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.

Prostate cancer is raising on the health toll charts at a very alarming pace. This is sad because very little attention is given to this crisis despite the number of deaths it has caused. Prostate cancer is specially common with busy men. Those who are too occupied to engage in sexual intercourse, or any sexual activities, even self inflicted for that matter. Prostate cancer makes it very difficult to urinate as well as to have an erectile function. Like any other cancer, early detection and treatment is the key to surviving this disease. Prevention should be done in the form of lifestyle moderation in terms of work load. Be sure to reserve some quality time to attend to the most basic needs or the price to pay is not worth the neglect. Remember that we do not work to live, not live to work. Money cannot buy us our life.

Ronald Chen, MD of the MGH Cancer Center, together with co-authors Jack Clark, MD of the Boston University School of Public Health, and Judith Manola, MS of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute recently conducted a study on prostrate cancer. Based on their data, it seems like the quality of life factors may not receive adequate consideration when it comes to matching treatments with patients. This seems to stem from the fact that unlike other types of cancers, prostrate deals with subjects that many patients might be uncomfortable discussing even with a doctor.

As James Talcott, MD says, “Prostate cancer patients experience the same fears and hard decisions as all cancer patients do, but prostate cancer treatment directly affects very personal things that most people aren’t comfortable talking about – urinary, bowel and sexual function.”

To read the news in full, please click here.

Photo credits: Wikipedia

Cancer of any kind is devastating news to any patient and his or her family, and this is no different with prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is a type of cancer that develops in the prostate itself. The Prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system. Cancer cells in the prostate can metastasize and then spread to other parts of the body like the bones or lymph nodes. This cancer is difficult on men and can cause difficulty in urinating, erectile dysfunction, and difficulty in sexual relations. There are new inventions and treatments and hopefully one day there will be a cure all together.

For patients who are having problems urinating or being intimate this may be a sign that they should see their doctor. Men in Peotone, Illinois can go to Peotone Illinois healthcare for a checkup and to find out if there is anything more serious going on like prostate cancer. A good screening is very important and like any cancer the earlier the cancer is diagnosed the better the long term prognosis is. Men should also pay attention to any changes they have in urination or difficulty with sexual activity and erectile dysfunction as these can be indicators that they have cancer.

If a man needs treatment they can seek treatment at Peotone Illinois Hospital. Treatment for prostate cancer can include a number of different things. Typically there is surgery involved and then treatment after surgery with radiation and or chemotherapy. Any cancer patient will want to stay as healthy as possible throughout their treatment and recovery. A positive attitude can also help in recovery. Many patients find surrounding themselves with family and friends and living life as normal as possible is a real benefit and aid in their recovery.

For some prostate cancer treatments there is a new addition to surgery. The new invention to prostate cancer surgery is the use of a robot to perform the surgery. The use of a robot in surgery has many benefits for the patient. These benefits includes a smaller incision, shorter recovery time, shorter hospital stays, less complications with infections, and a better overall experience. On a more jovial side, having surgery by a robot also makes a good recovery story at the dinner table and tends to really impress the grandchildren! Technology has really advanced in for the use in prostate cancer treatment and this has been for the benefit of the patient. Any step in making cancer a better experience is a plus for patient and the healthcare field.

Because of its nature, prostate cancer is a disease suffered only by men. In fact, the American Cancer Society has found that prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men. While this statistic may seem the disease dooms a man to death, the prognosis isn’t as bleak as the facts seem to indicate.

While one man in six will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, only one of every 34 will actually die as a result of the disease. Depending on how far the cancer has spread and how early it is diagnosed the prognosis for prostate cancer is actually very good. Most people do not die of the cancer itself, but of other causes.

Prostate cancer is generally a disease that affects older men, the majority of men diagnosed with this type of cancer are over the age of 65. It is partially because of this age of onset that most who develop this type of cancer do not die from it. They generally die from other causes associated with old age.

Risk factors for developing prostate cancer are a combination of hereditary and social factors. Having one or more first generation relatives who suffers with prostate cancer seems to be the best identifying factor of any particular man developing the disease.

African American men seem to be slightly more likely than Caucasian men to be diagnosed with the disorder. Along with genetics, social features also play a role in the development of this condition. These social factors can include diet and general overall healthiness.

Like most cancers, prostate cancer has no symptoms in its earliest stages. This is why screening is so important. If you are at risk for developing this cancer because of your family history, your doctor can perform a blood test that will detect if the cancer is developing. In fact, your doctor will usually conduct both a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test as well as a digital rectal exam. If both these tests indicate you may suffer with cancer, he may suggest a biopsy to be sure.

If your cancer is not caught in the early stages when it is most treatable, you may start to experience some symptoms. These symptoms include pain or stiffness in the lower back, blood in the semen or urine, difficulty having an erection, painful ejaculation, difficulty urinating or feeling the need to urinate frequently.

Once prostate cancer is detected, there are several ways it can be treated. These include the traditional methods of chemotherapy, radiation and surgery to remove the cancerous gland. Because this gland is part of both a man’s urinary tract and sexual organs, there are many side effects of these treatments the man may find unpleasant. These include the inability to achieve erection as well as urinary leakage.

Even though prostate cancer is common, survival rates are good, especially is the condition is caught in the early stages. It is important to discuss your risk factors with your doctor to see if you need to be screened for the disease.

Prostate disorders have become very common and are of much concern among the men population world over. Especially the men crossing the age of 40 are susceptible for the prostate disorders and the chances of prostate disorders are more among those crossed 50 years of age. Identification of prostate problems at an early stage is an important requirement to avoid severe effects of this malignancy. Men approaching 40s and 50s are advised to go for routine annual checkups for any of the occurrence of prostate disorders. DRE scanning and PSA testing are the usual tools for diagnosis.

Treatment is always risky. Laser treatment is a modern technique with the state of art technology and most modern sophisticated medical equipments are used in laser prostate treatment to treat the prostate related problems. This brand new facility is available in Jacksonville Mayo Clinic. Laser prostate treatment is a better option for the treatment of prostate disorders and better cure is assured with this new brand Laser prostate treatment, if patient is diagnosed with the problem sufficiently early.

“Men generally do not come to a doctor unless they carry symptoms… and lose years of valuable, potential treatment -because they wait until they’re really sick to come in” witnesses Dr. Gregory Broderick.

It is amply proved that, Dr. Gregory Broderick again and again confirmed it, the existing pharmaceutical treatments for prostate affect badly the functions of the sexual organs and most of the men having the prostate problems are eagerly looking for other options for cure. Laser prostate treatment comes as a God’s gift for those looking for better options.

Interstitial Laser Thermotherapy, the laser prostate treatment for the prostate patients in Jacksonville Mayo Clinic is performed by well known urologists in Mayo clinic Dr. Gregory Broderick and Dr. Todd Igel. The laser prostate treatment is conducted under anesthesia as an in-office procedure. Mayo clinic urologists use technically advanced laser equipment for the laser prostate treatment by inserting the equipment through the urethra. This can accurately locate the problem area and burn the excess prostate tissues.

Laser prostate treatment of Mayo Clinic also has the risks associated with it. The bleeding, which can be there for days to weeks, incontinence or impotence can also be experienced as the after effect of laser prostate treatment. But the probability of happening these contingencies are very less comparing with the usual surgical procedures. If the patient has been facing the severe symptoms of excessive bleeding and urinary retention, surgical procedures have to be adopted under anesthesia.

If you are looking for the medical services of the Mayo clinic, you can reach out to their central appointment office. The contact numbers are:

Jacksonville, Fla.: 904-953-2272.
Rochester, Minn.: 507-538-3270
Scottsdale/Phoenix, Ariz.: 800-446-2279

For more relevant information and for further details you can browse through the website mayoclinic.org.

Green Light Laser System provides a similar type of service and you can reach them through laserscope.com. Their procedure is known as Photoselective Vaporization of the Prostate (PVP). PVP functions in a similar way as Mayo Clinic’s laser prostate treatment, Interstitial Laser Thermo therapy.

Among the people affected by Prostate problems, most of them are suffering from Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) and it is the most common problem, apart from prostate cancer. Laser prostate treatments are very effective for BPH, if it is diagnosed at an earlier stage. As far as prostate problems are considered an early detection and proper treatment holds the key for healthy life.