Prostate Cancer

There is good news for patients of prostate cancer as well as those who are at risk of developing other types of cancers. Developments in this area of research reveal that the compound that can potentially provide cure and prevention for this chronic disease is resveratrol.

More than a decade ago, this polyphenol that is typically found in red grapes and other berries was initially proposed as a multi-stage protector for all types of cancers. At first, it was noticed only for its high antioxidant content which can inhibit heart diseases from developing. It then became a popular subject among researchers and scientists in many published papers. As new research results unfold, it has been found that resveratrol is more than a protector; it is a possible agent that can fight off the disease.

As of yet, there are 12 known mechanisms by which resveratrol work to prevent the development and spread of cancer cells in the body. What's even better is that the compound is showing indications that it can destroy cancer cells and tumors.

Resveratrol's chemopreventive property is attributed mainly to its capacity to prevent DNA damages. In one of the many studies, it was found that this works by preventing the abduction between DNA and estrogen, which is typically the initiation stage of the disease.

Another property that makes this polyphenol a good candidate for cure is its toxic effects on cancer cells. However, it does not pose any harm to normal cells. In fact, resveratrol supplementation can actually deliver health benefits to the consumer. For one, it can repair heart-related diseases and anomalies such as poor blood circulation, coronary heart disease, and artery damages. Further, it has the capacity to inhibit the growth of cells. It should be noted that this is one of the few aims of treatment.

The future will still decide whether resveratrol is the cure for cancer. As of now, it is a huge step forward to have found a compound that serves as an agent against the disease.

There is a lot of talk and speculation about possible causes of prostate cancer but no definite conclusions. Latest medical studies have been discovering the link between chronic prostate inflammation and prostate cancer. Researchers at John Hopkins University and Case Western Reserve University have produced conclusive data that points to inflammation of the prostate as the likely precursor for prostate cancer.

When doctors discover after series of tests that the prostate is enlarged they usually prescribe drugs, like Avodart or Flomax, which claim to reduce many of the associated urinary symptoms. Flomax works similarly to high blood pressure medications by dilating urinary canal thus reducing the symptom but not addressing the inflammation. Avodart works on a hormonal level, however not addressing inflammation either.

Another option used is non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID's), however those are known to cause liver and kidney damage (acute renal failure) as proven by Harvard University study. Antibiotics, in turn, were proven ineffective in the case of chronic prostate inflammation by University of Washington research team.

Unfortunately, none of these methods seem to be adequate because these measures don't quell the chronic inflammation associated with prostatitis, BPH and enlarged prostate.

However, here's another option. The researchers of Columbia University and Cornell Medical College stated that acupuncture is a safe, effective, and durable treatment in improving symptoms and the quality of life in men with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome.

Acupuncture is a tool that works on chronic inflammation and has no side effects unlike drugs and surgery which can have a risk of impotence and urine incontinence.

Most men become aware of prostate cancer with a routine blood test done by their doctor saying something about checking your prostate serum antigen levels. You get a call shortly after than the doctor want you in his office to talk. When you show up to the appointment, He will sit in his chair reading the report from the blood lab. Your prostate serum antigen is over 4 and with reading like this, you have a 1 in 4 chance of having Prostate Cancer. With a lecture like this, even the cheerful men will have it blood run cold. You will probably feel devastated like someone had punched you in the guts.

For the rest that are unaware, know the signs. There are 13 possible symptoms that indicate you have prostate problems and you don't have to get those symptoms to start with prevention.

1. You have a burning sensation when urinating

2. You wake up all night due to the constant need to urinate at night

3. You have trouble with a weak urine flow

4. You feel your bladder is not completely empty

5. You get a pain, hesitancy or urgency to urinate

6. You get blood in your urine

7. You experience lower back pain

8. You can't feel comfortable on a chair

9. You get pain in the testicles groin or penis

10. You feel pain during sex

11. You have a constant itchy feeling in your penis

12. You need the blue pill to get an erection or impotence

13. You sex drive at zero

The first move is to get a check out by your doctor. Your second move is to start eating or drinking a special group of foods call functional foods as prevention.

This page will show the symptoms and signs, treatment plans, and related to this form of cancer. If you are researching prostate cancer information on surgery, suffer from advanced stages of the disease, wanting to know more about the stages, or looking for the cause and perhaps a cure, we will do I best to provide you with updated information.

Prostate cancer is the second largest from of cancer for men in the U.S. It is estimated according to the American Cancer Society that approximately 29,000 men may become victims of this disease in 2004 and may die. This type of cancer is growing at an alarming rate amongst men and now accounts for 10% of all deaths related to cancer.

It is important to note that in the early stage of prostate cancer, there may be no physical signs or symptoms. However, you may note some problems when it comes to urinating. This signs and symptoms can include: difficulty urinating, burning or pain when urinating, restrictive pressure when attempting to urinate, erection problems, and lower back pain. Other symptoms can include blood in semen and in the urine, and painful orgasms.

It is possible that these symptoms may not be an indication of prostate cancer. A person experiencing the aforementioned signs may have indicators of a more or less type of disease. Only a urologist can accurately diagnose the above symptoms and render a form of treatment. Sometimes a blood test can determine if you are experiencing infection or something more severe.

More advanced screen such as PSA's, rectal examination, biopsy, and an MRI may be necessary to locate and see if it indeed an prostate cancer, and to check for spreading throughout the body into others organs and tissue.

Treatment may not be the same for all diagnosed cases. There are factors that determine the course of treatment options your doctor may prescribe. These include the size of the tumor, age of the patient, the location of the tumor, where or not the cancer has affected the lymphatic system, the overall health state of the patient.

The most common form of treatment is surgery. It's estimated that eighty percent of men live productive lives after surgery. Side effects of surgery can include urinary incontinence, impotence, and sterility, although this is not always common due to the advances in modern medical procedures. Other ways to treat prostate cancer include the use of hormone therapy, which is designed to reduce the level of testosterone, which promotes the growth of cancerous cells. This measure is designed to reduce the tumor only and does not eradicate cancerous cells.

A new method for treating prostate cancer, Brachytherapy, is a treatment in which radioactive pellets are inserted into the area of the prostate. Finally, radiotherapy is another method wherein radiation is applied to the area of concern and a means to destroy the cancer cells.

It still baffles me when I find people wondering whether they can prevent prostate cancer condition by having lots of sex or not. If you happen to be one among such people with this question, this article will not only provide you with the precise answer to this question but also educate you more about prostate cancer condition.

When talking about if sex has the capacity to prevent the condition of prostate cancer or not, there are lots of fine points that support the school of thought which says sex can indeed prevent the illness. It's as simple as A B C - if you look at it critically. In case you didn't know, cleaning of one's prostate goes a long way in preventing cancer and two good ways to clean the prostate are exercises and - yes, you guessed it - SEX. So - it's a fact that sex CAN and DOES help in cleaning up the prostate. This then shows that having good dose of healthy sex can help to prevent this condition, somewhat.

But of course - you should be warned - this doesn't give you the license to start engaging in wanton and careless sex. Sex is best done with the right person (who ought to be your partner or spouse) and at the right place and time. Random and unprotected sex is even more dangerous than prostate cancer itself and should be avoided. It's always best to have one sexual partner, preferably your wife or spouse.

That said, next time you are having a good dose of healthy sex, you should know that you are also helping to "clean up" your prostate and thereby helping to keep prostate cancer at bay. But is that enough? Of course not. It's still highly recommended that you should spend the time that's necessary to engage in constant tests to be sure that prostate cancer doesn't surprisingly spring upon you; the sooner you detect it, the better your chances of survival.

The Prostate Problem

If you're a man who has ever gotten a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening, you know it's a "must-have" test for guys over 50. But there's a debate that's been raging for years over the test's ability to save lives. And now, two opposing studies have muddied the waters on the value of this routine test even more - leaving American men wondering if the test is really worth taking.

While an elevated PSA reading may indicate a life-threatening cancer, it may also detect slower-moving tumors that would never cause death. Because doctors can't yet tell the difference, treatments are often ordered that can impair men's quality of life - causing many experts to worry that the PSA test is overused.

The Problem With PSA

If you've never had a PSA screening, here's the 411 on this popular prostate test. The prostate produces a substance known as Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA). A small amount of this antigen continuously leaks into the bloodstream, and levels can be easily measured. Since high levels of PSA can be associated with prostate cancer, most doctors rely on this test, combined with a rectal exam, to screen their patients for prostate cancer.

Routinely measuring PSA levels as a way to spot potential prostate cancer began in the early 1990s and quickly gained status as the "gold standard." The logic behind the simple blood test was that the earlier you could spot prostate cancer, the better the chance of survival. It's a belief most doctors still subscribe to.

On the other hand, the American Cancer Society does not currently recommend routine PSA screening for all men. Here's why: Raised PSA levels simply indicate there's a problem with your prostate. While that could mean cancer, it could also be a sign of a prostate infection or an enlarged prostate. Or it could mean nothing at all since PSA levels also go up after some medical procedures, particularly after a digital rectal exam. Smoking, your diet, weight changes, and the use of calcium supplements an also cause unreliable PSA readings.

Unfortunately, too many doctors automatically schedule a biopsy based on just one PSA screening. This is totally unnecessary. PSA levels, like your blood pressure, can go up and down based on a variety of factors. Scientists at the University of Texas found that men who are overweight or obese typically have lower PSA counts - even if cancer is present. Bladder infections can also upset PSA levels. Certain medications, like the hair loss drug finasteride, can lower your PSA level, while stress can raise it. And something as simple as changing your diet can impact your PSA.

To get the whole picture, several PSA screenings should be done before more radical measures are taken. And that's where these two studies come in.

Study Stupor

While both studies appeared in a recent issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, that's where the similarities end. The first study, which followed more than 76,000 American men for seven years, found that getting regular PSA screenings did not reduce prostate cancer deaths. But the other study, which included 182,000 European men, found that getting tested reduced the risk of dying from prostate cancer by 20 percent.

So which study is right? Who knows? What I can say is this: The never-ending debate over the virtues of PSA screenings is enough to make any man crazy! But there are some guidelines that can help you decide if you really need to get tested. The most important is family history. You have a higher risk of developing prostate cancer if the men in your family had the disease, especially if they were diagnosed before they turned 55. If your father or brother developed prostate cancer, your risk is doubled.

Race can also be a risk factor. More African-American men are struck by prostate cancer than their Asian counterparts. Blacks also have a higher risk of dying of the malignancy. If you have either of these risk factors, you should definitely schedule a PSA test by the time you celebrate your 45th birthday.

What if you're an older man? Some cancer experts say that, if you have had normal PSA readings in the past, you can stop testing at age 70. But, if previous tests show rising PSA levels, keep getting screened at least annually. If you're eventually diagnosed with prostate cancer, be aware that most prostate cancers are confined to the prostate itself and grow very slowly. If you're over 75, consider "watchful waiting" - a situation where your doctor keeps very close tabs on the cancer's progression. It can be a good alternative to aggressive treatment, which can carry the risk of incontinence and impotence.

Pro-Active Protection

In the midst of all this confusion, there is some good news. Mother Nature has provided men with an arsenal of tools to protect against prostate cancer. Here are three of the most effective:

Vitamin D: A growing number of studies link the "sunshine" vitamin to a lower risk of prostate cancer. One observational study of 19,000 men found that those with the lowest levels of vitamin D have a 70 percent higher risk of developing prostate cancer than those men who got enough of this nutrient. Without enough vitamin D, prostate cells can multiply too quickly and promote both prostate enlargement and cancerous tumors. Yet between 20 and 80 percent of all Americans have low enough levels to classify them as vitamin D deficient. Make sure you're getting enough by taking 1,000 IU of supplemental vitamin D per day to help prevent cancer.

Lycopene: This nutrient is a powerful antioxidant and the source of the red coloring in tomatoes. In a study of over 40,000 health professionals, Harvard researchers found that lycopene slashed the risk of prostate cancer by 35 percent. In another study, researchers discovered that the risk of developing prostate cancer - especially aggressive cancer - decreased in men taking 50 mg. of supplemental lycopene daily. They also noted that a high level of lycopene in the blood was associated with low PSA levels. To boost your lycopene levels, take at least 6.5 mg. per day.

Beta-Sitosterol: This compound is found in a wide variety of plants, including prostate-friendly herbs like saw palmetto, pumpkin seed, and Pygeum africanum. A study of malignant prostate tumors showed that beta-sitosterol decreased cancer cell growth by 24 percent and boosted the rate that the cancer cells died fourfold. The researchers concluded that beta-sitosterol worked both directly and indirectly to halt the growth and spread of prostate cancer cells. To get the most protection possible, take 130 mg. of beta-sitosterol daily. Just be aware that plant sterols can interfere with beta-carotene and vitamin E absorption. Make sure to take a multivitamin to avoid a deficiency.

One Last Thing

If you do decide to get a PSA screening, it's also smart to have some idea what the results mean. What's high? What's low? The National Cancer Institute has created the following four categories to help your doctor determine your risk of prostate cancer.

Normal 0-4 ng/ml

Slightly Elevated 4-10 ng/ml

Moderately Elevated 10-20 ng/ml

Highly Elevated 20+ ng/ml

ng/ml = nanograms per milliliter

If your levels are elevated, don't panic! And don't let your doctor automatically schedule a biopsy. As I mentioned earlier, there are a lot of reasons your PSA may be higher than normal.

A higher-than-normal PSA reading simply means that two things need to happen. First, if your doctor hasn't done so, make sure he conducts a digital rectal exam (DRE). During a DRE, your doctor inserts a lubricated, gloved finger into the rectum and feels the prostate for hard, lumpy, or abnormal areas. Pressure may be applied with the doctor's other hand to the pelvic area so that he can feel for tenderness or abnormalities such as enlargement or growths. There can be some mild discomfort or pain during a DRE, since the doctor must press firmly on the prostate. This pressure can also make you feel like you need to urinate. But, even though it may not be on your "Top 10" list of fun things to do this year, it beats the heck out of getting a biopsy, which can be painful, risky, and potentially unnecessary.

The second thing you need to do is to request at least one more PSA screening before proceeding to more aggressive testing. Since prostate cancer is a slow-growing cancer, most men with higher than average levels can afford to take at least one additional test, preferably a few weeks after the original screening. Overall, PSA is fairly reliable over time, and both you and your doctor can get a much better picture of what's really happening inside your prostate if several PSA tests can be compared.

While you're waiting for your next screening, there are a number of things you can do to improve a troubled prostate. Start by cleaning up your diet. Avoid dairy and highly processed foods, and opt for healthy whole foods. You can also begin to take the supplements mentioned above.

Research Brief

Recently I told you how lutein can protect against age-related macular degeneration. Well, it turns out that this eye-friendly antioxidant can also tackle more mundane problems. A new study from China shows that taking lutein for 12 weeks protected computer users' eyes from becoming sensitive to long-term exposure to the light from computer monitors.

This is great news for folks like me who spend hours in front of their computers. But, to get this protection, the study found that you need higher-than-average amounts of lutein - six to 12 mg. daily. Along with taking a lutein supplement, you can increase your levels by eating more green, leafy vegetables and egg yolks.

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