February 28, 2008

Green Tea And Prostate Health

Prostate health is something that should be treated with a balanced diet your whole life. Keeler sums it up: "Prostate health is an issue that men should consider throughout their lifetime, not just when symptoms appear. Because of this location, when prostate health is compromised, it ends up causing many problems.

With the graying of the baby boomers prostate health is looming large and concern for cancer has become an increasingly frequent topic of conversation. The most effective supplement for prostate health is Saw Palmetto berry extracts.

New research suggests that green tea may help prevent the spread of prostate cancer. Specifically phytochemicals in green tea, called polyphenols attack growth factors and proteins, interrupting growth processes of tumors, thus preventing them from spreading to other organs. Since earlier studies suggests that the same natural plant substances might also help prevent the start of prostate cancer, researchers indicate that more studies are needed on green tea's affect on fighting this common cancer. The best way to reduce your risk of prostate cancer still lies in eating a mostly vegetarian diet.

Studies on diet and cancer also show that green tea when tested with mice with an aggressive form of cancer can decrease the spread or metastasis of prostate cancer to liver, bone, and other parts of the body. Additional study of green tea may help develop a treatment to prevent the dormant, non threatening type of prostate cancer many men have in their 70's & 80's from becoming aggressive and fatal. Around six cups of green tea per day would contain the equivalent amount of polyphenols for individuals to help block the spread of cancer. Other data shows that the phytochemicals in green tea could inhibit the early phases of prostate cancer development.

Green tea contains compounds known as polyphenols which are antioxidant and are credited with protecting against cancer, heart disease and aging. Green tea diet is also widely recognized as a substance that can protect against many different cancers such as stomach cancer, ovarian cancer, cancer of the colon, oral cancer, prostate cancer, and breast and cervical cancers.

Japanese men, who commonly drink four to six cups of green tea daily, have a significantly lower mortality rate from prostate cancer than Westerners. And the incidence of prostate cancer in China, whose population consumes green tea regularly, is the lowest in the world. Whatever the benefits of green tea, it would be a mistake to rely on tea alone for prevention. Studies show that other food nutrients, including saw palmetto, potassium, zinc, selenium, soy and green tea may also lead reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer... To Read More!

Paul Rodgers specializes in marketing online fitness, diets, health and beauty products and services. You are invited to visit the following Website: http://dietea4u.com/ - http://totalprostate.com/

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February 26, 2008

Can A Prostate Cancer Diet Work For You

Many people think that once they have been diagnosed with cancer, there is nothing they can do except seek medical treatment. While medical treatment is extremely important, it is wrong to think that you cannot aid your healing at home. Did you know that if you suffer from prostate cancer, a prostate cancer diet can help you heal faster? You need to take care of your body when you have cancer and one of the best ways to do this is to eat a healthy diet and exercise.

Men that suffer from prostate cancer should do everything that he can do aid his body during the healing process. This is important throughout treatment and once he goes into remission. A diet rich in healthy foods can certainly help a man through his prostate cancer treatments. Here are some ways that you can follow a prostate cancer diet and make sure that you are healing in no time flat.

•Take your vitamins: Cancer takes a lot out of your body. If you have been diagnosed with cancer, you will want to make sure you are getting adequate amounts of the necessary vitamins and minerals everyday. Your doctor can recommend a good vitamin supplement to take during your treatment.

•Go low fat: It is always important to eat a diet that is low in fat, but it is even more important to do this if you have been diagnosed with prostate cancer. When you follow the prostate cancer diet, stick to foods that are low in saturated fats and avoid any food with trans-fat. Eat lean meats such boneless, skinless chicken breast, and turkey. Also, remember to stay away from fried foods.

•Get plenty of fruits and vegetables: The rule of thumb when it comes to following a good prostate cancer diet is to eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. Dark green veggies are rich in iron, while orange veggies are good anti-oxidants. This is what you want to look for when you add these types of foods to your diet.

•Legumes and Dairy: It is also important that you follow a diet that contains legumes (peas and beans) and plenty of low fat dairy. Low fat string cheese, yogurt and skim milk are ideal when following prostate cancer diet. Soy is also an excellent option for anyone that is suffering from cancer.

In addition to eating correctly while you are following the prostate cancer diet, you also need to make sure that you are getting the proper amount of exercise. This cannot only help you feel rejuvenated; you will also help your body heal faster. As you can see, following the proper diet and exercising are the keys to helping your body heal from prostate cancer.

About the Author:

You can also find more info on Prostate Cancer New Treatment and Prostate Exam

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February 25, 2008

Fighting Prostate Cancer

According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death among American men. Thus, it always a good time to learn about prostate health , a subject all men should address with their physicians before having to deal with it while sitting in the patient's chair.

The prostate is a male sex gland located just under the bladder and in front of the rectum. Prostate is responsible for making semen, the thick fluid that mixes with sperm and helps to push it through the urethra and penis during sex. As men age, their prostates may enlarge and cause symptoms such as a slow stream or increased frequency of urination in a benign process called benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). However, in other cases, they may develop prostate cancer.

For example, researchers support that a 50-year-old man who is expected to live another 25 years has a 42% chance of getting prostate cancer before he dies. Whether or not he develops prostate cancer, he will most likely die from an unrelated cause. He will have had no symptoms, and his prostate cancer will only be visible through a microscope at the time of his death. The risk to any healthy man of developing symptoms related to prostate cancer at any time during his life is only 10%, and his risk of actually dying from prostate cancer is only 3%. That said, screening for prostate cancer is still very important. Early detection and treatment of prostate cancer may delay or prevent tumor enlargement, metastasis (spread), and death.

While almost all men develop "silent" or latent prostate cancer cells if they live long enough, some lifestyle factors can increase a man's risk. Several studies have shown that being significantly overweight may promote the development of a more aggressive form of prostate cancer. In one recent study, those men who had gained more than 3.5 pounds a year between the ages of 25 and 40 were twice as likely to have this cancer recur as men who gained less weight. Also, excess body fat that is located in and around internal organs and often indicated by more waistline fat may pose particular risks, even if a man is not obese. In a recent study, men with prostate cancer averaged about 50% more total abdominal fat than healthy men of the same age.

But, doctors assess that with proper diet, exercise and early detection, there is hope against this disease. Statistics reveal that in more than 1.8 million men, only in United States, have beaten prostate cancer. Studies have shown that prostate health depends on a plant-based diet low in fat and rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Patients who have been researched were found to fight prostate cancer by eating specific types of foods that had protective compounds for good prostate health.

In fact, several foods, such as tomatoes, although the F.D.A. has issued an announcement that there is no particular evidence for this vegetable's ability to fight prostate cancer, nuts, cruciferous vegetables, onions, and spinach have shown some promise with this disease. Finally, herbs and nutrients such as green tea extract, stinging nettle root, ginger, rosemary, zinc, lycopene, and selenium have also been shown to help maintain and promote normal prostate health.

About the Author:

Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles on many topics including Men's Health, Arts, and Society

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February 19, 2008

There Are Limits To The Prostate Cancer (PSA) Test

This article is written to provide information about the Prostate Cancer PSA test, both positive and negative.

The Federal Drug Administration approved the PSA test to be used with a rectal exam to detect prostate cancer. The PSA is just one tool a doctor has available to detect prostate cancer if a man is not showing any other symptoms of prostate problems. The PSA can detect small tumors but it does not actually reduce the chances of a man dying of prostate cancer. The test may detect slow-growing tumors but if the cancer is aggressive and has already spread to other parts of body, the PSA test may not help.

The Prostate Cancer PSA test may also give a false positive result because the levels may be high but there is no cancer present. If a patient gets a result that shows a positive high-level it may mean he will be sent for more medical procedures. These procedures have some risks and some of these tests are expensive. The financial costs of these tests can cause extra anxiety for the patient and the patients family. Most men who have high levels of PSA are found not to have cancer. Only 25-30 percent of those patients who have high levels of PSA are later found to have cancer after having a biopsy.

There is also a possibility that a patient may receive a false negative test results. This means the Prostate Cancer PSA test will come back as negative or normal when the patient has cancer. Most prostate cancer cases are slow growing and a patient may even have cancer for many years before it is detected. The cancer will gradually grow and when they are large enough will result in symptoms.

There is a controversy about the use of the PSA test. It has not been shown that it actually saves lives and there is still a debate about having follow-up tests and cancer treatments. The Prostate Cancer PSA test can detect small cancer cells that may never grow large enough to cause a problem. If tests and surgeries follow, they may cause added medical problems that could have been avoided. This may put men at risk for over treatment. Surgery and radiation could be avoided if the cancer is not growing or likely to grow.

A prostate biopsy is a normal follow up procedure and there are risks involved with this procedure. Bleeding and infection can occur and prostate cancer treatments may cause erectile dysfunction and urine incontinence. All of these risks should be considered when deciding to have additional screening or treatment after a high PSA test result.

Research is still being done to decide if yearly PSA tests will result in a decreased risk of dying of prostate cancer. The National Cancer Institute is conducting screenings right now to see if some screening tests do reduce the number of deaths caused by prostate, lung, colorectal, and ovarian cancer. It will be several years before the results of this study are complete. Scientists and researchers are searching for ways to see the difference in benign or malignant and fast or slow growing cancers.

About the Author
Verlyn Ross owns and operates a website dedicated specifically to providing health and fitness information. It includes a wealth of free articles in which you may have an interest. For a great place to get Answers, go here! http://www.achieve-health-fitness.com/

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Prostate Cancer Treatment Options: Selecting What Is Best

Being diagnosed with prostate cancer nowadays is by no means a death sentence however it is imperative that you get treatment without delay. There are a number of prostate cancer treatment options available and the best one for you will depend on your individual case. You need to speak with your oncologist and decide what you want to achieve from your prostate cancer treatment so that the right course of treatment can be selected for you.

This can initially be quite difficult to do, especially when you are first diagnosed and in a state of shock however your oncologist will be able to answer any questions you may have and will be able to give you very beneficial advice. You might want to consider taking a family member with you to your consultation so that they can ask any questions that you might forget because of the stress associated with the situation.

Ask your oncologist if he/she has any leaflets about the various prostate cancer treatments because as you go back over your conversation at a later date you will undoubtedly forget important aspects that require consideration. Also ask your oncologist to explain the different prostate cancer treatment options to you in easy terms. Medical jargon can be overwhelming and confusing to a stressed mind so try to make things as easy as possible.

Simply put there are three major forms of prostate cancer treatment; surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Hormone therapy is also often used as a complimentary therapy and any combination of the three main treatments can be used together or in conjunction with hormone therapy. The type of prostate cancer treatment that you receive will depend to a large extent on the cancer itself and how far it has progressed.

When the initial cancer spreads to the surrounding tissues and then to other sites in the body, the type of prostate cancer treatment used will become more palliative than curative i.e. the treatment will slow down the growth of the cancer and help control the side effects rather than actually curing the disease.

In addition factors such as your age, general health and what you want to achieve from the treatment will also be taken into consideration. The elderly may suffer from surgery much more than they would suffer with prostate cancer and so they may choose to do nothing except slow down the growth and spread of the disease. Younger men however may want to get rid of the cancer entirely and so opt for surgery and then probably radiation therapy to kill any remaining cancerous cells.

There are a lot of things to consider when you choose your form of prostate cancer treatment and the decision should not be rushed. Prostate cancer is one of the slow growing cancers and so a few weeks of deliberation will, in most cases, have no major effect on the size of your cancer or the symptoms experienced. Take your time and weigh up all the options before deciding to do anything; after all, you cannot turn the clock back and decide again.

About the Author
There are several factors to deciding on your prostate cancer treatment. Please visit http://www.prostate-cancer-treatment-hub.com/ for more information and resources.

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February 18, 2008

You Can Beat Prostate Cancer and You Don't Need Surgery to Do It

Author: Robert J. Marckini
ISBN: 978-0-6151-4022-3
Publisher: Lulu

Prostate Cancer. Those two words strike fear, dread, and panic in a man's heart, cutting to the soul and psyche of any man over the age of 45. While the diagnosis of prostate cancer is not a death sentence and has a very high rate of cure, the standard treatment radical prostectomy has some serious side effects without any guarantee of a cure.

Incontinence, rectal wall damage, infection, and impotence are some of the very real permanent consequences of this "gold standard" procedure. You Can Beat Prostate Cancer and You Don't Need Surgery to Do It offers readers information and hope for a new treatment protocol for prostate cancer - Proton Beam Therapy.

Robert Marckini, author and prostate cancer survivor, has created an informative, well researched discussion of an alternative treatment format for prostate cancer. Proton Beam Therapy, a form of external beam radiation therapy, uses proton beams rather than photon beams to provide more localized treatment of the tumor site. Its advantage over standard X-ray/photon radiation is the significantly diminished exposure of healthy tissue to radiation.

Proton beams can be so precisely aimed that it delivers more radiation to the tumor site with little or no "collateral" damage to surrounding tissue and organs. This significantly diminishes possible side effects and quality of life issues faced by those who undergo other treatment options. The disadvantages of proton treatment are minimal; treatment is eight weeks of treatment - five days a week, some possible changes in sexual potency, and the cost is quite expensive compared to other available treatment plans, however, Medicare and most private insurers cover proton therapy.

Marckini's investigation into various treatment plans led to a very personal exploration of the standard and experimental choices available. Some single path treatments, others involving a combination of techniques and procedures, exposed him to a world of medicine he never knew existed.

Surgery, while the most common treatment plan, is still major surgery and not necessarily the best option for most men. Laparoscopic surgery is an option as well. While recovery time is considerably shorter, the complications and side effects can be significant. With a 60-80% chance of impotence from either surgery choice, men become very concerned about the possible outcomes and like the author, seek viable alternatives. Various forms of external radiation therapy, brachytherapy, and hormone ablation therapy are available, and widely used, sometimes in conjunction with other treatments.

The more Marckini read, the more he felt certain that proton therapy was the choice for him.. He located Loma Linda University Medical Center and began a very serious investigation of their treatment. He went so far as to survey those who had completed Proton Beam Therapy at LLUMC. The overwhelming response was no problems with incontinence and bladder control and only minor issues related to erectile dysfunction (and those were responsive to standard ED medication).

For obvious reasons, Marckini chose proton beam therapy to treat his cancer and has never regretted his choice. As a direct result of his personal quest for clear, easy to understand, and frank information on treatment options, You Can Beat Prostate Cancer and You Don't Need Surgery to Do It was born.

In a single, easy to use, easy to read format is the type of information that Marckini wished had been available to him at his diagnosis. Compared to other texts on the topic, none of them come close to being as all-inclusive in providing solid information, checklists, guidelines, and a frank discussion of treatment option advantages and disadvantages.

Marckini's You Can Beat Prostate Cancer and You Don't Need Surgery to Do It is the new "gold standard" in information available to men at risk or recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. This is one book that definitely should be in every man's library collection.

Shannon Evans, senior editor and owner of http://www.mywritingmentor.com/ lives with her best friend Rick on Bainbridge Island in the Puget Sound just a "ferry ride from Seattle." She maintains two blogs: http://www.authormarketingtools.wordpress.com/ http://www.mywritingmentor.wordpress.com

She works with her two Labrador assistant editors, Mocha and Luke, and her feline copy edit assistants, Caesar and Yoda. Shannon is widely recognized as one of the top writing coaches for non-fiction authors. With over 17 years editing for native and non-native English speaking authors she knows how to help writers make every word count.

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February 14, 2008

Prostate Cancer Prevention - Vitamins and Natural Supplements

Studies show that certain vitamins, minerals and natural products provide protection against cancer. Whether in the form of fruit, tea or food supplements, these nutrients are a major asset to everyone wanting to protection from cancer. Let's take a look at some of the most well known vitamins, whilst introducing perhaps a few lesser-known naturally occurring products.

Vitamin E

Several studies have shown that vitamin E, particularly in conjunction with Selenium, could have a protective role against prostate cancer. Vitamin E helps combat free radicals that play a role in the appearance of cancer.

The results of a cancer prevention study carried out in Finland, published its results in 1998. The study involved 29,133 men, all smokers, who every day for a period of 6 years took either 50 mg of vitamin E or a placebo. The incidence of prostate cancer in those taking the daily dose of vitamin E showed an overall reduction of 32% over those taking the placebo.

Selenium

Selenium is a mineral found in the ground and which we ingest through eating fruits and vegetables. Men with low levels of selenium in the blood have a risk of prostate cancer four to five times higher than normal. The amount of Selenium retained in the bloodstream reduces with age, and unfortunately the soil in many western countries (where the risk of prostate cancer is highest) is poor in selenium.

The results of a clinical study carried out by the University of Arizona showed that taking a complement of 200 micrograms of Selenium each day could reduce the incidence of prostate cancer by 63%.

Selenium also enters our diet by beng present in cereals, meat, fish, and eggs. Liver and Brazil nuts are also particularly rich sources of selenium.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is especially well known, along with calcium, for the important role it plays in the health of your bones. The body synthesizes about two-thirds of its vitamin D requirement thanks to the sun (assuming you spend enough time in the sun). The rest is obtained through food.

Vitamin D is also an important anti-cancer weapon. Several American studies have shown that people who live at more northerly latitudes are significantly more prone to cancer than those who live near to the Equator. Those further north are generally deficient in vitamin D due to the weaker sunlight. This is certainly true for prostate cancer: for example the results of a study published in the December 1992 issue of the journal "Cancer" demonstrate that the incidence of prostate cancer in the state of Florida is twice that in the northern State of Maine.

Quercetin

Quercetin is a substance synthesized by plants, and which belongs to the large group known as flavenoids. It is found in substances such as red wine, onions and green tea. Quercetin possesses anti-oxidant properties. In 1999 a food complement formulated using Quercetin, Bromelain and Papain (enzymes extracted from pineapples and papaya fruits) underwent a placebo-controlled test on 30 patients suffering from chronic prostatitis. 20% of patients taking the placebo and 67% taking the food complement showed an improvement.

A further randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, conducted by the Institute for Male Urology in Encino, California, found that 82% of patients who received another proprietary blend of Quercetin, recorded at least a 25% improvement in the National Institutes of Health pain and quality of life symptom score. Importantly, all of these patients had failed to show improvement after taking several courses of antibiotics and other therapies before participating in the study.

A Vitamin Cocktail

Another American study, the results of which were published in 1999, demonstrated that vitamin and mineral supplements guard against prostate cancer. Researchers compared the effects of vitamins on 697 men aged between 40 and 64 and suffering from prostate cancer, with the effects on 666 men in good health. The results demonstrated that regular taking of vitamins C and E together with zinc reduces the risk of prostate cancer.

As can be seen from the above examples, the taking of certain vitamins and minerals can have demonstrable benefits in the prevention of prostate cancer. All men over the age of 40 should seriously consider taking some of these simple preventative measures as an aid to their well-being. Indeed there are several proprietary formulations available commercially providing balanced doses of several of these naturally occurring products.

About the Author
Dr Tavares writing about cancer treatment can be seen at http://www.prostate-cancer-answers.info/treatment and her column on prostate cancer can be found regularly at http://www.prostate-cancer-answers.info/

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February 11, 2008

Characterizing Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer occurs when cells within the walnut-sized gland in the male reproductive system mutate and begin to multiply. This gland, called prostate, is located in front of the rectum and underneath the urinary bladder. It surrounds the tube, called urethra, which carries urine from the bladder and semen through the penis. The gland functions by helping in the production and storage of seminal fluid. The prostate gland has an average length of three centimeters and weighs about twenty grams.

Different types of cells can be found in the prostate, but cancer occurring in this part of the male reproductive system almost always starts with the grandular cells. Cancers that start in the grandular cells are called adenocarcinoma and 99 percent of prostate cancers are classified as adenocarcinoma.

The peripheral zone of the prostate is where cancer usually develops. Some studies have claimed that the development of cancer in the prostate starts with the occurrence of a condition called prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN). Although there are still no studies that can confirm that PIN is a cancer precursor, many doctors believe that this condition has a role in the development of cancer in the prostate.

PIN is a condition wherein changes in the microscopic appearance of prostate gland cells start to happen. These changes start to appear in men during their 20s and could continue to escalate as they grow older. In the initial stage of PIN, small clumps of cancer cells remain confined to normal prostate glands. Over time, though, they could multiply and spread to the surrounding prostate tissues and form a tumor. The tumor may grow and invade nearby organs and even metastasize to spread to other organs such as the bones and lymph nodes.

The specific cause of this condition has yet to be pinpointed by medical studies, but several factors have been associated with a man's risk of developing this condition such as age, genetics, race, lifestyle, diet and medications used. In terms of age, research figures have shown that the condition is not very common among men aged below 45. The chances of developing this condition, though, increase as a man ages. But since cancer in the prostate is slow to develop, some men who already have the condition might not show symptoms for years and might even die of other causes without the disease having affected them, particularly if this cancer is acquired during the latter stage of a man's life.

According to medical statistics, cancer of the prostate is the most common non-skin cancer in the United States. It has been projected that in 2006, 234,000 men will be diagnosed with cancer of the prostate in the United States alone and an estimated 27,000 men will die from the disease. Despite these seemingly scary figures, prostate cancer remains a much controllable condition compared with other types of cancer and the international medical community is continuing its efforts to improve methods of detecting the condition early to give men a better chance of managing it.

About the Author
Mensglands.com provides you with info on prostate cancer, its treatments and symptoms and how to overcome or reduce the risk of getting it. http://www.mensglands.com/

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Enlarged Prostate Symptoms: How to Tell When a Man Has BPH

Enlarged prostate symptoms rarely manifest before the age of 40. For some men, symptoms might not even occur at all. However, the condition called BPH or enlarged prostate affects almost 90 percent of men in their seventies and eighties, while more than 50 percent of men who reach their sixties experience symptoms.

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) or Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy is a condition characterized by the enlargement of the prostate gland; a common occurrence since it is quite normal for men's prostates to enlarge as they age. The growth of the prostate has two main phases; the first is during puberty, when the size of the gland doubles; and the second is at around age 25, when the gland starts growing again.

The second growth phase often results in BPH years later. Some of the more common enlarged prostate symptoms include weak stream of urine, difficulty in starting urination, dribbling and leaking of urine, a strong and sudden desire to urinate especially at night, a feeling of not emptying the bladder, and in some cases, blood in the urine.

As a man's prostate enlarges, the layer of tissue surrounding it prevents the gland from expanding which causes the gland to press against the urethra. The bladder wall becomes thicker and irritable resulting in contraction which causes frequent urination. Eventually, the bladder becomes weaker and might not be able to empty itself which could result in urine being trapped in the bladder. The narrowing of the urethra and the inability of the bladder to fully empty itself cause many of the problems associated with enlarged prostate.

The cause of enlarged prostate has yet to be fully understood. Since BPH occurs in older men and does not develop in those whose testes were removed during puberty, researchers believe that factors related to aging and the testes contribute to the development of the condition. Some studies have also theorized that BPH occurs because the amount of testosterone (male hormone) in the blood decreases as a man ages, leaving a higher proportion of estrogen (female hormone) which results in the increased activity of substances associated with cell growth.

Majority of BPH symptoms stem from urethral obstruction and gradual loss of bladder function. The extent by which a man's prostate has grown does not always determine how severe the condition is. Some men with greatly enlarged prostate experience little problems and manifest few symptoms, while others whose prostates are less enlarged may have severe obstruction, more blockage and experience more discomfort or pain.

Despite similarities between prostate cancer and enlarged prostate symptoms, having the latter does not mean that chances of getting the former are increased. Researchers have not found any direct connection between BPH and prostate cancer, but it is still highly imperative that men over the age of 40, whether they have or do not have enlarged prostates, undergo a rectal exam to screen for prostate cancer.

About the Author
Mensglands.com provides you with info on prostate cancer, its treatments and symptoms and how to overcome or reduce the risk of getting it. http://www.mensglands.com/

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February 8, 2008

Positive Attitudes Help Prostate Cancer Clients Survive

I'm always looking for resources to help my holistic health care clients in their journeys of healing.

When I met Mike Jones at the Manor Health Fair, I was immediately struck by the incredible level of positive energy and passion that he exuded as a regional leader for Us Too, an organization dedicated to providing support group and health empowerment services to men, who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, and their families.

As a survivor of prostate cancer, Mike dedicates his life to educating others with a vibrancy that helps others to see that they too can overcome illness and achieve states of wellness and spiritual peace.

What did you find most helpful in enabling you to survive prostate cancer?

Mike Jones: My state of mind and my ability to connect with a higher power. Facing prostate cancer allowed me to open my heart and soul to the supreme architect of the universe, God. I realized very early it was God who had a purpose for me in dealing with cancer and helping me understand, "Why me?" Thinking about God opened my mind to God. I knew if I wanted to make it in life, I had to make it my life.

I also found that if you find yourself miserable, count your blessings. It may prompt you to do something about it.

What three strategies can you share to enable our readers to move through the experience of prostate cancer positively and with greater healing?

Mike Jones:

Strategies...

(1) Have a three-day pity party, then turn the negatives into positives. Decide no matter how tragic or devastated one becomes, if you work at it and remain positive, things will work out.

(2)Surround yourself with positive people: friends, family and strong support systems (find others who have been on the same journey).

(3) Love life and find a purpose for your existence. Don't be afraid of the space between your dreams and reality. If you can dream it, you can make it so.

To get connected with support groups and other healing resources in your local area, visit the Us Too website (http://www.ustoo.org). For support groups in the Central Texas (Austin) area, please call Mike Jones at 512.291.1017

Kay Hutchinson, CAMQ,CAMT is a practitioner of Chinese medicine, energetic life coach and teacher of qi gong movement. She is the founder of Aiki Healing (http://www.aikihealing.com/), a private practice in Austin, Texas, and the publisher of "Health Prosperity" a publication dedicated to empowering people to manifest optimum health and wellness. She provides long distance consultant services to help clients prevent cancer and to support the recovery process of those who have been diagnosed with cancer with natural healing methods that complement traditional western care.

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February 6, 2008

Prostate Cancer Clinical Test and Statistics

Larger-volume tumors of the prostate are common among older men. Available tests for the early detection of cancer have limited specificity, which necessitates a relatively high biopsy rate. The positive predictive value of combined digital rectal examination and PSA measurement has been defined, but the negative predictive value is less clear. Measurement of PSA is the most sensitive noninvasive test for prostate cancer. However, digital rectal examination detects cancer that would otherwise be missed by PSA measurement.

Clinical trials serve as one way of finding prostate cancer cures. All prostate cancer medications must take pass the three phases required to gain approval from the Food and Drug Administration.

Phase I of the clinical trials test the safety of a new drug. The second clinical phase is designed to determine how the proposed new prostate cancer treatment works. Patients are given the drug in high doses during this phase. The patients are watched to see what effect the test drug has on their prostate cancer. The final phase of clinical trial testing pits test medications against standard treatments. A control group is given dosages of the test drug while a second group uses standard methods of medicine-with the effects documented

The purpose of the trial is to test the safety and effectiveness of the technique, called high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), as the initial treatment in men with newly-diagnosed, localized prostate cancer.

Undiagnosed prostate cancer is highly prevalent, especially among older men [42-49]. Although many of these cancers may be considered incidental, evidence suggests that consideration of screening is warranted because earlier diagnosis of clinically significant cancers often has the potential to improve outcome [10, 12]. In fact, prostate cancer is so common among older men that selecting subpopulations for screening on the basis of risk factors other than age, such as race or family history, would not be necessary if screening and treatment strategies that favorably affect outcome were available.

However, evidence also indicates that available tests for early detection have limited specificity, particularly among older men who have benign prostatic hyperplasia. Therefore, the combined use of digital rectal examination and the currently available assays for PSA results in as many as 15 of men in their 70s requiring further invasive evaluation with biopsy. Positive predictive values are 15, depending on age.

Prostate Cancer Statistics:

Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer found in American men, other than skin cancer. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men, exceeded only by lung cancer. Although men of any age can get prostate cancer, it is found most often in men over 50. In fact, more than 70 between 1973 and 1992.
One in six American men is at lifetime risk of prostate cancer. If a close relative has prostate cancer, a man's risk of the disease more than doubles. With two relatives, his risk increases fivefold. With three close relatives, his risk is about 97 - 50 of all new cancer cases in American men.

This year, more cases of prostate cancer in men under the age of 65 are expected than the combined number of men of ages who are victims of leukemia, Hodgkin's disease, and brain tumors.

Prostate cancer accounts for approximately 15 of male cancer deaths. Yet, on average, only about 5% of federal cancer research dollars have been devoted to beat the disease.

About the Author
We at IMED LAB (Integrate Medical Laboratory) are in the business of research and distribution of drugs and natural supplements. Primarily our research and distribution is focus on men’s health care. Our line of products and research has been featured and tested in The Royal Perth Hospital Australia, Journal of Ethno-pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Technology Utrecht, Holland and National University Singapore. Website:
http://www.cure-prostate-cancer-info.com

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February 4, 2008

Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

Prostate cancer is the second largest of all cancer related deaths in males; the only cancer that causes more deaths annually is lung cancer.

To stand a chance of combating the disease, it is important to have an early prostate cancer diagnosis. By having this early knowledge, the medical professionals have a better chance of containing the condition. They may be able to stop the cancerous cells from spreading to other parts of the body. At the same time, they will be working to eradicate the illness altogether.

Before testing or performing a prostate cancer diagnosis, a person needs to realize that there is a problem and then seek medical advice. Signs of the problem may initially come in the form of pains while urinating, having difficulty passing urine, passing blood in the urine, urinating more frequently or having difficulty gaining and maintaining a full erection.

Once a person has seen there is a problem and looked for more medical help, the medical professionals will have to perform tests to find out if the problem is prostate cancer or another condition, these test can be carried out in a number of ways.

Digital Rectal Examination (DRE)

The prostate is located at the point where the urethra leaves the bladder, and it also sits against the outer wall of the rectum about 5 centimeters inside the anus.

Because of the location of the prostate a good examination can be made through the rectum, this is done by a medical professional who will use a well lubricated glove to insert a digit (otherwise known as a finger), into the anus and feel the inner wall of the rectum. By doing this they can actually feel the rear of the prostate located on the other side. Although it is only the rear of the prostate that can be checked it has been reported that 85% of all prostate cancers originate from this part of the prostate.

If the medical professional feels any unusual lumps or bumps it means they may ask the person to have further tests.

Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA)

The prostate specific antigen test is a simple blood test, which is taken and tested for levels of the prostate specific antigen enzyme. By finding out the levels of PSA the medical professionals can see what the risk of cancer is. Below is a list of PSA levels and risks associated

PSA levels of 4 nanograms or less per milliliter is a positive indicator.

PSA levels above 4 nanograms per milliliter is a risk of prostate cancer.

PSA levels above 10 nanograms per milliliter extremely high risk of prostate cancer.

There are flaws with this test though because as a man grows older the levels of prostate specific antigens increase naturally, which is taken into account by the medical professionals, also a large proportion of men with high PSA levels do not have prostate cancer and likewise a proportion of men with prostate cancer have low PSA levels.

Confirming the prostate cancer diagnosis

If the medical professionals believe there is a chance of cancer they will request that you have a biopsy, where a small tissue sample from the prostate is taken. To take a biopsy of the prostate the medical professional will put a tiny needle gun in the anus and press it against the wall of the rectum where a hollow needle will pass through the wall of the rectum into the prostate and take a sample. This procedure is not very painful and is routinely done on an outpatient basis.

About the Author
Verlyn Ross owns and operates a website dedicated specifically to providing health and fitness information. It includes a wealth of free articles in which you may have an interest. For a great place to get Answers, go here!
http://www.achieve-health-fitness.com

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