Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer

noreply@blogger.com (Opick Taopik) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:56:00 +0000

Prostate cancer generally affects men over the age of 50, and this prostate cancer is rarely found in younger men. Around 32,000 men in the UK are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year. Prostate cancer is differs from most other cancers in the body, in that small areas of cancer within the prostate are very common and may not grow or cause any problems for many years.

About one in three men over the age of 50 have some cancer cells within their prostate and nearly all men over the age of 80 have a small area of prostate cancer. Most of these cancers grow extremely slowly and so, particularly in elderly men, will never cause any problems.

In a small proportion of men, the prostate cancer can grow more quickly and in some cases may spread to other parts of the body, particularly the bones.

Definition of cancer

noreply@blogger.com (Opick Taopik) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:44:00 +0000

The organs and tissues of the body are made up of tiny building blocks called cells. Cancer is a disease of these cells.

Cells in different parts of the body may look and work differently but most reproduce themselves in the same way. Cells are constantly becoming old and dying, and new cells are produced to replace them. Normally, cells divide in an orderly and controlled manner. If for some reason the process gets out of control, the cells carry on dividing, developing into a lump which is called a tumour.

Two diagrams, one showing normal cells and the second showing cells forming a tumour.

Tumours can be either benign or malignant. Cancer is the name given to a malignant tumour. Doctors can tell if a tumour is benign or malignant by examining a small sample of cells under a microscope. This is called a biopsy.

In a benign tumour the cells do not spread to other parts of the body and so are not cancerous. However, if they continue to grow at the original site, they may cause a problem by pressing on the surrounding organs.

A malignant tumour consists of cancer cells that have the ability to spread beyond the original area. If the tumour is left untreated, it may spread into and destroy surrounding tissue. Sometimes cells break away from the original (primary) cancer. They may spread to other organs in the body through the bloodstream or lymphatic system.

The lymphatic system is part of the immune system - the body's natural defence against infection and disease. It is a complex system made up of organs, such as bone marrow, the thymus, the spleen, and lymph nodes. The lymph nodes (or glands) throughout the body are connected by a network of tiny lymphatic ducts.

When the cancer cells reach a new area they may go on dividing and form a new tumour. This is known as a secondary cancer or metastasis.

It is important to realise that cancer is not a single disease with a single type of treatment. There are more than 200 different kinds of cancer, each with its own name and treatment.
http://www.cancerbackup.org.uk/Aboutcancer/Whatiscancer/Whatiscancer

Obesity, Insulin Level Impact Prostate Cancer Survival

noreply@blogger.com (Opick Taopik) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 22:56:00 +0000

Obese patients appear to be more likely to receive non-surgical treatments than their normal-weight counterparts

By Amanda Gardner

Sunday, October 5 (HealthDay News) -- Men who are overweight and who have high insulin levels when they are diagnosed with prostate cancer may be more likely to die from the disease, research shows.

This striking finding, published early online and expected to be in the November issue of The Lancet Oncology, is yet more reason to continue fighting the battle of the bulge, experts say.

"I don't want to be sensationalist, but obesity effects and the insulin effects are so big that I think if you had to choose between being thin and having a low insulin level or having access to the best chemotherapy, you would be more likely to survive without chemotherapy," said study senior author Dr. Michael Pollak, professor of oncology at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

"Tens of thousands of men are taking chemotherapy for prostate cancer -- as they should, because it is a good treatment. Doing so is actually helping," he said. "But potentially, dealing with insulin, obesity may one day be of more benefit."

The findings also have scientific import, giving researchers a clue that could lead to new prevention and treatment strategies.

Experts have long known that androgens, or male hormones, play a critical role in spurring prostate cancer.

In fact, these cancers are often treated with approaches that deprive the tumors of testosterone.

Smaller reports have suggested that obese patients with prostate cancer have a worse prognosis than patients of regular weight, though weight hasn't been related to actually developing a malignancy.

"We found in a large sample that obesity has a very important influence on prostate cancer outcome," Pollak said. "Then the question becomes, why would obesity make the outcome worse?"

Pollak and his colleagues looked at information on more than 2,500 men who had been followed for 24 years as part of the Physicians' Health Study. Information on body mass index (BMI) was available for all of these men, while information on C-peptide concentration (a marker of insulin levels in the blood) was available for 827 men.

Overweight men (those with a BMI of 25 to 29) had a 47 percent higher risk of dying from prostate cancer, while obese men (BMI of 30 or over) were more than two-and-a-half times more likely to die of the disease, compared with men of healthy weight (BMI under 25).

Men with the highest C-peptide concentrations also had more than double the risk of dying from their cancer compared with men with the lowest levels, the study found.

Finally, men who had a BMI of more than 25 and high C-peptide concentrations had quadruple the risk of dying from their cancer compared with men who had lower BMIs and lower C-peptide levels, the researchers reported.

"This suggests that there may be a whole new story to tell, whereby not just androgens have something to do with cancer behavior, but also insulin," Pollak said.

The insulin hormone may be latching onto insulin receptors located on prostate cancer cells, he speculated.

Some pharmaceutical companies are already testing drug candidates that target insulin signaling, Pollak added.

And the findings could have broader implications for other cancers, said study lead author Dr. Jing Ma, of Harvard University's Channing Laboratory.

"The simple things are still the important things. Don't drink, don't smoke, exercise, and eat well," said Dr. Ganesh Palapattu, assistant professor of urology, pathology and oncology at the University of Rochester School of Medicine. "This is yet another piece of evidence suggesting that obesity is not a good thing for many reasons."

"Obesity is the second leading cause of cancer death in this country next to tobacco," emphasized Dr. Jay Brooks, chief of hematology/oncology at Ochsner Health System in Baton Rouge, La. "Two years ago, I would never have told my patients that obesity is increasing their risk of death from cancer. Today, I do."

Source http://www.prostatecancerfoundation.org

New hope for Prostate Cancer Patients

noreply@blogger.com (Opick Taopik) — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 09:24:00 +0000

For the Eve, the cancer can be a bad dream only breast cancer or uterus neck cancer. For those of Adam, that nightmare is prostate cancer. Later the disease caused by the violence prostate gland cells at this gathering . Even though in Asia is still quite a bit of its , 13 data from the Medical Faculty of the country in shows including cancer prostate disease in 10 men in the violence fell ill . Urologi in the headline, the Faculty of Medicine, surgery, University of Indonesia (FKUI), during the period 1995-1998 found an average 17 cases per year and was ranked second after cancer jar (bladder). This number can not be ignored because the disease is to kill around 10,000 men each case.

Gen E2F3
Now, thanks to results of studies conducted by scientists from the Institute of Cancer Research Everyman Center, the men can breathe a little relieved. They have to find the genes called E2F3, which is considered as a gen triggered prostate cancer, such as BBC News Online recently. E2F3 genes previously also detected as causes of bladder cancer. Indeed, these genes have an important role as a checker cell division in the body organism.
In the case of prostate cancer cells, E2F3 genes over active this effect, which is producing too much protein. As a result there maintenance excessive cell growth and tumor. Team of scientists have been measuring the womb E2F3 protein in the sample prostate 147 people and see how many E2F3 level in each cell. Not found any cells prostate healthy. E2F3 genes and thus be present as much as 67 percent of prostate cancer cells. The high amount of protein that, the more aggressive the cancer suffered.
"Significantly, this is quite brisk, as it is known. From here it can be a gen bookmarks in prostate cancer diagnosis, "said Professor Colin Cooper, head study to BBC News Online. "The test to distinguish aggressive tumor which, causes, and the light which tumor is important in prostate cancer research."
Often a patient going through the treatment procedures that do not need to. However, because the diagnosis of cancer prostate not accurate then every such patient would not wantserve its . Now that the genes already known E2F3 play an active role in prostate cancer as a key indication of how aggressive cancer developing.
PSA test
Until now, the majority of medical experts around the world use tests Prostate Specific antigen (PSA) to know of the existence of prostate cancer. Less accurate the test is going to take serious action for the cancer that light. This test also can not afford to find out whether the cancer to grow quickly or slowly.
PSA is a single chain glikoprotein consisting of 237 amino acids and four carbohydrate side chains. PSA is located on the cells sekretik from asini prostate so that PSA is a substance-specific organ prostate, so can be found in the normal prostate, hiperplasia and prostate cancer prostate. PSA level in serum depends on the size of the prostate. On a larger benign prostate, derived from the PSA transitional zone, but the cancer prostate be much higher.
PSA level in serum it can measured by Radio Immuno Assay (Ria). PSA in serum can also boast on conditions such as inflammation (prostatitis), the action kateter, colok rectal examination or sistoskopi and TURP (Trans Urethra Resection of the Prostate). While in the network prostate, PSA can be identified with the coloring Immuno peroxidase in pathology. PSA level is useful to follow the journey of prostate cancer response to treatment or surgery that was done.
In addition to being identified as a trigger prostate cancer, genes E2F3 is also considered as a cause of bladder cancer. Cancer is no less violent than prostate cancer. In Indonesia, based on the results of examination of the data collection network that carried out during 1988-1990, it is known that bladder cancer ranks tenth of the primary malignant tumor in men. Actually this disease is the disease not only Adam but also the Eve. But the note shows a man three times more risk of bladder cancer is exposed.
Cooper and the teamits researchers find that there is a huge amount of multiple genes of E2F3 in bladder cancer patients. From the analysis also demonstrated the direct relationship between the amount of E2F3 and stage of cancer. This invention can be expected soon to become a reference in bladder cancer treatment in the future. In addition to the genes of patients, also expected soon created boutique style treatment where treatment procedures are performed on each patient is different from one another, determined by the level of gen assets.
"Medicine is much more effective because each patient can be directly its genetic condition, whether it is classified as a potentially large contract cancer or not," said Cooper. This invention greeted both by cancer experts in the entire world. Professor Peter Rigby, the head of the Institute CancerResearch commented, "We await the findings of this study and can anticipate the development of cancer and bladder prostate earlier."
Prostate cancer is a malignant cancer that attacks the men are over 50 years. Usually if there are family members who have a cancer prostate then other family members is also high risk its contract soon. Strangely this disease is rare attack Asian people. More race white or black with it.
(SH / merry Magdalena)

Often sexual Prostate cancer is the cause, what is?

noreply@blogger.com (Opick Taopik) — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 09:16:00 +0000

Is it caused cancer prostate have sex too often? because many people see the elders suffering from this disease and whether it is too often have sex is good or not cause side effects? Because according to him, he recently married and now are still hot-summer berintim with my wife.
Prostate sex organ is considered as the man who helped ejakulasi function, where function prostate will support the good work sex is good also. Prostate gland enlargement frequently occurs in men over the age of 60an, where the slowdown due to organ function faklor age is considered as pemicunya.

While enlargement is often ended in the occurrence of violence or prostate cancer prostate, because of the less good. So far, no one factor has become satu2nya causes of the occurrence of cancer, including cancer prostate, so that myth is often sex can not be justified as a trigger cancer prostate

Types of cancer

noreply@blogger.com (Opick Taopik) — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 21:23:00 +0000

Carcinomas

The majority of cancers, about 85% (85 in a 100), are carcinomas. They start in the epithelium, which is the covering (or lining) of organs and of the body (the skin). The common forms of breast, lung, prostate and bowel cancer are all carcinomas.

Carcinomas are named after the type of epithelial cell that they started in and the part of the body that is affected. There are four different types of epithelial cells:

* squamous cells - that line different parts of the body, such as the mouth, gullet (oesophagus), and the airways
* adeno cells - form the lining of all the glands in the body and can be found in organs such as the stomach, ovaries, kidneys and prostate
* transitional cells - are only found in the lining of the bladder and parts of the urinary system
* basal cells - that are found in one of the layers of the skin.

A cancer that starts in squamous cells is called a squamous cell carcinoma. A cancer that starts in glandular cells is called an adenocarcinoma. Cancers that start in transitional cells are transitional cell carcinomas, and those that start in basal cells are basal cell carcinomas.
Leukaemias and lymphomas

These occur in the tissues where white blood cells (which fight infection in the body) are formed, i.e. the bone marrow and lymphatic system. Leukaemia and lymphoma are quite rare and make up about 6.5% (6.5 in 100) of all cancers.
Sarcomas

Sarcomas are very rare. They are a group of cancers that form in the connective or supportive tissues of the body such as muscle, bone and fatty tissue. They account for less than 1% (1 in 100) of cancers.

Sarcomas are split into two main types:

* bone sarcomas - that are found in the bones
* soft tissue sarcomas - that develop in the other supportive tissues of the body.

Others forms of cancer

Brain tumours and other very rare forms of cancer make up the remainder of cancers.
http://www.cancerbackup.org.uk/Aboutcancer/Whatiscancer/Typesofcancer

Get Informed Now About Prostate Cancer Symptoms And Treatments

noreply@blogger.com (Opick Taopik) — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 18:23:00 +0000

By: Helen Hecker

Prostate cancer is normally a slow growth cancer that can take years before it becomes deadly. Many men, especially those later in life have made the decision with their doctors to simply watch and wait. Men at higher risk for prostate cancer include African-American men older than 60, farmers, tire plant workers, painters, and men exposed to cadmium; the lowest number of cases occurs in Japanese men and those who do not eat meat who reach the age of 80.

The main job of the prostate gland is to make seminal fluid, the milky substance that transports sperm. In most men, prostate cancer grows very slowly; most men will never even know they have the condition. Prostate cancer is the third most common cause of death from cancer in men of all ages and is the most common cause of death from cancer in men over 75 years old.

Most prostate cancer symptoms, although usually associated with prostate cancer, are more likely to be connected to non-cancerous conditions. Additional symptoms that may be associated are bone pain or tenderness, and abdominal pain. If you have one or more prostate cancer symptoms, you should see your doctor as soon as possible.

Some men may experience symptoms that might indicate the presence of prostate cancer. There are various other symptoms that may not be mentioned here. The need to urinate frequently, especially at night is another common symptom but can mimic other health issues.

There are several potential downsides to PSA testing; for example a high PSA does not mean a patient has prostate cancer. One downside to PSA testing is that health care providers are detecting and treating some very early-stage prostate cancers that may never have developed into anything. There is a newer test called an AMACR that is more sensitive than the PSA test for determining the presence of prostate cancer.

The decision about whether or not to pursue a PSA test should be based on a discussion between you and your doctor. A bone scan can indicate whether the cancer has spread. A chest x-ray may be done also to see if there's a spread of cancer or metastasis.

What you can do right now is begin to understand what exactly your treatment options are and where you're going to start. Surgery, radiation therapy, and hormonal therapy can all interfere with libido on a temporary or permanent basis. Most men simply want the best treatment they can get but what is important is choosing the best treatment for you.

Urinary incontinence can be one of the complications of surgery. Medicines can be used to adjust the levels of testosterone; this is called hormonal manipulation. Hormone manipulation is mainly used as a treatment to relieve symptoms in men whose cancer has metastasized.

Side effects of the chemotherapy drugs depend on which ones you're taking and how often and how long they're taken. The invasive conventional treatment of prostate cancer is often controversial. If continued chemotherapy is decided upon after the first round of chemotherapy, most men receive further doses on an outpatient basis at a clinic or physician's office. Think hard and long before committing to any chemotherapy.

Whether radiation is as good as removing the prostate gland is debatable and the decision about which to choose, if any, can be difficult for anyone. Prostate cancer that has spread may be treated conventionally with drugs to reduce testosterone levels, surgery to remove the testes, chemotherapy or even nothing at all. A new therapy is on the forefront that recruits the body's own immune system cells to destroy any tumors that could become a new way to treat men with advanced prostate cancer - if the FDA approves the highly individualized treatment.

For a more natural approach making a ginger tea, by adding a thin slice or two of fresh gingerroot to hot water, is helpful to many people I know. Concentrating on a diet of predominately fruits and vegetables (preferably raw- uncooked) and no junk food, should give you an observable improvement in your overall health within 30 days. Eat foods that contain the essential fatty acids.

A good dietary, natural treatment approach is to avoid all acidic inflammatory foods; those are foods that are not alive, not dead, non-nutrient food. Studies done on antioxidant vitamins question their value when not actually contained in food; it's clearly better to consume these antioxidants in living foods because they may also need to work with other nutrients present in the foods to work properly. Some foods and beverages to avoid that are inflammatory are: caffeine, salt, sugar, meat, dairy products, additives, soft drinks, white flour, white rice, alcoholic beverages, fast food, processed vegetable oils, and canned, refined, packaged and processed food.

Eat high-fiber snacks like raw nuts (soak them overnight first to release the enzyme inhibitors that make them difficult to digest), raw seeds, and dried fruit, such as dates, and figs. Drink plenty of pure, unchlorinated, filtered water, a minimum of a quart each day. For an easy fiber boost, mix in two tablespoons of ground-up flaxseeds in raw applesauce made from two-three apples in your food processor.

Evidence indicates that many patients detect cancer at an earlier stage because of annual screening, so make sure to get a good, thorough exam. As new research comes out adjust your treatment options accordingly but a good diet will be your best initial defense. In the end, only you with the help of your doctors, knowing your individual situation, can determine the best treatment plan for you.

Article Source: Articles island - Free article submission and free reprint articles

Prostate cancer symptoms and treatment options

noreply@blogger.com (Opick Taopik) — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 18:16:00 +0000

By: Kanika

Cells of the prostate gland grow abnormally and invade the nearby tissues and other parts of the body. This uncontrollable growth of cells of prostate gland is called prostate cancer. The Prostate gland is located in middle of the bladder and rectum and its main function is to produce and store fluid which comes out from a man’s penis during ejaculation. The prostrate gland encircles the urethra tube that carries urine from the bladder to penis. Due to growth of cancer cells in the prostate, it enlarges and causing early symptoms of Prostate Cancer such as urination problem as well various other complications.

The abnormal growth of tissues is called tumor and they are classified as benign and malignant tumors. The benign tumors are not life threatening as they cannot attack the nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body. In case of elderly men, the prostate gland often enlarges. This is usually not due to cancer, and it is called 'benign prostatic hyperplasia'.

Only malignant tumors are dangerous as it can spread to other parts of the body. Usually prostrate cancer develops slowly and there is also possibility of quick growth of cancer cells. As men have only prostate gland, it is the most common cancer of men. The early prostate cancer is identified in a routine test such as Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) and Digital Rectal exam (DRC).

Symptoms of Prostate Cancer:

In the initial stage of prostate cancer, symptoms may not occur. In the severe stage, the following symptoms of prostate cancer occur

Trouble starting urination
Urinating much more frequently than usual
The feeling that you can't release all of your urine
Pain on urination or ejaculation
Blood in your urine or semen
Impotency
Bone pain
Frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs

If prostate cancer spreads to the lymph nodes in the pelvis, the following symptoms occur.

Swelling in legs
Discomfort in the pelvic area

Advanced prostrate cancer which spread to bones may show the symptoms like

Bone pain that doesn’t go away
Bone fractures
Compression of the spine

Treatment of prostrate cancer in India is not a great hurdle to a foreign patient. Our medical team will guide you to receive efficient treatment of prostate cancer at Apollo Hospitals. One will avail the treatment at an affordable price with free consultation with cancer specialists and no waiting periods. Medical treatments in India is now updated with modern infrastructure of treatments and medical resources.

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

Research - clinical trials for prostate cancer

noreply@blogger.com (Opick Taopik) — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 21:16:00 +0000

Cancer research trials are carried out to try to find new and better treatments for cancer. Trials that are carried out on patients are known as clinical trials.

Clinical trials may be carried out to:

* test new treatments, such as new chemotherapy drugs, gene therapy or cancer vaccines
* look at new combinations of existing treatments, or change the way they are given, to make them more effective or to reduce side effects
* compare the effectiveness of drugs used for symptom control
* find out how cancer treatments work
* see which treatments are the most cost-effective.

Trials are the only reliable way to find out if a different operation, type of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or other treatment is better than what is already available.

Taking part in a trial

You may be asked to take part in a treatment research trial. There can be many benefits in doing this. Trials help to improve knowledge about cancer and develop new treatments. You will also be carefully monitored during and after the study. Usually, several hospitals around the country take part in these trials.

It is important to bear in mind that some treatments that look promising at first are often later found not to be as good as existing treatments, or to have side effects that outweigh the benefits.

Blood and tumour samples

Many blood samples and bone marrow or tumour biopsies may be taken help make the right diagnosis. You may be asked for your permission to use some of your samples for research into cancer. If you are taking part in a trial you may also be asked to give other samples which may be frozen and stored for future use when new research techniques become available. These samples will have your name removed from them (anonymised) so you can't be identified.

The research may be carried out at the hospital where you are treated, or it may be at another hospital. This type of research takes a long time, so you are unlikely to hear the results. The samples will, however, be used to increase knowledge about the causes of cancer and its treatment. This research will, hopefully, improve the outlook for future patients.

http://www.cancerbackup.org.uk/Cancertype/Prostate/Clinicaltrials/Research-clinicaltrials

Follow-up after treatment for prostate cancer

noreply@blogger.com (Opick Taopik) — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 21:14:00 +0000

After your treatment has finished, you will have regular check-ups, usually involving a PSA test. These will probably continue for many years. Many people find that they get very anxious for a while before the appointments. This is natural and it may help to get support from family, friends or a support organisation during this time.

If you have any problems, or notice any new symptoms between check-ups, let your doctor know as soon as possible.

People whose treatment is over apart from regular check-ups might find our section on adjusting to life after cancer helpful.

Treatment for early prostate cancer

noreply@blogger.com (Opick Taopik) — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 21:07:00 +0000

The treatment options for early prostate cancer include active surveillance (active monitoring), surgery (removal of the prostate gland) and radiotherapy (external beam or brachytherapy).

Sometimes, hormonal therapy may be given before and/or after surgery or radiotherapy.

Choosing treatment

Deciding on the best treatment is not always straightforward and a number of factors have to be taken into account. The most important of these are:

* your general health
* the grade of the prostate cancer
* the size of the cancer
* your PSA level
* the likely side effects of treatment
* your views about the possible side effects of treatment and how much you are willing to risk side effects for the possible benefits in controlling the cancer
* whether you have had treatment before
* your age.

The possible treatments for your situation are likely to be discussed by a group of doctors working together. This is known as a multidisciplinary team and includes a surgeon (urologist) and doctors who are specialists in radiotherapy, hormonal therapy and chemotherapy treatments (clinical oncologists).

The team may also include specialist nurses, social workers, and physiotherapists. It is common to see a surgeon, an oncologist and a specialist nurse to help you to make the decision.

Treatment choices

If the cancer is likely to develop very slowly you may be offered active surveillance. Men who have a moderate to high-grade cancer are more likely to be offered surgical removal of the prostate gland (radical prostatectomy) or radiotherapy to the prostate. These treatments aim to get rid of all of the cancer cells and cure the cancer.

For some men these treatments will cure the cancer, but for other men some of the cancer cells may be left after the treatment. In some men the treatment may seem to get rid of all the cancer cells for a period of time, but the cancer may come back in the future.

In men with early prostate cancer, surgical removal of the prostate (prostatectomy) or radiotherapy to the prostate seem to be equally effective at treating the cancer. The radiotherapy can be given from an external machine or directly into the prostate gland as brachytherapy.

Hormone therapy may be used for some men as well as prostatectomy or radiotherapy. Cryotherapy (also known as cryosurgery) or high intensity focussed ultrasound (HIFU) treatment may be offered to some men.

You may be offered a choice of treatment. Each of the treatments has different benefits and side effects.

Treatment or not?

You may be advised not to have treatment immediately but to be monitored. This is known as active surveillance.

Blood tests and biopsies can now find cancer at a very early stage, but it is not possible to tell whether the cancer is going to grow enough to cause any symptoms. Many prostate cancers grow extremely slowly and a small, early-stage prostate cancer may never cause any problems within a man’s lifetime.

The treatments for prostate cancer can cause side effects such as erection problems or incontinence, which for some men may be worse than the effects of the cancer. Your doctors may advise waiting to see whether the cancer is the sort that can cause problems, rather than giving treatment straight away.

Second opinion

Some people find it helpful to have another medical opinion to help them to decide about their treatment. Doctors can refer you to another specialist for a second opinion if you feel that this would be helpful.

Consent to treatment

Before you have any treatment, your doctor will explain its aims of to you. They will usually ask you to sign a form saying that you give your permission (consent) for the hospital staff to give you the treatment. No medical treatment can be given without your consent, and before you are asked to sign the form you should have been given full information about:

* the type and extent of the treatment you are advised to have
* the advantages and disadvantages of the treatment
* any other treatments that may be available
* any significant risks or side effects of the treatment.

If you do not understand what you have been told, let the staff know straight away so that they can explain again. Some cancer treatments are complex, so it is not unusual for people to need repeated explanations.

It is often a good idea to have a friend or relative with you when the treatment is explained, to help you remember the discussion more fully. You may also find it useful to write down a list of questions before you go to your appointment.

You may feel that the hospital staff are too busy to answer your questions, but it is important for you to be aware of how the treatment is likely to affect you. The staff should be willing to make time for you to ask questions.

You can always ask for more time to decide about the treatment if you feel that you can’t make a decision when it is first explained to you.

You are also free to choose not to have the treatment. The staff can explain what may happen if you do not have it. It is essential to tell a doctor, or the nurse in charge, so that they can record your decision in your medical notes.

You do not have to give a reason for not wanting to have treatment, but it can be helpful to let the staff know your concerns so that they can give you the best advice.

http://www.cancerbackup.org.uk/Cancertype/Prostate/Treatmentforearlyprostatecancer/Overview

References for the prostate cancer information centre

noreply@blogger.com (Opick Taopik) — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 21:04:00 +0000

The information in the prostate cancer information centre is based on the Cancerbackup booklets, Understanding early (localised) prostate cancer, Understanding locally-advanced prostate cancer and Understanding advanced (metastatic) prostate cancer.

These booklets have been produced in accordance with the following sources and guidelines:

* Improving Outcomes in Urological Cancers. National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE). September 2002.
* Prostate Cancer Risk Management. NHS Cancer Screening Programme. 2002.
* Low-dose rate brachytherapy for localised prostate cancer. NICE. July 2005.
* Early prostate cancer: clinical decision-making. Jani A B et al. The Lancet Mar 2003.
* Guidance on Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy. NICE. 2003.
* Clinically localised prostate cancer. Wilt TJ, Thompson IM. Br Med J, 2006; 333: 1102-6
* Cryotherapy as a primary treatment for prostate cancer. NICE. 2005.
* High Intensity Focused Ultrasound for Prostate Cancer. NICE. 2005.
* The NHS Prostate Cancer Programme. Department of Heath. 2000.
* Guidelines on the Management of Prostate Cancer. Clinical Oncology Information Network and British Association of Urological Surgeons. 1999.
* Cancer Research UK website: www.cancerhelp.org.uk/prostatecancer/treatments
* Management of Urological Malignancies. Ed: F C Hamdy. Churchill Livingstone. 2002.
* BNF 51. British National Formulary. March 2007.
* Guidelines on Prostate Cancer. A. Heidenreich, G. Aus, C.C. Abbou, M. Bolla, S. Joniau, V. Matveev, H-P. Schmid, F. Zattoni. European Association of Urology. 2007. www.uroweb.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Guidelines/07_Prostate_Cancer_2007.pdf (PDF document)

Guidelines are constantly being updated and those noted above may have been revised since the booklets were produced. You can access up-to-date guidelines in the health professionals section of the website.

Risk factors and causes of prostate cancer

noreply@blogger.com (Opick Taopik) — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 21:01:00 +0000

In the UK about 1 in 12 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, but in the USA it is one in six men. It is thought that this may be due to the fact that in the USA more men have tests to try to detect early prostate cancer.

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. Although the causes of cancer of the prostate are unknown, there are some factors that are known to increase a man's chance of developing the disease. Researchers are trying to find out more about the causes of prostate cancer.

Ethnic group

Some ethnic groups have a higher chance of developing prostate cancer than others. For example, African-Caribbean men are more likely to develop prostate cancer. However, Asian men have a lower risk of developing it.

Family history

Men who have close relatives (a father, brother, grandfather or uncle) who have had prostate cancer are slightly more likely to develop it themselves.

It is thought that a man's risk of developing prostate cancer is significantly increased if their father or brother developed prostate cancer at or under the age of 60, or if more than one man on the same side of the family has had prostate cancer. If this is the case in your family it may indicate that a faulty gene is present, however a specific gene linked to prostate cancer has not yet been identified.

If several women in a family have had breast cancer (especially before they were 40), it could also indicate that a faulty gene may be present. This gene may increase the risk of men in the family getting prostate cancer. Only a small number of prostate cancers (5–10% or less than one in ten cases) are thought to be due to an inherited altered gene running in the family.

Our section 'Are you worried about prostate cancer?' has further information if you are worried about it running in your family.

Diet

A diet which is high in animal fat (including dairy products) and low in fresh fruit and vegetables may increase your risk of prostate cancer. A high intake of calcium (such as from dairy foods) may increase the risk of developing prostate cancer.

Tomatoes and tomato products (such as ketchup) may help to protect against prostate cancer. This may be because they contain high levels of a substance called lycopene. There is also some evidence that taking selenium supplements in the diet may help to reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

The prostate gland

noreply@blogger.com (Opick Taopik) — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 21:01:00 +0000

The prostate is a small gland found only in men. It is the size of a walnut and surrounds the first part of the tube (urethra) which carries urine from the bladder to the penis.

The prostate produces a thick white fluid called semen which mixes with the sperm produced by the testicles. It also produces a protein called prostate-specific antigen (PSA) that turns the semen into liquid. The gland is surrounded by a sheet of muscle and a fibrous capsule.

A diagram showing the position of the prostate gland
A diagram showing the position of the prostate gland

The growth of prostate cells and the way the prostate gland works is dependent on the male sex hormone, testosterone, which is produced in the testicles.

The back of the prostate gland is close to the rectum (back passage). Near to the prostate are collections of lymph nodes. These are small glands, about the size of a baked bean.

Can Increased Sexual Frequency Boost Prostate Health?

noreply@blogger.com (Opick Taopik) — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 07:53:00 +0000

The prostate is a tiny, walnut-shaped gland that is present only in men. Prostate is a very important part of the male anatomy and often beyond the age of fifty gets enlarged and may be the site of cancer in men. Improving prostate health can be a means of avoiding prostate enlargement and cancer. Can more sex lead to better prostate health? Find out for yourself.

The act of performing a sexual act has both physical and psychological aspects blended into it. To get the best out of sex not only does one have to be physically fit but also be in a calm and relaxed state of mind both during the act and after. Men above the age of fifty experience both physical and psychological problems and this is compounded if they have a prostate problem.

Is there a connection between prostate health and sexual acts? Logic proves that the answer is a definite yes.

1. The prostate produces a fluid which forms a major volume of the semen.
2. To make seminal fluid, the gland takes up citric acid, potassium and zinc from the blood and concentrates them to over 600 times.
3. Alongwith these ingredients, carcinogenic substances from the blood are also taken up and concentrated tremendously in the prostate.
4. Any such carcinogen is a potential threat for the development of cancer in the prostate.

So what's the benefit of frequent sex or ejaculation? Instead of accumulating cancer forming substances within the prostate, it is much better to ejaculate them frequently and avoid the risk of prostate cancer. Some studies have revealed that ejaculation of more than five times a week during your 20s, by any means - regular sex or masturbation, reduces the risk of developing prostate cancer during middle age. This theory might be contested by some but the logic proves otherwise.

Men after the age of fifty are prone to develop benign enlargement of the prostate. This is a condition where the prostate gland simply enlarges and causes symptoms by putting pressure on the urinary tract. Medications, surgery or herbs are available to correct this problem. Men with enlarged prostate also develop erectile dysfunction either due to the disease per se or due to the side effects of the prescription medications.

In spite of a vast majority of men being afflicted by benign enlargement or cancer, prostate enlargement still remains a much less talked about condition. Young men need to be impressed upon about the benefits that they can derive in their middle age by keeping their prostate in a healthy condition by way of increasing their ejaculations either by means of sexual intercourse or masturbation. In addition they can combat prostate enlargement better if they adopt a better lifestyle, maintain a healthy diet and keep fit with exercise.

By Rajgopal Iyer

Providing Emotional Support For Prostate Cancer Patients

noreply@blogger.com (Opick Taopik) — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 07:52:00 +0000

After colorectal and lung cancer, prostate cancer is the third killer cancer in the U.S. Current statistics reveal 1 out of 6 American men being diagnosed with prostate cancer in their life. Prostate cancer typically causes a lot of discomfort, with symptoms including blood in the urine, weakness and numbness in legs and feet, pain in the spine, ribs and other bones, and loss of bladder or bowel control. In the majority of cases, patients are irritable and emotional.

When diagnosed with any type of cancer, even the most even-tempered of men experience emotional and psychological change. Symptoms and their treatments bring fear and discomfort. Any support from family and friends is so essential to those with cancer, but even the family can become affected when a member is diagnosed with cancer. People close to the victim will find it tough to admit the fact a loved one has cancer and could possibly die.

Family members and friends should try to keep in mind that the biggest weight of suffering is placed on the patient himself. He is thinking about the possibility of dying, suffering from pain and loss of autonomy. The focus should be not on you own stresses and troubles, but on the patient's.

Family members' anxieties will communicate itself to the patient and probably provoke further emotional decline. If you stay strong and express a positive attitude when with the patient, it can make both of you feel better. Acknowledge to him that you care and understand how difficult things are. Reassure him you will always be there no matter what.

It can be emotionally and physically draining to deal with a prostate cancer patient, particularly if you are close to the person. The ones most affected besides the patient is the wife, and they are the person who is most looked to for reassurance.

Men with prostate cancer frequently make difficult demands of family or caregivers. A chain smoking patient, for example, might ask for a cigarette and then threaten to not take his medication when not given a cigarette.

Some employ emotional manipulation, saying he is going to die anyway, so why not let him have one last pleasure. Use your gut feeling on when or when not to give in, listening with your heart. Most often, they only want a little reassurance from you.

Above all, try to keep seeing them as the person they are, not as a cancer patient. Without denying the reality of what they are going through, connect to the man you knew before they were diagnosed.

For information on prostate cancer symptoms and prostate treatment surgery, visit Medopedia.com

How To Improve Prostate Health With Nuts?

noreply@blogger.com (Opick Taopik) — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 07:51:00 +0000

Men above the age of 50 begin to experience problems with their prostate. Prostate health is receiving major attention considering the fact that cancer of the prostate is one of the leading killers in men. How can men take better care of their prostate with diet?

While still debate rages on as to what causes prostate enlargement and cancer in some men and not others, there is ample evidence that a good diet can benefit most men in warding off prostate enlargement and cancer.

Prostate enlargement is associated with frustrating symptoms like increased frequency of urination, inability to empty the bladder completely, waking up more often at night to relieve oneself and sexual dysfunctions. All enlarged prostates do not lead to cancer but once enlarged it is essential that a close watch is kept over how the prostate behaves. Genetics and diet play a major role in the outcomes of prostate health. A diet that is poor in anti-oxidants can lead to the development of cancers in general and prostate cancer in particular.

In today's highly competitive and fast-paced lifestyle, the first thing that men tend to ignore is their diet. In a constant rush all the time preference is given to grab fast-food on the way to office rather than eat a healthy home cooked meal. Little do men realize that unhealthy dietary habits can contribute to prostate enlargement and cancer eventually. Dietary supplements seem to be the most convenient remedy to limit the potential for the prostate to cause problems. Many herbs are available to boost the prostate health. A conscious change in dietary habits and lifestyles, however, can prove to be a permanent solution for ensuring that the prostate remains in good health throughout life.

Vitamin E and Selenium are two powerful dietary supplements. Brazil nuts, almonds and hazelnuts are good sources for these two. Selenium is a potent anti-oxidant and also boosts the immune system. Selenium increases the body's defenses and also fights cancer cells on its own. Vitamin E is a fat soluble antioxidant, found in good quantities in hazelnuts, walnuts, peanuts, chestnuts and coconuts. Oils obtained from wheat germ, sunflower, soybean and olives are other natural food items that are rich in Vitamin E. There are several studies that show that a diet rich in Vitamin E can help prevent prostate and breast cancer. Vitamin E when combined with Selenium can drastically reduce the incidence of prostate cancer.

Nuts when consumed in reasonable quantities (a handful two to three times per week) are effective in preventing prostate enlargement and cancer. Remember that too much nuts can lead to elevated Cholesterol levels which is not good.

By Rajgopal Iyer

How To Tell If You Have An Enlarged Prostate

noreply@blogger.com (Opick Taopik) — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 07:49:00 +0000

No matter how physically healthy or unhealthy you are, if you're a man over the age of forty-five, there is a 50 percent chance you have prostate enlargement. Doctors call it benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

That's right... a 50% chance!

The symptoms of an enlarged prostate are often painful, embarrassing, and frustrating. The most common symptoms are:

* A frequent and often urgent need to urinate
* A frustrating inability to completely empty the bladder
* A weak urine stream, and painful or bloody urination.

But the most frustrating symptom is the frequent nighttime urge to urinate that results in sleep-disrupting visits to the bathroom.

If you have experienced any of these symptoms, you're not alone. Each year, as many as 12 million American men suffer from symptoms of prostate enlargement http://www.prostatehealthtips.com/prostate-enlargement.html that are so agonizing they are forced to seek medical treatment!

In fact, in America today, four out of five American men are likely to develop prostate problems during their lifetime. And those problems aren't limited to BPH. Prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate) can occur in males of any age after puberty. And, unfortunately, prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer among American males, developed by 19 out of every 100 men.

Yes, the statistics are frightening. According to Michael B. Schachter, M.D. in The Natural Way to a Healthy Prostate, it is estimated that "the prostate gland accounts for more than 5.5 million doctor visits, 950,000 hospitalizations and 43,500 prostate-related deaths a year."

Until recently, your first line of defense against BPH was conventional drugs or surgery, most of which came with a laundry list of horrifying side-effects that include permanent impotence, incontinence, and even death!

The good news is... there are now natural treatments available to treat prostate conditions that are safe, effective alternatives to these conventional prescription drugs or surgery.

But if you suspect you are suffering from prostate problems, the very first thing to do is have your doctor or urologist accurately diagnose your condition.

There are several examinations to detect prostate enlargement and/or other prostate conditions. Some of these methods are referred to by their initials.

Digital Rectal Exam

Digital rectal exam (or DRE) is usually the first test done. And it's just what it says: your doctor inserts a gloved finger into the rectum and feels the part of the prostate next to the rectum. A DRE exam can give a general idea of the size and condition of the gland, but it's not highly reliable in detecting prostate enlargement, since the part of the prostate that presses on the urethra can't be felt by DRE. It is, however, more useful in diagnosing prostatitis or detecting prostate cancer.

PSA Test

These are initials you'll hear tossed around a lot in relation to prostates. They stand for Prostate Specific Antigen, a protein produced by both benign and malignant prostate cells. The PSA test measures the amount of this protein in the blood. Heightened PSA levels can occur in BPH, prostatitis and prostate cancer. The test is not highly reliable, but it is considered to be more useful in detecting prostate cancer than BPH or prostatitis. Nevertheless, it's a part of the alphabet you should be familiar with.

Urinary Flow Rate Measurement

The patient urinates into a special device that measures how quickly urine is flowing. The peak flow rateÑwhen the urine is flowing fastestÑis a more specific indication of BPH than the average rate of flow. Ultrasound This is usually only used if there is a suspicion of prostate cancer. A probe in the rectum directs sound waves at the prostate, and echo patterns of those waves form an image of the prostate on a display screen.

American Urologic Association Symptom Index

The American Urologic Association has developed a symptom index (AUASI) that has become the standard test to assess symptoms of BPH.

This symptom index is a series of questions that help determine the severity of urinary symptoms and is used by urologists around the country.

If you are looking for any more specific information about how to tell if you have an enlarged prostate or what steps you need to take if you do, please feel free to visit our web site.

James Witman is an expert in nutrition and prostate health. He has written many articles related to prostate health and other health conditions that affect men. To learn more, please visit his website www.prostatehealthtips.com.