostate health is all over the news and media, and you may even know someone that has been diagnosed with prostate cancer over the past few years. If you are worried about your prostate health, or want to find out ways to help protect it, you have come to the right place. We will go over what this important gland does, and discuss the different options that you have in protecting your prostate health.

First, you must understand what the prostate actually is. It is a sexual gland, about the size of a walnut that is located around the base of the bladder and urethra. It essentially, hugs the tube that carries urine out of your body. This partially muscular, partially glandular organ produces a slightly alkaline substance that is present in semen.

It is important to understand that there are many problems with prostate health that arent life threatening. So if you feel that you may have a problem with your prostate, usually shown by a difficulty to urinate, it is important that you seek medical advice. Prostate disease is a condition that can vary from individual to individual. Some simply have an infection that can be treated with medication; others have an inflammation of the prostate tissue, while others simply have an enlargement of the prostate gland. While all of these many indicate cancer at a latter point, they dont necessarily mean cancer right off the bat.

Getting a diagnosis is the first step to improving your prostate health. Your doctor may perform one or more of the following tests to access the situation. Most of them are painless or may only be uncomfortable. Discuss your options with your doctor if you have a low threshold for pain.

DRE (digital rectal examination). The physician will fell the prostate manually to look for enlargements and problems.

PSA (prostate-specific antigen) testing. Your doctor will do a simple blood test to determine your level of PSA. Small amounts are normal, but large amounts could indicate a problem.

TRUS (transrectal ultrasound). This test uses wave echoes to create an image of the prostate.

Cystoscopy- where the doctor looks through the urethra with a thin, lighted tube.

Biopsy- a small tissue sample is collected from the area and studied.

The key to preserving your prostate health is go get proper treatment early on. Many men are ashamed to seek treatment, which can ultimately lead to further complications. Prostate disease and cancer are easily treated as long as you get diagnosed early on. At the first sign of pain or discomfort contact your doctor immediately. Men over the age of 50 should get their prostate checked out at least once a year. Find a doctor that you are comfortable with, and make sure to ask questions. Many patients choose to do research online before they visit a doctor, which will help you ask the right questions during your visit.
Adam Short is freelance writer and creator of http://www.prostatehealthinfo.info- a site providing prostate health information.