The good news about prostate cancer which differs from almost all other forms of tumor; is that it is generally slow to metastasize and with early detection, treatment and aftercare, there is a very good chance of containing the spread and hence; treating the underlying condition.

When it comes to alternative prostate cancer treatments – thankfully there’s an extensive amount of research currently underway into certain drugs for certain forms of the condition. Alternatively, other hormonal tests, studies & research based on testosterone levels in male candidates – is also currently being pursued. It seems highly likely that like many other cancers, with prostate cancer, it is vital to catch it before it metastasizes (or spreads from the prostate gland around the body) after which point there’s little doctors or aggressive treatments can do.

This is why it is wise for patients or potential patients to become familiar with alternative treatments at every stage and all relative alternatives, as soon as any of the symptoms become known.

While a lot of work is going into establishing antibodies that will hopefully help minimise the need for radiation and surgery, there are also a lot of other established alternative methods that have proven their worth and can be explored in each individual case. Among these is a strict change in diet, where certain foodstuffs will be added, such as a higher percentage of fruit and vegetables and some will be taken away. Dairy products in particular are not good for this type of cancer and with the help of a specialist, may indeed be eliminated entirely from the diet.

A lot of cancer treatments will heavily depend on age. For example, doctors and oncologists may be willing to try aggressive forms of treatment on young middle age men, whereas, the same condition on a person over seventy for instance, will be dramatically different. The biggest concern with prostate cancer is keeping it contained within the prostate tissue, and if this can be done successfully, the chances of survival will be greatly increased, as again, it is a slow tumor to develop.

For a full list of information and details about the different kinds of treatments available for prostate cancer sufferers, patients are advised to first visit their GP, as well as perhaps checking online for the best alternative solutions and advice, thus; maximizing every potential for cure.

Importance of Early Detection

As prostate cancer is very much a condition under the current spotlight, the dangers, as well as other forms of cancer, are that once it has spread from the tissue in the prostate gland, there is very little doctors can do, and so, your doctor may want to begin trials immediately after a full screening. The bigger options of course, for any kind of cancer are chemotherapy and surgery; however, these are not looked upon for this kind of cancer as a first option. The best advice perhaps is to look around for as many alternatives as you can find initially, while you begin consulting with your GP.

It is also worth noting that there are dedicated doctors and specialists that can be found online to help answer any questions you may have prior to beginning any form of traditional or alternative prostate cancer treatment, but please be aware that early detection and treatment is always the best route.

The prostate cancer survival rate has risen dramatically over the past 30 years, especially when the biopsy shows that the cancer cells remain confined to the prostate. For these men, the statistics show that 90% of sufferers are surviving for five years or more.

Unfortunately, once the cancer has metastasized, typically spreading to the nearby bones and lymph nodes, as well as the rectum and the bladder, this rate drops to just 30%. However the stage at which the disease is diagnosed is also a hugely influential factor in these more specific statistics for the prostate cancer survival rate.

It should also be pointed out that, because most cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed in men in their seventies, those men could well fall victim to other unrelated but still terminal conditions over the next five years.

There are two different staging systems for assessing the progression and treatment of prostate cancer. The Gleason score is based on the appearance of cells under a microscope with grades being given between 1 for cells which look most normal and 5 where cells look most abnormal. The two areas of cells with the highest grade are then added together giving a Gleason score between two and ten.

The TNM system examines the size of the Tumour, the number of lymph Nodes which are affected and the presence of any Metastases. T1 and T2 cancers remain confined to the prostate but T3 and T4 cancers have metastasized – or spread – elsewhere.

On average, just under half of the 5% of men whose cancer has moved beyond the prostatic capsule when it is diagnosed will die within two years, whilst around 33% will survive for five years.

These statistics for the prostate cancer survival rate serve only as a guide and are certainly not a definite indication of a patient’s eventual outcome.

Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer and second only to lung cancer in cancer related deaths among men in the United States. Sometimes this cancer can be small, slow growing and present limited risk to the patient while at other times it can progress rapidly presenting great health risks. Yet, when prostate cancer is detected in its early states, it can be effectively treated and cured. Therefore, it is advisable for men to have an annual medical check-up in order to examine their prostate’s size, texture, and general functioning.

The prostate is a part of the male reproductive system and is about the size and shape of a walnut; and is located between the bladder and the base of the penis. The urethra – the tube that carries urine from the bladder and semen from the sex glands out through the penis – runs through the centre of the prostate. That is why any disease or condition that increases the size of the prostate or causes inflammation can lead to urinary problems as the enlarged prostate can squeeze the urethra thus affecting the flow of urine.

One major function of the prostate is to lubricate the ejaculation process (by making and adding fluids to semen and other seminal fluids) and to increase the pH making the vagina more hospitable, and therefore more conducive for fertilization. It produces prostatic fluid when the man is aroused and contracts during ejaculation to empty.

Normally body cells grow, divide, and produce more cells as needed to keep the body healthy. However, sometimes the process goes wrong – cells become abnormal and form more cells in an uncontrolled way. These extra cells form a mass of tissue, called a growth or tumour. Tumours can however be benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Thus prostate cancer occurs when a malignant tumour form in the tissue of the prostate. In its early state, it needs the male hormone, testosterone to grow and survive.

Also, sometimes, cancer cells break away from the malignant tumour in the prostate and enter the bloodstream or the lymphatic system and travel to other organs in the body. When cancer spreads from its original location in the prostate to another part of the body such as the bone, it is called metastatic prostate cancer, not bone cancer. Often the appearance of the cancer cell provides a clue to indicate if it is programmed to be slow growing and relatively harmless or more aggressive and lethal.

However other medical problems can equally affect the prostate. Among these medical problems is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia BPH (often called benign prostatic hypertrophy) which is a noncancerous enlargement of the prostrate, a condition that becomes increasingly common as men age. This can result in urinary problems, including urinary tract obstruction. The second is Prostatitis, also a noncancerous inflammation of the prostate which can cause burning sensations during urination. Clinically important prostate cancers can be defined as those that threaten the well-being or life span of a man.

Prevalence of Prostate Cancer

It is predominately a disease of elderly men and is one of the most common types of cancer among American men. Cancerous cells are likely to be found in the prostates of 22% of men age 50-59, in 37% of men 60-79, and in more than half (53%) of those living to 80 and older. The disease rarely occurs in men younger than forty years of age.

Globally, it ranks third in cancer incidence and sixth in cancer mortality among men. However, there are marked geographical and ethnic variations in the incidence and mortality of clinical prostate cancer. The risk is highest in North America and northern European countries, and lowest in Japan and other Asian countries and intermediate in regions of Central America and Western Africa. The differences in occurrence may partly be accounted for either by the differences in screening for prostate cancer and the risk of other diseases among world regions or more likely by genetic predisposition as well as diet and other environmental factors.

Risk Factors

Despite the high incidence of prostate cancer, scientist still do not have any fundamental knowledge about the exact cause of this disease and thus have been unable to explain why one man has the disease and the other does not. However, they have been able to identify some risk factors that are associated with the disease. A risk factor is anything that increases the chances of one getting a disease.

Aging

Age is the greatest factor influencing the development of prostate cancer. The diagnosis of prostate cancer is rare before age 40 but increases dramatically thereafter. In the United States, it is estimated that one in 55 men between the ages of 40 and 59 will be diagnosed with this disease. This incidence climbs almost to one in six for men between ages 60 and 79.

This association is also reflected in mortality as prostate cancer accounts for about 10 percent of cancer-related deaths in men between the ages of 60 and 79 and nearly 25 percent in those over the age of 80. Clinical disease is rather rare in men under the age of 50 years, and the incidence increases markedly in men aged over 60 years of age.

Genetics/Heredity

Heredity seems to be the most important risk factor. Indeed, men with a family history of the disease may have a risk of developing prostate cancer 2 to 11 times greater than men without a family history of it. Approximately 9% of all cases of prostate cancer have a genetic basis. The risk is even higher when two or more relatives are affected or when the affected relative is a father or brother.

Race

While, on a global level, prostate cancer ranks third in cancer incidence and sixth in cancer mortality among men, there is however, a notable variability in incidence and mortality among world regions. The incidence is low (but rapidly increasing in recent years) in Japan and other Asian countries and intermediate in regions of Central America and Western Africa. The incidence is higher in North America and Northern Europe. Even within the United States, this disease is much more common in African-American men than in any other group of men. It is least common in Asian and American Indian men.

Lifestyle

There is also considerable evidence that some Western lifestyle factors play a role in the occurrence of prostate cancer. However the specifics as to which lifestyle factors are involved are still not very clear. Nonetheless there are suggestions that excessive intake of calorie, dietary fat, and refined sugar increases the risk of developing prostate cancer. Also reduction in the intake of fruits and vegetables, reduced exercise, and overall higher obesity rates are also considered to increase the risk of having it. Specifically, obesity has been clearly shown to increase risk of death from prostate cancer. Thus, the simplest advice for avoiding death from prostate cancer is to prevent obesity and if you are obese, to lose weight and keep it off.

Also there are some food components that have been suggested to protect men from the risk of prostate cancer and amongst this is soy protein which could also be a factor in the reduction of the prevalence of prostate cancer in Asian countries and is therefore regard as the most protective dietary factor against prostate cancer. Also the intake of green tea by residents of Asia has been adduced to contribute to the low prevalence of prostate cancer in that region.

Equally, the intake of dietary substances such as lycopene and fish oils is believed to help in reducing the risk of developing prostate cancer. Cooked tomatoes are rich sources of lycopene. Lycopene are antioxidants that may protect cells from becoming cancerous. Fish oils (omega-3 fatty acids) are thought to reduce heart disease due to reducing inflammation. Given the presumed importance of inflammation in causing prostate cancer, it stands to reason that fish oils may prevent prostate cancer. Other food components that have been suggested to protect men from the risk of prostate cancer include carotenoids, pumpkin, spinach, watermelon, and citrus.

However, regarding the issue of prevention of prostate cancer, there is still a lingering controversy about true prevention. Consequently, most physicians believe that there is no easy substitute for a healthy lifestyle involving eating a healthy diet, avoiding dietary excesses, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, getting lots of exercise and being physically active, visiting the doctor on a regular basis, and most importantly achieving and maintaining a normal body weight.

Having a child is both a joy and a blessing. And the special bond that parents form with their children is something that undeniably goes beyond words. But what if having children could possibly lead to prostate cancer?

A recent study shows that fathers who have daughters just might have greater risk compared to those who have sons. From www.TV3.co.nz:

Research shows men who father daughters have higher risk of cancer
Mon, 26 Nov 2007 01:00p.m.

New research indicates that men who father daughters, not sons, may be at a greater risk of developing prostate cancer.

Israeli scientists found that compared with men who had at least one son, men with only daughters were 40 percent more likely to develop prostate cancer.

Men with three daughters and no sons were up to 60 percent more likely.

Experts think a common genetic cause may affect both the risk of cancer, and the chance a man will father girls.

Prostate cancer is the most common male cancer.

Photo credits: Simona Balint

Once a patient is diagnosed with prostate cancer, it is then important that information regarding the extent of the spread is determined, and how much it has affected the gland. Determining this is what is called prostate cancer staging. Prostate cancer staging involves categorizing the disease in specific classification in order to derive the appropriate approach for your treatment.

Prostate cancer staging conventionally was done by classifying the stages as Stages A, B, C and D. Stages A and B may be curable, and in both cases, the cancer is localized within the gland. In this type of prostate cancer staging, stage C has the cancer spreading beyond the prostate but has not reached the lymph nodes. Some in this stage have some hope of being cured. In stage D, the cancer has already reached the lymph nodes, bones and some other areas. Though the prostate cancer in this stage may no longer be curable, it can be treated for purposes of slowing its effect down.

New prostate cancer staging systems now use the TNM notation. T means tumor, N means Nodes (lymph nodes), and M means metastasized to other body organs.

For this prostate cancer staging system, the T classification has two types: a.) clinical stage, and b.) pathologic stage. The clinical stage is important in determining whether removal of the prostate gland may be in order, though it will not show the extent of the cancer spread. The pathologic stage is determined after surgery and will enable one to know the severity of the cancer – also, one will be able to have a better impression on how it might fair for him in the future.

Prostate cancer staging systems, whichever is used, provide a general guideline on what to expect at each particular level. It describes the condition of the prostate and the cancer cells in it, the treatment that may work for your particular stage, and the prognosis for your case.

With the valuable information it provides, prostate cancer staging systems will be a useful tool for both patients and doctors alike. Patients will be able to understand their current situation and the specific status of their prostate. Doctors will be able to rely on them to come up with the suitable approach for the patients they are treating.

Without prostate cancer staging systems, there would not be any means of putting meaning of the level and severity of the cancer experienced by the patient – no reference for appropriate approach in treating prostate cancer. A prostate cancer staging system has continued to be an efficient tool and basis for one’s treatment & prognosis.

For your information, Prostate cancer is almost the equivalence of breast cancer for female. It is the third leading cause of male cancer deaths. Usually, there are no obvious symptoms for prostate cancer because it starts in the gland cells and this cancer is called adenocarcinoma. This is common among men ages 50 to 80.

A person with prostate cancer usually has a hard time to urinate due to the weakening of the urinary stream during the day but keeps on urinating at night. They usually experience pain or burning during urination and in some cases, blood is found within their urine.

There is for men a notorious Positive Sign of Aging (PSA)! If you are a man, or a woman who cares for a man, any man, PSA needs be added to your annual list of reminders, particularly and especially for those past 40.

This Positive Sign of Aging (not a medical term, just another way to catch your eye) really deals with a man’s prostate. Statistics demonstrate that one in six men will develop some form of prostate cancer in their lives; one in 35 will die from it. And, the PSA test which should be a part of one’s annual physical exam is a way to keep tabs on the condition of one’s prostate. PSA actually is the designation for Prostate Specific Antigen, medically speaking.

I have come across men who don’t even know the term, never heard of it. Dangerous! And I have discovered those of us who have been conscientious and informed and still get Prostate Cancer any way. That is my story.

Last year, following a regular check up I was referred by my primary care physician to a urologist. My PSA numbers were up, after a lifetime (68 years of age at the time)) of clean reports. The urologist did a biopsy and found the Big C. Now, to be sure most people at this stage in the story are not necessarily alarmed. Enter the Oncologist/Urologist who shares the results of the biopsy and tells me my cancer is very aggressive. You may want to search the word “Gleason Scale or Score” on the internet. I refer not to the comedian but to a method for measuring the aggressiveness of the cancer, that is how fast it is growing and spreading.

Mine came out at a big fat 9 (that’s NINE). That’s serious. My physician later told me that had I not chosen (he really gave me no choice) to have my prostate removed I would have died in my early 70s and had a miserable death. Not much of a choice.

So say it again, PSA. Now, the good news is that I am free and clear, have had no radiation, but continue to have my PSA checked very often to be sure there is no stray cancer cell running around loose somewhere.

My Oncologist told me that there are always a variety of choices for the patient. However, in some cases those choices become less available the higher one is in the Gleason scale. So, I didn’t argue. I said “when do we do it?” In less than a month from when we discovered the culprit, surgery was done and I was on my way to the rest of my life.

Now, what is this about so far as you, the reader, is concerned? Well, it’s about your doing several things. I suggest these:

*Be Disciplined: Be sure you have an annual check-up and be sure it always includes the PSA test. And do not be embarrassed to have your physician do a rectal exam. That tells the doctor whether your prostate has a normal or enlarged feel. Briefly uncomfortable, but very important.

*Be Aware: Start now, no matter your age, to uncover all the information you can about Prostate Cancer. Men, as women with their breasts, are at risk for this form of Cancer. Period. So catch the fox before he gets into the hen house.

*Be Alert: Watch for any change in your activities. Particularly, watch your habits. How many times a day do you urinate? How about getting up at night? How about changes in your stream? Ask your spouse or partner to help you remain conscientious.

A patient’s prognosis, or his chance of recovery depends on a number of things. Firstly, the stage of the cancer or how far gone the disease is in his body. This is crucial as knowing how widespread the disease is and how much of the prostate and other body parts it has affected can determine the success of treatments.

It is also important to consider the patient’s health and age. Such factors can indicate the body’s ability to withstand the treatment procedures and to recuperate after being subjected to radiation, chemotherapy, etc.

Lastly, it is important to know whether the cancer is newly-discovered or is a recurrence of a previous infection.

Photo credits: Sara Petrova

There are many factors involved in whether or not you will get prostate cancer and, if you are diagnosed, what your prostate cancer survival rates might be. It may not be a pleasant thing to talk about, but here are some facts:

Your age: All men have a risk of prostate cancer. The odds of you getting prostate cancer over your lifetime are one in ten. It is unusual for a man under the age of 60 to be diagnosed with prostate cancer. But, once you reach your 60s, your odds now begin to rise with 70% of all prostate cancer diagnoses in men over the age of 65. Once you reach your 70s you now have a one and three chance for a prostate cancer diagnoses.

Your family history: If prostate cancer runs in your immediate family, your father or brothers, you are 11 times more likely than the average man to develop prostate cancer.

Your Ethnicity: With nearly 2.4 times higher death rates than Caucasian men, African-American men are recommended to get earlier screening.

Your Diet and obesity: As studies show, your diet may affect your chances of developing prostate cancer. The death rates for obese men are increased.

Your prostate cancer survival rate depends greatly on which stage your cancer is diagnosed. There are the four stages:

T1 Stage: Only through a microscope can this stage of cancer be detected. The risks at this stage are very low and may only require careful watching, not treatment. Symptoms of the disease may not be felt at this stage.

T2 Stage: Now the cancer can be felt during a DRE (Digital Rectal Examination). At this stage, the disease is often curable and about 70% of men are still living after 5 years. Symptoms may or may not be felt at this stage.

T3 Stage: At this stage, the cancer is locally advanced and is invading outside the prostate gland. The chance of a cure at this stage is reduced and survival rate is around 5 years. There could be symptoms at this stage, especially in the bladder.

T4 Stage: This is the most advanced stage as the cancer has now spread to the structures around the gland. There are usually secondaries involved like bone metastases. The survival rate is now between 1 and 3 years, as it is usually incurable now.

Your prostate cancer survival rate is very hard to predict. Early diagnosis is key. Other factors are age and overall health of the patient, how quickly your PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) is rising and your Gleason score. A Gleason score looks at the cancer under a microscope, checks its aggressiveness and how much of the gland is affected. The good news is that 99% of men survive at least five years after being diagnosed, the 10 year survival rate is 92% and 61% will survive at least 15 years. So get your recommended exams starting at age 50 for the average man and 45 for those with higher risk factors.

The majority of men will develop an enlarged prostate sometime in their lifetime. The symptoms include: difficulting in starting urination, weak flow of urination, need to urinate frequently.

Men that suffer from these symptoms should seek medical advice to ensure that it only an enlarged prostate that is causing the problem, and not prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is the second largest cause of cancer deaths among men, second only to lung cancer. One of the problems with prostate cancer, is that the symptoms typically do not show up in the early stages of the disease, and when they do manifest themselves, it is often in the late stages of the disease and makes it difficult to treat.

The main symptoms of prostate cancer include the same symptoms as an enlarged prostate, but the advanced stages also include: Pain in back, hips and thighs; unexplained weight loss; feeling of tiredness.

Most prostate cancers are treated by surgery or radiation therapy. At the present time, there is not a good chemotherapy option for the early stages of prostate cancer. Surgery is the most common method of treating the early stages of prostate cancer. But there are risks with any type of surgery, and many men are turning to radiation treatment.

Radiation therapy works by killing the cancer cells and not killing the adjacent healthy cells. The two most common methods for radiation therapy include seed therapy and external beam radiation therapy.

Seed therapy involves implanting a small amount (a seed) of radioactive material in the prostate. The radioactive material will last about two years, in which time the cancerous cells have been killed.

External Beam radiation therapy is a painless, out patient procedure where a beam is aimed at the affected areas. If the area has spread, the radiation can be aimed at it as well. The treatment takes place five days a week over a seven week period.

The side effects of prostrate cancer radiation treatment include incontinence, impotence, and fatigue. Not all patients suffer from these side effects.

Treatment for the early stages of prostate cancer is usually successful. However, if the prostate cancer is not identified in its early stages, then the success rate drops dramatically. This is why all men over the age of 50 should have a yearly check up to identify prostrate cancer early.