From A Nurse - Prostate Cancer Symptoms Treatments And Diet

Detected in its early stages, prostate cancer can be effectively treated and cured. Like other cancers, the cause of prostate cancer is not known; it appears to be more common in African American men and men with a family history of the disease. Prostate cancer is normally a slow growth cancer that can take years before it becomes deadly.

The prostate gland is located directly beneath the bladder and in front of the rectum. About one man in six will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime, but only one man in 34 will die of the disease. Prostate cancer is the third most common cause of death from cancer in men of all ages and is the most common cause of death from cancer in men over 75 years old.

Weak or interrupted flow of urine and painful or burning urination can be symptoms to watch out for. Because prostate cancer symptoms can mimic other diseases or disorders, men who experience any of these symptoms should undergo a thorough work-up to determine the underlying cause of the symptoms. If you have one or more prostate cancer symptoms, you should see a qualified doctor as soon as possible.

There are a few symptoms to be aware of. Some men will experience symptoms that might indicate the presence of prostate cancer. The need to urinate frequently, especially at night is another symptom.

The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test measures the PSA enzyme in your blood for abnormalities. Your doctor may use either one or two of the most common tests for prostate cancer detection. Keep in mind that experts report that PSA tests are not reliable and they are looking for better ways to diagnose prostate cancer.

A prostate gland biopsy usually confirms the diagnosis. What is called a free PSA may help tell the difference between BPH (benign prostatic hypertrophy), an enlargement of the prostate gland, and prostate cancer. A number of tests may be done to confirm a diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Besides hormonal drugs, hormone manipulation may also be done by surgically removing the testes. Medications can have many side effects, including hot flashes and loss of sexual desire. Chemotherapy medications are often used to treat prostate cancers that are resistant to hormonal treatments.

Since prostate tumors require testosterone to grow, reducing the testosterone level is used to prevent further growth and spread of the cancer. Surgery, radiation, hormonal therapy and chemotherapy all have significant side effects; know fully what they are before you proceed. Treatment options can vary based on the stage of the tumor.

Surgery, radiation therapy, and hormonal therapy can interfere with libido on a temporary or permanent basis. Hormone manipulation is mainly used as a treatment to relieve symptoms in men whose cancer has metastasized (spread). The approaches to treatment include: just ever watchful waiting to see whether the cancer is growing slowly and not causing any symptoms.

Whether radiation is as good as removing the prostate gland is debatable and the decision about which to choose, if any, can be difficult. Side effects of chemotherapy drugs depend on which ones you're taking and how often and how long they're taken. An oncologist, a cancer specialist, will usually recommend treating with a single drug or a combination of drugs.

Buy lacinato kale and juice it in your juicer with sweet carrots. Eat foods that contain the essential fatty acids. Some foods and beverages to avoid that are inflammatory are: caffeine, salt, sugar, meat, dairy products, additives, soft drinks, white flour, white rice, alcoholic beverages, fast food, processed vegetable oils, and refined, packaged and processed food.

Make highly nutritious raw applesauce using a food processor and put in 3-4 cored pesticide-free apples, with the skin on, and mix for a minute; so much better for you than canned highly processed applesauce and add 1/4 tsp. cinnamon or two tablespoons of freshly ground flaxseed for another boost. Drink plenty of pure filtered water, a minimum of a quart a day. Studies done on antioxidant vitamins question their value when not contained in food; it's clearly better to consume these antioxidants in living foods because they may also need to work with other nutrients present in the foods to work properly.

For snacks, choose raw nuts without salt instead of lifeless roasted nuts. A good dietary, natural treatment approach is to avoid all acidic inflammatory foods; those are foods that aren't alive. With natural treatments there will be fewer, if any, side effects or adverse reactions.

Just about all men with prostate cancer survive at least five years after their diagnosis, 93% survive at least 10 years, and 67% survive more than 15 years. Because prostate cancer is a slow-growing disease, many men with this disease will die from other causes before they die from prostate cancer. If you've already been diagnosed with prostate cancer, pick the option that's best suited to you and your continuing good health.