Prostate Problems Info



             


Tuesday, May 20, 2008

What to Do for Enlarged Prostate or for Prostate Cancer

By age of 50, most men will already have an enlarged prostate and three of these men will have cancer cells forming in their prostate. Prostate cancer is the main cancer found in men and by age 75 three out of four men will have prostate cancer.

The facts are pretty clear, if you are a male you will have to deal with BPH, enlarged prostate, or prostate cancer.

So how do you know if you have BPH or prostate cancer? Well, here are a few of the symptoms:

  • getting up at night to urinate
  • having difficulty urinating
  • not completely emptying your bladder
  • having pain during sex
  • having pain when urinating

    Medical test that you can get for enlarged prostate or prostate cancer.

  • PSA, prostate specific antigen, which gives a good indication of your prostate health

  • PAP, prostate acid phosphatase, a test that is more accurate than PSA, but many doctors don't use it or are unfamiliar with it.

  • Sonogram is a safe and accurate way to check your prostate

  • MRI, magnetic resonance imaging, is also accurate but is the most expensive test. There is other tests that doctors like to make and that is,

    Biopsy of the prostate - Don't have it done. It's very harmful to the prostate and should never be done.

    The ideal way to take care of prostate health issues is to change or improve you diet and lifestyle. Here are some area that you need to look at to make changes.

  • diet
  • supplement
  • fasting
  • hormone balancing
  • eliminate addictive substances - smoking, alcohol, coffee, non-herbal tea)
  • exercise
  • stress, anxiety, and emotional issues

    The first thing you need to do is start using a supplement that will start to heal your prostate condition. Then you need to change your diet. Here I will tell which supplement to buy immediately and in another article I will outline a good diet to follow.

    Go out and immediately but a supplement that contains Beta-sitosterol. You will find beta-sitosterol in saw palmetto and pygeum africanum, but these herbal plants have very little beta-sitosterol. This make them useless for prostate health. You need 325 to 610 mg per day and these herbal products 30 mg or less.

    A good beta-sitosterol to buy is the NSI Phytosterol Complex with Beta-sitosterol -- 240 Tablets. This is only $20.00 plus shipping.

    You will find this product contains the following ingredients:

    Betasitosterol
    Stigmasterol
    Campesterol
    Brassicasterol

    All of these chemicals are called Phytosterol, which are consider the fat inside a plant. These sterols have an anti-inflammatory property and help to buildup your immune system. They have been found effective in reducing the inflammation of the prostate, BPH, lowering cholesterol, and aiding in many other illnesses.

    Take the first step in keeping a health prostate and avoid having to deal with enlarged prostate or prostate cancer. Look for more of my articles on prostate health.

    Rudy Silva is a natural nutritionist. For more information and tips on a prostate diet that helps prostate cancer or an enlarged prostate go to: http://www.enlargeprostateinformation.com

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    Thursday, March 27, 2008

    What Are the Treatments of Prostate Cancer?

    Surgical castration by orchidectomy

    Surgical castration is the simplest and cheapest way to treat metastatic prostate cancer. The obvious disadvantage is the psychological effect of the loss of the testicles.

    LHRH-analogues

    LHRH-analogues and oestrogen achieve a "medical castration" by stopping the testicular production of testosterone. LHRH-analogues are injections that have to be given monthly or three monthly for the rest of the patient's life. They are effective but very expensive.

    Oestrogen

    Oestrogen can be taken orally on a daily basis. It has a high incidence of thrombotic complications such as stroke and myocardial infarction.

    Anti-androgens

    Anti-androgens oppose the action of testosterone by blocking the androgen receptors. The incidence of erectile dysfunction is less than with surgical or medical orchidectomy because testosterone levels are maintained in the bloodstream. Anti-androgens alone are probably not adequate treatment for metastatic disease. Total androgen blockade by a combination of steroidal anti-androgens and LHRH-analogues or orchidectomy has not been shown to be better than LHRH-analogues or orchidectomy alone. However, non-steroidal anti-androgens yields slightly better results than castration alone.

    Locally advanced disease without metastases.

    The overall results of treatment of patients with disease beyond the prostate are not good. Some patients with early disease beyond the prostatic capsule, and no evidence of metastases, benefit from radical treatment. The most widely used treatment regimens consist of a combination of radiotherapy and hormonal treatment.

    Treatment options for locally advanced and metastatic disease.

    ? Early hormonal treatment
    ? Watchful waiting with hormonal treatment once symptoms develop

    Disease that has spread to the seminal vesicles and beyond is not real curable.

    Prostate cancer is dependent on the male hormone testosterone. 80% of patients will respond to hormonal treatment that deprives the tumor of testosterone. This response usually involves the shrinkage of metastases and symptomatic improvement for the patient. The response to hormonal treatment is not a cure but can last for many years in some patients. The average duration of response is 2 years. Most cancers eventually escape hormonal manipulation. This is referred to as hormone independent disease and is usually followed by death within a few months.

    Controversy exists regarding the timing of hormonal treatment. Most studies indicate a survival benefit for early rather than late hormonal maneuver. Testosterone deprivation has side effects like erectile dysfunction, breast enlargement and osteoporosis. The earlier hormonal treatment is instituted the greater the chance of complications. Once again treatment has to be individualized to the needs of the specific patient.

    With our next information - we will inform you about the ?Staging and grading of prostate cancer? - so you should have a look on this site in the next 2 weeks! If you have any question sends us your e-mail.

    Fritz Frei make it easy to check out the important details about the diagnoses and test's of the Male - Prostate-Cancer. To receive more information's about all cancer -questions - Links and last research NEW's - visit the http://www.cancer-info.info

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    Monday, March 24, 2008

    What a Man Must Know About Prostate Cancer!

    1 Testosterone and its active metabolite.

    Dihydro-testosterone are essential for prostate cancer to develop, but does not actually cause prostate cancer. Men who are castrated at a young age do not develop prostate cancer.

    2 Prevalence of prostate cancer

    One in ten men will develop clinically significant prostate cancer in their lifetime. It is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in American males with 250 000 new cases reported annually. Prostate cancer is second only to lung cancer as a cause of cancer death in both the USA and the UK. Prostate cancer is rare among Orientals. It is more common in black than white Americans. The disease appears to present at a younger age and behave more aggressively in American blacks. Prostate cancer is common in South Africa and probably underreported as a cause of death. The exact incidence in South Africa is not known as no large-scale epidemiological studies have been performed. It is uncertain whether prostate cancer is more common in South African blacks as compared to whites. In very old men prostate cancer is not always clinically significant. Autopsy data indicate a 70% incidence of prostate cancer in 80 year old men. The majority of these men died with rather than from prostate cancer.

    3 Causes of prostate cancer

    There is no single cause of prostate cancer. The cancer originates in the epithelial cells of the glandular elements of the prostate. As with most cancers defects in the DNA of the cell are central to the development of prostate cancer. Multiple DNA defects are required for cancer to develop. This multi-step process takes place over time. Some defects can be inherited, while others are acquired during the patient's lifetime. Prostate cancer is exceedingly rare before the age of 40, but 1 in 8 men between the ages of 60 and 80 years suffer from the disease. 9% of all prostate cancers are caused by a genetic susceptibility, probably inherited via chromosome 1. These genetically related cancers tend to present at a relatively younger age.

    4 What is prostatitis?

    Prostatitis means ?inflammation of the prostate?, and is one of the most common reasons men visiting the doctor in the western world. It is most common in men over the age of 30, and particularly in men over the age of 60. While prostatitis is treatable, diagnosis can be lengthy and not all treatments are successful. This is partly because the various causes of prostatitis are not fully understood. There are three main types of prostatitis:

    ? Acute prostatitis, which develops suddenly and may not be permanent.
    ? Non-bacterial prostatitis, which may develop suddenly or follow a slower or variable course. It is now more commonly called chronic male pelvic pain syndrome because it cannot be proved to be ?non-bacterial?, though a bacterial cause cannot be identified.
    ? Chronic (bacterial) prostatitis, which develops gradually and may only have subtle symptoms, though it often continues for a prolonged period.
    ? asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis - which has no symptoms at all but results in an inflamed prostate, is sometimes mentioned. It has been discovered when biopsies are conducted on the prostate to rule out cancer, and no cancer is found. This is a histological and not a clinical diagnosis. Prostatitis is often reported on the histological analysis of TURP specimens when the prostate resection was performed for symptoms of BPH. If the patient is asymptomatic this histological finding does not warrant any treatment.

    With our next information - we will inform you about the ?Symptoms of prostate cancer? - so you should have a look on this site in the next 2 weeks! If you have any question send us your e-mail.

    Fritz Frei make it easy to check out the important details about the diagnoses and test's of the Male - Breast-Cancer. To receive more information's about all cancer -questions - Links and last research NEW's - visit the http://www.cancer-info.info

    mailto: info@cancer-info.info

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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, February 2, 2008

    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/

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    Friday, January 11, 2008

    Prostate Cancer Symptoms - Benefits Of Early Diagnosis

    Cancer of the prostate is typically a slow progressing cancer and symptoms often do not arise for many years. If the cancer is caught at an early stage, there might be no noticeable symptoms. Some men, however, will experience symptoms that could indicate the presence of prostate cancer. These might include:

    ? A need for frequent urination, particularly at night
    ? Difficulty starting urination
    ? Weak or interrupted urine flow
    ? Pain or a burning sensation during urination
    ? Difficulty in obtaining an erection
    ? Pain during ejaculation
    ? Blood in the urine or in semen
    ? Recurring pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs

    Sometimes the first symptoms will be lower back, hip or pelvic pain caused by cancer which has already spread.

    It is important to be aware that the symptoms of both benign enlargement of the prostate gland (i.e. non-cancerous) and malignant tumours (cancer) are similar and might include any of the following symptoms:

    ? Difficulty starting urination
    ? Frequent urination, particularly at night
    ? Pain during urination
    ? Blood in the urine

    Also, men over 50 years of age often have an enlarged prostate gland due to the non-cancerous condition of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or hypertrophy.

    Therefore if you notice any of the above symptoms it is important that you see your doctor and have them investigated. But note that most enlargements of the prostate are not due to cancer and can regularly be dealt with quite effectively.

    EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF PROSTATE CANCER

    Prostate cancer can often be discovered at an early stage by testing the amount of prostate specific antigen (PSA) in the blood. Prostate cancer can also be detected early by your doctor performing a digital rectal examination (DRE). Since the prostate gland is situated close to the rectum, a doctor can physically detect if there are any cancerous signs in your prostate.

    Unfortunately the PSA and DRE tests are not totally accurate and conclusive. This can lead to anxiety and confusion, or even to a false sense of security. So important things to consider are your age, your general health and your lifestyle. If you are young and develop prostate cancer, if not caught early enough, it could shorten your life. If however you are older or in poor health, then prostate cancer might never become a serious problem due to its slow-growing nature.

    The American Cancer Society recommends that men commence having the prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test and digital rectal examination (DRE) annually from the age of 50. Those at higher risk, such as African Americans and those with close relatives who developed prostate cancer at an early age are recommended to commence testing at 45.

    The prognosis for prostate cancer sufferers has improved dramatically in recent years. In the past twenty years the overall survival rate for all stages of prostate cancer has increased from 67% to 97%. Thus more men are living significantly longer after diagnosis. In all likelihood this is due to early detection programs, increased public awareness, particularly of prostate cancer symptoms, and the adoption of healthier lifestyles.

    Dr Tavares writing about prostate cancer symptoms is found at http://www.prostate-cancer-answers.info

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    Thursday, December 13, 2007

    BPH (Prostate Enlargement) - What Is It and How Can It Be Treated?

    BPH is the enlargement of the male prostate gland. It can have many associated problems including the need to urinate frequently, difficulty in urinating and inability to completely empty the bladder.

    The main cause of BPH is age. It's a very common complaint in older men - indeed over 50% of males 55 years old and over are thought to be suffering with BPH.

    It's important for BPH to be properly diagnosed, mainly to assess treatment options and to rule out other more serious problems such as prostate cancer.

    The difficulty here is many males are embarrassed to seek treatment and indeed some will put up with annoying symptoms for years rather than admit to any problems in this sensitive area!

    Still others fear being diagnosed with prostate cancer and will spend years worrying about the possibility while being too afraid to know.

    All this, while quite understandable, coupled with a natural male reluctance to admit to any weakness is counter productive. Why suffer when it's not necessary?

    Even if there is a problem, it's much better to know about it. This gives us back some control and ability to make choices among the many options now available.

    BPH is what it says - "benign". Meaning that there is no malignancy. Having been diagnosed then, all worry about cancer should cease! It's sensible, however, to do everything to prevent prostate cancer - information about which can be found on the site below.

    Treatments for BPH fall into 3 categories. Drugs, surgery or natural medications.

    Prostate Surgery -

    If the symptoms of BPH are severe and causing major problems such as complete inability to empty the bladder, then surgery is the best and probably the only option.. This can take several forms, but the most common is known as TURP.

    TURP is performed without cutting and access to the prostate is through the urethra. An instrument is inserted which removes any obstructive tissue, easing the pressure thus relieving the BPH symptoms. TURP is a relatively safe operation.

    Drug Treatments -

    For those whoses BPH symptoms are not severe - or for those who hate the thought of surgery! - There are two main types of BPH medication.

    Hormones - For example Finasteride (Proscar). Hormones work by interfering with the male hormone, testosterone. It is a slow acting and long term treatment. The side effects can be impotence and erection failure.

    Alpha Blockers - These act by relaxing the muscle in the prostate itself which prevents urine flow. This is faster acting than the hormone approach but the side effects are weakness and lethargy.

    Alternative BPH Treatment

    These herbal remedies can be extremely effective without the side effects of drugs. For more information visit the site below.

    This article is for informational use only. It is important to seek medical advice if you are experiencing BPH symptoms.

    Help for Prostate enlargement, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), prostatitis and prostate cancer. Super prostate formula. Visit: http://www.safe-prostate-health.com Wendy Owen is a health writer and researcher.

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