Prostate Problems Info



             


Thursday, April 10, 2008

Being Overweight Makes Hard The Prostate Cancer Diagnose

Have you heard the news about a relationship between obesity and cancer death rate? You should know that researchers evaluate that as many as 90,000 cancer deaths in the United States each year may be linked to obesity and, therefore, could be prevented.

Obesity and overweight may make it harder to diagnose prostate cancer, resulting to delayed diagnosis and leading some men at an even higher risk for dying of this disease. This is the conclusion of a recent multi-university study. As a consequence, the study authors are recommending that physicians be especially thorough when investigating fat men for prostate cancer.

According to the study findings, up to a level, prostate gland size grows as body mass index (BMI) increases. BMI is a body fatness evaluation formula based on weight adjusted for height. Due of larger prostate glands existed among obese men, doctors may be 20 percent to 25 percent less able to diagnose prostate cancer.

Most people don't think that obese or overweight condition is a risk factor for cancer. Usually, the prostate cancer diagnose is a bit like finding a needle in a haystack Going back to obese condition, the bigger the haystack is, the harder it is to find the needle. Therefore in many obese patients physicians may not identify prostate cancers at the right time.

Valerian D is a freelance writer interested in issues affecting men such as obesity and cancer

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Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Is It True that Eating Broccoli Can Reduce Risk of Prostate Cancer?

Indeed there have been many studies and much research to determine what types of diets can prevent which types of cancers. Some of what you may have heard about which food you eat are merely folklore handed down, while others are actually based on data from actual studies. Eating lots of vegetables seems to lead one to think that there are in fact substantial benefits for all sorts of things to help us remain healthy. Eating fruits, drinking tea, proper intake of vegetables have all been among the things that are often recommended to prevent prostate cancer. It stands to reason that a healthy diet can assist you in reducing the risk of prostate cancer and there is evidence that broccoli indeed may just be one of those vegetables which can help.

One study seems to indicate the fruit intake did not substantially help in reduction of the risk of prostate cancer, but did help in reducing the risks of other cancers. Men who ate vegetables three times a day had a one-third or greater chance of not getting prostate cancer of those that did not have lots of vegetables in their diets.

Which vegetables were considered the best to eat? Well it seems brussel spouts, cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli were some of the best and could increase reduced risk by just over 40%. Orange colored vegetables also hit high on the list by other studies; carrots, sweat potatoes, squash and yams. You should be eating a wide range of to reduce your risk of cancer and different fruits and vegetables prevent different types of cancer. If you have some type of cancer which runs in your family, you ought to do a little research of your own and think on this.

Lance Winslow, a retired entrepreneur, adventurer, modern day philosopher and perpetual tourist.

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Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Sun Exposure and Prostate Cancer

Go get a tan and reduce your risk of prostate cancer. Sun exposure appears to be one way to reduce your risk of prostate cancer. A recent study by some UK Researchers show that moderate exposure to sunlight significantly reduced the chances of prostate cancer; this research seems to be confirmed by many other studies as well throughout the world. Many cancer researchers believe this is due to increase vitamin D. Does this means you should go out and join a nudist colony right away and start sunning in your birthday suit? Not necessarily although the British researchers would certainly not advise against it, joking; ?it could save your life??

Although the same researchers were quick to point out that each year fewer and fewer men are dying of prostate cancer, due to awareness, better treatments and early detection through new and more available screening techniques. Men with low sunlight exposure were said to have a three times greater chance of prostate cancer. When taken from a lifetime sun exposure standpoint it was further determined that children who had occasional sunburns in fact were less likely to get prostate cancer in their adulthood.

Where as sunlight exposure was attributed to lower rate of prostate cancer many are quick to point out and rightfully so that too much sun can significantly increase your risk of non-melanoma skin cancers. It would appear from this study and other like it that a balanced approach to sun exposure should be considered to reduce your risk without increasing it. Think on this and do your own research.

Lance Winslow, a retired entrepreneur, adventurer, modern day philosopher and perpetual tourist.

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Monday, February 11, 2008

Can Better Nutrition Cure Prostate Cancer?

We know that a body that is well fortified and has been nourished with good nutrition and nutrients is much better prepared to fight off illness in diseases that may come about. It's estimated that per capita, men in the United States are five times more likely to die from prostate cancer than men in Japan.

Epidemiolical research which is the study of disease patterns in diverse groups of people, suggests that the difference in diet plays a role in the increased rate of prostate cancer in the US. This research is suggested that both the difference in diet and lifestyle may be contributing factors to the increased cancer rate

Other research has estimated that as many as one third of all cancer deaths in the United States can easily be attributed to both our diet and lifestyle choices. Our fast food lifestyle simply doesn't provide the adequate nutrition necessary to keep our bodies and immune systems operating at their best. But again, this is a guess based on a study of empirical data only. You cannot deny that there are definite patterns that tie our dietary nutrition to some illnesses

We know that some nutritional supplements such as saw Palmetto can help with prostatis, a swelling or hardening of the prostate gland. Daily use of saw Palmetto can relieve many of the symptoms of an enlarged prostate. This by itself may suggest that by providing additional nutritional supplements, our bodies are better able to regulate and correct developing problems.

The American Institute for Cancer Research has stated that as much as one third of all cancer related disease is preventable through a combination of nutrition changes, maintaining an active lifestyle and healthy weight control.

The study by the Cancer Research Institute was based on results of a review of over 4,500 scientific studies on cancer and dietary nutrition. It was this empirical evidence that form the basis of their claim that about one third of all cancer illness is preventable

A healthy goal to keep all cancer but especially that of the prostate at bay, should probably include

- Limiting the percentage of the dietary fat consumption to about 15-20% of total daily calories.

- Mom was right,you should eat a lot of fruits and vegetables every day.

- Keep Dietary Fiber preferably around 25-35 g every single day.

- Balance your intake of calories to your energy output. This means the key is to exercise more folks. :o)

- Add Dietary Vitamins, nutrients herbs and supplements to make certain your body has everything it needs to get and stay healthy

Conclusively, even though there is no genuine proof that this type of nutritional regimen will keep you healthy, the fact is that it definitely couldn't hurt. You may find more energy through an active and healthy lifestyle by eating right and giving your body the nutrition it needs to stay healthy.



Abigail Franks writes on a variety of subjects which include family, health, and home. For more info on prostate cancer prevention and prostate health visit http://www.prostate-cancer-treatment-expert.com/prostaitis-or-prostatitis.html or http://www.prostate-cancer-treatment-expert.com

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Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Prostate Cancer Symptoms - What are the Signs and Symptoms of Deadly Cancer Prostate?

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers to be diagnosed in men. Unlike many other cancers, prostate cancer often grows very slowly and is difficult to detect for many years. A man with this disease may not exhibit any prostate cancer symptoms for some time.

Many men pass off prostate cancer symptoms as just signs of getting older. Aging men do experience many of the same symptoms as those with prostate cancer because of how both affect urination.

Prostate cancer symptoms include: frequent urination, difficulty passing urine, urgency to urinate, continuous feeling of a full bladder, blood in the urine, blood in semen and back pain.

However, there is a form of prostate cancer testing that can help men discover whether or not they have the disease and seek appropriate treatment. The most common form of prostate cancer testing is a blood test that detects the prostate-specific antigen, or PSA.

Having this test completed can potentially save your life. It should be noted, however, that some men may not exhibit any PSA cancer sign and still be sick. Others may just be suffering from the affects of growing old. Still others may have results from the prostate cancer testing that states they have high PSA levels, which means they have cancer, yet they do not have cancer.

This all may be a lot to take in at once, but rest assured, prostate cancer testing can save lives. If you experience any prostate cancer symptoms, be sure to notify your doctor immediately. There is no way to tell if you have a slow growing or fast growing cancer.

The moral of the story is to listen to your body. By taking heed of prostate cancer symptoms, you can live long and healthily for many years to come!  Prostate Tests for prostate cancer, enlarged prostate and prostate cancer symptoms Longer Version of Article can be found at Prostate Cancer Symptoms

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Saturday, January 19, 2008

Prostate Diet - More Gatherer, Less Hunter

Researchers from Canada have found that having a diet of red meat, organ meats, soft drink and bottled water increased the risk of getting prostate cancer. They compared the diets of 80 men with prostate cancer, and 334 healthy men, and the diet just described more than doubled the risk of developing prostate cancer.

So what prostate diet can reduce the risk of prostate cancer? Swedish researchers examined the diet of 1499 men with prostate cancer and 1130 men who were healthy, and they published their findings in the Cancer Causes and Control journal. They found that eating foods rich in phytoestrogens decreased the risk of prostate cancer.

Phytoestrogens are plant molecules that have a weak estrogenic effect. They are made converted in the intestines from plant precursors by bacteria as they digest food. They are taken up by the same parts of the body that process the hormone estrogen.

Interestingly, one of the treatments for prostate cancer by doctors involves using estrogens to reduce the level of testosterone in men with advanced prostate cancer. It does this indirectly, through its effect on the hypothalamus, as less luteinizing hormone releasing hormone is produced by the hypothalamus. This means not as much luteinizing hormone is released by the body, which suppresses the production of testosterone.

High doses of estrogens for men can lead to cardiovascular complications. But phytoestrogens obtained from diet, in less quantities than a drug, and with a milder effect to start with, should not pose a problem. And researchers don't yet know what exactly causes phytoestrogens to have such a protective effect, whether it is similar to that of the estrogen treatment for advanced prostate cancers. And they don't know which phytoestrogens are the most active.

So what phytoestrogen foods could you include in a diet for a healthy prostate? Soy beans and nuts are a good source. Soy and nuts contain a type of phytoestrogen called isoflavones, whilst berries and seeds contain lignans. Foods could include peanuts, sunflower seeds, peanuts, and berries.

The only possible concerns with soy is that a study in mice found that male mice that had a type of heart disease that people also have, suffered heart failure when fed a soy based diet. Whether this extrapolates to the human population is yet to be established. But it may be wise for those me who have this particular genetic heart condition, dilated cardiomyopathy, to be cautious about soy products in their diet.

But for other men, soy products could be good news. A meta analysis, which is a study of related studies, published in the International Journal of Cancer, found that diets high in soy lowered men's risk of prostate cancer by 30%.

Another important mineral to consider for men is zinc. Zinc is used by men's bodies to make some of the male hormones, and for general prostate health. A deficiency in zinc can lead to problems with the testicles, the prostate, and the health of the sperm. Foods that are great sources of zinc include seeds like pumpkin, sesame, and sunflower; nuts like almonds, brazil, cashews and walnuts; and foods like lettuce, oats and onions. Raw onion is particularly suggested by Paul Bedson, a natural therapist. He also suggests vegetable juice made of equal parts of beetroot, carrot, and cucumber in cases where the prostate gland is enlarged. Cranberry juice, a cup drunk three times a day, is also recommended in this case.


References:
1. phoenix5.org/Infolink/advanced/estrogen.html
2. Australian Healthy Food, March 2006
3. Australian Healthy Food, November, 2005
4. Paul Bedson, The Complete Family Guide To Natural Healing
5. nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?n=65785&m=1NIE213&c=qgtqmovbyiaxdub
 

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Thursday, November 29, 2007

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.

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