PSA Test Results Meaning Explained In Plain English

If you are wondering what your PSA test results meaning is, you're not alone. If you ask ten different people this question, you will probably get ten different answers. Below is a brief run down of what it means (in "plain English").

First of all, realize the PSA test is not a set-in-stone indicator that you have prostate cancer or not.

This surprises a lot of men thanks to the misinformation that's been put out over the years about what a PSA test results meaning really means. It does not mean you have cancer or even any prostate problems at all just because it is high.

On the other hand, you are not necessarily safe and out of the woods if the score is low, either.

What the PSA measures is the level of prostate specific antigen in your blood.

If the levels are elevated, it may mean you have something wrong. But, on the other hand it might not mean anything at all. And, frankly, there have been men who had very low PSA scores (which is considered to be good) who still ended up having prostate cancer or an enlarged prostate or any number of problems.

The point is, you probably should get your PSA levels checked.

Especially if your doctor suggests is.

But, when you see the score, don't necessarily think it is a surefire indication if you have any prostate problems or not.

Maybe you do.

Maybe you don't.

But as far as your PSA test results meaning goes, it is just one of many things to test before you can be sure there is a problem or not.

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PSA Tests - Important Or A Waste Of Time And Money?

More and more it is becoming known how unreliable PSA tests are for accurately indicating whether or not someone has prostate cancer. Does this mean they are a waste of time and money? Or should you continue to get the test?

If you asked ten different people those questions, you would likely get ten different answers.

But the reality is, PSA tests, while useful, are not something you should take to the bank as being 100% accurate when it comes to you having prostate cancer or other related health problems.

It is true that men with elevated levels of PSA in their blood due often have prostate problems.

But, there are also many men who have high PSA levels who have nothing wrong whatsoever with their prostates. On other hand, there are also many men who have had low levels of PSA in their blood who were found to have prostate cancer. But, because they had a false sense of security (because they thought they were safe due to their low PSA number), they ended up either dying or the cancer spread.

Either way is bad.

And, this is one reason not to rely on the test for anything.

Yes, it can be a useful tool.

And in as much as you can gauge whether your PSA levels are trending up or down over time, it can be a good thing.

But don't take the results as "gospel" that anything is right or wrong.

It's just one of many ways to test for prostate cancer.

And that is why PSA tests and their results should be taken with a grain of salt.

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Prostate Cancer Treatment For People Who Don't Want Their Gland Cut Out By A Surgeon's Knife

Not all prostate cancer treatment involves cutting your prostate out of your body and all the terrible potential side effects that can happen as a result. Sometimes it can be painless and just as effective as removal.

In fact, here is a great example to think about:

Not long ago, my own father was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He had just recently survived two other kinds of cancer (multiple myeloma and skin cancer) and had already been on all the chemotherapy and all he misery that can entail for someone.

So he was not liking the idea of any prostate cancer treatment that is uncomfortable or painful. Nor was he keen on having his prostate cut out by a surgeon either, as he'd researched all the possible side effects (life long urination problems and sexual dysfunction).

His options were pretty clear, though. And his challenge was which one to choose.

Well, one of the options he was given was to have radioactive "seeds" implanted around the tumors in his prostate. The idea being, the radiation only affects the tumors and leaves the rest of your prostate (and surrounding tissue - like your bladder, etc) untouched and working fine.

In the end, that's the choice he went with.

And, while it was a bit inconvenient (he had to drive 80 miles round trip 5 days per week, for 8 weeks), he said it was surprisingly fast, painless and efficient. In fact, it only took 15 minutes each day and he never felt anything.

This may or may not be the best treatment for you.

But if you are looking for prostate cancer treatment, it's definitely one of the more interesting options.

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Prostate Cancer Drugs: Miracles Or Just Hype?

If you study various prostate cancer drugs long enough, you'll eventually come across one that will get you a excited, but that will be demonized by others.

Here's what I mean:

On the one hand, you have various experts singing the many prostate cancer drugs' praises.

But on the other hand, you have others saying many are actually dangerous -- that they not only can give you many of the same symptoms as certain serious prostate problems (like the chills, fever, back pain, headache, etc) but there's too much room for error and, in some cases, they could attack your healthy cells, too.

Personally, I don't have much of an opinion either way.

Thank God I have not had prostate cancer and hope never to get it.

Which is the point I want to bring in this article:

Whether or not prostate drugs, or saw palmetto or any other drug or medication or herb really works... the best cure is always prevention.

What are you doing to prevent prostate cancer?

Are you getting adequate amounts of zinc, lycopene, vitamin D and other nutrients that are known to be good for preventing the disease?

Or are you eating and living a lifestyle that makes you prone to getting sick?

A lot of this comes down to personal responsibility.

Too many people are hoping for a magic vaccine or surgery to save them.

But the reality is, whether it's prostate cancer drugs, surgery or something natural... nothing is ever guaranteed when it comes to your health.

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What Is HIFU and Who Is a Good Candidate With Prostate Cancer?

HIFU, or High Intensity Focused Ultrasound, is a minimally invasive technique for treatment of localized prostate cancer. HIFU focuses ultrasound energy and sound waves to a targeted area in the prostate resulting in rapid temperature increases and focal ablation of the treatment zone with great accuracy. In most cases, HIFU is performed on an outpatient basis in one to four hours depending on the size of the prostate. The biggest advantage of HIFU is a very low incontinence rate of less than 2% and a post-treatment erectile dysfunction rate of 20 to 30%. The key to success with HIFU, however, is proper patient selection. Candidates include men with low- to intermediate-risk localized prostate cancer (i.e., no spread of cancer outside of the prostate). These men would have clinical stage T1 or T2b disease (i.e., no palpable nodule or nodule confined one lobe of the prostate), Gleason score of 7 or less (preferably not greater than Gleason Score 3+4=7), PSA level of less than 20, and a prostate volume of 40 grams or less. Initial data for treatment of appropriately selected men with HIFU has shown results comparable to other modalities with regard to localized cancer control, biochemical recurrence, and disease-free survival. Additionally, reported incontinence and erectile dysfunction rates after HIFU are quite low at less that 2% and 20 to 30%, respectively.

Advantages of HIFU as a means of treating select men with prostate cancer include a non-surgical, minimally invasive technique requiring no hospital stay. Additionally, the prostate cancer tissue is destroyed without any radiation exposure. HIFU is repeatable should re-treatment become necessary in the future. Additionally, HIFU can be used to treat recurrent prostate cancer that was initially treated by other means, such as radiation or proton therapy. Another impressive application of HIFU for treatment of localized prostate cancer lies in emerging successes with focal therapy of prostate cancer. In these select cases, studies would be performed to ensure a low-volume of prostate cancer limited to one lobe or a specific focal site within the prostate. The involved lobe or the specific site of the patient's prostate cancer would then be focally treated. Candidates for focal HIFU include men with low-volume (less than or equal to 3 cores positive for cancer, no single core with greater than 50% positive), Gleason Score of 6 or less, and a PSA of less than 10. These men would undergo "template" or "saturation" biopsies with greater to 24 cores evaluated. Recent studies looking at focal therapy of prostate cancer in very select men with low-volume disease are emerging and early results look promising although no long term data is yet available. Early results in some studies show up to 90% recurrence free survival following focal therapy in closely monitored men. Incontinence rates following focal HIFU were 0 to 1% and erectile dysfunction rates less than 5% in one study looking at results at three and six months following treatment.

HIFU is a minimally invasive treatment option for men with low- to intermediate-risk prostate cancer. The key to its success as with all options for treatment lies in appropriate candidate selection. HIFU is performed internationally and is currently undergoing clinical trials for FDA approval in the US. American urologists are trained in performing HIFU and work with American teams internationally in order to offer this treatment to appropriately selected patients interested in HIFU as a means of treating their prostate cancer. As always, be sure to discuss all options with your urologist including the risks, benefits and alternatives to each before making an informed decision regarding treatment of your prostate cancer. Maintain open and honest discussions with your doctor when considering these options as the key to your success is finding the treatment that suits you and your particular cancer the best.

Dr. Ali Kasraeian is one of a few surgeons in the region able to perform both laparoscopic and robotic prostate, bladder, kidney, adrenal and reconstructive surgery. In addition, he is one of North Florida's only minimally invasive surgeons trained as a HIFU surgeon.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ali_Kasraeian

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Article Submitted On: April 01, 2011

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PSA Testing And Prostate Cancer - How To Make Sense Of The Numbers

PSA testing can be confusing for some men. What do the numbers mean? And, do high numbers really mean you have prostate cancer?

Very good questions.

And, the reason these questions are asked so often is due to all the conflicting information floating around.

It used to be thought that high levels of prostate specific antigen in your blood was almost a cancer sentence and it has led to many unnecessary prostate biopsies and, in some gruesome cases, prostate removal.

Unfortunately, PSA testing is not that accurate.

Yes, it is a good test to do -- but do not rely on the results as indication you do or don't have any prostate problems. There have been many cases where someone had high PSA numbers and had absolutely nothing wrong with their prostates whatsoever. There have also been many cases where men had low PSA test numbers and still ended up having prostate cancer.

Does that mean the test it worthless?

And that you should not have it done?

Not necessarily.

Yes, in a sense the numbers are worthless -- especially since so many other things can influence them (even just having sex the night before the test may be able to influence the numbers).

But, at the same time, it is still useful.

Especially if your numbers are trending up or down each time you get it done.

A good goal is still to get your PSA lower, so as far as that goes the PSA testing is a good thing, and something every man should do.

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Signs Of Prostate Cancer Men Sometimes Miss

There are many signs of prostate cancer that are obvious. And there are also a few that are not so obvious (that are usually mistaken for BPH or prostatitis). Below is one sign that often slips through the cracks.

Check this out:

There was a guy who had some troubles with his legs, but kept putting off getting checked out.

He had always worked out a lot, and had spent 30 years doing heavy labor as a job.

And because of that, nobody (especially himself) thought anything of his swollen legs. He did, however, have some other problems, too, with going pee -- including a weak stream, and just general problems getting started.

He had no idea he could be experiencing signs of prostate cancer.

It was the furthest thing from his mind.

Instead, he thought maybe it was just an enlarged prostate at worst.

Millions of men have the condition.

And the TV commercials did a good job of educating him.

Luckily, he went to get check out. Most guys don't (who wants to go in for a prostate exam?). But he figured he might as well and did. And it turned out he didn't have BPH or prostatitis or anything like that:

He had prostate cancer!

And, it was getting pretty advanced, too. Fortunately for him, it had not spread and they were able to take care of it.

But the message is clear:

Not all signs of prostate cancer are the obvious ones having to do with urinating or sexual problems. And by ignoring your overall health, aches and pains, you could be setting yourself up for serious pain, illness or even death.

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Prostate Cancer Treatment That Doesn't Suck Too Bad

Recently, my dad went in for prostate cancer treatment.

Prostate symptoms are strong in that side of my family -- my dad had problems, my uncle (his brother) and my grandpa (his dad) all had prostate cancer and, in some cases, some pretty severe BPH symptoms and prostate infection pain.

When my dad did his due diligence he looked at his prostate cancer treatment options.

In the end it came down to two:

1. Prostate surgery 2. Radiation treatment

The idea of having his prostate cut out by the surgeon's knife was not that appealing, but neither was radiation where, if there is a slight miscalculation, it can screw up your ability to have sex and urinate for the rest of your life.

In the end, he took the radiation option.

And the reason why is because of the breakthroughs they've made in the technology.

In his case, they put radioactive "seeds" around his tumor.

This was done via robot and he said it was completely painless.

The only problem he had was the logistics of getting out there. He had to go five days per week every week for 8 weeks.

Forty treatments in total.

Since he had a long commute, that was not ideal.

And, if he was not retired and had the time, he probably would not have been able to take advantage of the option (and instead get his prostate cut out by a surgeon -- which, again, comes with its fair share of side effects and potential problems).

The point of this article is simple:

These days, not all prostate cancer treatment is horrifying. Sometimes it's painless and simple.

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Top Herbal Remedies For Prostate Cancer

The prostate is part of the male reproductive system and is located between the urethra and bladder. Several herbal remedies are available that might be beneficial for healing prostate cancer, but there is no current medical evidence to back these assertions. Herbal therapy may diminish the severity of the disease, as well as decrease the pain and inflammation related to this condition. Before you start using alternative treatments for prostate cancer, you should consult with your doctor to discuss safety concerns, especially if you're already taking prescription drugs for other illnesses.

One herb, in particular, that has been tested many times and has shown positive results is called saw palmetto. This herb grows in the southeastern United States and comes from berries that are made from the saw palm tree. Saw palmetto hinders the production of DHT, which is a testosterone that is primarily responsible for the enlargement of the prostate gland. When estrogen and DHT are reduced in the body, the prostate will gradually reduce in size and thus eradicate many health problems that can result from an enlarged prostate gland. Saw palmetto is also mainly suggested for alleviating the symptoms associated with benign prostate hypertrophy. Please be aware, however, that saw palmetto is not recommended for curing prostate cancer.

Chaparral, a powerful anti-viral and anti-bacterial healing herb, is another potential remedy for dealing with prostate cancer. Also, chaparral contains strong antioxidant properties, which makes this medicinal herb a potent cancer fighter and blood purifier. As a warning, some reports have indicated that using this herb may cause irreversible liver failure.

Additional popular herbs that may alleviate some of the symptoms linked to prostate cancer (e.g. urinary incontinence) include stinging nettle, pumpkin, rye grass, and African plum tree. Even though these herbs are a common choice for many people, you should keep in mind that no sufficient scientific evidence exists at this point to support the efficacy of these herbs.

Robin Reichert is a certified nutrition consultant, certified personal trainer and freelance writer. She has been involved in the health and fitness industry for over 10 years. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of San Francisco and a Master of Science in natural health from Clayton College. Robin's goal is to make every personal training session fun and effective for her clients. Her services include both in-person and online personal training at http://www.trainwithmeonlinetoday.com/ Lose up to 10 lbs with a 24-DAY WEIGHT LOSS CHALLENGE! Visit my website to get started today!

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Prostate Cancer - Concentrated Fish Oil Decreases Death Rates

Finally, we have some good news about prostate cancer. Two large-scale, long-term studies have now proven that consumption of concentrated fish oil or oily fish can slash the mortality rates of men afflicted with the disease.

In the Physician's Health Study, over 20,000 men were followed for 22 years. The study conclusively proved that men who ate at least five portions of oily fish every week were 48% less likely to die of the disease than those who ate only one portion per week. Concentrated fish oil is particularly effective at blocking metastatic cancers. It achieves this by blocking the conversion of arachidonic acid into the hormones which feed the cancer cells. In this way, it actually helps to stop prostate cancer from spreading.

When tumor cells of the prostate gland metastasize and invade other parts of the body, such as the bone marrow, prostate cancer becomes a much more serious disease. It is precisely in this process where the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil intervene. Researchers at one British hospital, the Christie hospital in Manchester, found that concentrated fish oil omega 3's can inhibit invasion of the bone marrow by prostate cancer cells.

Another key finding was that omega 6 fatty acids actually increase the risk that prostate cancer will spread. What this means is that all men who have prostate cancer or are at risk for prostate cancer should avoid all foods that contain these fats, including vegetable oils, such as corn oil and sunflower oil, nuts and seeds, and foods that have been fried in these oils. Prostate cancer cells use omega 6 fats as fuel, and giving them this fuel encourages rapid growth of the cancer cells.

I have a lot of personal experience with biochemistry and various health conditions and I cannot stress enough that dietary changes are essential to getting healthy, regardless of the health challenges involved. There is no quick-fix that will work if we continue to eat an unhealthy diet, plain and simple.

The easiest way to protect yourself is to eliminate the aforementioned foods from your diet and to take a strong concentrated fish oil supplement in capsule form every single day. This is much more precise and much more convenient than having to eat five portions of oily fish per week and is also much cleaner, because most fish sold to the public today is contaminated with heavy metals, industrial chemicals and radiation.

Selecting a top quality brand of concentrated fish oil involves finding a company that publishes an independent certificate of analysis setting out clearly the strength of the product and the tests that have proven that it is clean and free of contaminants. There is no more effective, natural way to protect ourselves from prostate cancer, and, indeed, many other ailments.

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Provenge Therapy - An Advanced Treatment for Metastatic Prostate Cancer Patients

Provenge (sipuleucel-T) manufactured by Dendreon corporation is the new therapeutic immunotherapy for prostate cancer patients with an advance metastatic tumor. The therapy was approved last April 29, 2010 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration allowing 12 manufacturing facilities in New Jersey to operate. During the annual meeting of the Genitourinary American Society of the Clinical Oncology on 2010, Doctor Philip Kantoff said that the study is considered to be the first large controlled clinical trial that showed an immune system based therapy that extended the lives of cancer patients. Recently, Dendreon's 36 manufacturing facilities in New Jersey were approved by the U.S. FDA allowing the company to increase Provenge production supply supporting the 12 manufacturing facilities that was already been approved last April of 2010.

Provenge is an autologous type of cellular immunotherapy that halts and delays prostatic tumor growth by targeting prostatic tumor antigens. This type of immunotherapy is designed to improve the prognosis and quality life of patients with advance and recurrent prostate cancer who are resistant to hormone therapy as well as to other treatment modalities. This therapy is believed to prolong the survival rates of metastatic prostate cancer patients. According to Dr. Daniel George, director of the Genitourinary Oncology, Provenge has the largest reported survival benefits in patients with asymptomatic (no symptoms) or the minimally symptomatic metastatic prostate cancer.

Provenge therapy works by collecting the patient's white blood cells and expose them with a prostate specific antigen known as prostatic acid phosphatase. These cells are incubated with the antigen that is designed to attack the prostate cancer when injected back to the patient. As it is inside the body of the patient, the antigen instructs the immune system to attack and destroy the cancer cells. This therapy is designed to induce an immune response against prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP); an antigen expressed in most prostate cancers. Provenge therapy is the first among the new class of therapeutic therapies that belong to an autologous cellular immunotherapy; it is a personalized type of immunotherapy treatment that makes use of the white blood cells of each patient. According to the Dana Farber cancer institute investigators, Provenge therapy marks the beginning of the new era in which patient's own immune systems become part of the therapeutic arsenal against cancer.

Men who are not responding to hormonal therapies and who have metastatic prostate cancer as well as the patients who experience little or no cancer-related pain having efficient organ functioning are candidates for the therapy. Provenge is administered thru infusion via the intravenous veins of a person. It is given at three doses having two weeks range of interval. 512 patients with advanced metastatic prostate cancer as well as the patients who were resistant to hormone therapy were enrolled to the clinical study of phase 3 trial conducted at the cancer treatment centers. Randomly, patients were given with Provenge and an inactive placebo. Compared to the patients who received the placebo pills, Provenge extended the patient's median survival by 4.1 months and has reduced the overall death rate by 22.5 percent. According to Dr. Mitchell Gold the president of Dendreon Corporation, the significant 4.1 month median survival benefit Provenge demonstrated a representation of a major milestone in the treatment of the metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer.

The common adverse reactions reported during the safety evaluation of 601 patients who underwent the Provenge treatment or the leukapheresis (extraction and incubation of white blood cells) procedure were fatigue, chills, fever, back pain, nausea, headache and joint ache. Critical adverse reactions that were reported in patients receiving Provenge include acute infusion reactions and cerebrovascular events e.g. stroke. Indications of infusion reactions include chills, difficulty of breathing, dizziness, hypertension and vomiting. The majority of the adverse reactions were mild to moderate in severity.

According to Dr. David Penson, a professor of the Urologic Surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, the approval of Provenge represents significant advancement in the care of men with advanced prostate cancer. Provenge now offers new treatment of choice among the few treatment options available. "The approval of Provenge, as the first autologous cellular immunotherapy, represents a new significant scientific and clinical advancement for the treatment of prostate cancer," said Philip Kantoff, Medical Doctor and Chief of the Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Chief of Clinical Research Officer at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.

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PSA: Prostate Cancer Detection Or Waste Of Time?

If you are interested in your PSA, prostate cancer, and if the PSA test is worth your time and energy anymore, then this could be one of the most important articles you ever read.

Here is why:

Although it used to be thought that your PSA, prostate cancer and other prostate problems were related, they aren't nearly as related as most thought.

Frankly, the PSA test is one of the weakest tests there is in this regard.

Yes, it is true that people with high levels of PSA in their blood often do have some kind of prostate problems, but it is not always the case. And the reality is, a lot of things can make your levels change -- including sex, riding your bike, benign prostate enlargement or any number of things.

Plus, here's something else to think about:

Since PSA was considered to be an important indicator of prostate health, people were getting dangerous prostate biopsies based JUST on their PSA blood levels. This is dangerous because those biopsies can cause other health problems in other areas.

In some cases, men have had their entire prostates removed due to a high PSA level (even though they didn't have cancer)!

Obviously, that is not a good idea.

Yes, by all means get your PSA tested.

It is worth having done, but do not rely on it as anything than one of many indicators of prostate problems.

And definitely don't let it be the last word on PSA, prostate cancer or other health problems.

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Symptoms Of Prostate Problems That Are Sometimes Mistaken For Cancer

There are a lot of different symptoms of prostate problems. Some of them simply mean you have an enlarged prostate (or BPH). Some may mean you have prostatitis. And some may mean you have actual prostate cancer.

However, before we proceed, a word of warning:

It is very normal for someone to read about symptoms of prostate problems on the Internet and jump to conclusions without getting checked out by a real doctor.

So please, if anything in this article startles you, don't despair.

Get checked out, first.

It is much more common to not have cancer than to have it, so there may very well be nothing wrong with you at all.

So with that said, what are some of the prostate problem symptoms that may be cancer?

Some of the main ones include problems urinating. By that I mean, hesitancy getting started, having a weak urine stream (that just kind of "trickles" out urine), having a frequent urge to urinate all the time, and maybe even seeing blood in your urine.

You might also have sexual problems too.

Like, for example, painful ejaculations... loss of sex drive... a hard time getting an erection... and blood in your semen.

Again, these symptoms may mean you have prostate cancer.

But, they may mean you simply have an enlarged prostate or a prostate infection, and have nothing to do with cancer whatsoever.

The point is not to jump to conclusions.

If you have symptoms of prostate problems, get checked out by a doctor and see what he or she has to say first.

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Prostate Cancer Symptoms: Don't Push The Panic Button Just Yet

If you are experiencing prostate cancer symptoms, you may be at the point where you're looking up everything online, freaking out, and not sure what to do. But don't push the "panic button" just yet. There is always a good chance what you're experiencing has nothing to do with cancer whatsoever.

Here is why:

There are a lot of different prostate cancer symptoms.

Many of them include things like finding blood in your urine when you go to the bathroom. Or, even finding blood in your semen after having sex. You might also be having troubles peeing -- where you can't get a stream started very easily. And even if you do get it started, it just trickles out, weak and dribbling.

You could also be having sexual dysfunction, too.

But, guess what?

While all these are signs of prostate cancer, they are also prostate symptoms that could indicate other (non life threatening) problems.

It could simply be an enlarged prostate (i.e. BPH).

Or maybe a prostate infection -- also called prostatitis.

In fact, all of these prostate problems symptoms are interchangeable.

Many of the same symptoms of enlarged prostate are the same as symptoms of prostatitis.

Many of the symptoms of prostate cancer could be any number of things -- and not necessarily a tumor at all. This is why it is important to get checked out if you experience prostate symptoms -- whether you think they are cancerous nor not.

They rarely ever go away on their own.

And, if they really are prostate cancer symptoms, you want to take care of it immediately.

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Prostate Is Not a Political View

OK, let's talk about the prostate. Don't all rush to get a front row seat! First, it's not prostrate, so get up from your horizontal position.

I know each year during my annual physical, my doctor and I have to joke about how each of us looks forward to the highlight of the session which is me rolling over on my side so he and his finger can take a short journey into my 'dark inside' to see that all is well with this little organ we know as the prostate gland.

The fact is that we wouldn't give the prostate a second thought if it wasn't that we've heard that it is a source of big troubles for us as we age. The infamous rectal exam is funny in small talk over a couple of beers, but all laughter stops when prostate and cancer are used in the same sentence.

What Is the Prostate?

The prostate is a gland, which is located at the base of the penis, in front of the rectum, surrounds the urethra (tube connecting bladder to genitals), and produces seminal fluid. It assists in transporting sperm and urine out of the body through the penis. So, it's a kind of important thingie to keep working properly.

Let's briefly survey some things in order to get a better idea what the likelihood of prostate cancer (PC) and our options should we get it.

Who Gets It?

Doctors have yet to pinpoint the cause of PC but certain lifestyles and good old genetics are known to increase our chances of developing prostate cancer. Look over this short list of factors.

A) Age: Higher the number larger the prostate, literally, oftentimes, and higher the probability of being diagnosed with it. The median age for PC is 70.5 years of age. Typically not a young-man's cancer.

B) Race: Some research suggests that African American men are 1.6 times more likely than Caucasian men to develop PC, whereas Asian Americans have a very small chance of ever developing PC.

C) Genetics: Your risk of developing PC can be up two or three times greater due to hereditary factors. Unfortunately, unless a family member actually has a serious bout with this cancer or dies from it, we don't hear all that much about it. People simply don't talk about it as much as other illnesses.

D) STDs: A recent study suggested that those who have contracted sexually transmitted diseases have a greater chance of developing PC.

E) Diet: Consumption of fatty foods and obesity are suspected contributors to the growth of the prostate and later problems associated with it.

How Do You Know You Have It?

Uh, you won't! That is, there are no obvious symptoms for early stage PC and this fact highlights the importance of getting one of those rectal-probing doctors to do his or her thing. Takes only a moment anyhow, and it's not painful, so just DOOOO it!

When the disease has progressed any number of warning signs can emerge. Some common symptoms include difficulty urinating, increased urge or frequency of urination, weak pressure while urinating, blood in the urine, pain in urination, constant feeling of a full bladder and/or pain while urinating. This is not the full list. These are normally symptoms of a more advanced condition, so getting checked is the best way to detect early development.

Part of the problem is that an enlarged prostate is not synonymous with cancer. Hence, the importance of testing and a proper diagnosis.

How Is Testing Done?

Aside from the infamous 'finger-up-your-rear' option (properly called a 'digital rectal exam'), a blood test is common as well. The blood is tested for a prostate specific antigen (PSA), ingeniously referred to as a PSA test. It is THE test used and seems about as controversial as it is common. The debate centers on its accuracy in detecting prostate cancer. Some argue it mis-diagnoses as often as it gets it right. As a result, a lot of unnecessary additional testing is done based on a 'false' positive. This was my case.

Doctors admit the controversy (and the unreliability of the test), but usually argue that we have nothing better at this point. If the PSA score shoots above a certain reading, then the doctor may recommend that a biopsy be done.

Now you have to prepare for further hassle and humiliation - you bare your butt and 'private parts' to more and more strangers in the name of... something, I forgot what exactly... oh yeah, our wellness! Yes, so at this stage they'll use real pieces of hardware to shove up your rectum in the name of getting a better look.

Then, in layman's lingo here, the surgeon, with the aid of the ultrasound technology inserted into your rectum from which to 'see' what he's doing, shoots needle-like probes through the rectal wall into different parts of the prostate gland. I say shoots, as in my experience that is what it sort of sounded like in my half-groggy state during my 'shoot' a year or so ago.

While there was some discomfort in this procedure, it certainly wasn't as disturbing as the later 'everything was red' experiences. I had blood in everything - urine, seminal fluids and feces. Oh goodie!

While the bleeding should stop within a day or two or less, the remnants of this event will stay in the seminal fluid for multiple ejaculations - I say again, multiple ejaculations. The material I read for this article stated that only rarely will there be blood in these areas. Well, for me, there was a lot.

Some experts argue for less invasive testing methods such as sonograms, even CAT scans or an MRI. Ask your doctor about your options.

What Are Some Treatment Options?

The progression of the cancer is determined based on the size, location and extent of spread of the cancer. Stage I & II can normally be determined by the initial tests and normally means that it has not moved beyond the prostate gland - which is good news. Where as Stages III & IV mean the cancer has spread beyond the prostate gland to other tissues or has spread to the lymph nodes.

Once the stage of the tumor is determined the treatment options are laid out on the table. All treatments will have some potential side effects associated with them that will be about as easy to swallow as the whole 'red pill - blue pill' scenario - so take the time to get a second opinion.

Treatment options will depend on the progression of the cancer. They can range from hormonal injections to manage the cancer, to different types of radiation treatments, and all the way to surgical removal of the prostate.

The negative side-effects from the treatment will vary as well, ranging from hair loss and minor sickness all the way to severe sickness, impotence, and loss of bladder control.

The good news is that successful treatment is very possible, of course, depending on how soon the cancer is detected and the specific type of cancer being dealt with. The most common form of prostate cancer is not aggressive and fast moving.

Early detection is the key! Our vigilance is key to our victory, so let's take care of business. It is not convenient to get an exam, and can be a bit expensive. Many insurance programs pay for annual physical exams and a prostate exam is standard procedure in this for men our age.

Below is a link to the National Cancer Institute which provides good information and informative diagrams related to many of the things we've touched on in this article.

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/prostate/Patient

Life is good. Let's not screw it up by not taking care of the basics of wellness, guys!

Kermit is the founder and president of http://www.4060men.com/ He became single in late 2006 after 30+ years of marriage. While he'd already made a number of significant transitions in life, few could compare to the stress and bewilderment this particular transition brought. So in 2009, he set out to create 4060men.com, a site that he hopes will inspire and connect the millions of men in North America and around the world who find themselves single, in midlife and charting a new course for the future.

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Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Considering Full Coverage of Provenge Treatment Expense

On March 30, 2011 the U.S. CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) insurance program announced a proposal of full coverage payment of Provenge (Sipuleucel-T) therapy for the advanced metastatic stage prostate cancer patients. Along with its proposal, the insurance said there is an adequate evidence to pay for the expenses but for now the agency is still weighing the benefits of the therapy treatment and the final decision is expected by June 30 of next year. An advisory panel in the United States also backed Provenge by suggesting that the available data showed by the Dendreon Corporation could help patients. It is certainly a cause for concern when people see the cost of expenses of the treatment; many are considering the cost and benefits as well as its guarantees with regards to prolonging survival rates. This article wishes to provide readers information about Provenge therapy and the role of the CMS agencies.

Provenge (Sipuleucel-T) is a type of immunotherapy that is designed to treat and improve the lives of patients with an advance and recurrent prostate cancer who have become resistant to hormone therapy and who are non-respondent to other treatment modalities. This therapy works by obtaining the white blood cells of a patient and is incubated to a specific prostate antigen to specifically target the tumor when it is returned back to the body. This therapy induces an immune response against the prostate tumor. Provenge therapy costs $93,000 for three infusions given at a one month course of duration.

Provenge was approved by the Food and Drug Administration last April 2010. Data studies showed that Provenge increases survival by 4.1 months on average. According to Dr. Mark Scholz, a California based prostate oncologist and one of the public speakers urging for the CMS support for Provenge, "Provenge is a new agent that is clearly beneficial for patients". Patients, doctors and Dendreon Company urge the Medicare's advisers to pay for the high cost of therapy. Medicare payment coverage could also encourage other private insurances to pay for the expense. Aetna Inc and Humana Inc and some other health agencies have already agreed to pay for the therapy. According to the consensus analyst forecast data from Thomson Reuters, Provenge could see more than $2 billion in global sales by 2015.

The question left for us now is that who is really gaining the benefit, is it the company, the hospital, the doctors or the patients? Provenge therapy is needed by patients who have become resistant to other treatment modalities, this are the patients who have tried everything and spent everything just to lengthen their life frame. Living in this world, the cost of money does not amount to every second of our lives. Provenge is a chance given to the patients' nearly approaching death and the high cost of treatment can never amount to the happiness of spending our time with our families, friends and loved ones.

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An Overview of Orchiectomy

An Orchiectomy, also called orchidectomy, is a surgical procedure where one or both testicles are removed. Removing both testicles is also considered as castration, because undergoing such procedure takes away the male's ability to reproduce. Orchiectomy has three different types: inguinal, subcapsular and simple. Simple and subcapsular orchiectomies require only local anesthesia while inguinal orchiectomies require general anesthesia.

This procedure is recommended for patients with prostate or testicular cancer. It can also decrease the level of testosterone, the main sex hormone in men. An orchiectomy directly stops the progression of cancers where the tumor is located in the testes. Also, orchiectomy is recommended for men with prostate and male-breast cancer, because it lowers testosterone levels in the body and therefore can stop the cancer from metastasizing and growing. Although the procedure is mainly used for treatment, it can also be used to prevent the development of cancer in post-pubescent boys with undescended testicles.

An orchiectomy is typically performed in male-to-female sex change surgeries. This is usually done to prepare a patient and lower his testosterone and other male hormone levels prior to the actual genital reconstruction.

A few European countries, as well as the states of Texas, Montana, California and Florida in the US offer sentenced sex offenders the option of surgical castration because it purportedly lowers their sexual urges. This method is rarely used however, as it is still controversial in many legal circles. Also, although the Roman Catholic Church forbids using artificial means like castration to purify oneself, many men choose to have an orchiectomy for the sake of their religious principles.

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What Is A PSA Test - And How Important Is It?

When someone first starts researching prostate cancer, he will eventually ask what is a PSA test, and how does it work? And, how important is it?

Both are very good questions.

And, they are both important to ask, too.

But first off, to answer the question "what is a PSA test" -- it is a test that measures the levels of prostate specific antigen (i.e. PSA) in your blood. It is a simple blood test, and the results do not take very long to get back at all.

As for the second question about how important it is -- that is a bit controversial.

It used to be that your PSA test numbers were considered a pretty good indicator that you had prostate cancer or not.

In other words, if you had a lot of PSA in your blood, you were almost assumed to have it (or some kind of prostate problem). The only snag is, a lot of things can affect your PSA levels. Even something as simple as riding your bike a lot might affect those numbers or having sex the night before the test.

In reality it is not a very accurate indicator of prostate cancer.

Yes, it is one benchmark to look at (and you should get it tested).

But, do not take those numbers as "gospel" that you do or don't have the disease or any other prostate problems one way or the other.

To sum up:

The question, "what is a PSA test" is important, but more important is not to overly rely on the results to determine your prostate health.

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PSA Test Results - The Hidden Truth

A lot of men freak out about their PSA test results. What do the numbers mean? If they are high does that mean they should be scared? If they are low, are they out of the woods?

Here is something to think about:

You should get your PSA test results regularly.

The older you get, the more important this is. And, if prostate cancer runs in your family, it is especially important. But those numbers do not necessarily mean anything. In fact, free PSA is almost worthless as far as the intel it gives.

What is a much better thing to keep track of is whether or not your PSA test numbers are going down.

Plus, here is something else that is important to keep in mind:

Most of the time, prostate cancer is painless, symptomless and, frankly, you will likely not know you have it at all in its early stages. Often what happens is, it sits there quietly not even growing, until one day it might metastasize to your bones.

This is a strange thing, but usually it will happen many years later.

And when it does, you'll probably feel bone pain as a symptom (as well as the typical urinary symptoms, like peeing out blood, urgency, etc).

This does not mean you should ignore it or anything.

As sometimes it can spread much faster.

But often, a doctor won't even do anything about it, and just watch the tumor instead. If it grows, they may take action, if not, they'll leave it alone.

Bottom line?

Your PSA test results are a helpful indicator of prostate cancer, but don't necessarily mean anything is right or wrong with you.

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Secret Weapons To Fight Prostate Cancer

Did you know that each year more than 185 000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer? The prostate is the walnut-sized gland that is found below the bladder that supplies fluid to carry sperm during ejaculation.

There are many alternative cancer therapies outside the realms of the conventional treatments, which include things like surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. While the focus of these treatments is to get rid of the cancer, the alternative therapies work more on strengthening the body's defenses to control the spreading of the cancer.

We all know that given the right conditions, the body has the ability to heal itself. Alternative therapies may well extend your survival time, although there isn't any proof to support this amongst the medical professionals. Using alternative therapies will definitely reduce some of the side effects associated with conventional treatments. For best results it is best to get an individualized alternative therapy program that is developed by an experienced practitioner.

Here are some of the things used in alternative therapy.

1. Selenium

Selenium is a powerful antioxidant and is a crucial mineral in the fight against cancer. In some studies, a daily intake of 200 micrograms of selenium cut the incidence of prostate cancer by sixty percent. Selenium is safe and inexpensive, but large doses of this should not be taken without a doctors supervision.

2. Zinc Picolinate

Prostate cancer patients should consider taking thirty to fifty miligrams of zinc picolinate each day. The prostate gland has the highest concentration of zinc in the body, and additional amounts will help the organ against it's cancer battle.

3. Coenzyme Q10

Coenzyme Q10 is a great potential cancer fighter. This helps to generate energy in your cells and in some cases this enzyme has halted prostate cancer cases and even reversed it. Coenzyme Q10 is relatively safe and all cancer patients should be made aware of its benefits.

4. Vitamins

Vitimans C and E are very beneficial to take while on cancer treatment. 1000 milligrams of vitamin C taken three times a day, and 400 to 800 international units of vitamin E a day should give good benefits and a good dose of antioxidants.

5. Saw Palmetto

This herb is know to help shrink prostate tissue. It can also block the effect of the male hormones like testosterone which feed prostate cancer.

6. Fish Oil

Fish oil has high levels of fatty acids, which is the component of fat which helps to fight cancer. Try using good old fashioned cod-liver oil, as it contains optimal levels of fatty acids and vitamins A and D. Two teaspoons a day is recommended, but use under the supervision of your doctor. If you can't quite stomach this, four 1,000 milligram capsules a day of flaxseed oil is also rich in fatty acids. Pumpkin seed oil is another great one, as it supplies the prostate gland with nutrients like zinc and magnesium that it needs to heal.

Don't forget to speak to your doctor about alternative therapies, as they could make your battle against cancer a lot easier.

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A Look at the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) Test

The PSA test, or PSA screening, is a technique used for diagnosing potential prostate cancer patients. PSA stands for prostate-specific antigen, a protein produced by the prostate gland. Since the protein can be used for detecting disease and is naturally produced in the body, it is often referred to as a tumor marker or a biological marker.

Men normally have low PSA levels in their blood. In prostate cancer patients or for people who have benign prostate conditions, however, PSA levels are abnormally high. This becomes more common as men age so they are usually the ones who undergo the PSA test.

Although PSA level is not really a clear determinant of whether a man has cancer or just benign prostate conditions, it helps doctors determine whether to perform further tests or not. If a man is found to have high PSA level, he is usually subjected to the digital rectal exam or DRE. The PSA test and the DRE together help detect prostate cancer even in men who show no symptoms.

The PSA test is usually recommended for men who are 40 years old and above. They are the ones who have a high risk of cancer of the prostate. Some doctors even recommend the test yearly for men 50 years and older. Although prostate cancer is predominant on older men, young men may be recommended to undergo the test if they have a history of the disease in their families or if they have very unhealthy diets.

Since the PSA test is still not very conclusive in detecting prostate cancer, it is still the subject of many studies and researches. Many doctors and researchers are currently working on improving the test's accuracy and effectiveness.

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Cryo or Chemo: Which Is For You?

The doctor has begun talking to you about which treatments you will need to consider for your prostate cancer. He/She mentioned cryo and chemo as possible options. What are the risks of each, and how long are the treatments and recovery?

CRYO

Cyro is the nickname given to cryotherapy or cryoablation. The prefix cryo means freezing. so the doctor in this treatment will freeze the cells in the prostate in order to kill the cancer cells. This treatment has evolved over the years and has improved to the degree that many doctors place it in the same recovery rates as seed radiation and a radical prostatectomy. There has not been enough long term studies to see exactly where it falls in survival rates with the other treatments available. It also has some of the same side effects as the other two treatment too.

THE PROCEDURE

The procedure has evolved to help reduce the peripheral damage that was too common in the early days of the treatment. It begins with the patient undergoing general anesthesia. A warming catheter is then placed in the urethra to aid in preventing damage to the urethra from the freezing of the prostate. Using specially designed needles that either warm or freeze the area of insertion based on the specific needs of the procedure. The warming needle are used to reduce unnecessary damage to surrounding tissue, including nerves, rectum and urethra. The freezing needles are used to create small balls of frozen tissue. This freezing kills the tissue, both healthy and cancerous. The doctor then allows the tissue to thaw, either by allowing the body to warm the tissue, or by using warming needles to help in the thawing. This freeze/thaw cycle is repeated once or twice more based on what the doctor sees in the imaging during the procedure. The overall procedure takes a couple of hours. Recovery is fairly quick compared with other procedures and you should be able to be back to your normal routine in a couple of weeks.

SIDE EFFECTS

Just as in seed radiation and surgery, cryo treatment for your prostate cancer has about the same side effects. Impotence is the most common side effect with recovery in about 50% of the cases. The sloughing of damaged cells in the urethra has been reduced with the warming catheter but is still a possibility. There is a chance of damage to some of the surrounding tissue depending on how involve the cancer has been in the prostate. There is a small chance of minimal loss of blood because there are no incisions, only needles.

CHEMO AND CRYO

Chemotherapy uses a drug cocktail to kill the cancer cells in the body. It is most often used as a follow up treatment should radiation, surgery, or cryo fail to eliminate the cancer cells during those procedures. And, it is generally considered a last resort treatment. Chemo is also considered when your prostate cancer has metastasized. Cryo is also considered as an option after surgery and radiation if the cancer cells are considered to be radioresistant. Both of these treatment increase the chance of beating your cancer should the circumstances need them. When considering the options for the treatment of your prostate cancer, discuss with your doctor the use of cryotherapy as an initial treatment. And, when necessary be prepared to discuss chemotherapy as a treatment to help you become healthy again. And always consider the side effects and their potential impact on your life.

Author was diagnosed with prostate cancer about a year ago and chose to undergo a radical prostatectomy. Since being diagnosed and while recovering from surgery, the different options for treatment became more intriguing because of what the websites he visited did not really go into about the side effects of the various treatments. In response to this lack of information he decided to create a website dedicated to the victims of prostate cancer so that the side effects could be shared and discussed. The result was http://beforeprostatesurgery.com/.

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Prostate Cancer Prevention - What Can You Do?

One out of 36 men will die because of prostate cancer. It ranks second, behind lung cancer, for the leading causes of death in America. People are still unaware that prostate cancer can go undiagnosed up until they become aggressive or have spread throughout the body which can particularly impair the bones and the lymph nodes.

There are so many ways to prevent prostate cancer:
1. Regular Checkups
Most men will only go the Doctor if the pain they're feeling is very serious and unbearable. Regular checkups will allow for early diagnosis of possible illnesses and from there can be easily cured. Men who reach their 50's are advised to at least get annual prostate screening.

2. Check with Your Family History
Yes, prostate cancer is hereditary and the risk of developing prostate cancer is five-fold if more than one of your 1st degree relatives such as your father or brother has developed prostate cancer.

3. Talk to Your Doctor
If you suspect that you might have prostate cancer or have been experiencing its symptoms, talk to your Doctor about it so he can prescribe proper medication and treatment and at least confirm if it is prostate cancer or a symptom caused by an unhealthy lifestyle or symptoms to other possible illnesses.

4. Know the Signs.
There are so many signs that will tell you if you're possibly suffering from prostate cancer:
- You feel the need to urinate most especially during nighttime.
- There is intense urgency in the need to urinate.
- Having a hard time in starting or stopping the urine flow.
- You have unsatisfactory feelings of emptying the bladder after you've urinated.
- Difficulty urinating.
- Urine stream is either little or weak, decreased or constantly interrupted.
- Painful burning sensation during urinating.
- Presence of blood in the urine and semen.
- Ejaculation is extremely painful.

5. Do not play Doctor - unless you are one.
Self examination is good but do not self prescribe when you start feeling more symptoms. I know some people who have self prescribed in the past and have ended up making the condition even worse. And what's more worst that self prescribing is prescribing a medication to other just because you have the same symptoms.

6. Don't shrug it off.
Especially if one or more of the symptoms are constant and consistent. Set an appointment with your Doctor as soon as possible.

7. Talk to a Person close to you about it.
A spouse, a relative close to you, someone who is also going or has gone through the ordeal and who you trust is a great pillar of support especially during the early stages of prostate cancer or even if you're just speculating until the actual results come out.

8. Eat Well.
A good diet of low fat foods and a good amount of vegetable is a good cancer prevention.

9. Exercise.
Exercising does not only keep you fit but most importantly keeps your body and mind in good condition. If you know someone who you think might be suffering from the possibility of having prostate cancer, there are various things you can do to help:

a. Talk to the person about his symptoms and help him get the medical attention he needs.
b. Encourage him to stay optimistic. Prostate cancer is curable.

10. Consider prostate massage.
Administering prostate massage from time to time has been believed to lessen the percentage of men acquiring prostate cancer. However, it is necessary to discuss this with your doctor first.

A healthy lifestyle is a great prevention. Live Healthy. If you are diagnosed with prostate cancer, this is the time make a reality check on how you've been living your life. Vices can worsen your condition but most importantly, stay strong and optimistic.

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Prostate Cancer - The Symptoms and Causes of This Disease

Prostate cancer in the US is the second most common cancer among men after lung cancer. Due to developments in oncology, the rate of death due to cancer of the prostate has declined. This cancer develops when cells in the prostate multiple to form a tumor. Cancer occurs when normal cells undergo a transformation in which they grow and multiply without normal controls. Most cancers form from the secretor glandular cells called adenocarcinomas. Prostate cancer cells can be carried by the blood stream to spread in other organs through a process called metastasis.

Risk Factors and Causes

Just like other types of cancer, the specific cause of prostate cancer is still unknown but several risk factors have been identified. One of the main risk factors is family history. Men who have one first-degree relative who had the disease are two times more at risk. Those with two first-degree relatives with the disease are five times more at risk. Race is also a factor wherein African-American men are more at risk than white or Hispanic men. Men whose diet which is low in vitamins B6 and E, lycopene and selenium are also more likely to have prostate cancer. Some medical conditions such as prostatitis and sexually transmitted diseases can also trigger cancer cells to form in the prostate. In addition, men who are 40 years old and above are more at risk. The older a person grows, the more at risk he is to this cancer.

Signs and Symptoms

Prostate cancer in its early stage does not usually manifest any signs and symptoms. The symptoms only appear when the tumor grows and causes some blockage in the urethra. The common symptoms are pain during urination, difficulty in starting and stopping the urinary stream and frequent urination. Other symptoms also include a sense of bladder fullness after urination and urinary retention. Symptoms of advanced cancer are hematuria or blood in the urine, impotence and painful ejaculation.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosis of prostate cancer starts with a physical examination. Blood tests such as complete blood count (CBC), Hepatic transaminase test, BUN and creatinine test and alkaline phosphatase test are done. Another test is the Prostatic specific antigen (PSA) test which can indicate the presence of cancer cells in the prostate. Biopsy, x-ray, CT scan, MRI and ultrasound can also be used to diagnose this type of cancer.

Treatment of prostate cancer can be short-term or long-term. It is recommended for men to discuss the different treatment options first with their partner or family. The choice of treatment depends on the stage of the cancer, age and the general medical condition of the patient. Surgery is a common treatment specifically radical prostatectomy which is the removal of the entire prostate gland. Radiation therapy such as external-beam radiation therapy and internal radiation therapy are also recommended. Chemotherapy and hormonal therapy are also options for those with prostate cancer.

Prevention

Prevention of prostate cancer is sometimes difficult because of its unknown cause. But men can do some preventive measures. First, they should be aware of the different risk factors. If they think they are at risk of prostate cancer, they should be very aware of the signs and symptoms. In addition, they should also undergo prostate exam once in a while. Eating foods rich in antioxidants and Vitamin E can also lower the risk for prostate cancer.

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What Every Man Must Know About Prostate Cancer and Prostate Treatment

A Malignant tumor that often starts in the outer part of the prostrate is called the Prostate cancer. This may spread to the inner parts of the prostate as the tumor grows. The prostate cancer treatment available for this disease includes watchful waiting, radiation, hormonal therapy, brachytherapy and prostate surgery.

The risk of Prostate Cancer increases with age. Most men diagnosed of the disease are often older than 50 years. African-American men have been proven to have a higher risk of developing this cancer more than other races. Also a family with a history of Prostate cancer often increases the risk for the members of the family. Bout 10% of the disease run in families but till date no good reason has been given for this. Environmental factors like high intake of dietary fat, seems to increase the risk of the disease.

The disease takes time to develop, usually takes between two to four years to double its size. This slow growth usually leads to a long in detection while its building up. Just like every cancer whose process is well known as the growth of abnormal cells until it gets out of control. In this case the abnormal cells of the prostate gland keeps growing until they get out of control.

The best possible ways to prevent the spread of the disease are early diagnosis and prostate treatment. There are so many ways most men can treat and prevent it before prostate treatment is needed, which are by changing unhealthy habits including excessive smoking and drinking of alcohol, taking adequate calcium and vitamin D, then exercising regularly.

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PSA Levels - Should You Worry About Them?

A lot of men worry about their PSA levels. PSA stands for "prostate specific antigen" and it tends to be elevated in men with prostate cancer or other problems.

But, is it really something you should be worried about?

The answer is you should not "worry" about any prostate problems.

Whether it is cancer or prostate enlargement (BPH) or prostatitis, worrying will almost always make your prostate symptoms (whatever they may be) much worse. And this is especially true if you have a prostate infection -- where even relaxation drugs are often prescribed for this very reason.

But aside from not worrying, the answer is yes, you should be concerned.

You should also get your PSA levels checked regularly.

And this is especially true if prostate cancer runs in your family (i.e. if your father, grandfather, uncle, or brother have it or have had it).

That does not mean YOU will necessarily have the problem. But, you should take precautions just in case.

And part of taking those precautions is getting your PSA checked on a regular basis. It is not a set-in-stone indicator that you do or don't have any prostate problems, though.

This is becoming more and more well known with each year, too. Too many men who have low PSA blood levels have had cancer. And too many men with high levels have been fine. So you cannot base it all on that one test. Still, it is one indicator, and checking your PSA levels regularly may help your doctor determine if more testing is necessary or not.

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Prostate Cancer Drugs Or Alternative Treatments - Which Is Better?

Sometimes men who are curious about whether prostate cancer drugs or alternative methods work best will consult the Internet. Or their doctor. Or a surgeon. Or any number of resources.

But, the hard reality of the matter is this:

Whether prostate cancer drugs or alternative treatment is "best" completely depends.

There have been cases where drugs have absolutely helped with the condition. And, there are also cases (although not always easy to find, nobody exactly writes peer reviewed papers on the subject) where the alternative methods -- like nutrition and lifestyle changes -- have helped with the condition.

Ultimately, it all comes down to you.

You have to look at the facts.

For example:

The mainstream medical community will likely insist that prostate surgery or powerful drugs are the only way to deal with it. And using those "alternative" methods will not work, are not proven to work and are basically like committing suicide.

On the other hand, the alternative health people will say the opposite.

They will likely tell you the drugs and surgery are unnecessary.

And will then show you examples of people who treated their condition naturally, with herbs, pills and other types of similar treatments.

Who is right?

Who is wrong?

And, how can you tell what is best for you?

I cannot answer that for you.

Nobody can.

What you can do is get input and advice from as many experts as possible, question them, make them back up their claims and prove their case.

Then, you make the choice from there.

Just something to think about if you are wondering if prostate drugs or alternative therapies are best.

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PSA Test Results Meaning: Should You Care?

Many times men will wonder about their PSA test results meaning. What does it mean if it's a high number? What does it mean if it is a low number? Does a high or low number mean you have prostate cancer or other problems?

The answer is... it depends.

Yes, a high level of prostate specific antigen (PSA) in your blood stream may very well mean you have prostate cancer or some other problem.

But it may mean nothing, either.

And thank God people are starting to come to awareness of this.

Because there was a time not all that long ago where people were being prescribed surgery and other gruesome, sex life and urinary life killing procedures just because of the perception of their PSA test results meaning.

Does this mean your PSA levels are not important?

Actually, they are important.

And, you definitely should get them checked -- especially if prostate cancer and other problems run in your family and you are genetically predisposed to them.

But, you also cannot take the numbers as being set in stone there is something wrong.

In fact, all kinds of factors can come into play with your PSA numbers. Just having sex the night before the PSA blood test can alter your numbers! So can doing other activities like riding your bike.

Really, it is not the best way to determine if you have cancer or not. Yes, it is important, and a valuable resource.

But more important than your PSA test results meaning is, is keeping aware of all the symptoms and getting checked in other ways, too.

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Uncover the Truth Behind Prostate Biopsy Symptoms

Prostate Cancer is one of the most common cancers in men. Doctors may require prostate screening even if there is no symptoms particularly for men aged 40 and above. On the other hand, numerous specialists disagree about the efficiency of early screening.

Based on theories, screening presents the benefit of detecting prostate cancer while it is still in its early stage. Although the prostate cancer is a slow developing cancer, it frequently never causes symptom or death. Early detection of prostate cancer may also be difficult and may not actually cause harm or death.

There are instances where treating such a cancer may prove to generate more harm than leaving the cancer undetected and untreated. The benefits of early screening are not always apparent. There are times that the prostate biopsies outweigh the harm from unneeded diagnosis and tests. As a downside, screening generally indicates the chance of prostate cancer in people without the ailment.
Prostate biopsy is an invasive procedure. It involves the use of scalpels, needles and other instruments that will help the doctor remove a small piece of tissue from a suspected growth in the prostate gland for examination and evaluation.

Tissue injury occurs due to the excision in the prostate to extract the needed tissue. One normal side effect from this is bleeding. A lot of men who underwent prostate biopsy find blood in their semen, urine and sometimes in the stool. This bleeding can last for weeks, months and sometimes up to 1 year. Another common side effect is urinary incontinence or the inability to hold urine in the bladder. Urinary retention and urine dribbling are also common side effects after the procedure.

Other people also complain issues with defecations since the prostate gland is near the rectum. It is advised not to bowel strain after the procedure as it may induce pain. Pain and discomfort are also frequent side effect of prostate biopsy. Heavy pressure lifting and vigorous activities are contraindicated after the procedure to prevent an increase in pressure and discomfort. Minimal ambulation or walking is recommended. Sexual activities are also contraindicated after the procedure for several weeks or months. Erection is difficult because of the damage in the nearby tissues.

Let us remember that prostate biopsy is an invasive surgery. Side effects always occur after this procedure. There are some clients that are able to deal with the issues after the procedure, however, some were not able to do so. If I were in your position, I would think about making use of other non-invasive procedure for prostate cancer detection.

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Can Eating Fish Cause Prostate Cancer?

It seems that there are a lot of different risk factors for getting prostate cancer. Among some of the most popular are: genetic predisposition, being of African descent, eating red meat, smoking, drinking too much alcohol, eating dairy products and having too many different sex partners. (If you are a Black male with a lot of sex partners I'd cut back on my dairy.)

Just when it seems like there's not much left that's tasty or fun, the American Journal of Epidemiology has added one more to the list. Men who eat fish are 2.5 times more likely to develop aggressive prostate cancer. Admittedly, giving up fish isn't as tough as most of the other things on the above list, but we always thought fish was good for us. Isn't it supposed to be brain food or something?

Researchers from Seattle's Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center did a prostate cancer study on 19,000 men age 55 and up. After a few years they tested a subset of 3,000 of them and discovered that the men who had developed an aggressive form of prostate cancer also had the highest levels of DHA (an omega 3 fatty acid). This was shocking to them in that they expected a higher level of omega 3 might even protect against cancer. If it didn't prevent cancer they certainly didn't expect it to cause cancer. The men with the highest levels of DHA had a much higher incidence of this disease. Not only did they have prostate cancer but an aggressive form of it. The kind that kills you quickly. It was also interesting to note that very few of the subjects took omega 3 supplements. Most of them got it from eating fish.

If you Google "Omega 3 prostate cancer fish" it's all over the web. Eating fish increases your risk of getting an aggressive form of prostate cancer by a significant amount. The results are in. The good news is that fish still make excellent fertilizer in your garden.

This is a good time to make a disclaimer. I'm not a doctor. It's been so long since I've gotten my degree in Biology that I'm probably not even a good scientist. I'm a Caveman. However, something here seemed fishy to me. I do know that cavemen ate fish. To suddenly find out that fish are bad for us just seems counter-intuitive, so I did a little digging.

This study didn't start out to be about omega 3 at all. The omega 3 findings were anecdotal. It was an experiment sponsored by a major drug company that sells finasteride. Finasteride is a drug that is synthesized from progestrone (a female hormone) that shrinks enlarged prostates and promotes hair growth on aging balding men. The drug company sponsored this study in the hopes that their drug might also prevent prostate cancer. How cool would that be? A pill so that you don't have to get up at night to pee, prevents prostate cancer and even grows your hair back.

All 19,000 men at the beginning of this study and all 3,000 that were eventually tested for prostate cancer had been taking finasteride. As a Caveman, here is what I would draw as a conclusion from this study: Most of them could sleep through the night without getting up to urinate, most were hairier, a few that ate fish developed aggressive prostate cancer.

I think the only logical conclusion one can draw from this study is that it isn't a good idea for men to eat both fish and finasterides.

So, can eating fish give you aggressive prostate cancer? Maybe. Maybe not. Because it's so hard to check for caveman prostate cancer in the fossil records, we need to do more research.

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An Overview of How High Intensity Focused Ultrasound Is Used in the Treatment of Cancers

High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a revolutionary treatment for cancer by killing cancer cells with a high intensity ultrasound beam. The beams are made up of high frequency sound waves which are generated by a machine and are then focused directly at cancer cells, thereby killing the cells.

Although this technology has been around for almost 50 years, doctors have only started using it in order to treat many kinds of cancer in the recent years. Since the treatment specifically targets cancer cells, it hopes to lessen the side-effects present in existing cancer treatments. Because this treatment doesn't do much damage to normal, healthy cells, researchers are now looking at HIFU's viability in patients with inoperable cancers; however, no definite proof as to the treatment's efficiency in inoperable cancers has been discovered.

Presently, HIFU is only being used in cancers with one single tumor, or tumors clumped together at one site. The technology is not sophisticated enough in its current state to treat tumors which are widespread. Since HIFU cannot pass through air or bone, it is not recommended for patients with cancer that has spread to other parts of their bodies.

When the high intensity ultrasound beam is targeted at a certain site, it increases the temperature of that area drastically. Due to this rise in temperature, the cancer cells and diseased tissue get destroyed through coagulation necrosis, or cell death through lack of oxygen in the area.

Cancers which HIFU can treat include cancers in the bladder, pancreas, liver, kidney and prostate. This treatment is not readily available to everybody and is presently only available in the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Romania, Bulgaria, China and Russia.

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Prostate Cancer Symptoms: When To Get Checked Out

Prostate cancer symptoms can sometimes be mistaken for other, lesser prostate problems and maybe even general aches and pains. By knowing what they are, you can hopefully catch it early if it happens to you.

Before we look at the symptoms, here is something important to keep in mind:

One of the really insidious things about prostate cancer is that sometimes, in its early stages, it shows no symptoms whatsoever.

It sounds freaky, but any one of us could have it and not know it.

That is why it is so important to get checked out regularly - especially if prostate cancer runs in your family.

Now, that said, here are a few prostate cancer symptoms to be aware of:

1. Trouble peeing - either you go uncontrollably at times or you simply can't get your stream started at all for several minutes

2. A weak urine stream - when you finally do get started, the pee just trickles out, like a hose that is partially obstructed

3. You see blood in your urine - this is NEVER a good thing, and should not be ignored

4. You find blood in your semen - again, when you see blood coming out of your body (and you're a man) something is definitely wrong, don't put off getting checked out

5. Swelling in your legs - here is one of those symptoms that you may not even think has anything to do with your prostate, but it can

6. Pain in your bones - another "hidden" symptom most people don't associate with prostate cancer

Anyway, those are some prostate cancer symptoms, if you have them, get checked out.

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Coffee and Exercising Decrease the Chances of Prostate Cancer

Based in 1907, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) stands out as the world's most well-known and greatest group focused on improving cancer investigation. And once its participants (consisting of cancer scientists, oncologists and also other healthcare specialists) meet for a nationwide discussion, investigation concerning the newest improvements in combating cancer is introduced and reviewed.

From the very first research of this category, Harvard researchers discovered a connection relating to consuming coffee and a decreased chance of the majority of extreme and lethal kinds of prostate cancer.

"Coffee has effects on insulin and glucose metabolism as well as sex hormone levels, all of which play a role in prostate cancer. It was plausible that there may be an association between coffee and prostate cancer," Kathryn M. Wilson, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow with the Harvard Medical School and the Harvard School of Public Health, stated in a media declaration.

For men of all ages currently identified as having prostate cancer, there is also optimistic information unveiled in the AACR conference. Scientists discovered that less than 15 minutes of physical exercise every day diminished general fatality levels in sufferers having cancer of the prostate.

"We saw benefits at very attainable levels of activity," said Stacey A. Kenfield, Sc.D., epidemiology study partner at the Harvard School of Public Health and also direct writer of the investigation, in a press declaration. "The results suggest that men with prostate cancer should do some physical activity for their overall health."

The investigation staff recorded the exercise degrees of 2,686 prostate cancer sufferers not having metastases who have been signed up for the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. Males, who involved in 3 or maybe more hours of average to intensive physical exercise (the same as running, riding a bike, swimming or practicing tennis) for around thirty minutes each week, decreased their chance of general fatality rate by 35 %.

Men who just walked 4 and up hours per week stood a 23 % reduced chance of dying from almost all reasons in comparison with men who walked under 20 minutes each week. Men who walked 90 if not more minutes experienced a 51 % reduced chance of fatality coming from any kind of cause compared to men who walked under 90 minutes in a more slowly pace. In addition, the study discovered that 5 or even more hours of energetic exercise weekly considerably decreased the potential risk of a male passing away particularly from cancer of the prostate.

"This is the first large population study to examine exercise in relation to mortality in prostate cancer survivors," Dr. Kenfield stated in a media declaration. She included that although scientists have not determined the precise molecular consequences physical exercise has over prostate cancer, they surely know workout features a positive effect on the body's hormones hypothesized to promote prostate cancer -- and workout increases immune performance while reducing swelling, also.

"How these factors may work together to affect prostate cancer biologically is still being studied," she concluded. "For now, our data indicate that for prostate cancer survivors, a moderate amount of regular exercise may improve overall survival, while five or more hours per week of vigorous exercise may decrease the death rate due to prostate cancer."

There are many ways in which you can enhance your health by using the natural supplements available, and also as many ways to treat prostate health issues!

Troy Shanks is a successful internet business entrepreneur who has concentrated his entire career on promoting health products. He is more than happy to share with you all the information gathered over these years, and also to guide you in finding the health plan that suits you best. The companies working with Troy Shanks are only the top ones, companies which are proven to be the most trustworthy and reliable on the market, and for which quality has always been the main goal.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Troy_A_Shanks

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Prostate Cancer May Require Prostate Surgery

What is a prostate? A prostate is a gland in men that surrounds the neck of the bladder and the proximal part of the urethra. This gland produces a fluid that becomes part of semen. A prostate gland is a firm structure normally about the size of a chestnut. It is located in the pelvic cavity, below the pubis and the rectum. It can usually be felt by examination when enlarged. Therefore, it is important that men be checked by their doctor on a regular basis and knows what to look for should it become abnormal.

Prostate Cancer is the most common cancer among men in America. It has also been known to grow very slowly in the body. Most of the time it is found in men over 60 and generally in the late stages of the disease. Prostate cancer generally doesn't have any symptoms until it is in the late stages. It has been seen in men in their 30's and 40's and was found that they had a family history of the disease. Although studies have not shown exactly what causes prostate cancer, experts generally agree that diet contributes to the disease. Prostate screening is very important, especially if you have a family history of the disease. Normally the tests include digital rectal exam, blood testing, prostate ultrasound, CAT scans, or MRI's. Your doctor will decide which test would be more beneficial among your circumstances.

There are many different Prostate Cancer Treatments available such as chemotherapy, cryotherapy, hormone therapy, and prostate surgery. Based on the size and stage of the cancer, you and your doctor will need to decide which would be the best prostate cancer treatment option.

Basically, chemotherapy is prescribed in cases of recurrent or advanced prostate cancer that has not responded to hormone treatment. Cryotherapy, involves freezing areas if the prostate. However, studies have not shown the long-term effectiveness. If surgery is decided upon there are a couple of options for this prostate treatment. The first would be a laparoscopic prostate surgery, which is minimally invasive. This surgery is performed with the help of a small camera that will be inserted to help the surgeon to remove part of the prostate. However, men younger than the age of 75 and expected to live at least 10 more years get a Radical Prostatectomy. This procedure surgically removes the entire prostate and typically cures prostate cancer in men whose cancer is limited to the prostate alone.

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PSA Test Numbers: Do They Really Tell You If You Have Prostate Cancer?

Do your PSA test numbers really indicate whether or not you have prostate cancer? Or is there a better way of determining whether you have it or not? The answer may surprise you.

Here is why:

When you go and get your PSA test numbers, they may be low, middle of the road, or high (or even sky high). It used to be that when they were very high you were thought to either have prostate cancer or be extremely at risk of it.

And, on the other hand, if they were low, you were thought to be "safe."

Truth is, neither of those is true.

Especially since, so many other factors can affect your PSA test numbers at any given time.

In fact, just having sex with your wife the night before a PSA blood test can impact your numbers! That is not to say it is a totally worthless way to find out if you have prostate cancer.

But, it is probably not the most reliable way to determine it either way.

Frankly, there have been men with bad numbers (high levels of prostate specific antigen) in their blood, who were completely fine -- no trace of cancer in their prostates one way or the other. And, at the same time, there have been men with great numbers who ended up having the dreaded disease and even dying from it due to a false sense of security.

And that is the point:

Yes, get your PSA test numbers, but don't treat them like "gospel" that you do or don't have prostate cancer.

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Is Laparoscopic Prostatectomy the Best Choice?

In the United States, there are approximately 2 million men who have experienced and survived prostate cancer. This group includes African Americans, agricultural workers and those exposed to asbestos and cadmium

Prostate cancer occurs in a gland the size of a walnut located in the male reproduction system. The prostate gland coils around the urethra leading the the male bladder. Prostate cancer ranks as the 3rd highest cause of death due to cancer in men. While this condition most often effects men aged 75 and older, it can in rare instances as age 40.

When the prostrate gland becomes enlarged, the condition is known as benign prostatic hyperplasia. While the actual cause is yet to be determined there are certain contributing factors such as high fat content in the diet and elevated testosterone levels in the blood stream.

In most cases, treatment first begins with testing and monitoring with or without medications. One of the first tests is a PSA (prostate specific antigen). If further testing rules out PSA, a biopsy is performed to confirm the condition and to monitor the possibility of the cancer spreading to other nearby organs.

There are various treatments recommended and pursued to combat prostate cancer. The first consideration is not prostate cancer surgery. Traditional surgery requires an incision which can result in the risk of nerve damage. During a laparoscopic prostatectomy several small incisions are made using special laser tools which can result in very few risks and often a same day surgery situation.

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