Prostate Cancer - Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

Prostate cancer occurs when cells in the prostate gland grow out of control. There are often no early prostate cancer symptoms, but some men have urinary symptoms and discomfort. Prostate cancer treatment options are surgery, chemotherapy, cryotherapy, hormonal therapy, and/or radiation. In some instances, doctors recommend “watchful waiting.”Adenocarcinoma of the prostate is the clinical term for a cancerous tumor on the prostate gland. As prostate cancer grows, it may spread to the interior of the gland, to tissues near the prostate, to sac-like structures attached to the prostate (seminal vesicles), and to distant parts of the body (e.g., bones, liver, lungs). Prostate cancer confined to the gland often is treated successfully.The prostate gland is an organ that is located at the base or outlet (neck) of the urinary bladder. (See the diagram.) The gland surrounds the first part of the urethra. The urethra is the passage through which urine drains from the bladder to exit from the penis. One function of the prostate gland is to help control urination by pressing directly against the part of the urethra that it surrounds. Another function of the prostate gland is to produce some of the substances that are found in normal semen, such as minerals and sugar.CausesCancer is a group of abnormal cells that grow more rapidly than normal cells and that refuse to die. Cancer cells also have the ability to invade and destroy normal tissues, either by growing directly into surrounding structures or after traveling to another part of your body through your bloodstream or lymph system (metastasize). Microscopic cancer cells develop into small clusters that continue to grow, becoming more densely packed and hard. The number of men being diagnosed with cancer of the prostate in the UK has been increasing in recent years. It is thought that this is due to more men having tests that detect very early prostate cancers that would previously not have been found. It may also be because the number of older men in the population is increasing.SymptomsMany men with prostate cancer experience no symptoms; the first indication that they may have the disease is often an abnormal finding on a routine screening exam. Others may notice one or more symptoms. Most prostate cancers are discovered incidentally when a digital rectal exam is performed. A digital rectal exam is part of a thorough regular health examination. Digital refers to finger.TreatmentTreatment for prostate cancer may involve watchful waiting, surgery, radiation therapy including brachytherapy and external beam radiation, High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU), chemotherapy, cryosurgery, hormonal therapy, or some combination. Which option is best depends on the stage of the disease, the Gleason score, and the PSA level. Other important factors are the man’s age, his general health, and his feelings about potential treatments and their possible side effects. Because all treatments can have significant side effects, such as erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence, treatment discussions often focus on balancing the goals of therapy with the risks of lifestyle alterations.

Prostate Cancer - Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

Prostate cancer occurs when cells in the prostate gland grow out of control. There are often no early prostate cancer symptoms, but some men have urinary symptoms and discomfort. Prostate cancer treatment options are surgery, chemotherapy, cryotherapy, hormonal therapy, and/or radiation. In some instances, doctors recommend “watchful waiting.”Adenocarcinoma of the prostate is the clinical term for a cancerous tumor on the prostate gland. As prostate cancer grows, it may spread to the interior of the gland, to tissues near the prostate, to sac-like structures attached to the prostate (seminal vesicles), and to distant parts of the body (e.g., bones, liver, lungs). Prostate cancer confined to the gland often is treated successfully.The prostate gland is an organ that is located at the base or outlet (neck) of the urinary bladder. (See the diagram.) The gland surrounds the first part of the urethra. The urethra is the passage through which urine drains from the bladder to exit from the penis. One function of the prostate gland is to help control urination by pressing directly against the part of the urethra that it surrounds. Another function of the prostate gland is to produce some of the substances that are found in normal semen, such as minerals and sugar.CausesCancer is a group of abnormal cells that grow more rapidly than normal cells and that refuse to die. Cancer cells also have the ability to invade and destroy normal tissues, either by growing directly into surrounding structures or after traveling to another part of your body through your bloodstream or lymph system (metastasize). Microscopic cancer cells develop into small clusters that continue to grow, becoming more densely packed and hard. The number of men being diagnosed with cancer of the prostate in the UK has been increasing in recent years. It is thought that this is due to more men having tests that detect very early prostate cancers that would previously not have been found. It may also be because the number of older men in the population is increasing.SymptomsMany men with prostate cancer experience no symptoms; the first indication that they may have the disease is often an abnormal finding on a routine screening exam. Others may notice one or more symptoms. Most prostate cancers are discovered incidentally when a digital rectal exam is performed. A digital rectal exam is part of a thorough regular health examination. Digital refers to finger.TreatmentTreatment for prostate cancer may involve watchful waiting, surgery, radiation therapy including brachytherapy and external beam radiation, High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU), chemotherapy, cryosurgery, hormonal therapy, or some combination. Which option is best depends on the stage of the disease, the Gleason score, and the PSA level. Other important factors are the man’s age, his general health, and his feelings about potential treatments and their possible side effects. Because all treatments can have significant side effects, such as erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence, treatment discussions often focus on balancing the goals of therapy with the risks of lifestyle alterations.

Radiation Seeds For Prostate Cancer

If caught early, prostate cancer treatment has a reasonable success rate. As it is a slow developing cancer in most cases, treatment is aimed at curing the patient unless the cancer has spread to surrounding bone. In this case, treatment is aimed at prolonging life and reducing prostate cancer symptoms.Radiation seeds for prostate cancer are a form of a treatment known as Brachytherapy., and are usually only suitable when the cancer is localised to the prostate and has not spread. The most common form of Brachytherapy involves iodine seed implants that are put below the prostate. These give a small dose of radiation over several months to the prostate cancer cells. It is considered that radiation seeds such as these have a low risk of any major side effects and the procedure is often straightforward.The decision as to which treatment to use for prostate cancer is ultimately up to the patient, although a doctor will advise the best course of action. The course of action recommended will depend on the severity of the cancer, how advanced it is and whether it is spread or not. It usually takes some time before symptoms of prostate cancer start to appear, as they only begin when the cancer grows large enough to put pressure on the urethra. Once this happens the man may have irregular and painful urine flow amongst other things. If symptoms of prostate cancer are observed then it is always advisable to contact your doctor immediately to see whether a scan is required.

Advanced Prostate Cancer Patients Might Soon Be Able To Have A Brief Chemotherapy Break

As soon as prostate cancer moves out of the prostate and extended into other areas of the body it is referred to as advanced prostate cancer and treatment is far more difficult than when the disease is confined to the prostate gland.Providing prostate cancer has not spread too far and is not particularly aggressive it is possible not simply to treat it but in fact to cure it. In many cases however where the disease has spread widely, or is too aggressive, treatment is a case of simply holding back the progression of the disease and giving you the best quality of life possible.Currently one of the main treatments for cases of advanced prostate cancer is chemotherapy often using a drug known as docetaxal. Docetaxal is a particularly effective drug treatment for a lot of patients and does indeed hold back the progression of prostate cancer and extend life for a significant number of patients. However, it does have a number of side effects that include things like nausea, loss of appetite, hair loss and a heightened risk of infection. Consequently it is here that we run into one of the biggest problems in advanced prostate cancer treatment.If you are treating a condition that cannot be cured and that will eventually kill you, then extending your life by holding back the progression of the disease is fine as long as that treatment gives you an acceptable quality of life and does not leave you feeling that the treatment is worse than the condition itself.For a significant number of prostate cancer patients, who are generally in their 60s or older, chemotherapy is hardly pleasant but is a price that is worth paying when they initially start their treatment. However, as the treatment progresses and the side effects start to build up the picture often changes and a lot of patients begin to ask whether or not it is all worth it. Naturally this is never a simple question to answer and needs to be the subject of a very personal discussion between yourself, your family and your physician.A lot of us are familiar with this picture either through our own experience of illness or from our experience of seeing family members of close friends in this situation and know only too well just how hard a time it can be.Now, however, there may be a glimmer of light at the end of this tunnel because studies involving a sizeable group of patients with metastatic prostate cancer suggest that a lot of patients might be able to take a ‘chemo holiday’ without significant harm to their treatment. Put another way, after a number of weeks of chemo, and at a time when the side effects are staring to get you down, you might be able to stop your treatment for a while and let your body recover a little before carrying on with your treatment.Naturally it is early days yet and no-one is quite sure yet precisely how long your ‘chemo holidays’ could be or how often you can take them, but for a significant number of advanced prostate cancer patients this apparently minor advance in treatment may make a world of difference.

Prostate Cancer - Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

Prostate cancer occurs when cells in the prostate gland grow out of control. There are often no early prostate cancer symptoms, but some men have urinary symptoms and discomfort. Prostate cancer treatment options are surgery, chemotherapy, cryotherapy, hormonal therapy, and/or radiation. In some instances, doctors recommend “watchful waiting.”Adenocarcinoma of the prostate is the clinical term for a cancerous tumor on the prostate gland. As prostate cancer grows, it may spread to the interior of the gland, to tissues near the prostate, to sac-like structures attached to the prostate (seminal vesicles), and to distant parts of the body (e.g., bones, liver, lungs). Prostate cancer confined to the gland often is treated successfully.The prostate gland is an organ that is located at the base or outlet (neck) of the urinary bladder. (See the diagram.) The gland surrounds the first part of the urethra. The urethra is the passage through which urine drains from the bladder to exit from the penis. One function of the prostate gland is to help control urination by pressing directly against the part of the urethra that it surrounds. Another function of the prostate gland is to produce some of the substances that are found in normal semen, such as minerals and sugar.CausesCancer is a group of abnormal cells that grow more rapidly than normal cells and that refuse to die. Cancer cells also have the ability to invade and destroy normal tissues, either by growing directly into surrounding structures or after traveling to another part of your body through your bloodstream or lymph system (metastasize). Microscopic cancer cells develop into small clusters that continue to grow, becoming more densely packed and hard. The number of men being diagnosed with cancer of the prostate in the UK has been increasing in recent years. It is thought that this is due to more men having tests that detect very early prostate cancers that would previously not have been found. It may also be because the number of older men in the population is increasing.SymptomsMany men with prostate cancer experience no symptoms; the first indication that they may have the disease is often an abnormal finding on a routine screening exam. Others may notice one or more symptoms. Most prostate cancers are discovered incidentally when a digital rectal exam is performed. A digital rectal exam is part of a thorough regular health examination. Digital refers to finger.TreatmentTreatment for prostate cancer may involve watchful waiting, surgery, radiation therapy including brachytherapy and external beam radiation, High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU), chemotherapy, cryosurgery, hormonal therapy, or some combination. Which option is best depends on the stage of the disease, the Gleason score, and the PSA level. Other important factors are the man’s age, his general health, and his feelings about potential treatments and their possible side effects. Because all treatments can have significant side effects, such as erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence, treatment discussions often focus on balancing the goals of therapy with the risks of lifestyle alterations.

Some Thoughts About Prostate Cancer Treatment Options

Nearly all men will run into some form of prostate problem during their middle or later years and, thankfully, in most cases these problems will be relatively minor or, if they are more severe, at least not life threatening. For some men however the problem will be prostate cancer and a diagnosis of cancer can literally turn your world, and that of your family, upside down.Hopefully, more and more men will begin the process of screening for prostate cancer and their problem will be caught at an early stage when there are several treatment options available and the possibility of curing the disease completely is good. But, whether this is the case or not, a diagnosis of prostate cancer can still be devastating and you need to consider carefully just how you are going to deal with it.As with so many things in life these days dealing with prostate cancer can be complicated and there are many different opinions about just what the best course of action is. For this reason it is always wise to take a step back for a moment and educate yourself about this disease before rushing into any decisions. Your doctor will be able to give you advice and also to furnish you with some literature and of course there is probably no better place to research the condition today than right here on the Internet.Many people panic when they are diagnosed with cancer but, unless your prostate cancer is a particularly aggressive form of cancer and is spreading rapidly, which is rare, you do not need to do anything today and can take a few days to let things sink in and to do your homework. This is also a good time to get a second opinion. Many people worry about getting a second opinion thinking that they are in some way doubting their doctor’s competence. This however is not how your doctor will see it if he is worth his salt and it is very sensible to get another view on your condition and opinion about how best to treat it.You will find that there are usually several treatment options open to you depending upon several factors such as your age and general state of health, as well as whether or not you are suffering from any additional problems arising out of an enlarged prostate, such as kidney damage or bladder infection. In the vast majority of cases however, even when your options are narrowed because of your age or health, you will still have several routes which you can follow.However, before you get involved in the details of different treatment options it is also a good idea to sit down and consider just how you feel about having cancer. This may seem an odd thing to say, but people react very differently to a diagnosis of prostate cancer and just how you feel about will be an important factor in your treatment decision.For example, do you feel strongly that you want to do whatever it takes to get this ‘thing’ out of your body and that you couldn’t possibly stand the thought of living with cancer for a moment longer than is absolutely necessary. Or do you feel that you have lived to a ripe old age and that you wish to pass your remaining days in comfort and certainly do not want to put yourself through surgery or the side-effects or radiation treatment and chemotherapy.Take the time to think carefully about your own situation and that of your family and weigh your own personal circumstances carefully. If you are alone and in your late seventies you may feel differently from a relatively young man in his forties with two young children to care for.Medical treatment is not simply a matter of science but is something which is very personal to you and should always focus on your needs and, most importantly, on your wishes.

There is clear evidence that the African American male is nearly twice as likely to develop prostate cancer compared to the white male. Indeed the highest rate of prostate cancer in the United States is found in African American men.

Additionally, African American men are also most likely to suffer from drug side effects from prostate cancer treatment than seen in white men such as incontinence. It has also been documented that African American men with prostate cancer are most likely to be dissatisfied with their doctor’s support compared to white men.

There are a number of reasons why the African American male community have a higher prevalence of prostate cancer disease. Researchers have suggested some of the following reasons for this:

* African American men’s negative attitudes and distrust of the prostate cancer screening tests together with health care may contribute to the fact that when prostate cancer is diagnosed, it will be in the more advanced and inoperable stage in the African American men.

* They have limited or less access to health care and this is also believed to be a contributory factor. A large number do not have health insurance and this means that African American men do not always receive the preventative health care assessments that they require.

* Nutritional and environmental factors are also thought to play an important role. Although black men in Africa do have a high rate of prostate cancer, they do not appear to have as high a rate of prostate cancer compared to that of black men in the United States. It is also thought that lower levels of vitamin D and a difference in genetics may also contribute to higher rates of prostate cancer in African American men.

It is recommended that African American men aged over 40 years should undergo prostate cancer screening test on an annual basis. This screening should include a Prostate specific Antigen Blood test, commonly known as PSA. A Digital Rectal Examination or DRE should also be performed. This involves a gloved finger being inserted into the rectum to feel for any unusual growths on or around the prostate gland.

Those men who have prostate cancer in their family are at a greater risk of developing prostate cancer. It is advisable that African American men ascertain how many family members have suffered with prostate cancer before passing this information onto your doctor. Prostate cancer that is caught early provides men with greater chances of survival and living a normal life.

It is essential that African American men receive regular prostate health check-ups as these can save lives. Men should eat a healthy diet which includes ample fruit and vegetables. Exercise is also essential, although one should seek professional advice before embarking on an exercise regime.

About The Author: Sharon Evans owns the prostate health website where you can get a most informative ebook that tells you all you need to know about prostate cancer. she also offers other great downloadable ebooks on a vast variety of health issues.

Prostate Cancer Treatment with Supplements
by Bertil Hjert

Prostate cancer has become a common health related problem among men. Luckily, advancement in the medical field has come up with several solutions which might be effective. Today, you would find many herbal remedies options to facilitate prostate health.

Lycopene is one of the most famous and widely prescribed supplements for good prostate health. It is a pigment widely found in most of the vegetables. It is found in high amounts in tomatoes. However, it is also found in certain other vegetables such as carrots and watermelons.

Lycopene cannot be produced by human body. Hence, it needs to be supplemented from foreign sources. Lycopene is also said to reduce the risks for many types of cancer and heart disease. It should work efficient for prostate health.

Pygeum Africanum is another supplement for good prostate health. It is found in the trees in Africa. The pygeum bark is widely used for prostate health conditions.

Beta sitosterol is also a supplement thats widely used. It is herbal and more powerful than pygeum africanum.

Stinging nettle is friendly very common used supplement. This remedy is great for an enlarged prostate.

There are several benefits of using prostate supplements. Prostate problems may be solved via taking natural dietary supplements. Prostate supplements are available at different medical stores. Some of these include Poria Fruit, nettle leaves, nettle roots, cinnamon bark, alisma rhizome, prepared rehmannia root and cornus fruit.

a) Saw palmetto

Saw palmetto is considered to be one of the leading prostate supplements. This is a fat-soluble extract of saw palmetto berry. It includes essential biological chemical in order to check all sorts of prostate problems.

b) Pumpkin Seeds

These have high quantities of zinc. It works towards nourishing and healing many types of disorders related to the prostate. It is helpful in problems that exist in the urinary tract and increases the flow of urine and reduces problems related to an irritating bladder.

c) Nettle roots

Nettle roots and leaves in your diet would increase the flow of urine. It provides great results when combined with saw palmetto and pygeum bark. The supplement is high in chlorophyll and contains several alkaloids. These alkaloids tend to neutralize uric acid, which is the main cause for many types of problems related to the prostate.

d) Pygeum Bark

It reduces urination and enhances and regulates the flow of urine during the day time. Most herbal remedies for prostate gland ailments contain pygeum bark as an active ingredient.

e) Alisma Rhizome

This supplement is great for improving the functioning of bladder. The health of liver and kidney is improved and this contributes to the overall health of prostate gland. It is prepared from rehmannia root and works towards purifying blood. It is also a stimulant for kidney.

With prostate cancer estimated to affect as many as 1 in 6 men, any new research developments that may affect treatment are extremely noteworthy. Because the risks of having prostate cancer increase dramatically with age, every generation is in a race against the clock to find the most effective treatment methods, or prevention methods, possible.

Recently a medical study on men with prostate cancer introduced very interesting news that contradicted some previously held beliefs in the medical community. Some physicians have withheld potentially curative treatment in older men because of a concern about side effects of radiation or surgery. Other physicians have used hormone therapy as a means of delaying cancer progression instead of offering potentially curative treatment.

This new study by Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, however, suggests that drug treatment alone does not improve survival rates of men taking it, and might actually be hindering their improvement. The study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in July.

The prostate cancer information generated by this article studied about 20,000 men, including Medicare patients, whose prostate cancer had not spread to other areas of the body. The study took 6 years to complete, as information was gathered and the men were studied. All study participants were over the age of 66, which means that the data drawn from the study is particularly relevant to older men, but not necessarily accurate for younger men. Average age of a study participant was 77.

Researchers found that the typical treatment of testosterone-blocking drugs might have more drawbacks than benefits. The testosterone-blockers are meant to keep cancer cells from growing, but also have side effects such as bone loss, impotence, and increased risk for diabetes and heart disease. Ultimately, a treatment plan of the testosterone-blocking drugs alone, in older men, didn’t appear to be effective.

For men considering Georgia prostate cancer surgery, this study does not influence the need for curative surgery or radiation. Often the antihormone drugs can be very effective when they are paired with surgery or radiation. To maximize the effectiveness of a cancer treatment plan for Georgia men, prostate cancer might require surgery or radiation, rather than drug treatment alone.

Researchers theorized that many men felt they were improving their health by taking the drugs without surgery or radiation, because it was a better course of action than doing nothing. Now that their research has shown this to be an ineffective method of treatment by itself, the researchers hope that doctors will avoid the drug treatments except in combination with radiation and/or surgery.

For older men looking for information about Georgia prostate cancer treatment, the study offers an important topic to bring up with their doctors. While surgery and radiation can seem scary, the solution to prostate cancer doesn’t appear to be as easy as popping a pill or receiving an injection, at least for older men. For Georgia men, prostate cancer treatment might require surgery, rather than the simpler approach of a drug treatment.

With the continued research and studies being done, advances in Georgia prostate cancer treatment are continually being made. At this point in time, however, drug treatment alone doesn’t seem to be an effective method in the fight against prostate cancer.

Whether or not to treat prostate cancer conventionally is one of the major medical dilemmas we have today. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men. Approximately 222,000 cases will be diagnosed this year, however most prostate tumors tend to grow slowly. They never actually threaten lives. There is no sure way to tell which tumors will grow at a more rapid rate.

Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) tests can help find tumors many years before they cause any prostate cancer symptoms, however routine screening of men who are at average risk is currently not recommended, because there is no proof that it saves lives.

Prostate cancer treatments are particularly rugged, especially on older men. And many men end up after the treatment with sexual, bladder control or other prostate gland or prostate health problems. Many doctors instead recommend “watchful waiting” to monitor signs of prostate disease and treat it only if the signs or symptoms get worse. Smaller studies have given contrary views of the safety of this approach.

This new study looked at the natural course of the disease in the men who had chosen that option. Grace Lu-Yao of Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Jersey was the head of the study. It’s the first study involving so many older men. 50% of the men were over 75 and many of their tumors were found through the PSA tests.

As part of this study they used the U.S. government’s prostate cancer database. The researchers studied 9,017 men who were diagnosed over a period of ten years, from 1992-2002, with early-stage prostate cancer who did not get prostate surgery, radiation or hormone therapy for at least six months. Most of the men never had any treatment whatsoever.

Ten years later only 3 percent to 7 percent of those with the low-grade or moderate-grade tumors (which are rated by how aggressive the cells appear to be) had died of prostate cancer, while 23 percent of those with high-grade tumors died. Overall, prostate cancer killed only 10 percent of the patients.

It’s thought that most of the patients are going to die from something else and because of this most of the older men with the early-stage tumors could delay any treatment. It’s not clear what should be done, if anything - whether it’s conventional prostate cancer surgery, radiation and hormone therapy or alternative prostate cancer treatment. This may be true even if people are younger or have a more advanced prostate cancer. Most cases are diagnosed in men who are 68 or older, and most are in an early stage.

In any event this large study shows that a large number of men do well with no initial treatment and with no treatment long term. So this new study shows that for older men observation is a reasonable approach. Many patients do well for a long period of time with absolutely no treatment.

To sum up, older men with early-stage prostate cancer are not taking a big risk if they just keep a good eye on the progress instead of going ahead with treatment. It’s the largest study to look at this issue since the PSA blood tests to detect prostate tumors became so popular in the 1990s. The study may persuade some middle-of-the-road prostate doctors that we are over-treating prostate cancer and that PSA testing may be magnifying the problem. Finally patients have the opportunity to concentrate on adopting a healthy lifestyle and most importantly adopting a healthy diet.

For more information on prostate cancer treatments and prostate cancer symptoms go to a nurse’s website www.BestProstateHealthTips.com specializing in enlarged prostate, and prostate cancer tips, advice and resources, including info on prostate tests and natural prostate cancer treatments