Living With Prostate Cancer

The baby boomer population bubble has now reached 60 years old. This means that many of us are going to need to face illness and diseases that come with surviving six decades. Prostate cancer is one such disease that is expected to grow in number over the next few decades.
Statistically 180,000 new prostate cancer cases are being diagnosed in the United States every year with about 32,000 men dying from this disease annually. Although these are the statistics that are used, the fact is that many of these men will will die and not from the actual prostate cancer, but from allowing the cancerous condition to grow until it is unmanageable. This is due to the fact that prostate cancer can metastasize or move from the prostate area and infect organs, bones and lymph nodes.
This should cause every man to pause and realize that prostate cancer is a serious disease that if given the chance will kill you. It is now the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men in the United States after lung cancer. In Canada about 17,000 males are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year and about 4,200 die each year from the disease.
The sad fact is that many of these deaths are avoidable. As with many cancerous diseases, early detection is the key to effective treatment and even cure. Prostate cancer is diagnosed based upon how advanced the malignant tumor has grown. In the early stages, we have maximum flexibility in treatment options and can both manage and in many times cure this potentially deadly disease.
Diagnosis usually start with a medical history as studies have shown that heredity may be a factor with prostate cancer. Next, a DRE or digital rectal exam is done. This is a quick and simple exam where the doctor feels your prostate for any abnormal bumps, size difference or texture. In addition to a DRE, the doctor may suggest a Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood Test. This blood test looks for abnormal markers that may indicate the presence of a developing cancerous situation.
There's growing evidence to suggest that a diet very rich in vitamins and nutrients can also help maintain our body's ability to ward off many serious diseases. Although the definitely not a cure for prostate cancer, the use of natural remedies to strengthen your body's immune system can only help to keep you healthy. There's no question that a low-fat diet along with appropriate vitamins and minerals can help keep you healthier and make you better able to fight off disease.
Several studies have suggested that men who had a diet rich in selenium and vitamin E. had fewer cases of prostate cancer. The kinds of foods that contain selenium include meat, grains, seafood, and some kinds of nuts. It's critical that you meet with your doctor before making any radical changes to your diet as other problems may arise. There's also some evidence to suggest that the nutrient lycopene found in tomato based products such as ketchup can provide some protection against contracting prostate cancer.
According to a study in the British Journal of Urology International, men that have been diagnosed with prostate cancer who take supplemental lycopene (is found in very high amounts in tomatoes) and still get their testicles surgically removed are likely to experience less bone pain, less disease and stand more chances of living longer than those who have only had surgical removal of their testicles.
In the end, a partnership with your medical doctor is the best way to remain healthier longer. By taking some responsibility for your health, changes in your lifestyle are much easier to make.
Abigail Franks writes on a variety of subjects which include family, health, and home. For more info on Living with prostate cancer visit the sites at http://www.prostate-cancer-treatment-expert.com/more_articles/prostate-cancer-support.php and http://www.prostate-cancer-treatment-expert.com

The Prostate, What You Don't Know Could Kill You

Women know more about men's health than men do themselves and that's a fact. Why is that? Is it because we find it hard to discuss these things? Is it because it's not macho! From the time that we are young, we are taught that boys have to act tough and shouldn't cry. You must have heard the saying "Big Boys don't cry!"
Most of us carry this thought process into adulthood and feel by showing concern for our health, it will be seen as a male weakness. I am guilty of that myself.
I know when my prostate troubles began, I knew absolutely nothing about the prostate. I was one of the 96%. Mainly because it didn't cross my mind that I'd ever have any problems.
In addition, the prostate is in a "private" area, and it wasn't something I wanted to examine. Many people, including myself, feel uncomfortable talking about the prostate, since the gland plays a role in both sex and urination.
I have had prostate troubles, survived a cancer scare and watched my sister die from Cancer. Believe me, when I say that when you think you are going to die, it concentrates your mind on what is really important. Suddenly your priorities get focused.
Due to my prostate troubles, I became interested in learning about the prostate and how it affected my health.
I cried the day they took a biopsy and I cried with relief the day I was told it was benign. I cried many times as I watched my sister die.
I got so frustrated having to get up every night 3-4 times due to my prostate troubles and then finding I couldn't get back to sleep.
What is prostate cancer?

Prostate Cancer develops by the growth of cancerous cells within the prostate gland. Prostate cancer occurs when some of the cells that make up the prostate gland escape from the normal controls on their growth and start to divide, grow and spread in an uncontrolled manner. In its advanced form, it can produce the same symptoms as BPH. (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia)
Warning Signs
Early prostate cancer often does not cause symptoms. When symptoms of prostate cancer do occur, they may include some of the following problems:
A need to urinate frequently, especially at night; Difficulty starting urination or holding back urine; Inability to urinate; Weak or interrupted flow of urine; Painful or burning urination; Painful ejaculation; Blood in urine or semen; and/or Frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs.
Any of these symptoms may be caused by cancer or by other, less serious health problems, such as BPH or an infection (Prostatitis). Only a doctor can tell the cause. A man who has symptoms like these should see his family doctor . Do not wait to feel pain; early prostate cancer does not cause pain.
These are two other main prostate problems
1) BPH - (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia) is the abnormal growth of benign prostate cells. In an enlarged prostate , the prostate grows larger and pushes against the urethra and bladder, blocking the normal flow of urine. BPH is often the result of prostatitis.
2) Prostatitis refers to prostate inflammation and infection, which can be brief or long-lasting, mild or severe symptoms can include frequent, urgent and painful urination, erectile problems or pain >during ejaculation.
Prostatitis is rampant in the US, affecting at least 80% of American men. Most is without major symptoms. Prostate enlargement, called Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH) is often the result of prostatitis.
Treatment for Prostate Cancer
The treatment given for prostate cancer depends on how advanced or widespread the disease is. If the cancer is small and only present within the prostate gland, it is possible to treat it with
surgery (radical prostatectomy) radiotherapy (either external beam radiotherapy or brachytherapy) hormone therapy
I sincerely hope that this article can be of use to you, your partner, someone in your family or indeed a close friend.
Health to me is both physical and mental. The two cannot be separated. May I leave you with what I regard the finest bits of advice for life
************************************************************** If I were asked to give what I consider the single most useful bit of advice for all humanity it would be this: Expect trouble as an inevitable part of life and when it comes, hold your head high, look it squarely in the eye and say, "I will be bigger than you. You cannot defeat me." Ann Landers ***************************************************************
I wish you perfect health and piece of mind in all that you do.
Jeff Cuckson
webmaster@backtobetterhealth.com *****************************************Discover Real People With Stories Of SuccessIn Getting Back To Good Health. Go Visit NOW at!http://www.backtobetterhealth.com ********************************************
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Ginseng As A Treatment For Prostate Cancer - How To Research The Medical Literature

Many people today are interested in the use of herbs such as ginseng in the treatment of prostate cancer. People are certainly interested in whether or not the benefit of ginseng has been studied scientifically.
Before we describe the scientific and medical literature on the use of Ginseng for the treatment of prostate cancer, here is a brief description of the different types of ginseng.
Ginseng is a herbal remedy that has been used in Asia as a medicinal remedy for a long time. It's commonly used as a herbal preparation in traditional Chinese medicine. There are many types of ginseng freely available on the market today. However, there are really only 2 types of real ginseng:
1. Asian Ginseng (Panax Ginseng): and2. North American Ginseng (Panax Quinquefolius).
Both types of ginseng differ in their chemical composition. This different chemical composition appears to give each type of ginseng different biological properties.
How To Research The Medical Literature And Find Abstracts And Free Full Text Articles On Ginseng As A Treatment For Prostate Cancer
To research the scientific literature and find medical articles written about the use of ginseng for the treatment of prostate cancer, you first need to go the online medical database of the National Library Of Medicine.
This site is called Pub Med and can be found at www.pubmed.com
The home page has a search box. In the search box type in -- Ginseng AND prostate cancer. Then click search. Notice that the search won't work if you type in ginseng as a treatment for prostate cancer.
As of August, 2006 a total of 6 medical articles have been written which turned up in our search. You can read the abstracts for free online. In addition, one of the articles is available as a free full text article on the subject of ginseng as a treatment for prostate cancer.
To tell if a free full text article is available, look to see if there are green lines in the file box to the left of the article title.
If there are only black lines then that means that only the abstract is available. This still can provide some valuable information on our subject of ginseng in the treatment of prostate cancer. You can read the abstract and, if you decide that you want to read the full text of the article for free, make a note of the journal title and the volume.
You can then go the closest medical library, find the actual medical journal, and read the full text of the article for free.
Dr. Glenn Sheiner is a medical doctor and the author of the ebook and video tutorials Cancer Research Online Made Easy. This downloadable package is available immediately and will help you find information you won't find on most cancer web sites. You'll quickly learn many sophisticated research techniques including how to find the latest medical articles on any type of cancer from around the world. And, how to find all the available clinical trials, including those from the world's most reknowned medical centers. Also, more information on prostate cancer can be found at Prostate Cancer Information.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Glenn_Sheiner

Things You Can Do Now To Avoid Prostate Cancer

When you look at the list of risk factors for prostate cancer, unfortunately there are quite a few that you just can't avoid. For example, you can't change how old you are, and it's well known that the risk of prostate cancer increases substantially after the age of fifty. In addition, if other men in your family have developed prostate cancer, you're at a much higher risk of developing it yourself. You can't change certain things about yourself or your life, but there are still some things you can do to reduce your risk of developing prostate cancer. So let's take a look at what you can do.
Annual Checkup
Having an annual checkup isn't going to stop you developing prostate cancer. But what it can do is help your doctor detect it early enough to treat it successfully. If the cancer is detected early enough, it can even be cured. If you’re not getting checked annually, it's possible for the cancer to spread to the point where nothing can be done in the way of successful treatment. So it's important to get checked by your doctor every year, and if you're in a high-risk category, such as over fifty, you should also get the relevant blood tests done annually too. You may even want to get checked more frequently if you're very high risk.
Watch What You Eat
More and more evidence is mounting up to prove that your overall health is often more related to what you eat than anything else you do. Unfortunately, too many people eat an unhealthy and unbalanced diet. It's too easy to be tempted to stray from a healthy diet, when it seems like there's a fast food chain on every corner. Eventually, though, making poor eating choices will catch up with you in the form of illness and disease.
Eating a health diet, on the other hand, can do a great deal to prevent disease and illnesses that are linked to what you eat. When it comes to most cancers, and prostate cancer in particular, one of the most important nutrients you need to eat is lycopene. You can eat lycopene in many forms. It's always best to get it from a natural source, such as tomatoes, watermelons, papaya and guava. You can also find it in many vitamin and mineral supplements.
Get Some Exercise
It's really important to exercise regularly if you want to stay strong and healthy. It also helps you to keep in shape. Exercise is an important factor not just in maintaining your overall health, but also in preventing disease. So regular exercise can help reduce your risk of developing prostate cancer. Even if you develop prostate cancer, being in good shape will help you to cope with the disease and the treatment. You need to be strong enough to fight off what you need to deal with.
So, those are the three main things you need to do if you want to reduce your risk of developing prostate cancer - regular checkups, eat a healthy diet and exercise. If you want to live a long and healthy life, then you know where to start.
For more important information regarding prostate cancer treatements and prostate cancer symptoms visit the online prostate health guide located at http://www.onlineprostatehealthguide.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Gorman

Men's Health - Prostrate Cancer And Men: "Men and women are alike, as they are human beings with a similar physical structure. They are very similar in their outlook, and even biologically too.
However, there are certain things that are just totally conflict, such as the main organs that define their sexes. Males have different gonads and so do women, and this plays a vital role in making them the people that they are. Not only this, but it can be said that their organs and the hormones from them make them prone in different ways as well. As an example of this is the way that women are prone to getting cancer of the breasts and cervix. Men of course, do not suffer this way, except in the case of some men getting breast cancer.
PROSTRATE CANCER - A WIDE-SPREAD AILMENT IN MEN
In contrast to women suffering from cancer of the cervix, there are conditions that affect men, such as Prostrate Cancer. This is a condition that affects men because of the fact that they have a prostrate gland. In many men, the prostrate gland is known to swell up. This condition usually takes place when men reach a certain age, ...............
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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 thighsSometimes 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 urineAlso, 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 CANCERProstate 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.
About the AuthorDr. Tavares is a medical consultant with experience in traditional and complementary medicine. Her writing about prostate cancer symptoms can be found at Prostate Cancer Answers. Source: ArticleTrader.com