Prostate Cancer

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A Mans Prostate Health Care

Learn health care for a mans prostate. What special diets and life style support a healthy prostate. Over half of all men over 50 have an enlarged prostate.

Prostate problems all too often and effect a mans activities and all ages can be effected. Men often know a lot more about a womens cycle than they do about their own sexual health. However, problems with a mans prostate as just as common that with womens period cycle issues.

Some of the symptoms with men with prostate problems are difficulty in urination with increased frequency of urination. Painful urination and having to get up at night to urinate are other symptoms. Pain in the lower back is another sign of possible prostate issues.

When a man ages, it is usual for the prostate gland to become bigger. This condition of enlarged prostate "benign prostatic hyperplasia" or BPH. For some men this causes no problems but for some the prostate enlarges and this causing the prostate gland to press inward against the urethra narrowing the space for urine to flow. The bladder wall can become thicker and irritable causing more frequent urination. Eventually some urine remains in the bladder A doctor can diagnose an enlarged prostate during a finger prostate exam.

About 400,000 men in the USA have prostate surgery each year costing over $2 Billion a year.

Experts in diet strongly recommend that a good diet and exercise routine help in preventive and treatment of prostate problems. THe general recommendations are to reduce red meat and saturated fat in the diet and eat more fruit and vegetables. Drinking more water rather that coke and a good exercise program are essential both for prostate care and leading a better, healthier and happier life.

The three nos are cigarettes, booze and high fat foods. Research has shown that aerobic exercise such as jogging, dancing or swimming can improve the state your your prostate.

Men who walked for two to three hours per week were 25 percent less likely to develop prostate problems than those who did little walking. Just 20 minutes walking a day is a little time to put aside for increased health benefits and more energy and as a side benefit better sexual function.

The good news is that lovemaking a few times a week helps your prostate due to the action of the semen and prostate function.

It is important to see your doctor regularly for a prostate check up. They can test for some hormones that rise as a result of prostate cancer.

There are good pharmaceutical medicines are available from your doctor to improve the symptoms of prostate enlargement. The good news is that there are also effective natural therapies, which include the use of time-tested herbs.

Traditionally, several herbs have been used in prostate support. These include Saw Palmetto,and Nettle. Some plant extracts that have also been studied and have indicated in studies to be effective and they include beta sitosterol, genistein, daidzein and lycopene. A good naturopath can recommend several good supplements for prostate care.

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About the Author

Maurice is a qualified sexologist trained at the Advanced Institute of Sexology. For more on the prostate see man prostate and health

Factors That May Increase Your Prostate Risk

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Prostate cancer is second only to lung cancer as the leading cause of cancer deaths in American males. It affects men in their middle-age years, which is why upon hitting their fifties men are advised to go in for annual digital rectal examinations (DRE), one of the tests done to screen men for prostate cancer.
The Importance Of Knowing Your Prostate Risk
The risk for cancers typically increases with age. However some men are at a greater risk for some cancers than others, which often means that earlier and more aggressive screening measures must be taken to reduce the risk for the disease as well as to catch the disease, if it is present, in its earlier stage. Typically, for prostate cancer, Africa-American men are advised to go in for screening once they reach 40 or 45, which is 5 to 10 years earlier compared to men who belong to other races. This is because prostate cancer has been shown to occur most often in African-American men. The same measure is taken in men with a familial history of any cancer. Knowing your prostate cancer risk can make you aware of your need for cancer screening, which can result to earlier detection and treatment.
Factors That Increase Prostate Risk
Like any other form of cancer, there is no one specific factor that causes the development of the disease. Genes, the environment, and diet are all believed to play interlinked roles in the development of the cancer in men.
Prostate risk increases with poor dietary habits, a familial predisposition to cancers, as well as exposure to environmental hazards which can cause cellular mutations. For one, men who have fathers or brothers diagnosed with prostate cancer are two to three times more likely to develop the disease themselves.
Age may also increase the prostate risk in men. The prostate normally starts to enlarge as men get older, and although an enlarged prostate does not necessarily mean that it is malignant, benign enlargement of the prostate, as seen in Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy, may have similar symptoms as prostate cancer and a man with BPH may have undetected cancer at the same time.
Diet is one of the most-studied factors which contribute to the development of the cancer. Studies have revealed that a high-fat diet composed of red meats consumed at regular intervals increased the level of circulating testosterone in the body, the androgen (male hormone) responsible for stimulating the growth and reproduction of cancerous prostate cells. However, a diet high in phytoestrogens, a substance found in plants and fruits can reduce a man’s risk for developing the disease. A low-fat, low calorie vegan diet is the ideal diet for patients suffering from cancer, particularly cancer of the prostate.
The environment may also play a significant role in the development of prostate cancer. It has been shown that although the prostate risk is lower in Asian men, this risk increased once they have migrated to the US, which suggests an environmental connection. The possible exposure to pollution, industrial hazards, and infectious agents compounded by lessened sun exposure may contribute to this increase in prostate risk.
Finally, the inclusion to a particular race may also raise a man’s prostate risk. Studies have shown that the cancer is more common in some racial and ethnic groups than others, although the reason for this is not clear. Specifically, prostate cancer is more common in blacks compared to whites, and is less seen among Hispanics, Asians, Pacific Islanders, and Native Americans.

Lycopene Effective with Prostate Cancer Treatment

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Men with prostate cancer who take supplemental lycopene in addition to surgical removal of the testicles may experience less active disease, less bone pain, and live longer than those who only have surgical removal of the testicles, according to a new study in British Journal of Urology International (2003;92:375–8). This is exciting news for millions of men who have to undergo aggressive treatment for advanced prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer found in men over the age of 50 years, with more than 200,000 new cases each year in the United States. The cause of prostate cancer, like many other cancers, is unknown; however, some studies suggest alterations in testosterone metabolism may play a role in its development. Prostate cancer is generally slow growing and may not cause any symptoms until late in the disease. Symptoms may include frequent or painful urination, dribbling after urination, sensation of incomplete emptying of the bladder, or blood in the urine. The symptoms of prostate cancer are similar to those of a non-cancerous condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), so men experiencing these symptoms should consult their physician for an accurate diagnosis.

In the new study, 54 men with advanced prostate cancer were randomly assigned to have surgical removal of the testicles (orchidectomy) alone or orchidectomy plus oral supplementation with 4 mg of lycopene a day. Measurements of PSA (a blood marker of prostate cancer activity), bone scans, and urinary flow were taken initially and every three months for two years. Men receiving lycopene started on the day of their surgery.

After six months, PSA had significantly decreased in both groups, indicating a reduction in prostate cancer activity. However, PSA levels in those receiving lycopene were more than 65% lower than in those who did not receive lycopene. After two years, PSA levels in the lycopene treatment group had fallen into the normal range, while those who only underwent surgery still had PSA levels more than twice the upper limit of normal. Urinary symptoms significantly improved in both groups, but better improvement was again observed in the lycopene group. The lycopene group also experienced less bone pain.

The survival rates after two years in the lycopene-plus-surgery group and surgery-only groups were 87% and 78%, respectively, a statistically significant difference. No adverse side effects were observed in men taking lycopene.LycopeneLycopene is one of a group of compounds called carotenoids. It is found in high amounts in tomatoes.

The findings of this study corroborate the findings of other similar studies examining the effectiveness of lycopene in the treatment of prostate cancer. However, the amount used in the current study (4 mg per day) was substantially less than the amounts used in other studies (30 mg per day). It may also help stimulate the immune system and has been shown to cause cancer cells to die on their own. Although more research is needed to clarify what amount of lycopene is most effective, men with prostate cancer may benefit from taking daily lycopene supplements. Eating one moderately sized tomato a day also provides approximately 4 mg of lycopene. Other tomato products, such as an 8-ounce portion of tomato juice or tomato paste may provide up to 25 mg of lycopene.

About The Author

Darin Ingels, ND, MT (ASCP), received his bachelor's degree from Purdue University and his Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University in Kenmore, WA. Dr. Ingels is the author of The Natural Pharmacist: Lowering Cholesterol (Prima, 1999) and Natural Treatments for High Cholesterol (Prima, 2000). He currently is in private practice at New England Family Health Associates located in Southport, CT, where he specializes in environmental medicine and allergies. Dr. Ingels is a regular contributor to Vitamin Herb University.

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A Brief Introduction To Prostate Nodules

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A prostate nodule is any growth on the prostate which can be felt upon a digital rectal examination. Characterized as hard, soft, smooth or gritty, prostate nodules or the thickening in some portions of the prostate often develop as men grow older.
The evaluation for a prostate nodule may be included in the evaluation for prostitis or a possible infection. As a rule, all prostate nodules found require further evaluation to rule out the possibility of cancer, which may come without any other symptom.
Benign Prostate Nodules
A nodule does not automatically mean that cancer is present. Hard, rocky nodules may indicate calcification or a case of benign prostatic hyperplasia, where the epithelial and prostatic stromal cells multiply and grow large enough to form large nodules around the periurethral region of the prostate. Surgical removal is often necessary if the nodule has grown large enough to block the urethral canal and cause problems with urination. Sometimes, after a PSA test has shown borderline or elevated levels and there is presence of an infection, the doctor may initially put the patient in antibiotics for 2 to 4 weeks, after which the tests are repeated. If all tests are normal within this time, cancer can be ruled out, although a repeat exam is needed in 3 to 6 months.
Cancerous Prostate Nodules
About 50% of prostate nodules are malignant. Although a digital rectal examination cannot determine whether a nodule is cancerous or not, a biopsy can. A biopsy often follows when the doctor finds abnormal results from a Prostate Specific Antigen test. Once the biopsy has revealed cancer, important variables which are then taken into consideration will include grading and staging. Grading of the cancerous prostate nodule makes use of the Gleason score, which determines the degree of abnormality of the prostate cells from 2 (least aggressive) to 10 (most aggressive).
Staging, on the other hand is done on the basis of the DRE. A cancerous nodule is staged as follows:
T1c (PSA detected)
T2a (small prostate nodule)
T2b (larger prostate nodule)
T3 (very large prostate nodule with probable spread outside of the prostate)
T4 (prostate cancer spreading into adjacent organ such as the bladder)
Prevention And Treatment Of Prostate Nodules
There is no known cause why the prostate tends to enlarge as men get older, and why some men found to have prostate nodules develop prostate cancer and some don’t. Experts think genes and diet may play a role. Good nutrition may contribute to overall prostate health. Men who eat fruits and vegetables, foods that naturally contain antioxidants like lycopene and minerals like selenium lowered their risk for the disease significantly.
For men in their forties or older, an annual DRE may be necessary, especially for high-risk individuals. In some cases, whether the nodule is benign or malignant, surgical excision or complete removal of the nodule may become necessary.

Enlarged Prostate Diagnosis

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A normal prostate is slightly larger than a peanut and weighs around 20 to 30 grams. A swollen prostate can weigh anywhere from 50 to 100 grams. It should also be stated that prostatic hyperplasia is not a sign of prostate cancer. When you go in to the doctor to determine if you have an enlarged prostate, before the doctor can diagnose you they will test you for numerous things to make sure that it is prostatic hyperplasia instead of cancer.

There are several symptoms that will help you determine if you should visit the doctor for a diagnosis. The first sign of an enlarged prostate is urine leakage as well as feeling overall uncomfortable. As the problem persists, you will have a frequent urge to urinate, which is shortly followed by not being able to urinate at all.

The most common way for the doctor to check for an enlarged prostate before conducting tests is through a rectal exam. While this can be very uncomfortable, it is the only way for the doctor to see if your prostate is swollen or enlarged. However, many times the doctor is not able to diagnose the condition with a simple rectal exam. Instead, an x-ray picture of the urinary tract and prostate, or ultrasound pictures is the best way for the specialist to diagnose you properly.

After the doctor has determined your condition, you will have several treatment options. In most cases the doctor will try medicines first. Finasteride is an approved drug that forces the prostate gland to shrink naturally. The doctor will also prescribe an Alpha-blocker that helps relieve the pressure of the enlarged prostate.

In the event that the medicines were not effective, there are two types of surgery procedures that can be done. The first surgery procedure is the transurethral resection of the prostate. This is when the specialist will scrape an amount of tissue from the core of the prostate to help relieve pressure. The second option that many men are requesting is the transurethral incision of the prostate. Instead of scraping away at the core, the specialist will make several cuts in the gland to help relieve pressure.

In some cases, the patient’s condition is already so severe that the medical treatment would not be effective first. Instead, the person has to undergo immediate surgery in order to prevent the bladder from experiencing more damage. If you are experiencing some or just one of the symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate, then you should not wait to see if it will improve.
By Allen Gelb

Reasons Behind a Swollen Prostate

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Taking A Closer Look As to Why Prostates Become Swollen

If you are diagnosed with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) it means that you have a swollen prostate. The prostate gland surrounds the urethra and produces the fluid which carries the sperm during ejaculation so a swollen prostate can cause discomfort and other problems especially with the urinary tract.

Almost all men will experience a swollen prostate as they age. There is no known cause as to why the prostate should become swollen other than the aging process.

Should you find that you are experiencing symptoms such as, difficulty in urinating, dribbling after urinating, strong and sudden urges to urinate, difficulty in emptying the bladder completely, incontinence, blood in the urine or pain when urinating there is the possibility that you have a swollen prostate and should visit your health provider.

Your health provider will take a complete medical history and then will perform a digital rectal exam. After which he may then perform other tests such as, a post-void residual test, a urinalysis, a urine culture or a cystoscopy.

The health provider may also run a prostate specific (PSA) test. This is a blood test that screens for the possibility of prostate cancer. The results of a PSA come back in number form and a lower number is better than a higher number. But before having this test tell your health provider what medications you are taking as some medications artificially lower the levels of PSA.

Should the PSA come back at a higher level it does not necessarily mean that cancer is present but your health provider will probably arrange for a biopsy of the prostate gland just to be on the safe side. As is known from all the prostate cancer news early diagnosis is crucial for recovery.

A swollen prostate can be treated in various ways. Should cancer be ruled out then you health care provider might look at treating you with alpha-blockers. These relax the muscles at the neck of the bladder which makes urinating easier.

Or he may use finasteride which shrinks the prostate gland. This has been shown to be really effective in men with a significantly swollen prostate.

Another way that your health provider may treat your swollen prostate is to use heat therapy. This is done under a local anesthetic and as an out- patient.

If the swollen prostate is causing complications or is difficult to manage then another option is to have the prostate gland removed. This can be done as a transurethral resection, an open prostatectomy or a transurethral incision of the prostate. Any of these procedures will require admission to hospital and will be performed under a general anesthetic.

A swollen prostate can also be treated with a balloon dilation or a prostate stent.

A Few Essential Facts Related To Prostate Anatomy

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When it comes to prostate anatomy the first thing you will need to be aware of is that the prostate is a tiny organ that is no bigger in size than a small chestnut and which sits in front a that small bucket called the bladder that in turn is located inside of the stomach. Another part of the body’s anatomy is the urethra that is a tube running from the bucket’s lower side and which runs into the middle of your prostate.

Location Of The Prostate

The bladder holds your urine and when your bladder muscles relax you will need to urinate. However, this relaxation also causes the urine to rush into your urethra that runs through your prostate before being expelled from the penis. Therefore it is necessary that you also understand prostate anatomy in order to know where the prostate is located.

The prostate in fact is located both in front of as well as beneath the bladder and it wraps it around your urethra. By understanding this aspect of prostate anatomy you will be able to understand how problems with your prostate such as enlargement, inflammation as well as infection can interfere with your ability to urinate normally as well as to have normal sex.

It is in fact necessary to understand prostate anatomy because only then will you be able to understand why you are having problems with your ejaculation. In fact, the prostate gland, an essential part of prostate anatomy, is situated beneath the bladder and is wrapped around your urethra and it serves the function of adding certain specific fluids to the sperm prior to ejaculation of the sperm.

Sperm as everyone knows is produced in your testicles from where it moves to your epididymis and there it will mature after which it moves into a pair of small and muscular tubes that are known as vas deferens that are located around your bladder and to what are know as seminal vesicles. By understanding prostate anatomy you can also learn how, when you ejaculate, these seminal vesicles as well as the prostate glands need to contract in order to expel the contents into the urethra, and more particularly its prostate parts after which it goes out from the tip of your penis.

Besides understanding prostate anatomy and its functions, it is also necessary to learn about what main problems affect the prostate gland. Another important issue related to prostate anatomy and prostate cancer is knows the proper prostate cancer cure, which in most cases means undergoing surgery or having hormonal therapy. In fact, prostate cancer is the second most serious form of cancer in males in the developed world and thus needs to be addressed on a war footing.

Prostate Disease Can Turn Into A Major Physical And Mental Problem

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As men begin to age a normal consequence of the aging process is for them to have prostates that have begun to enlarge which then leads to problems with the urethra and also problems with urination. In effect, when the prostate enlarges it causes contraction or squeezing of the urethra and blocks urine from flowing freely and this condition is referred to, in medical terminology, as benign prosthetic hyperplasia or BPH. Once BPH affects a man it results in frequent urination at all times of the day, though more specifically at night – and it also leads to difficulty in urination.

Not Much Interest

Prostate disease is a subject that often fails to elicit any real interest in the minds of most people who somehow seem to be able to continue living life without experiencing too many difficulties. However, for the less fortunate, a prostate disease can become quite disruptive to their normal functioning and it also becomes bad enough to warrant getting the condition treated. If you are among those who are suffering from a prostate disease you will, in all probability, find that there is blood in your urine and you will also feel like urinating even after just having finished urinating. Such conditions obviously give rise to a lot of worry and can have adverse mental connotations for most men that are so affected.

One of the more serious types of prostate disease is prostate cancer which, besides other problems, can also lead to trouble having sex as witnessed in pain filled ejaculation and also in not being able to hold an erection for any appreciable period of time. Such form of prostate disease is extremely detrimental to a person’s well being and it also disturbs the mental equilibrium as well.

By tradition, man considers him to be aggressive sexually and when something (such as prostate disease) upsets his balance he will suffer from a lot of anguish – most of it being mental. The sad truth is that prostate disease is one disease that cause to a lot of mental strife in the minds of men, especially when it leads to male sexual dysfunctionality. It is imperative therefore that healthy prostate condition be maintained and for this there are several tips available that will ensure that prostate disease does not become a major problem with you.

A good diet is essential to preventing prostate disease and so too is maintaining a proper lifestyle that requires, among other things, needing to exercise regularly.

Eat Properly, Exercise Regularly If You Want To Enjoy A Healthy Prostate

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The chances of developing prostate cancer are the greatest amongst males that have attained the age of fifty. In fact, as far as American males go, there are about three hundred thousand new instances of males being diagnosed with prostate disease on a year to year basis, of which roughly a tenth die due to different prostate diseases and these numbers are only increasing.

Best Interests

It should be quite self-evident that maintaining a healthy prostate is in your best interests. In essence, the prostate is a gland that is the size of a small chestnut that is situated just below your bladder and it also wraps it around your urethra. Mostly, a prostate is not called upon to do much other than, when having an erection; it needs to close the urethra. Also, the prostate comes into play when ejaculating and in addition the prostate acts by adding a certain kind of fluid to your sperm before it is allowed to exit from your penis while ejaculation is taking place.

To maintain a healthy prostate requires that you ensure that it does not become infected, or does not get enlarged and it also must not be affected by cancer. Infection or prostitis causes much pain as well as leads to fever and several problems with urination. To ensure you are able to regain a healthy prostate you might, when experiencing such problems, need to take medicines as well as use therapies and also ensure taking certain diets that will promote good body health.

Enlarged prostate or benign prostatic hypertrophy (BHP) is not cancerous but it does ensure that you are not able to keep a healthy prostate and it also causes hesitant urination, makes urine ooze out prior to as well as post urination, causes frequent urge to urinate, makes you strain to get urination started and also results in having urgent need to urinate.

Prostate cancer can certainly cause you major problems and unless you take measures to ensure a healthy prostate, you may well end up requiring undergoing prostate tests as well as PSA blood testing.

The best way to ensure a healthy prostate is of course to do your best to eat a healthy diet as well as live a life that is free of stress. Eating fresh fruits, vegetables, legumes, and fresh fruit will go a long way in ensuring a healthy prostate. It also pays to learn about pertinent prostate cancer information in order to prevent, or if you become afflicted by prostate cancer, to treat the problem at the earliest.

By exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet and staying free from stress, you can easily ensure a healthy prostate and so, not have to worry about paying for costs of treatment.

The Most Common Prostate Cancer Symptoms

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Because prostate cancer is one of the most lethal diseases for men over the age of fifty, it’s important to know exactly how to detect it. The cancer itself grows very slowly, so it’s not noticeable by scans until it’s advanced to the point of doing damage to the surrounding organs and tissues. Prostate cancer symptoms are the most effective way of diagnosing and then learning to treat it before it reaches advanced or intermediate stage. Prostate cancer symptoms are most noticeable early on, and when they’re found they can be checked over by a physician, who can then diagnose prostate cancer.

An enlarged prostate is one of the most common prostate cancer symptoms. Although it’s not possible for a man to normally see whether his prostate is enlarged, it’s noted by the symptoms of an enlarged prostate. The prostate controls urination and ejaculation mainly, and these two functions, if disrupted, are signs of an enlarged prostate. If the man has trouble urinating, it usually means the prostate has enlarged and is pressing against the urethra. Frequent need ot urinate is a sign of an enlarged prostate, when it presses against the bladder. Also, rectal tissue and other tissue can be damaged or ruptured by the prostate enlarging and rupturing that tissue.

PSA Tests for Prostate Health

PSA tests are a measure of how large the prostate is, by taking a biopsy of the prostate and comparing the level of prostate specific antigen and comparing it to the whole of the prostate. PSA levels that are too high are linked to increased risk of prostate cancer.

Another prostate cancer symptom is impotence. Damaged or infected prostate tissue can damage the glades that produce semen, or press against the seminal vesicles. This can also cause pain during sexual intercourse or difficulty ejaculating or maintaining an erection.

These are the most common prostate cancer symptoms, and if they are detected and reported early enough, prostate cancer treatment can be administered to prevent the cancer from progressing too far and keeping it from recurring. Also, one method of preventing prostate cancer is to ejaculate frequently. It’s been shown in studies that prostate cancer is a third less likely to occur in men who ejaculate at least five times a week, either by sexual intercourse or masturbation.
Getting regular prostate exams is vital to prevention of prostate cancer, because the disease grows too slowly to really be detected otherwise.