Prostate Problems Info



             


Thursday, March 20, 2008

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

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Monday, March 10, 2008

Tomato Sauce Added to Your Diet Can Prevent Prostate Cancer Later

Men seldom want to talk about prostate cancer, it is a real problem and they should be getting regular yearly screening and know about those things they can do to reduce their risks. There have been many studies, which indicate overwhelmingly that eating tomatoes is a very excellent way to reduce your risks of prostate cancer. Having chips with salsa is very good, as salsa is made with tomatoes as its major ingredient. Growing tomatoes in your garden, fresh and natural is an extremely good idea as well. Plant a few tomato plants in your garden this week and add them to sandwiches, salads and other meals. Tomatoes are very easy plants to grow and no garden should be without at least one or two tomato plants.

Working in your garden can also give you the sunlight you need as well which helps prevent prostate cancer. Scientists believe that Vitamin D is the reason for reduced prostate cancer. So a little sun growing your tomatoes maybe the one-two punch you need. If you are looking for a one-two-three punch add fish oil to that diet. This will help reduce your risk of prostate cancer, of course you would be smart to get yearly screening, because that is the best way to catch it in case you do get it and treat it early on. Fortunately prostate cancer is not the killer it once was, but you have to get screening in order to stop it. Think on these things and do your own research.

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

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Monday, March 3, 2008

Something about Prostate cancer

Prostate cancer affects 1 in 6 American men. If prostate cancer is caught in its early stages, most men will not experience any symptoms. Some men, however, may experience symptoms that might indicate the presence of prostate cancer such as frequent urination, especially at night; difficulty in starting urine flow or holding it back; a weak or interrupted flow of urine, a painful or a burning sensation; difficulty getting an erection; blood in the urine or semen; painful ejaculations; or a frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, upper thighs, or hips.

These symptoms can also indicate the presence of other diseases or disorders and so, men who experience any of these symptoms should undergo a thorough examination to determine the cause.

DRE and PSA tests cannot diagnose prostate cancer, but they can signal a need for a biopsy in order to determine if there are prostate cancer cells. A biopsy consists of needles being inserted into the prostate in order to take small samples of the tissue, usually along with an ultrasound. A biopsy may cause some pain or discomfort, but it is a short procedure and is usually performed on an outpatient basis.

The Gleason Grading system, or Gleason Scores, accounts for five distinct patterns that prostate tumor cells go through as they change from normal cells. This scale runs from 1 to 5, 1 representing very nearly normal cells and 5 representing cells that don't look much like prostate cells at all. Normal prostate cells are constantly reproducing and dying and each new cell has the same shape and appearance as all of the other cells. But cancer cells look different and the degree to which they look different is what will determine the cancer grade.

Each man should learn as much as possible about various treatment options and make his own decision about what is best for him. This decision will probably rest on a combination of psychological and clinical factors. The most important first step in deciding on the best treatment course will be in careful consideration of different treatment options available. Any decision that is made now, especially in a case of localized prostate cancer, will reverberate for a long time to come.

You should consult all of the three types of specialists: a urologist, a medical oncologist, and a radiation oncologist. They will offer the most comprehensive advice on available treatments and outcomes.

Fransis Rodrigues is the author of this article currently writing on www.polymva.com Visit today http://www.polymva.com

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Saturday, March 1, 2008

Prostate Cancer Treatments

The principle function of the prostrate gland is to secrete seminal fluid, a nutrient for sperm, and eject it into the urethra during ejaculation. As it ages it can become cancerous without any specific cause. For prostrate cancer, this process is commonly a slow one. It goes undetected in its initial stages, and once symptoms start to manifest, it has already advanced into a more critical stage.

Once confirmed as prostrate cancer, it is important to collect all the information that is possible to decide on a course of treatment. The relevant inputs are the age and health condition of the patient, how far the cancer has progressed and how fast it is advancing. There is a computerized nomogram to assess the probability of a cure. The patient, along with the physician and the family, has to opt for the course of treatment that is best for him.

The simplest treatment is ?watchful waiting.? The treatment concentrates on relieving the symptoms and performing periodical tests like DRE and PSA and others, as required. If the cancer is localized, surgical removal of the prostrate may be the best option. The success rate of this procedure, if caught in the early stages, is very high. But the side effects of this surgery are impotency, the inability to control urination, and other disadvantages associated with a major surgery. Laparoscopic surgery for removal of the prostrate is a new procedure.

Radiation therapy offers a non-invasive treatment, when the cancer is localized or just beyond the prostrate. But there are side effects of radiation therapy. These include injury to the rectum and bladder, bleeding rectum and bladder, urinary problems and burned skin. There are mainly two types of radiation therapy. The external beam radiation therapy uses radiation from outside to attack the cancer cells. Brachy therapy implants a small radioactive seed directly into the tumor to treat it. Cryotherapy is freezing the entire Prostrate with liquid nitrogen and killing it all, including the cancer cells. The urethra is kept heated to save the duct. Hormone deprivation therapy aims to cut off the male hormone testosterone, which is considered a fuel for cancerous cells.

There are many other chemotherapies that are very promising, especially when the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, like the bones and lymph nodes. There are over 200 new therapies under development, many of them supported by the Prostrate Cancer Foundation.

Prostate Cancer Symptoms provides detailed information on Prostate Cancer, Prostate Cancer Symptoms, Prostate Cancer Treatments, Prostate Cancer Causes and more. Prostate Cancer Symptoms is affiliated with Prostate Health

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Tuesday, February 26, 2008

The Best Prostate Cancer Treatment Is Early Treatment

Prostate cancer is a serious affliction that affects upwards of 200,000 men each year. Risk factors for prostate cancer can include age, race and health history. If diagnosed with prostate cancer your treatment options will be determined by these factors. Just like with any other form of cancer, the best prostate cancer treatment is available at the early stages.

Once diagnosed with prostate cancer, two main options will be presented. Choices are either surgery or radiation. Neither treatment has conclusively been found to be better. Chances are when faced with prostate cancer treatment options; your doctor will simply present the option they are most comfortable with as the best prostate cancer treatment. A consultation with a hospital oncologist should strongly be considered. An oncologist's expertise mainly centers on drug therapies like chemotherapy in treating cancer. Since prostate cancer (localized) cannot be treated with a drug therapy, you are sure to get an unbiased opinion as to your treatment options. One positive aspect of prostate cancer compared to other cancers, is the fact that it is remarkably slow. You may have several years before prostate cancer begins to spread, while naturally you are not going to take years to decide on a treatment plan, it is nice to know you have some time to make the right choice.

A hospital that centers on cancer treatment is going to provide the most treatment options and will have specialists in each field to render the best care. Don't settle for just one opinion. With a condition like prostate cancer, many doctors suggest waiting to see what the cancer will do. While "waiting" may sound like a bad idea when it comes to cancer, prostate cancer will usually afford you enough time to make a well thought out decision. Don't rush, but take time to do research as to what will be the best prostate cancer treatment for you.

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

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Wednesday, February 6, 2008

High Intensity Focused Ultrasound May Help Treat Prostate Cancer

For prostate cancer patients high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) might be a new hope. This revolutionary technique using powerful sound waves to melt away prostate cancer without distressing side effects is ready to help people. The HIFU technology has been used for years in China, Russia, Holland, England, Germany, Sweden, Lebanon, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and so on. HIFU is not used just for prostate cancer treatment, it is also used with a high degree of success to treat liver cancers. There are many ongoing trials of other soft tissue cancers.

How high intensity focused ultrasound works? Does patients fell any pain?

How long they need to recover?

Well, HIFU cuts nothing and to all purposes and intents it is not really a vibration, not unless you count radar light waves, radio waves, etc as "vibrations". In fact high intensity focused ultrasound are vibrations of course, but not in the way that you are concerning yourself about creating a pain.

HIFU is ultrasound ( like doctors use for scanning pregnant women), but with the intensity and volume turned up. Their waves are focused right down to the size of a small grain of rice. To be more intuitive, perhaps many of you remember what we did in our childhood with a magnifiying lens and a piece of paper.

These high intensity focused ultrasound waves pass through your body like the magnified waves of sunlight causing no harm at all, until they reach the focal point, the ill area, where the short burst blasts the bad cells at that focal point into eternity.

The high temperature generated at that focal point actually boils all the ill cells in that rice grain sized area within few seconds. Then the professional lets that area to cool down and moves the HIFU on to the next focal point. One after another, no harm, no pain, no discomfort.
Valerian is a freelance writer interested in men's helth. Visit http://www.mens-health-events.info/prostate.php and http://4-prostate-cancer-treatment.blogspot.com/ to find more

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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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Saturday, January 19, 2008

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/

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Sunday, January 6, 2008

Staging and grading of prostate cancer

Staging and Grading

Once the diagnosis of prostate cancer has been made the disease has to be staged and graded. The stage refers to the extent and spread of the disease while the grade refers to the nature (aggressiveness) of the particular tumor. Staging will determine the extent of disease and provide important prognostic information that will influence the management decisions.

Staging investigations - PSA - X-rays of lumbar spine and pelvis - Chest X-ray - Radionuclitide bone scan - MTI scan of pelvis

TNM Staging system

T stage (extent of primary lesion)

- T1 - tumor confined to prostate, not palpable or visible on TRUS - T2 - tumor palpable or visible on TRUS but confined to prostate - T3 - spread beyond the prostatic capsule - T3a - extracapsular spread only - T3b - involvement of the seminal vesicles - T4 - invasion into rectal wall, bladder neck or pelvic wall N (Nodal) status - N0 - regional nodes not involved - N1 - regional nodes involved by tumor M (Distant Metastases) - M0 - no distant metastases - M1 - distant metastases present

Grading

Grading refers to what the cancer looks like under a microscope. The most commonly used system is the Gleason grade and score. The glandular pattern is compared to that of a normal prostate and scored out of 5, where 1 resembles a pattern very close to normal and 5 resembles severely distorted glandular architecture. The two predominant glandular patterns within the cancer are graded out of 5 and the combined score calculated out of 10. The higher the Gleason score, the more aggressive is the tumor and the worse is the prognosis. Patients with cancers confined to the prostate (T1 and T2) and no involvement of the lymph nodes or other organs (N0 and M0) are potentially curable by surgery or radiotherapy. Patients with disease beyond the prostate are not curable.

With our next information - we will inform you about the "Risk factors for enlarged prostate" - so you should have a look on this site in the next 2 weeks! If you have any question sends us your e-mail.

Health-Service-Online Fritz Frei Admin http://www.cancer-info.info

Fritz Frei works since more than 25 years in the health-and hosptital business as a consultant and he make it easy to check out the important details about the diagnoses, test's and treatments of the Prostate Cancer. To receive more information's about all prostate cancer -questions - Links and last research NEW's - visit the http://www.cancer-info.info

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Thursday, November 29, 2007

Prostate cancer an epidemic in African American Men

Prostate cancer an epidemic in African American Men

Prostate cancer is an epidemic in African-American men, said Dr. Kevin McVary, an urologist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. African American men have the highest prostate cancer diagnosis rate and death rate in the world.

Seventy-two times a day an African American man is diagnosed with prostate cancer and sixteen times a day an African American man dies from prostate cancer. "Prostate cancer, particularly among African Americans, is a disgraceful tragedy that needs immediate and drastic action," says John R. Kelly, of the American Cancer Society.

Prostate cancer is the leading cancer in men in the U.S. It affects more than 220,000 men each year and at least 29,000 of them will die from the disease. African American men are diagnosed with prostate cancer at a rate of sixty percent greater than Caucasian men and their death rate is more than double of any other racial group.

Why are African American men so susceptible to prostate cancer? Researchers theorize that diet and lifestyle choices play a significant role in who will develop prostate cancer. According to the National Heart Association, over sixty percent of African American men are overweight and twenty-eight percent of are obese. Diets high in saturated fats, red meats, and lack of exercise all contribute to high risk for developing prostate cancer. Disparity in health care may also be a contributing factor in the high death rate from prostate cancer for African American Men.

Economic limitations, lack of health care insurance, and poor access to health care have been cited as possible reasons for the high prostate cancer death rate in African American men. Researchers, in a health care executive study, found that twenty-four percent of African Americans had not had a regularly scheduled doctors visit in the previous year and many African Americans dont have a regular doctor. For African American men over forty, regularly scheduled doctors visit and prostate health education are essential.

African American men need to be educated about prostate cancer at an earlier age than men of other races. Researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine say that African American men tend to develop prostate cancer at earlier ages. We need to educate more men to come in early, said Dr. Isacc Powell, a prostate cancer researcher and survivor in a Detroit Free Press interview. Early detection through testing gives African American men the best chance of survival from the disease. If detected early, the chances of survival are increased.

What should you do about prostate cancer?
African American men should:
Get information about prostate health and prostate cancer
Talk to your family about your familys health history
Have regular physical exams and have your doctor perform a PSA test and digital Rectal Exam.
Talk to your family about your familys health history
Talk to your doctor about prostate cancer risk, symptoms, and testing

Links to other sites about prostate cancer:
American Cancer Society

National Prostate Cancer Coalition

MedlinePlus: Prostate Cancer

Prostate Cancer Foundation

Prostate.com

Drahcir Semaj is a freelance writer and staff writer for the website IBranch.org. You can contact him at drahcir@drahcirsemaj.com or visit his website at http://www.drahcirsemaj.com .

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