Could a Test Determine Your Risk of Prostate Cancer?

While prostate cancer can be so slow to develop in some men that it never affects their wellbeing at all, for others the health concern can be a real killer. Up to now, there is no way to identify those whose wellness is at a high risk of dying from the disease, but scientists believe they have come one step closer. This breakthrough, which comes from the Institute of Cancer Research in London, means that we could soon have genetic tests that can identify high-risk men with prostate cancer – enabling them to be monitored throughout their lives – and other men who can avoid unnecessary treatment.

 

Award-winning wellness writer Sarah Boseley explains, ‘In some men, prostate cancer is so slow-growing that it will not cause them any harm in their lifetime – they will die with it, rather than of it. But in others, it is aggressive and a killer. Because side-effects of treatment can include impotence and incontinence, it has long been recognised that there is a need for tests to establish which men are in real danger and which are not.’ The researchers screened men from families with a history of prostate cancer, and, as a result have established that 14 mutations in known cancer genes can predict life-threatening disease. The investigators, who published their findings in the British Journal of Cancer, also found that men with these mutations were likely to have more aggressive disease.

 

Study co-leader Ros Eeles, professor of oncogenics at the Institute of Cancer Research and honorary consultant at the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, commented, ‘Our study shows the potential benefit of putting prostate cancer on a par with cancers such as breast cancer when it comes to genetic testing. Although ours was a small, first-stage study, we proved that testing for known cancer mutations can pick out men who are destined to have a more aggressive form of prostate cancer. We already have the technical capabilities to assess men for multiple mutations at once, so all that remains is for us to do further work to prove that picking up dangerous mutations early can save lives. If so, then in the future, genetic testing may be needed as part of the prostate cancer care pathway.’

 

As a result of these findings, doctors could screen men with prostate cancer in the family for their risk, much in the same way that doctors can now screen women for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which gives them a 50% chance of developing breast cancer. The 14 mutations which predict aggressive prostate cancer are in eight genes, which include BRCA1 and BRCA2. The others are ATM, CHEK2, BRIP1, MUTYH, PALB2 and PMS2. According to Dr Iain Frame, director of research at Prostate Cancer UK, ‘The minefield of prostate cancer diagnosis is one of the biggest hurdles facing treatment of the disease today. Current tests fail to differentiate between aggressive cancers that could go on to kill, and cancers that may never cause any harm.’

 

He continues, ‘This lack of clarity means that too often men and their doctors are left having to make incredibly difficult decisions on whether to treat the disease or not. We urgently need to understand more about which men are at risk of developing prostate cancer and in particular aggressive forms of the disease. Genetic testing to predict risk could revolutionise how we treat the 40,000 men diagnosed with the disease every year in the UK. These results are exciting as they add to the growing weight of evidence that men with a family history of prostate cancer who possess certain genes may be at higher risk, providing us with another crucial piece of the jigsaw.’

Categories: breast cancer, cancer, cancer research, Disease, genetic testing, high risk, prostate, prostate cancer, Research, risk, risk assessment

The Traditional Chinese Medicine Approach to Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is a sexual health issue that can negatively impact all areas of your wellbeing. According to recent projections from the American Cancer Society, of the 232,090 new cases to be diagnosed, about 30,350 men will die from prostate cancer. This is why it’s so important to get tested early and often, and find the right treatment.

 

According to Licensed Acupuncturist Dr. Mao Shing Ni, PhD, who has diplomas in Chinese Herbology and Anti-Ageing Wellness, ‘If you are a man over the age of 40 and prostate cancer runs in your family, it is extremely advisable to monitor your Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) levels. A PSA blood test measures the level of a protein released by prostate cells. Recent experts state that if a PSA level is 2.5 or higher, it reveals the possibility of prostate growth (hyperplasia), but it does not always mean that cancer is present. Since PSA levels may fluctuate with infection and lab errors, usually more than one test over a period of time is done to confirm your PSA level. Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) and ultrasound are other ways to evaluate the prostate. However, only biopsies can truly determine whether the growth in the prostate is benign or malignant.’

 

So what exactly is your prostate, and why does it become more likely to be damaged as you age? ‘The prostate gland lies at the base of the bladder surrounding the urethra (urinary tract from bladder to penis),’ Dr. Mao explains. ‘During ejaculation, the prostate secretes a fluid that combines with the seminal fluid in order to prevent infection in the urethra while protecting and invigorating sperm. Due to the ageing process, the prostate naturally enlarges as hormones change and weaken after the age of 40. The swelling of the prostate puts pressure against the bladder and urethra, thereby affecting the smooth flow of urine. Abnormal patterns of urination such as higher frequency at night, burning sensation, difficulty, blockage and dribbling are common symptoms and signs of prostate enlargement.’

 

But why are we asking a Traditional Chinese Medicine specialist about prostate cancer? Dr. Mao notes, ‘TCM associates hyperplasia of the prostate with damp heat and kidney deficiency. After the age of 40, one’s vital energy in the kidney system decreases, resulting in the disturbance of sex hormones. This process also decreases one’s sexual energy, which affects the function of the prostate and the circulation in this region. Throughout the ages, in order to compensate for the decline of prostate function, men in China have used regular acupuncture treatments to improve the circulation and energy in the prostate.’

 

Dr. Mao continues, ‘To enhance the effect of acupuncture, they have also used Chinese herbs such as Poly Goni He Shou Wu, in traditional, custom herbal formulas to replenish the kidney essence. In fact, at Tao of Wellness, we have had many successful cases of normalising elevated PSA levels in patients with prostate conditions. Kidney essence nurtures the prostate. As the prostate is revitalised, it is now capable of self-regulating toward normal functioning and maintaining a balance of growth and non-growth. This is the balancing property of Chinese medicine.’

 

Dr. Mao adds, ‘TCM nutrition encourages men to eat more nuts, seeds, pumpkin, mushroom and berries to help nourish their prostate. Managing stress, regular exercise and massaging the prostate are also vital to help maintain prostate health. Besides Chinese and western herbs such as saw palmetto, there are many delicious foods that you can eat to help maintain a healthy prostate. Regular consumption of foods that contain lycopene (a prostate protective antioxidant) is highly recommended.’

Categories: Chinese medicine, dr mao, kidney essence, nbsp dr, prostate, prostate cancer, psa level, psa levels, traditional chinese, traditional chinese medicine, treatment

A Problem for Most Men: The Issues of an Enlarged Prostate

As a man, your prostate gland is an essential part of your sexual health, as it is a key component in your reproductive system. Therefore, it’s important to know everything you can about your prostate, as knowing what’s normal can help you to protect your wellbeing when something goes wrong. So let’s take a closer look – figuratively speaking – at your prostate gland, and how it has an impact on your overall wellness.

 

While it’s commonly known as the prostate gland, it is not really a gland at all, but rather an organ that is made up of about 70% glandular tissue and 30% fibromuscular tissue. If you’re a male adult, your prostate gland will be about the size and shape of a walnut and weigh roughly 20 grams. You’ll find your prostate gland directly beneath your bladder and in front of your rectum, surrounded by a thick fibrous capsule. This glandular tissue of your prostate will secrete a fluid that will contribute to 20 to 30% of your overall volume of seminal fluid. While your prostate is always generating this fluid, it will really up its production when you’re sexually excited.

 

Your semen is made of a combination of spermatozoa, seminal vesicle fluid and prostatic fluid, as well as a tiny amount of fluid from some minor glands. The fluid created by your prostate gland is a thin, milky substance that gives your semen its characteristic colour and odour. In these secretions, there will be concentrations of calcium, zinc, citric acid, acid phosphatase, albumin, and prostatic specific antigen. Not only do these substances help to lubricate your urethra, but they also protect, nourish and mobilise your sperm when they get into the usually acidic environment of the female vagina.

 

Your prostate will grow very little when you’re a kid, but once you hit puberty it will undergo a growth spurt, increasing in weight and doubling its size. After this, the size of your prostate will more or less remain the same for another 30 years or more. Some men, in fact, find that their prostate never grows after puberty. This is healthy, but the unfortunate truth is that most men will experience prostate growth later in life, which is a real wellness issue. Some form of non-malignant enlargement of the prostate, medically known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, is a likely thing for you to experience. The American Foundation for Urologic Disease estimates that more than half of men aged 50 and above have enlarged prostates, which is a number that steadily increases with age. While you may escape the over-50 bracket, by age 80 it is estimated that 80% of men have prostatic enlargement. So why is an enlarged prostate such a wellness concern?

 

If your prostate gland becomes enlarged, it can get in the way of the flow of urine through your ureters. If this happens, the blockage can cause a backpressure in your kidney which, if left untreated, can lead to chronic kidney disease. The good news is, however, that there are more and more medical and nutritional treatment approaches to this common male disorder that ever before, so the problem shouldn’t threaten your wellbeing as long as you get your prostate checked and treated. Aside from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), other conditions of the prostate include prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate) and prostate cancer. Again, as prostate cancer is currently the second leading cause of death from cancer in men (the first being lung cancer) the American Cancer Society and the American Urological Association currently recommend that healthy you begin an annual habit of rectal examination after the age of 40 and a rectal exam and a simple blood test to monitor prostate-specific antigen levels (called PSA) once you turn 50.

Categories: benign prostatic, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), Enlarged Prostate, gland, glandular tissue, prostate, prostate cancer, prostate gland, prostatic hyperplasia, specific antigen

Know Your Enemy: How to Prevent Prostate Cancer

In order to protect your sexual health – and overall wellbeing – against prostate cancer, you need to be well-informed. By knowing your enemy, so to speak, you can get proactive with your treatment in the best way for you as an individual, or even guard your wellness against prostate cancer in the first place. So what exactly is prostate cancer, and what can you do to prevent it?

 

Prostate cancer is a tumour that grows in your prostate gland, which is the part of your reproductive system that stores seminal fluid (the substance that mixes with sperm to form semen). Sometimes, prostate cancer can grow slowly over a period of many years, while at others it may grow rapidly and spread swiftly to other parts of the body. Prostate cancer has been known to spread its cells throughout your lymph system or bloodstream and along nerve pathways. In some cases, men with prostate cancer experience no symptoms, which is why it is so important to have your prostate checked by a doctor on a regular basis.

 

Sometimes, however, prostate cancer does exhibit certain signs and symptoms. These include:

• Blood in your urine or semen


• Dribbling when urinating


• Erectile dysfunction


• Frequent urination, especially at night


• Painful urination and/or ejaculation


• A smaller stream of urine


• An urgent need to urinate


• Painful bony sites (if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body)


• Occasional nerve paralysis or loss of bladder function

 

Unfortunately, the cause of prostate cancer remains unknown, although it is thought that your hormones – such as testosterone – may contribute to the disease as they control the growth of your prostate gland. Viruses or chronic infections may contribute to prostate cancer, and there’s also a link between the disease and common cancer-causing substances in the environment. Plus, researchers have recently identified a gene that is linked to some cases of prostate cancer. While the exact cause of prostate cancer remains unclear, scientists have identified five key risk factors:

 

1. Advanced age: Prostate cancer is seen mostly in men over the age of 55.

 

2. Diet: While a high-fat diet may increase your risk of prostate cancer, fruits, vegetables, and fatty fish may lower your risk.

 

3. Ethnicity: Prostate cancer is less common in American Indian and Asian men, occurring most often in African and northern European ethnic groups.

 

4. Family history: If your father or brother has had prostate cancer, your risk for the disease is heightened.

 

5. Other risk factors: Men who have had a vasectomy, who smoke, or who have been exposed to a metal called cadmium may also be at an increased risk of prostate cancer.

 

So that’s prostate cancer, but what can be done to prevent the disease? While prostate cancer cannot be completely prevented, prostate screening with exams and blood tests helps with early diagnosis. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), a digital rectal exam should also be offered every year to men 50 years of age or older who have a life expectancy of at least 10 years. The ACS also recommends that a prostate-specific antigen test (a PSA blood test) be offered every year to these men. However, if you have one of the above noted risk factors for prostate cancer – such as a high-risk ethnic origin or family history of the disease – you should start getting screened for prostate cancer at the age of 45. Finally, make sure you make good dietary choices, as this lowers your risk for the disease. Your diet should be low in fat, while packed with fruits, vegetables, and fatty fish.

Categories: cancer, cancer remains, family history, fatty fish, fruits vegetables, prevention, prostate, prostate cancer, prostate gland, risk factors, Symptoms

Men: We Put Your Sexual Health Questions to the Expert

Men don’t often like to discuss wellness issues, especially when they revolve around your sexual health. However, instead of keeping quiet, a few brave men have put their questions to medical expert Dr. Mohan S. Palaniswami – and we’re passing the info on to you! So, if there’s something you always wanted to know – but were too afraid to ask – read on and see if the expert has the answers you’re searching for.

 

1. What exactly is impotence and can it be treated? ‘Impotence is the inability to achieve or maintain an adequate erection frequently or regularly,’ Dr. Palaniswami explains. ‘It is important to understand that one episode of decreased ability for erection does not mean someone is impotent. You should feel free to speak to your doctor about your sexual activity. It is a normal part of health, and physicians are trained to discuss, evaluate and treat, when necessary, these issues. A doctor can evaluate each individual to assess potential causes for impotence and determine the proper treatment, if any, that is needed.’

 

Dr. Palaniswami continues, ‘In many cases, treatment is quite effective. Treatment depends on the cause of the impotence, and can range from stopping of a medication to treating an infection to implanting prosthetic devices to starting new medications. Sexual wellbeing is a very important part of an individual’s over-all health. Physicians and other health professionals are important resources for considering your sexual health into your over-all health management.’

 

 

2. I don’t like using condoms, but if I get a vasectomy will it be reversible? According to Dr. Palaniswami, ‘Vasectomy can be a very effective method of birth control. Usually, a condom should continue to be used for the first three to six months after a vasectomy as there could be sperm stored in the vas deferens (the conduit which sperm uses to travel out of the testicles and through the penis.) More importantly, condoms protect from the transmission of sexually transmitted disease. Vasectomy offers no such defence. Once done, vasectomy is potentially reversible, but the success of reversing the procedure varies. Scarring from the initial procedure can cause irreversible damage to the vas deferens making a revision of the vasectomy impossible.’

 

Dr. Palaniswami adds, ‘Pregnancy rates after reversing vasectomy can be reduced by up to 50%…If vasectomy is desired, an option for future offspring may be to store sperm in a sperm bank in case the vasectomy is permanent. Prior to planning such a procedure, careful consultation with your primary care physician and a urologist should occur so that you fully understand the risks involved.’

 

 

3. Following my annual prostate exam, my doctor told me my PSA was normal, but what is it? ‘PSA stands for Prostate Specific Antigen and is a marker in the blood that is made almost exclusively by the prostate,’ says Dr. Palaniswami. ‘Recently, it has become the standard of care to check a PSA level in men over the age of fifty…A level of less than four is normal, while a level greater than 10 indicates a greater than two-thirds chance cancer being present. A study at the University of Washington in 1995 seemed to indicate that using this marker can catch up to 97% of prostatic cancers at the most easily-curable stage, that is, when the cancer is only in the prostate. The drawback to this test is that PSA can also go up with conditions that aren’t cancerous, such as an infection of the prostate (prostatitis), inflammation of the prostate from a nearby infection, or in a common condition called benign prostatic hypertrophy which is a benign enlargement of the prostate.’

Categories: dr palaniswami, health, Impotence, nbsp, nbsp dr, nbsp nbsp, prostate, psa testing, sexual health, vas deferens, vasectomy

Men: We Put Your Sexual Health Questions to the Expert

Men don’t often like to discuss wellness issues, especially when they revolve around your sexual health. However, instead of keeping quiet, a few brave men have put their questions to medical expert Dr. Mohan S. Palaniswami – and we’re passing the info on to you! So, if there’s something you always wanted to know – but were too afraid to ask – read on and see if the expert has the answers you’re searching for.

 

1. What exactly is impotence and can it be treated? ‘Impotence is the inability to achieve or maintain an adequate erection frequently or regularly,’ Dr. Palaniswami explains. ‘It is important to understand that one episode of decreased ability for erection does not mean someone is impotent. You should feel free to speak to your doctor about your sexual activity. It is a normal part of health, and physicians are trained to discuss, evaluate and treat, when necessary, these issues. A doctor can evaluate each individual to assess potential causes for impotence and determine the proper treatment, if any, that is needed.’

 

Dr. Palaniswami continues, ‘In many cases, treatment is quite effective. Treatment depends on the cause of the impotence, and can range from stopping of a medication to treating an infection to implanting prosthetic devices to starting new medications. Sexual wellbeing is a very important part of an individual’s over-all health. Physicians and other health professionals are important resources for considering your sexual health into your over-all health management.’

 

 

2. I don’t like using condoms, but if I get a vasectomy will it be reversible? According to Dr. Palaniswami, ‘Vasectomy can be a very effective method of birth control. Usually, a condom should continue to be used for the first three to six months after a vasectomy as there could be sperm stored in the vas deferens (the conduit which sperm uses to travel out of the testicles and through the penis.) More importantly, condoms protect from the transmission of sexually transmitted disease. Vasectomy offers no such defence. Once done, vasectomy is potentially reversible, but the success of reversing the procedure varies. Scarring from the initial procedure can cause irreversible damage to the vas deferens making a revision of the vasectomy impossible.’

 

Dr. Palaniswami adds, ‘Pregnancy rates after reversing vasectomy can be reduced by up to 50%…If vasectomy is desired, an option for future offspring may be to store sperm in a sperm bank in case the vasectomy is permanent. Prior to planning such a procedure, careful consultation with your primary care physician and a urologist should occur so that you fully understand the risks involved.’

 

 

3. Following my annual prostate exam, my doctor told me my PSA was normal, but what is it? ‘PSA stands for Prostate Specific Antigen and is a marker in the blood that is made almost exclusively by the prostate,’ says Dr. Palaniswami. ‘Recently, it has become the standard of care to check a PSA level in men over the age of fifty…A level of less than four is normal, while a level greater than 10 indicates a greater than two-thirds chance cancer being present. A study at the University of Washington in 1995 seemed to indicate that using this marker can catch up to 97% of prostatic cancers at the most easily-curable stage, that is, when the cancer is only in the prostate. The drawback to this test is that PSA can also go up with conditions that aren’t cancerous, such as an infection of the prostate (prostatitis), inflammation of the prostate from a nearby infection, or in a common condition called benign prostatic hypertrophy which is a benign enlargement of the prostate.’

Categories: dr palaniswami, health, Impotence, nbsp, nbsp dr, nbsp nbsp, prostate, psa testing, sexual health, vas deferens, vasectomy

How Do You Ensure Your Prostate Is Healthy?

Prostate health becomes a growing concern with age for men. But there are ways to deter a future battle, such as an awareness of your dietary options and nutritional support, which promote an optimal prostate function. The prostate gland secretes fluid which combines with sperm to create semen – the gland is found in the urethra, the tube which takes urine out of the bladder. But with age, a common problem is that the gland becomes enlarged, and if it grows too much it can stem the flow of urine from the urethra. There are a number of symptoms for this condition such as frequently needing the toilet, a weak urine stream and a constant needing to go to the toilet. The prostate is almost more likely to become infected which can lead to pain in the pelvic area, or pain when urinating.  Men with  prostate problems may also have low testosterone levels which could lead to depression, vascular disease and fatigue. This can be tested with a blood test though, so speak to your GP about this.

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer amongst men. It’s a very serious diagnosis, though the aggressiveness of the cancer will vary among patients. It’s usually diagnosed in a routine prostate exam or through a prostate-specific antigen blood test. The symptoms are very similar to those with prostate enlargement, such as needing to urinate more often. There are various risk factors for prostate cancer, such as increasing age, family history and race. However, not every man who suffers from prostate enlargement will have prostate cancer, though the symptoms many overlap. If you’re suffering from symptoms you think may be a concern, you should speak to your GP as soon as possible. There is good news though – food can benefit your prostate, and if you choose wisely you can help to lower your risk of developing problems. For example, omega-3 fatty acids and a diet rich in fruit and vegetables are vital as part of a healthy daily diet. Fatty fish such as salmon or tuna, or a fish oil supplement, should dominate your intake. You should limit your intake of saturated fats, as with any healthy diet, as well as red meats and dairy. Soy is great for your diet and should be part of your daily nutrition – you can add this by eating tempeh, soy beans and tofu to your diet, such as in salads or stir fries.

 

A lot of nutrients can help with the frequent urination that is associated with prostate enlargement. These include zinc, saw palmetto, pygeum, stinging nettle, beta-sitosterol, lycopene, selenium and vitamin E. You should add pomegranate juice to your diet, as well as green tea as these have qualities and nutrients that are great for your health overall, as well as for your prostate. African Americans and those with a history of prostate conditions in the family should begin their screening at 40. If you don’t fall into either of these categories, however, you can begin your annual screening at the age of 50. Experts advise to get a check-up every year, but there isn’t actually any evidence to suggest that routine screening helps – however, it also does no harm. If you’re concerned about your health in any way, or have a family history of prostate problems, you should speak to your GP as soon as possible as they can run tests to determine if there is a problem.

Categories: Blood Test, cancer, diet, family history, men, prostate, prostate cancer, prostate enlargement, prostate problems, Symptoms

Natural Ways to Improve the Health of Your Prostate

If you are amongst the many millions of men who suffer from an enlarged prostate, you could look to more than just medication to improve your sexual wellness and wellbeing. There are other ways to help boost your health and treat an enlarged prostate, including foods, supplements and herbs.

 

Red clover, for example, is rich in something called isoflavones, which are a type of protein also found in soya beans which can be used to treat a wide range of conditions. It is believed that isoflavones can prevent the development of cancers of the prostate and other cancerous growths, and this protein may also treat an enlarged prostate.

 

Linked to this, soy can also be used to help treat an enlarged prostate. In Japan, men follow a diet that is high in soy, and there are very low incidences of prostate cancer. Some believe that this may be directly linked, and that the isoflavones in the soy are responsible for this. Soy can be a great overall health booster, anyway, so it’s a good idea to make sure you include plenty in your diet.

 

Something that you probably don’t include a lot of in your diet is African tree bark. Some studies have shown that pygeum africanum (the tree bark) can help to decrease inflammation, reduce the swelling of the prostate and block the growth factors that are responsible for prostate tumours and enlarged prostates. Many people in Europe and Asia swear by this treatment – so much so that the tree has been overharvested and is now on the Endangered Species list!

 

Lycopene is another thing to try. It is a type of antioxidant typically found in foods such as watermelon, grapefruit and tomatoes. Many studies have shown that by eating a diet high in fruit and veg, you can increase your intake of lycopene and reduce your risk of developing prostate cancer.

Categories: diet, enlarge, enlarged, Enlarged Prostate, health, nbsp, prostate, prostate cancer, treat, tree bark

How to Prevent the Three Major Prostate Health Concerns

Prostate cancer is becoming more and more common, which is why it’s more important than ever to have regular check ups if you’re a man over 50. However, this isn’t the only health concern related to prostate, so let’s take a look at how yours might be affected, and what you can do to relieve or prevent the symptoms.

 

1. Enlarged Prostate. In this condition, your gland grows so big that it reduces the flow of urine through the urethra. You know this affects your wellness if you take frequent trips to the bathroom, have an increased sensation to urinate or experience a reduced urine flow. An enlarged prostate also leads to lower testosterone levels, which hinders your well-being with depression, fatigue and vascular diseases. However, you can find out if your testosterone levels are too low with a simple blood test done by your doctor.

 

2. Prostate Infections. For a variety of reasons, you can contract an infection in your prostate. You may experience such symptoms as pain or burning during urination, as well as pain in the pelvic area. If this happens, go get it checked out straight away so that your doctor can give you the treatment you need to clear up the infection.

 

3. Prostate Cancer. This is the most common type of cancer in men, but its severity varies in different patients. You may have no symptoms, and only discover you have the cancer as a result of your regular prostate examination – which is why regular checkups are so important if you’re over the age of 50. If your prostate is enlarged, you have low testosterone levels or there’s a history of prostate cancer in your family, you’re at a greater risk of prostate cancer. The symptoms are the same as prostate enlargement, which is why you should visit your physician ASAP.

 

If you have one of the above health concerns, or you want to prevent them, you can do a lot with your diet. You should reduce your intake of red meat, dairy products and fried food, and consume more soya, fruits, vegetables, Omega 3 fatty acids and fatty fish like salmon and tuna. Plus, you can find relief from your frequent need to urinate by using the following supplements:

 

• Zinc


• Saw Palmetto


• Beta-sitosterol


• Lycopene


• Green tea


• Vitamin E


• Selenium


• Pomegranate juice

Categories: Enlarged Prostate, health concerns, prevent, prostate, prostate cancer, Prostate Infections, testosterone levels

How to Keep Your Prostate Healthy Through Sexuality

Sexual health is very important to humans, especially men. It takes a toll on their mental wellness and wellbeing, and this is especially the case for men. Now, new research has shown that it can also take a toll on physical health as well.  This research has now shown a link between sexual health and the health of the prostate gland.

All men have a prostate gland, which creates the fluid that carries the sperm (semen). This fluid is then ejaculated during intercourse. The prostate gland completely surrounds the urethra and often the first sign of it being swollen (as often occurs in middle-aged and older men) is that these men need to urinate more frequently or have trouble urinating at all.

Many medical professionals now agree that the prostate is prone to swelling when the blood flow to this gland is not as it should be. Some herbs can be used to help increase blood flow, as well as massage, and another possible way of stimulating blood flow is through maintaining a healthy sex life.

Many men don’t think much about their prostate gland until it starts going wrong. Often, men are actually either unaware of the gland altogether, or unsure about what its function actually is. There is very little education available for men about their prostate gland, and this may be due to the fact that it is a gland that is involved in sexual pleasure, which is often seen as a taboo subject. Experts agree that discussion should be opened up about the prostate gland to allow men to become aware of its function and importance.

As well as maintaining a healthy sex life, there are other steps that men can take to help keep their prostate (and other internal organs) in good health, such as avoiding drinking too much alcohol, drinking plenty of water, reducing their tea and coffee consumption, avoiding stress, and eating a healthy balanced diet.

Categories: health, prostate, Sex

The Lowdown about Prostate Screening

One of the most common cancers in men is prostate cancer and when caught early, its treatment can be successful. Annual screenings for men to check for prostate cancer begin about the age 50, higher risk men about 40. However, controversy within the medical field is growing over the latest prostate testing recommendations, and the following is the lowdown on the latest findings.

 

What is Prostate Cancer?

The prostate is a small gland shaped similar to a walnut. Prostate cancer is also a common cancer found in men, and your treatment is typically dependent on the speed at which the cancer grows and if it has spread throughout the rest of the body. When detected at its early stages and confined to the area of the prostate, treatment is usually successful.

 

The Latest Findings

Men over the age of forty formerly were advised to get screened for prostate cancer. The latest findings from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has now recommended men quit getting tested to see if they have prostate cancer. Tests were reviewed and came to the conclusion that the harmful risks in treating prostate cancer far outweighed the benefits. Typical side effects of treatment can be impotence and incontinence. However, it was reported that many patients suffered more serious side effects such as heart attacks and pulmonary embolisms.

 

Disagreement among Professionals

The American Urological Association expressed outrage in an online statement, mainly because the PSA test is the only available way to check for prostate cancer. Because of the testing over the past twenty years, there has been a significant cancer decline by as much as 39 percent. This is mainly because the more aggressive forms of the disease are detected before they spread to other areas in the body.

The number of patients who have lived beyond ten years past their initial diagnosis has also seen an increase. Urologists fear that because testing is no longer recommended, prostate cancer won’t be detected at its most crucial time and a catastrophe will ensue.

 

Annual PSA Testing

Since physicians and not urologists are more likely to order the test, the PSA may not be ordered to check for prostate cancer during annual checkups. Studies have shown that the tests have proven to give a false positive and when the cancer has been detected, many feel they are unable to take a wait and see approach on how quickly the cancer will grow.

If there is a false reading, men may be recommended to get a biopsy or some type of other treatment that isn’t even needed which can lead to unwarranted pain and unnecessary infections. Because of this, some physicians prefer to wait until something better comes along. While researching where to get prostate screening in Charlottesville, I found that the tests can be ordered directly from labs online or those who want testing despite the latest recommendations. Once ordered online, a person will be directed to a local lab in their area where blood and urine samples will be collected, depending on the kind of testing being done. The person will be contacted within 48 hours by a doctor to go over their test results from the lab work obtained. This way of testing is relatively cheaper for people who have little or no insurance that would like a PSA test performed.

Prostate cancer is a serious form of cancer that can spread if not caught early. The latest findings are under debate and most are leaving the decision to be tested up to the patient. To ensure that you make the right decision, most patients are advised to speak with a knowledgeable and trusted physician to determine their own specific needs.

Researcher Lisa Coleman shares this information to raise awareness of new health recommendations. People who prefer to go directly to the lab can find out where to get prostate screening in Charlottesville and other locations from Health Testing Centers. Patients are urged to consult with their physician for any interpretation or treatment.

Categories: cancer, health concerns, prostate

A Robotic Cancer Gun – Is This The Future?

Scientific advancements are making the prognosis for cancer sufferers better and better all the time. The latest development is of particular interest to prostate cancer sufferers, and comes in the form of a robot that can do more accurate prostate biopsies than any specialist.

This gadget, designed to improve the long-term wellness of prostate cancer sufferers, has been ten years in the making and is named ISRobot Mona Lisa. It has been developed by Biobot Surgical, alongside doctors at Singapore General Hospital. It will be launched in Singapore and spread to South-east Asia around the middle of next year. Assuming that there are positive results for the wellbeing of these early patients, the robot will then become available in Euroope and the United States.

The robot allows the needle for a prostate biopsy to be inserted through the skin, as opposed to the traditional method where doctors insert a needle into the rectum. This means that the chances of infection from the procedure are significantly lowered when tissue is extracted in this manner. This is because the perineum, where the robot places the needle, is a far ‘cleaner’ area than the rectum.

In addition to making the procedure safer, the robot can also detect cancer far more accurately than the machines which are currently used for this purpose. Current machinery has a 30 percent chance of providing a false negative, leading cancer to go undetected, which can be extremely harmful for patients’ long-term prognosis. This was tested by taking a group of 450 patients who had had a’ false negative’ from the old type of machinery and using the robot to test them again for cancer. In 40 percent of these cases, the robot detected the cancer that the original test had failed to find.

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Categories: gun, prostate, robot

Prostate Cancer Survivors

Men who undergo surgical removal of prostate cancer can experience significant levels of anxiety one year after surgery, and higher levels of anxiety appears to be linked to poor sexual satisfaction and depression.  Men who experience high levels of “cancer-specific anxiety” following surgery for prostate cancer are likely to benefit from counselling designed to address their worries and improve their quality of life.

The survival for a man undergoing surgery to remove localised prostate cancer is greater than 95 percent. While prostate cancer can be a life threatening disease, most men diagnosed with prostate cancer do not die from it.

The odds of surviving for long periods of time following surgery for prostate cancer are very high.  That means a lot of men are living as prostate cancer survivors.

Anxiety can significantly affect an individual’s quality of life. Those men with higher cancer-specific anxiety one year after surgery for prostate cancer are more likely to report lower levels of satisfaction with their sex life and higher levels of depressive symptoms.

The men who reported high anxiety levels are more likely to report low sexual satisfaction and a high rate of depression symptoms. What is interesting from the sexual health standpoint is that anxiety is not linked to poor erectile function per se but is linked to low levels of sexual satisfaction.  Anxiety does not affect some men’s ability to perform sexually but perhaps more their ability to enjoy their sex life.

Anxiety is generally higher in those men who have more aggressive forms of prostate cancer based on their pathology reports after surgery.  Among men with prostate cancer who have less aggressive disease, a survival rate is nearly 100 percent.  Yet they think about cancer every day. This presents a great opportunity for identifying these men and offering intervention aimed at modifying this anxious behaviour.

Anxiety about a cancer diagnosis can lead to increased depressive symptoms and an inability to enjoy life’s activities, including sexual relations.

Prostate Cancer Survivors

Categories: anxiety, cancer, prostate