My guy told me today that after his recent lab work, it showed "high numbers" in regards to his prostate health. He has an appointment to see a specialist in January. Can someone who has been there or knows about this explain to me what these high numbers mean? I’m not sure he understands himself or doesn’t want to worry me. He is 63 & otherwise in good health, his father had prostate cancer. I am very worried. Thanks.
If his numbers have been low all along and now they are suddenly high, this could be a warning sign of prostate cancer. He should follow through with his appointment to see a urologist and take the warning very seriously. Prostate cancer is not necessarily a death sentence but must be regarded as a serious health problem, and he should take the advice of his physicians. But not all cases of high PSA have prostate cancer, some of them just have high PSA and we don’t know why.
Also, can you provide the country with the lowest rate of prostate cancer?
Science has a hard time with one aspect of the above answer. That is the extent to which testing for this problem is sought. Third world countries often don’t screen for this. More screening means more detection.
The baby boomer population bubble has now reached 60 years old. This means that many of us are going to need to face illness and diseases that come with surviving six decades. Prostate cancer is one such disease that is expected to grow in number over the next few decades.
Statistically 180,000 new prostate cancer cases are being diagnosed in the United States every year with about 32,000 men dying from this disease annually. Although these are the statistics that are used, the fact is that many of these men will will die and not from the actual prostate cancer, but from allowing the cancerous condition to grow until it is unmanageable. This is due to the fact that prostate cancer can metastasize or move from the prostate area and infect organs, bones and lymph nodes.
This should cause every man to pause and realize that prostate cancer is a serious disease that if given the chance will kill you. It is now the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men in the United States after lung cancer. In Canada about 17,000 males are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year and about 4,200 die each year from the disease.
The sad fact is that many of these deaths are avoidable. As with many cancerous diseases, early detection is the key to effective treatment and even cure. Prostate cancer is diagnosed based upon how advanced the malignant tumor has grown. In the early stages, we have maximum flexibility in treatment options and can both manage and in many times cure this potentially deadly disease.
Diagnosis usually start with a medical history as studies have shown that heredity may be a factor with prostate cancer. Next, a DRE or digital rectal exam is done. This is a quick and simple exam where the doctor feels your prostate for any abnormal bumps, size difference or texture. In addition to a DRE, the doctor may suggest a prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood Test. This blood test looks for abnormal markers that may indicate the presence of a developing cancerous situation.
There’s growing evidence to suggest that a diet very rich in vitamins and nutrients can also help maintain our body’s ability to ward off many serious diseases. Although the definitely not a cure for prostate cancer, the use of natural remedies to strengthen your body’s immune system can only help to keep you healthy. There’s no question that a low-fat diet along with appropriate vitamins and minerals can help keep you healthier and make you better able to fight off disease.
Several studies have suggested that men who had a diet rich in selenium and vitamin E. had fewer cases of prostate cancer. The kinds of foods that contain selenium include meat, grains, seafood, and some kinds of nuts. It’s critical that you meet with your doctor before making any radical changes to your diet as other problems may arise. There’s also some evidence to suggest that the nutrient lycopene found in tomato based products such as ketchup can provide some protection against contracting prostate cancer.
According to a study in the British Journal of Urology International, men that have been diagnosed with prostate cancer who take supplemental lycopene (is found in very high amounts in tomatoes) and still get their testicles surgically removed are likely to experience less bone pain, less disease and stand more chances of living longer than those who have only had surgical removal of their testicles.
In the end, a partnership with your medical doctor is the best way to remain healthier longer. By taking some responsibility for your health, changes in your lifestyle are much easier to make.
Abigail Franks
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/living-with-prostate-cancer-61116.html
I read recently what one doctor said recently that prostate cancer in men over 80 years old should not be a serious issue like in men under 40 years old. This makes sense and given what we know about prostate cancer being a slow-growing malignancy. If you have read about prostate cancer at all, you must be aware that there are certain stages, or levels of seriousness, that are apparent as the disease develops.
People who panic about prostate cancer might be inclined toward aggressive treatment for a man over 80. Aggressive treatment has side effects that may dramatically alter the quality of life of that special senior citizen. Unlike a man under 40, who is much more able to tolerate an aggressive treatment regimen if deemed appropriate.
Some make the mistake and assumed that someone over 80 that has prostate cancer only needs to have the disease managed as the patient probably doesn’t have that many more years, anyway. Although I’m certain some medical doctors think this way, many are more interested in providing a higher quality of life to the elderly.
In the case of a cancerous tumor, the treatment will be based on the desires of the patient, treatment options in the stage at which the cancer has progressed. These are important considerations when determining the appropriate level of treatment, no matter if the man is under 40 are well over 80.
Many men who contract prostate cancer early in life typically have a hereditary factors involved. This means that there may have been men in his close family like his father, brothers or uncles who have had prostate carcinoma. This may suggest to many medical professionals, that the patient needs continued monitoring and potentially aggressive treatment as he has apparently predisposed to this type of malignancy.
A men who has reached the age of 80, has survived what life has thrown his way both medically and physically. A level of frailty becomes a consideration in determining the appropriate level of treatment that should be considered.
Several stages of prostate cancer, offer a treatment option known as” watchful waiting.” As we know, this type of carcinoma is slow-growing, an appropriate level of care may be simply keeping an eye on the cancerous growth to minimize the risk of it metastasizing were spreading to other parts of the body.
So the option of carefully watching may provide the best option for senior men. It allows them to maintain their current quality of life while also protecting their future existence from malignant cancer running through their body. No matter what your age, it’s important to talk to your doctor about treatment options if diagnosed with prostate cancer
Abigail Franks
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/appropriate-prostate-cancer-treatment-in-men-over-80-83283.html
One of the biggest risk factors associated with the incidence of prostate cancer is diet. The Westernized diet of red meat and saturated fat is thought to significantly contribute to the probability of an individual developing prostate cancer and so a prostate cancer diet should be started as early on in life as possible.
Men living in Eastern countries and especially Asia have a much lower incidence rate of prostate cancer than American men for example. This is possibly because Asian men eat a much healthier diet than most Americans. In addition, when Asian men relocate to a Westernized country the probability of them developing the condition gradually rises until it equals that of native men.
Hence, it would seem logical that the prostate cancer diet needs to contain all of the ingredients that are commonly found in an Eastern diet while cutting out the unhealthy saturated fats and simple carbohydrates that are found in so many Westernized foods i.e. fast foods, take-aways etc. This simple change in diet may have a tremendous effect on prostate health in general.
Researchers are currently devoting a lot of time to analysing the Eastern diet and trying to find out what it contains that makes it a good prostate cancer nutrition diet. So far the emphasis is being placed on two particular nutrients; isoflavones and polyphenols which are found in soy and green tea respectively.
Isoflavones are thought to stop the process of abnormal cell growth and so if ingested in relatively concentrated amounts can reduce the incidence of cancer which is, in simple terms, a mass of abnormal cells. They do this by inhibiting the effects of the sex hormones and in particular testosterone on the prostate gland meaning that it is less likely to become cancerous.
Isoflavones can be found in soy and so a prostate cancer nutrition diet should contain a larger than normal amount of soy products. Even if further research finds that isoflavones are not an effective prostate cancer nutrition supplement they are still a necessary part of the diet and should be included either way.
Polyphenols are also thought to hinder the growth process of abnormal cells so that tumours grow and form blood supplies a lot slower than normal. Polyphenols are found in relatively large quantities in green tea, another suggested ingredient for an effective prostate cancer nutrition diet. Just how much tea needs to be drunk for the polyphenols to have an effect is as yet unknown however researchers are currently trying to isolate the nutrient and make it more potent, meaning that less would have to be ingested per day.
Thus, it is possible to boost your immunity to prostate cancer by making a few changes and eating a prostate cancer diet. Start including isoflavones and polyphenols in your meals today!
Khim Lim
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/prostate-cancer-dietboost-your-immunity-with-isoflavones-and-polyphenols-82177.html
My husband’s urologist just did a physical examination of my husband’s prostate and said that it was abnormal — smooth in the front, "bumpy" or "hard" in the back. He has scheduled a biopsy — does anyone know what the likelihood of cancer is (based on the physical characteristics)?
the bumpy part doesn’t sound real good..but you really cant tell until he has a biopsy… I had an enlarged prostate for years and it finally turned into prostate cancer 3 years ago.. I had Proton Radiation treatments at Loma Linda University Medical Center in Loma Linda California and am just fine now.. Proton Radiation is the very best treatment for prostate cancer in my opinion.. It has no side effects and a 90% cure rate.. I am fine now.. There is a website called Proton Bob that tells alot about prostate cancer and Proton radiation, if you are interested… Plus there is a book just out that any one with Prostate problems should have.. It is very informative. The book was written by Robert J. Marckini, a prostate cancer survivor. It tells all about prostate problems and prostate cancer plus it tells about all of the treatments that are available today including the pros and cons and side effects of each type treatment.. I hope you husband is fine.. but if not, I think the website and book would be very beneficial. have a nice day…
My father was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He is in the early stages of it. I don’t know exactly what phase or much about it for that matter. Nonetheless I am worried and scared and so is my mother. He has two options to remove it either chemo or surgery. Does anyone know which option might be better and does anyone have experiences where someone in their life had this and was fine afterward?
I had prostate cancer. It’s a slow growing cancer, so your lucky if you catch it early enough. I had my prostate removed, and am now cancer free. Been so for four years. I recommend the operation. Chemo tends to kill some of the good cells. And who needs the sick feelings from chemo? The results of the operation wear off quickly.
Since in US, more than 200,000 new cases of prostate cancer are discovered every year a more effective treatment was desperately needed.
At the prostate cancer symposium in Orlando, co-sponsored by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Eric J. Small, MD, UCSF professor of medicine and urology presented the findings of the study he led helped by other 19 US institutions, regarding an effective treatment for prostate cancer.
Scientists said that the rate of survival increased by four and a half months in those who were administered the cancer vaccine compared with those who got the placebo.
For the patients this is great news because it gives them hope that an even better vaccine could be discovered. This vaccine is not like the others that are designed to prevent a disease. This is made to treat advanced prostate cancer by increasing the immune systemâs response to cancer cells.
The vaccine was well tolerated by patients and the side effects were mild: fever and chills. This is good news because chemotherapy and radiation gives a lot of unbearable side effects.
Small included in the study 127 patients suffering of asymptomatic metastatic hormone refractory prostate cancer (HRPC). 82 of them received the vaccine and 45 got placebo. They were administered three shots over six weeks. The treatment continued three years.
For those treated with the vaccine, the median rate of survival was 25.9 months. For those who got a placebo treatment, the overall of survival was 21.4 months.
The conclusions were that 115 patients of this group had progressive disease at the time of data analysis and all patients were followed for survival for 3 years.
Scientists do not know if the vaccine will work on patients suffering of early-stage prostate cancer and of explosive terminal cancer. The vaccine, called Provenge, does not cure cancer but at least it slows it down.
Other cancer vaccines are being developed for treating: leukemia, breast cancer, colon cancer, and kidney and pancreas cancer as well.
The human body is not able to recognize the cancer cells and that is why it can not fight them without help. The vaccine is designed to alert the body is cancerous cells are present. Provenge has been made out of a genetically engineered protein and a dendritic cell provided from the patientâs bloodstream. After getting the vaccine shots, the immune system will react and will activate immune T-cells to find and destroy the cancer cells.
This discovery is important not only for those who suffer of the disease but also for the field. This vaccine confirms what everybody denied, that vaccines can really work.
For more information about prostate cancer treatment please review this web site http://www.prostate-cancer-center.com
Groshan Fabiola
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/vaccine-proves-to-be-efficient-in-treating-prostate-cancer-138675.html
We’ve been dating for little more than three years, and I’m on a somewhat familiar basis with her family. The doctors don’t know in what stage the cancer is and he’ll be going through testing throughout the month. She’s pretty broken up about it, but I’m not particularly sure how to go about comforting her.
Greetings!
I have recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer. The process of testing helped to eliminate guessing. My consultation after the test to discuss options, took away much of the apprehensive thoughts. It seemed that once the news was out, many of my friends had stories and experiences. Some of their comments were helpful but some would have been better left unsaid.
I think you can best encourage your loved one by letting her know that you are there for her if she need to cry or talk. Just be her friend. You do not need to become an expert on the cancer. Encourage her to love on her dad with words of encouragement and love. A hug and a kiss on the cheek will do wonders.
Dad needs the chance to become his own expert on the subject and the confidence that his family will support the decisions he makes about a course of treatment.
This is how I feel. Sincerely, Chas G-a future cancer survivor
My father-in-law was just diagnosed with prostate cancer for the second time and he is in his 50’s I think. I was wondering if anyone has faced the same thing and what we should expect. My father-in-law will not talk much about it so any thing you can tell me would be apricated.
He is married and the first time he was diagnosed he had surgery to remove the tumor.
What has likely happened is your father-in-law has just been informed that his PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) level is rising again after surgery. PSA is a hormone that is detected in the blood and higher levels of PSA can indicate the presence of prostate cancer or the recurrence of cancer.
What needs to be determined is whether there is a local recurrence of the prostate cancer (return of the cancer to the area where it was first identified) or distant disease (metastic disease). If it is a locally recurrent cancer Radiation therapy can be of help. If the cancer has spread then Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT) and Radiation or Chemotherapy can be of help. This is not good news for your father-in-law or for your family at this time, but there is hope. I have prostate cancer and have recently undergone surgery to remove the tumor. I found the best way to deal with the disease was to be as informed about treatment options as possible; and to choose a treatment that made sense to me. I recommend the following Cancer Survivors website for you and especially for your father-in-law, it is full of information about treatment options and stories from cancer survivors who have been through what your father-in-law is facing and can offer advice based on experience. The link is as follows: http://www.yananow.net/
Good luck to you and your family at this time. Be informed about prostate cancer and the treatments available and the chances for long term survival and a cure are much more likely.