Helpful Guide To Prostate Cancer Treatments

The prostate gland is located directly beneath the bladder and in front of the rectum. Like other cancers, the cause of prostate cancer is not known; it appears to be more common in African American men and men with a family history of the disease. At an advanced age, the risks of surgery for prostate cancer or other more radical treatments may actually be worse than the disease.

The main job of the prostate gland is to make seminal fluid, the milky substance that transports sperm. Prostate cancer is normally a slow growth cancer that can take years before it becomes deadly. About 80 percent of men who reach the age of 80 have prostate cancer.

Weak or interrupted flow of urine and painful or burning urination can be symptoms to watch out for. Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease are bone pain or tenderness, and abdominal pain. Because prostate cancer symptoms can mimic other diseases or disorders, men who experience any of these symptoms should undergo a thorough work-up to determine the underlying cause of the symptoms.

The need to urinate frequently, especially at night is another symptom. Blood in the urine or semen and frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs can be symptoms of cancer. Other symptoms might include unintentional weight loss and lethargy.

A PSA test with a high level can also be from a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland. A bone scan can indicate whether the cancer has spread or not. CT scans may be done to see if the cancer has metastasized (spread).

When a digital rectal exam is performed it often reveals an enlarged prostate with a hard, irregular surface. A prostate gland biopsy usually confirms the diagnosis. Another test usually used when prostate cancer symptoms are present is a digital rectal exam (DRE) performed by the doctor, proctologist or oncologist.

Some drugs with numerous side effects are being used to treat advanced prostate cancer, blocking the production of testosterone, called chemical castration; it has the same result as surgical removal of the testes. Thoroughly discuss all your treatment options and concerns with your doctor and other health professionals; it never hurts to get a second or even third opinion or more if necessary - don't be afraid to ask. Be aware that some men chose natural treatment options and forgo any surgery, radiation or chemotherapy.

Side effects of chemotherapy drugs depend on which ones you're taking and how often and how long they're taken. The approaches to treatment include: just ever watchful waiting to see whether the cancer is growing slowly and not causing any symptoms. Medicines can be used to adjust the levels of testosterone; called hormonal manipulation.

Chemotherapy medications are often used to treat prostate cancers that are resistant to hormonal treatments. Surgery, radiation therapy, and hormonal therapy can interfere with libido on a temporary or permanent basis. Surgery is usually only recommended after thorough evaluation and discussion of all available treatment options.

In the early stages, surgery and radiation may be used to remove or attempt to kill the cancer cells or shrink the tumor. Medications can have many side effects, including hot flashes and loss of sexual desire. Besides hormonal drugs, hormone manipulation may also be done by surgically removing the testes.

Studies done on antioxidant vitamins question their value when not contained in food; it's clearly better to consume these antioxidants in living foods because they may also need to work with other nutrients present in the foods to work properly. A good dietary, natural treatment approach is to avoid all acidic inflammatory foods; those are foods that aren't alive. Use flaxseed oil or walnut oil in your daily dark green salad.

The first step in managing your prostate health is to change your diet; I think all experts would agree on this. Buy lacinato kale and juice it in your juicer with sweet carrots. For natural treatment for the prostate make an appointment with a naturopathic doctor, called a naturopath; ask around for referrals.

Making a ginger tea, by adding a thin slice or two of fresh gingerroot to hot water, is helpful to many people I know. Drink freshly made carrot juice every day that you make in a juicer or juice extractor. Put two tablespoons of unbleached, unrefined and undeodorized coconut oil in your smoothies; coconut oil is plant-based, not animal-based and is actually good for us.

If you've already been diagnosed with prostate cancer, pick the option that's best suited to you and your continuing good health. The outcome of prostate cancer varies greatly; mostly because the disease is found in older men who may have a variety of other complicating diseases or conditions, such as cardiac or respiratory disease, or disabilities that immobilize or greatly decrease their activities. Just about all men with prostate cancer survive at least five years after their diagnosis, 93% survive at least 10 years, and 67% survive more than 15 years.

Seed Newsvine

Bookmark this article in your preferred program

Comments

Add Comment

Popular Articles in this cathegory

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.