Prostate Health Information

2009-03-24T11:17:00.000-07:00

Prostate Care - natural approach been made by herbs and mushrooms.

A received post on CNCAHealth.com says:

Doctor formulated Prostate Care™ nutritional supplement, a blend of eight well-researched herbal and mushroom extracts carefully chosen to help preserve healthy prostate functioning in men, is now available at the on-line health store of CNCA - providers of premium nutritional supplements.

The potential benefits of Prostate Care are best explained through the principles of nutrigeonomics – the emerging science of using nutrition to influence genetic expression and cellular function in ways to preserve and promote optimal health. Much in the same way as estrogen metabolism can be significantly influenced by diet, prostate functioning may be influenced through nutrition to function in a normal, healthy manner.

Prostate Care's, unique formula is only available from CNCA. Prostamax, a premium supplement for general prostate support and preservation of healthy urinary function, is also available from CNCA.

Its good to treat prostate naturally by herbs and mushrooms.

For more information read the whole article or purchase the products.

More Sex, More Risk

2009-02-04T23:16:00.000-08:00

Previously, we had a topic that masturbation may help prevent you from having prostate cancer. Well here's the bad news. Too much sex may actually heighten the risk of you getting prostate cancer. How about that for irony? Just shows that too much of a good thing can be bad too.

Those who were most active while younger had more chance of developing cancer later in life. It affects the prostate gland, which is found close to the bladder and makes a component of semen.

Roughly the same proportion of both groups, 59%, said they had engaged in sexual activity 12 times a month or more in their 20s, falling to 48% in their 30s, 28% in their 40s and 13% in their 50s.

Almost two-fifths of the prostate cancer group had had six female partners or more, compared with less than a third of the non-cancer group.

Frequency risk
There was also a difference among the men who masturbated or had sex the most often, with 40% of men in the cancer group being sexually active 20 times a month or more in their 20s, compared with 32% in the non-cancer group.

The gap between the two groups narrowed as the men aged, suggesting that the difference was strongest at a younger age.

PC-SPES

2009-02-04T00:10:00.000-08:00

The "PC" stands for prostate cancer, and "spes" is Latin for "hope." For a time, it looked as though the product might actually live up to its name. Several scientific studies found the combination of herbs -- including saw palmetto, panax pseudo-ginseng, and six assorted Chinese herbs -- to be an effective treatment for prostate cancer. But even before the product was recalled, there was cause for concern.

Like some already established prostate cancer treatments, PC-SPES cuts off supplies of the male hormone testosterone, a major source of fuel for prostate cancer. According to a report in the August 2001 issue of Urology, the concoction can reduce testosterone dramatically. For patients with prostate cancer, this drastic measure has real benefits. As the level of testosterone plummets, the tumor stops growing (at least temporarily) and may even begin to shrink.

Of course, anything that reduces testosterone to that level is bound to cause side effects. Nipple tenderness and swelling in the breasts are very common. About one-third of patients have diarrhea, and another one-third have cramps in the legs or muscles. Blood clots in the legs or lungs are the most serious potential side effect, and they are also, thankfully, very rare. Anyone still using PC-SPES should stop immediately. You may develop severe pain in the legs or calves or sudden shortness of breath after taking it.

In summary, the supposed herbal supplement PC-SPES carried all of the punch of a prescription drug -- because it actually contained drugs. The supplement ran afoul of authorities only after tests by the California Department of Health Services turned up traces of warfarin, a prescription blood thinner that can raise the risk of serious bleeding. BotanicLab Inc., the company that distributed PC-SPES, voluntarily recalled the product nationwide.

Natural Cure For Prostate Cancer

2009-02-02T23:13:00.000-08:00

Right now, there are a lot of ways to cure prostate cancer naturally. No need for operations or chemo. Some of the cures can even be found right at your own home. Here are a few quotes from researchers and such about these cures.

Pomegranate from the tree Punica granatum possesses strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. We recently showed that pomegranate fruit extract (PFE) possesses remarkable antitumor-promoting effects in mouse skin," recalled A. Malik and colleagues, University of Wisconsin.

An olive-oil based herbal extract preparation called Zyflamend suppresses the growth of prostate cancer cells and induces prostate cancer cells to self-destruct, according to a new study. Zyflamend has the ability, in culture at least, to reduce prostate cancer cell growth by as much as 78 percent and induce cancer cell death or "apoptosis," scientists report in the journal Nutrition and Cancer.

"Together, these results suggest that Zyflamend might have some chemopreventive utility against prostate cancer in men," lead investigator Dr. Debra L. Bemis of Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York told Reuters Health. Zyflamend has both COX-1 and COX-2 anti-inflammatory effects, although its anti-cancer effects against prostate cancer are independent of COX-2 inhibition.

Lycopene is one of a group of compounds called carotenoids. It is found in high amounts in tomatoes, apricots, guava, watermelon, and pink grapefruit. The findings of this study corroborate the findings of other similar studies examining the effectiveness of lycopene in the treatment of prostate cancer. It may also help stimulate the immune system and has been shown to cause cancer cells to die on their own.

Although more research is needed to clarify what amount of lycopene is most effective, men with prostate cancer may benefit from taking daily lycopene supplements. Eating one moderately sized tomato a day also provides approximately 4 mg of lycopene. Other tomato products, such as an 8-ounce portion of tomato juice or tomato paste may provide up to 25 mg of lycopene. Whenever possible, opt for the real food, since the nutrient seems to work best in conjunction with other phytonutrients in fruits and vegetables.

Promoting A Healthy Prostate

2009-02-02T00:32:00.000-08:00

There are several steps you can take to encourage a healthy prostate.

* Eat a low fat diet.
* Avoid spicy foods, caffeine, alcohol and tobacco.
* Eat whole grains, nuts, seeds and vegetables.

What supplements are beneficial?

Vitamin C - High amounts are found in the prostate gland and are believed to be important for prostate function.
Vitamin E - Acts as an antioxidant, which slows aging and hardening of tissue through oxidation. Essential fatty acids such as olive oil and evening primrose oil - Required by the prostate gland to perform properly and help reduce the amount of urine left in the bladder.
What herbal therapies are beneficial?
* Saw palmetto - Clinical studies show remarkable results when 320 mg. of
Saw palmetto are taken daily for 30 days. Studies indicate a success rate of 80-90% in the BPH patients tested. Unlike some conventional drugs, Saw palmetto does not cause impotence and shows no significant side effects.
* Garlic - Provides the body with vitamins and minerals and may provide a normalizing effect on the prostate.
* Pumpkin seed oil - Contains high levels of zinc, proven to be helpful for most prostate problems.
* Pygeum - The bark of the Pygeum africanus tree has been used for centuries in Europe to treat urinary problems. In France, 81% of doctors prescriptions for BPH are for Pygeum. Clinical studies have shown Pygeum causes no side effects.

Ask your doctor. This information is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice or treatment of prostate problems. If you suspect prostate problems, check with your health care provider.

Prostate Cancer Prevention Tips

2009-01-29T21:53:00.000-08:00

By the age of 50, many men will have prostate cancer by then. It's very irritating and uncomfortable. It can also interrupt your sex life. Thankfully, we have a few tips that can prevent you from getting one. The supplements mentioned vary from being used to prevent prostate problems, improve symptoms in people who already have problems with their prostate and help treat various kinds of prostate problems such as prostatitis and benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Lycopene is a member of the carotenoid family and a deep pigment responsible for the red color of certain fruits and vegetables. The meaning is derived from the Greek language and is translated into the meaning "wolf peach".The highest source of lycopene that is regularly consumed by the average person is in tomatoes though sources of lycopene include watermelon, apricots, guava, papaya, and pink grapefruit. Another source that may not be familiar to some is a fruit called gac, which is Vietnamese in its origin and is also known as Sweet Gourd. It is used for various medicinal uses in Vietnam and is available in the form of many juice supplements. Its lycopene content is much higher than tomatoes themselves and is the only source that has such high content of lycopene.

EGCG, which green tea contains, inhibits the growth of PSA (prostatic specific antigen) and also the growth of blood vessels that supply the cancer with oxygen and nutrients. This is possible as the EGCG and polyphenols in green tea help prevent prostate cancer itself and the spread of active prostate cancer. It actively helps reduce the production of the antigen, a contributor to prostate cancer.In a study it was found that 130 prostate patients that consumed green tea on a regular basis were reduced by 86 % of prostate cancer progression. Similar studies have suggested similar benefits with lycopene consumption.

The African plum tree is a very tall tree in Africa, Prunus Africana or better yet known as the African Plum tree is used to specifically treat one of the most common problems in the prostate, BPH (benign prostate hyperplasia). The useful part of the tree is however the bark, not the fruit. The active ingredient within the bark is the oil which contains many useful compounds for the human body. One of these compounds is phytosterol, similar in structure to cholesterol but less absorbed from the body than cholesterol. The way it helps in improving the symptoms of BPH is due to its anti-inflammatory properties which may help reduce the size of the prostate aiding in relief. Results from a study conclude after taking a dose of 100 mg a day for 60 days, that symptoms of BPH such as nocturia and residual urine decreased as an increase of urine flow and comfort levels were of the results as well. Because of the great number of positive results and improvement the treatment gives the patients, the African Plum tree bark is used in many countries in Europe such as France to promote prostate health. Some side effects may come with use of this supplement, so before considering use of it, you should check with a doctor.

Multivitamins and Your Prostate

2009-01-28T21:08:00.000-08:00

As the old saying goes, "too much of a good thing can be bad." That's exactly what taking too much multivitamins can do to your prostate. According to US researchers, taking in multivitamins more than seven times a week may increase the risk of advanced and fatal prostate cancer.

It is unclear why the multivitamins may increase the risk of certain types of prostate cancer.

Study leader Dr Karla Lawson from the US National Cancer Institute said: "The possibility that men taking high levels of multivitamins along with other supplements have increased risk of advanced and fatal prostate cancers is of concern and merits further evaluation."

Because multivitamins contain so many different components and men taking a lot of them were more likely to be taking other supplements, the researchers were unable to tease out what was causing the association.

In an accompanying editorial, European researchers said a high intake of fruit and vegetables has been shown to reduce the risk of cancer.

But it is not clear which nutrients have a positive effect.

Ejaculating Frequently May Be Good For Your Prostate

2009-01-28T00:22:00.000-08:00

This new research just gave you a new reason to celebrate. If women have their migraines, men have their prostates. You can now actually say, "honey, this is for my health", and without any guilt whatsoever.

According to the study, frequent ejaculation may be healthy because of the following reasons:

Flushing out cancer-causing substances. Frequent ejaculation may help flush out retained chemical carcinogens in the prostate glands.
Reducing tension. The release of psychological tension that accompanies ejaculation may lower nervous activity associated with stress and slow the growth of potentially cancerous cells in the prostate.
Promoting rapid turnover of fluids. Frequent ejaculation may help prevent the development of mini-crystals that can block ducts within the prostate gland, reducing cancer risk.

Although researchers found frequent ejaculation appeared to lower the risk of developing prostate cancer, it's unclear how ejaculation may affect men destined to develop or already in the early states of prostate cancer. Men who reported high ejaculation frequency throughout their lives and in the last year appeared to have a higher risk of developing advanced prostate cancer, but researchers say the numbers were too small to draw any firm conclusions.

Guide To A Healthy Prostate

2009-01-26T23:02:00.000-08:00

If you are reading this article, you’re probably concerned about your chances (or a loved-one’s chances) of getting prostate cancer. Being diagnosed with any form of cancer is one of the most frightening and highly stressful experiences of anyone’s life. Prostate cancer, is a very serious health-risk in men, and should not be treated lightly. Yet, the encouraging news is that the disease does not have to be a death sentence, and even men with the disease (detected early) can maintain a healthy prostate by following specific recommendations.

Step One:

Nutritional Guidelines - Studies show that prostate health is largely associated with both the Japanese and Southern Mediterranean diets. The Japanese diet consists of a daily intake of green tea, soy, vegetables, and fish; while the Mediterranean diet is largely fresh fruits, vegetables, garlic, tomatoes, red wine, olive oil, and fish. Speaking of fish, fresh cold-water fish such as salmon, sardines, mackerel, and trout, should be consumed at least two to three times a week. Never eat fish that is fried. Instead, have it poached, baked, or lightly grilled. Other healthy foods include green tea., purple grapes, grape juice, red wine, cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower), and of course fruits. Tomatoes and tomato products such as pizza sauce, tomato paste, and ketchup are great along with olive oil; which is rich in vitamin E and antioxidants. As a note, doctors suggest also reducing animal fat in your diet. Studies show that excess fat, primarily red meat and high-fat dairy, stimulates prostate cancer to grow.

Step Two:

Lifestyle Choices - Everyday lifestyle choices may also be associated with prostate health. For example, maintaining a healthy body weight is essential, and is the most pressing concern regarding lifestyle and its connection to prostate cancer. Research studies show that obesity is linked to the development of prostate cancer. Researchers are still trying to determine the reason for this. Studies also show that obese men have higher rates of surgical complications, experience more problems with radiation treatments, and have lower survival rates than normal weight men. As mentioned in the previous section, a healthy diet is important for prostate health. So, make it a daily habit to eat healthy. Exercise regularly. A brisk walk for 30 minutes at least 3 days per week is sufficient. Studies show that regular exercise helps to maintain a healthy weight, lowers the rate of complications after surgery, improves cancer treatments, and increases the rate of survival.

Step Three:

Get Annual Prostate Screenings - The purpose of the screening is the early detection of prostate cancer. The screening consists of both a Digital Rectal Examination (DRE) and a Prostate-Specific Antigen test (PSA). Both exams must be done simultaneously in order to make accurate diagnoses. The screening needs to be performed on a yearly basis.

Measles Virus As An Effective Prostate Cancer Cure

2009-01-26T00:39:00.001-08:00

A new study appearing in The Prostate has found that certain measles virus vaccine strain derivatives, including a strain known as MV-CEA, may prove to be an effective treatment for patients with advanced prostate cancer. The findings show that this type of treatment, called virotherapy, can effectively infect, replicate in and kill prostate cancer cells.

Prostate cancer is a leading cause death among males in the western world. It is currently the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths among American men with 186,320 new cases and 28,660 deaths expected to be recorded in 2008. A sizeable proportion of these patients ultimately relapse, with a 5-year failure rate for treatment ranging from 14 to 34 percent. No curative therapy is currently available for locally advanced or metastatic prostate cancer.

The median survival time of MV-CEA-treated mice in the study almost doubled compared to the controls, and complete tumor regression was observed in one-fifth of treated animals.

“Based on our preclinical results as well as the safety of measles derivatives in clinical trials against other tumor types, these viral strains could represent excellent candidates for clinical testing against advanced prostate cancer, including androgen resistant tumors,” says Evanthia Galanis, M.D., of the Mayo Clinic, senior author of the study. The study was supported by the Mayo Clinic Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) in prostate cancer.

These oncolytic strains of measles virus, represent a novel class of therapeutic agents against cancer that demonstrates no cross-resistance with existing treatment approaches, and can therefore be combined with conventional treatment methods.

Because primary tumor sites are easily accessible in prostate cancer, locally recurrent disease represents a promising target for virotherapy approaches. The virotherapy agent can easily be applied directly to the prostate tumor via ultrasound-guided needle injections and close monitoring of therapy can be achieved by non-invasive techniques including ultrasound and MRI.

The measles vaccine strains also have an excellent safety record with millions of vaccine doses having been safely administered in over 40 years of use. Repeated measurements of the marker CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen, produced when the virus replicates) following MV-CEA treatment can be performed via a simple blood test, and can potentially allow for optimization of dosing as well as the tailoring of individualized treatment. To date, no significant toxicity from MV-CEA treatment of patients with other tumor types has been observed.

Prior studies have demonstrated the therapeutic potency of MV-Edm derivatives against a variety of preclinical animal models including ovarian cancer, glioblastoma multiforme, breast cancer, multiple myeloma, lymphoma and hepatocellular carcinoma.

The promising results prompted the rapid translation of engineered MV-Edm strains in three clinical trials that are currently active. In the ovarian cancer trial, the furthest advanced; evidence of biologic activity has been noted in refractory ovarian cancer patients.

The results set the foundation for additional studies in preparation for using engineered measles strains in a clinical trial for the treatment of patients with advanced prostate cancer.

2009-01-26T00:39:00.000-08:00

Discover The Magical Power of Massage in Healing Your Prostate

2009-01-22T22:59:00.000-08:00

Ok, I just saw this ad the other day and it means exactly what it says.... massage cab heal your prostate. I haven't really researched about it but rest assured that in the coming days will be more articles about it. In the meantime, here a copy of the ad.

You can have excellent prostate health again! And I mean radiant health! With simple proper prostate massage, whether you're 30 or 90, you can start feeling better immediately! And, it's easy to do, once you know how. I know this is true, because I had to learn it all myself!

Your pain will melt away, day by day! Your symptoms will gradually disappear. You'll start to feel good again. In fact you'll feel better all over. You'll sleep better, you'll have more energy, you'll be happier and your sex life will take back it's former sparkle.

You'll Learn Everything You Need To Know To
Enjoy Radiant Sexual Health!

Not only will you learn all the most effective massage techniques and the correct way to do them. You will also learn the wholistic approach to having a healthy, pain free, fully functional sexual and urinary system.

And, you'll see how men have relieved the pain and swelling without drugs or surgery. Simple natural methods can change your life to the point where you'll forget you even had a prostate problem.

You can learn how to Feel Great Again!

So, let's get started!.....

BPH

2009-01-21T18:55:00.000-08:00

Many men have problems with the prostate at some time in their lives. The prostate gland is part of the male reproductive system. It’s located just below the bladder. The prostate surrounds the urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body). When problems occur in the prostate, the bladder and urethra are often affected as well. Urinary symptoms can result. The most common prostate problems are described below.

BPH

BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) develops when changing hormone levels cause the prostate to grow larger. This often begins around age 50. Excess tissue can block the urethra, making it harder for urine to flow. The enlarged prostate can also press on the bladder, so you may need to urinate more often. Other symptoms include straining during urination, a weak urine stream, and feeling that the bladder isn’t emptying all the way. Note that BPH is not cancer and does not cause cancer.

How BPH Affects the Bladder

Pushing to urinate through a narrowed urethra can cause the bladder walls to thicken or stretch out of shape. A stretched bladder may have problems emptying all the way. Infections or bladder stones can occur. Also, the kidneys can’t drain properly into a bladder that doesn’t empty completely. This can lead to kidney failure. Pressure from urine buildup can also cause leaking of urine (called overflow incontinence).

Other Prostate Problems

Prostatitis is an infection or inflammation that causes the prostate to become painful and swollen. This narrows the urethra and can block the bladder neck. Prostatitis can cause a burning sensation during urination. You may also feel pressure or pain in the genital area. In some cases, prostatitis can cause fever and chills, and can make you very sick.
Cancer occurs when abnormal cells form a tumor (a lump of cells that grow uncontrolled). Some tumors can be felt during a physical exam, others can’t. Prostate cancer often causes no symptoms at all, especially in its early stages. Prostate symptoms are more likely to be caused by a problem that is NOT cancer.

How To Ease The Symptoms Of An Enlarged Prostate

2009-01-20T23:24:00.000-08:00

Obviously, if you have the symptoms of an enlarged prostate, the first thing you need to do is to see a doctor. Remember, there's a chance that your symptoms may signal something more serious. Once your doctor diagnoses your enlarged prostate, there are many things you can do to help yourself. If your symptoms are mild, these self-care steps, and who knows, they may be the only treatment you need.

•You can cut down on nighttime trips to the bathroom by avoiding drinking beverages after 7 pm.

•Every time you urinate, make an extra effort to empty the bladder completely.

•Go easy on alcohol and caffeine, which increase the need to urinate.

•Avoid over-the-counter cold remedies that contain antihistamines and decongestants. Antihistamines can impair the muscles that control the opening to the bladder and the bladder itself. Decongestants can tighten muscles around the bladder, making it difficult to empty. If the cold medication contains both, it may be impossible to urinate.

•Stay active. Regular exercise can help keep urine from pooling in your bladder.

•Keep warm. When your body is cold, your bladder is more likely to retain extra urine.

Quick Prostate Facts

2009-01-19T23:36:00.000-08:00

Prostate cancer is a group of cells growing abnormally out of control in the prostate that may invade and destroy healthy tissues and organs. Prostate cancer can grow differently for different people. Some cancers grow and spread rapidly, quickly leading to death. Others grow slowly, presenting little threat to the man.

* Prostate Cancer Information Prostate cancer can be cured if detected early.
* Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men.
* Men at high risk (men with a family history of prostate cancer and African-American men) should begin yearly screening for prostate cancer at age 40 or earlier, all others at age 50.
* African-American men have the world’s highest rate of prostate cancer.

What Are The Risk Factors ?
Age
40 or above for men with a family history of prostate cancer and African-American males, 50 or above for other men.
Family History
Father/brother/or male family member has prostate cancer.
Race
African-American males are at highest risk.

Early-stage prostate cancer usually has no symptoms.

* Get regular checkups and see your health care provider if you experience any of the following: Persistent hip or back pain
* Difficulty urinating
* Painful or burning urination
* Blood in your urine

But remember, most prostate cancers today have no symptoms

Screening Tests Currently Available
PSA - Prostate Specific Antigen
A blood test that can often detect a prostate related problem. An abnormal test may mean additional testing is needed.
DRE – Digital Rectal Exam
A test where the doctor puts a gloved finger in the rectum to feel the prostate.

Prostate Cancer's Genetic Fingerprint

2009-01-18T22:45:00.000-08:00

One in six American men are diagnosed with prostate cancer within their lifetime and 186,000 will be diagnosed this year. For most men, their disease is confined to the prostate gland, making it easier to treat and less lethal. However, some unfortunate patients suffer from a more aggressive cancer that metastasizes, or spreads beyond the boundaries of the prostate gland.

Physician-scientists are trying to uncover part of the disease's molecular fingerprint, with the hope of explaining why some forms metastasize. Their findings may help physicians provide tailored, and therefore, more effective treatments for patients.

Dr. Mark A. Rubin, professor of pathology and laboratory medicine, and vice chair for experimental pathology at Weill Cornell Medical College, and attending pathologist at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, believes that the common joining of two genes to form a new fusion gene influences a certain type of prostate cancer that is more aggressive and sensitive to hormones. In a recent article published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Dr. Rubin describes how in addition to the male hormone testosterone, estrogen — typically thought of as a female hormone — can stimulate this fusion gene. Dr. Rubin's group is currently exploring how this mechanism may help us understand how aggressive prostate cancer progresses in the absence of male hormones.

Currently, Dr. Rubin and his colleague Dr. Francesca Demichelis, assistant professor in pathology and laboratory medicine and computational biomedicine at the Institute of Computational Biomedicine at Weill Cornell Medical College, are testing blood samples and comparing the DNA of over 2,500 men with and without prostate cancer. They hope to discover clear genetic indicators of prostate cancer, especially its aggressive forms. Their findings will potentially lead to the development of diagnostic tests and preventive drugs for prostate cancer.

Web Tool Aids Men in Prostate Decisions

2009-01-15T23:41:00.000-08:00

Men considering prostate cancer screening who used an interactive Web-based, decision-making tool knew more about the disease and were less likely to choose screening than men who got information from credible Web sites, a U.S. study concludes.

Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles, looked at 611 men, all older than 50, who were randomly assigned to different prostate screening decision support approaches, including a Web-based decision aid that explained the nature, detection and treatment of prostate cancer. The tool included video clips of doctors and patients expressing different opinions about prostate cancer screening.

Other men were told to get information about prostate cancer screening at the Web sites of the American Cancer Society and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Men who used the decision aid were less likely to seek other sources of information afterward. This suggests they were more satisfied with the information they received and more confident about their decisions based on that information, said study author Dominick L. Frosch, an assistant professor of medicine.

Men With Wives, Significant Others More Likely To Be Screened For Prostate Cancer

2009-01-11T21:48:00.000-08:00

Although the link between early screening and prostate cancer survival is well established, men are less likely to go for early screening unless they have a wife or significant other living with them, according to a study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

"In terms of motivating people to get screened, there may be benefit in targeting wives or significant others as well as men," said lead author Lauren P. Wallner, M.P.H., a graduate research associate at the University of Michigan.

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men in the United States, and early detection is associated with drastically improved five-year survival rates. However, what motivates a man to get screened is not known.

Wallner and colleagues identified 2,447 Caucasian men ages 40 years to 79 years from Olmstead County, Minnesota. These men completed questionnaires containing queries on family history of prostate cancer, concern about getting prostate cancer and marital status. If men had a family history of prostate cancer, they were 50 percent more likely to be screened. If men said they were worried about prostate cancer, they were nearly twice as likely to be screened.

However, the likelihood among men with a family history to get screened decreased if they lived alone. Specifically, men who lived alone were 40 percent less likely to be screened than those who were married or had a significant other in their home. Wallner said the study did not assess what caused a married man to be more likely to be screened. She also said that further studies would need to examine this effect in non-Caucasian populations.

Preventing Prostate Cancer

2009-01-08T18:52:00.000-08:00

Doctors cannot always explain why one person gets cancer and another does not. However, scientists have studied general patterns of cancer in the population to learn what things around us and what things we do in our lives may increase our chance of developing cancer.

Anything that increases a person’s chance of developing a disease is called a risk factor; anything that decreases a person’s chance of developing a disease is called a protective factor. Some of the risk factors for cancer can be avoided, but many cannot. For example, although you can choose to quit smoking, you cannot choose which genes you have inherited from your parents. Both smoking and inheriting specific genes could be considered risk factors for certain kinds of cancer, but only smoking can be avoided. Prevention means avoiding the risk factors and increasing the protective factors that can be controlled so that the chance of developing cancer decreases.

Although many risk factors can be avoided, it is important to keep in mind that avoiding risk factors does not guarantee that you will not get cancer. Also, most people with a particular risk factor for cancer do not actually get the disease. Some people are more sensitive than others are to factors that can cause cancer. Talk to your doctor about methods of preventing cancer that might be effective for you.

Prostate Cancer Prevention

2009-01-07T22:25:00.000-08:00

As with all kinds of cancers, the best way to treat prostate cancer is to ensure that it never becomes out of control in the first place. Being able to catch the signs and symptoms of prostate cancer is one of the first lines of defense against what could quickly become a deadly disease. While it is not totally possible to prevent all cases of this tragic illness, there are quite a few ways that you can significantly lower your risk of developing prostate cancer. Unfortunately, at this point, all forms of prostate cancer prevention are totally speculative, though more and more studies are being started each day that could eventually lead to cures, treatments and preventative drugs that could one day cure this crippling form of cancer.

Chances are that if you have prostate cancer in your family history, you will want nothing more than to look long and hard for a way to prevent prostate cancer from developing in your own body. At this point, all you can really do is undergo an annual blood test and manual exam to see if your prostate will present any signs of the early stages of prostate cancer. As painful of a process as this may be, it is totally necessary if you hope to catch your developing cancer in time and be able to undergo treatment that will turn out to be successful in the long term.

Even though the annual prostate exams are good enough for most aging men, if you want to decrease your risk of developing prostate cancer in the first place, there are a few ways in which you can do so. It is important to remember that these preventative medicines are not totally proven at this point, but scientific studies have shown a directly link between lowered risk of prostate cancer and the consumption of certain vitamins and minerals.

Six years ago, a major breakthrough was found in the world of prostate cancer prevention. During a fourteen year study, a team of scientists and doctors from the National Cancer Institute, the Harvard Medical School and other world renowned medical facilities conducted a study of nearly fifty thousand men. After the results were tallied and compiled, the researchers found out that it appears that fish oil can provide men with a significant amount of prostate cancer preventative agents. Without going into detail too much, it looks as if there was a dramatic decrease in prostate cancer rates for people who ate fish on a regular basis. Oddly enough, these benefits only come from eating fish itself and not taking any fish oil supplements.

Study supports pomegranate’s anti-prostate cancer potential

2009-01-07T00:24:00.000-08:00

Pomegranate, a rich source of antioxidants, has been linked to improved heart health, but a growing body of science indicates the fruit protect against prostate cancer. Studies have also reported a role in joint health by slowing cartilage loss in arthritis.

It is these antioxidants, and particularly ellagitannin compounds like punicalagins and punicalins, which accounts for about half of the fruit's antioxidant ability, that are reportedly behind the proposed health benefits.

According to the researchers, early stage prostate tumours are dependent on testosterone levels circulating in the blood, but recurrent prostate tumours become unaffected by circulating testosterone levels. The cancer cells themselves can then increase testosterone synthesis, and this is linked to an over-expression of the so-called androgen receptor (AR).

Using androgen-dependent and androgen-independent prostate cancer cell lines, Mee Young Hong, Navindra Seeram, and David Heber from UCLA investigated if pomegranate extract and juice had an effect on the expression of genes for key androgen-synthesising enzymes and the androgen receptor.

They report that the polyphenols from pomegranate were capable of stopping the spread of both types of cancer, and that the compounds promoted apoptosis (programmed cell death) in the cells.

Family History Of Prostate Cancer Does Not Affect Some Treatment Outcomes

2009-01-05T21:56:00.000-08:00

In a first of its kind study, a first-degree family history of prostate cancer has no impact on the treatment outcomes of prostate cancer patients treated with brachytherapy (also called seed implants), and patients with this type of family history have clinical and pathologic characteristics similar to men with no family history at all, according to a January 1 study in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics.

"This information is relevant for both physicians and patients with new diagnoses as they embark on complex treatment decisions," Christopher A. Peters, M.D., lead author of the study and a radiation oncologist at Northeast Radiation Oncology Center in Dunmore, Pa. (chief resident at Mount Sinai School of Medicine at the time of the study), said. "Now patients with a family history of prostate cancer can be confident that they have the same outcomes as patients with sporadic disease, regardless of the treatment modality they chose."

In the study, researchers at the Departments of Radiation Oncology and Urology at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York sought to determine if having a familial history of prostate cancer, which is defined as a clustering of prostate cancer cases within a family, had an impact on the prognosis of men treated with brachytherapy for clinically localized prostate cancer patients.

Cough medicine ingredient may treat prostate cancer

2009-01-05T00:25:00.000-08:00

Noscapine, a natural substance found in cough medicine, may prove useful in treating advanced prostate cancer, according to studies in mice.
Researchers found that noscapine -- a non-addictive derivative of opium -- reduced tumor growth in mice by 60 percent and limited the spread of tumors by 65 percent without causing harmful side effects.
Dr. Israel Barken, of The Prostate Cancer Research and Education Foundation, La Mesa, California, and colleagues report their finding in the journal Anticancer Research.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society, one man in six will get prostate cancer during his lifetime.
Noscapine has previously been studied as a treatment for breast, ovarian, colon, lung and brain cancer and for various lymphomas, chronic lymphocytic leukemia and melanoma. The current study, however, is the first to demonstrate its potential as a treatment for prostate cancer.
The research team examined the effect of noscapine in 20 mice inoculated with human prostate cancer cells. One group of 10 animals was treated daily with orally administered noscapine diluted in water and the other group was given plain water (control). The treatments were continued for 56 days.
When the animals were sacrificed, researchers found that the tumors from the noscapine-fed animals weighed significantly less than the tumors from the animals fed plain water (0.42 grams versus 0.97 grams). Prostate cancer was also led apt to spread in the noscapine group compared with the control group (30 percent versus 90 percent.
No significant toxicity was observed with noscapine.
These findings, the researchers say, suggest that noscapine "may be a potential therapeutic agent for safe and efficacious treatment of prostate cancer in humans and a desirable alternative to currently used therapeutic agents that have serious side effects."

Warning Signs of an Enlarged Prostate

2008-12-28T22:02:00.000-08:00

As men age, the prostate gland often begins to swell -- which can cause uncomfortable symptoms. Men who have symptoms of an enlarged prostate should seek prompt medical treatment.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine says more than half of men with an enlarged prostate don't have any symptoms. But if symptoms are present, they may include:

Urination that starts slowly and continues in a weak stream.
Urination that becomes difficult, if not nearly impossible.
The need to urinate suddenly, urgently and frequently -- at least twice nightly.
Feeling like your bladder has not been completely emptied.
The inability to control the flow of urine, or dribbling after urinating.
Pain or bleeding during urination.

Men who live alone fall short on prostate screening

2008-12-25T23:45:00.000-08:00

Men at higher-than-average risk of prostate cancer are more likely to seek regular screening if they are married or live with a significant other, a new study finds.

Researchers found that among more than 2,400 men ages 40 to 79, those with a family history of prostate cancer were more likely to be regularly screened for the disease over a decade. However, a closer look at the data showed that this was only true of men who lived with a wife or partner.

In fact, higher-risk men who lived alone were less apt to seek screening than those with no family history of prostate cancer.

The American Cancer Society recommends that men with a family history of prostate cancer get screened for the disease starting at age 45. However, some studies have found that these men are no more likely to seek screening than those without a family history.

These latest findings, published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, suggest that partners play a big role in getting men to submit to prostate cancer screening.

"In terms of motivating people to get screened, there may be benefit in targeting wives or significant others as well as men," lead researcher Lauren P. Wallner, of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, noted in a written statement.

The results are based on 2,447 white U.S. men who were taking part in a long-term men's health study. The researchers used medical records to find out how frequently the men sought prostate cancer screening over roughly a decade; screening included digital rectal examinations and blood tests for prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a protein that can signal prostate cancer.

In general, Wallner's team found, men with a family history of prostate cancer were 40 percent more likely than those without such a history to frequently seek screening. But when the researchers considered marital status, they found that family history was a motivator only for married or co-habitating men.

On the other hand, men who said they were "worried or concerned" about developing prostate cancer had higher rates of frequent screening regardless of their marital status.

The findings, the researchers write, "provide insight as to how to better promote the benefits of early detection among high-risk men."

Still, they add, more research is needed to see what factors other than marital status motivate men to get screened.

Study Looks At Association Between Sexual Orientation, Race/Ethnicity And Prostate, Colon Cancer Screening Rates

2008-12-22T22:48:00.000-08:00

The study, led by Kevin Heslin, an assistant professor at the Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science, examines prostate and colorectal cancer screening rates based on sexual orientation and race and ethnicity. Researchers analyzed data on 19,410 men who participated in a statewide health survey. Researchers looked at the use of prostate-specific antigen testing among gay/bisexual and heterosexual men and found no significant differences.

However, the percentage of black gay/bisexual men who had undergone the test was 15% to 28% lower than gay/bisexual whites and 12% to 14% lower than heterosexual black men. The finding is significant because black men are more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than any other racial or ethnic group. The study suggests that further research be conducted to examine racial and ethnic differences in cancer testing.

Cough Medicine Ingredient Could Effectively Treat Prostate Cancer

2008-12-22T00:10:00.000-08:00

Researchers found that noscapine, which has been used in cough medication for nearly 50 years, reduced tumor growth in mice by 60% and limited the spread of tumors by 65% without causing harmful side effects.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimates that 186,320 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2008 and 28,660 will die from it. One man in 6 will get prostate cancer during his lifetime. Although slow-growing in most men, the cancer is considered advanced when it spreads beyond the prostate. There is no known cure.

Noscapine is a naturally-occurring substance, a non-addictive derivative of opium. As a natural substance, noscapine cannot be patented, which has limited the potential for clinical trials. Rogosnitzky notes that drug companies are generally unwilling to underwrite expensive clinical trials without being able to recoup their investment. A synthetic derivative of noscapine has been patented but has not yet reached the clinical testing phase.

Hormone therapy and chemotherapy, along with radiation and surgery, are currently used to slow the progression of advanced prostate cancer. Side effects resulting from these treatments include impotence, incontinence, fatigue, anemia, brittle bones, hair loss, reduced appetite, nausea and diarrhea. No toxic side effects were observed in the laboratory study of noscapine.

Single Men Less Likely to Get Prostate Screens

2008-12-18T22:21:00.000-08:00

Married men and men living with a significant other are more prone to get early screening for prostate cancer, a new study says.

The study found that even men with a family history of prostate cancer were 40 percent less likely to be screened if they lived alone compared to those who were married or shared a home with a significant other. The study, however, did not examine why this is so.

"In terms of motivating people to get screened, there may be benefit in targeting wives or significant others as well as men," lead author Lauren P. Wallner, a graduate research associate at the University of Michigan, said in an American Association for Cancer Research news release.

Men with wives, significant others more likely to be screened for prostate cancer

2008-12-07T23:50:00.000-08:00

"In terms of motivating people to get screened, there may be benefit in targeting wives or significant others as well as men," said lead author Lauren P. Wallner, M.P.H., a graduate research associate at the University of Michigan.

Wallner and colleagues identified 2,447 Caucasian men ages 40 years to 79 years from Olmstead County, Minnesota. These men completed questionnaires containing queries on family history of prostate cancer, concern about getting prostate cancer and marital status. If men had a family history of prostate cancer, they were 50 percent more likely to be screened. If men said they were worried about prostate cancer, they were nearly twice as likely to be screened.

However, the likelihood among men with a family history to get screened decreased if they lived alone. Specifically, men who lived alone were 40 percent less likely to be screened than those who were married or had a significant other in their home. Wallner said the study did not assess what caused a married man to be more likely to be screened. She also said that further studies would need to examine this effect in non-Caucasian populations.

Overweight May Skew PSA Prostate Cancer Test

2008-12-05T00:02:00.000-08:00

A recent study showed how being overweight can affect your PSA levels, rendering the standard PSA test protocols for diagnosing prostate cancer inaccurate.

The extra blood volume produced in the obese may so dilute levels of a tell-tale protein produced by the prostate gland that the popular PSA test may be SIGNIFICANTLY LESS EFFECTIVE for diagnosing prostate cancer in men carrying extra pounds.

The new findings could eventually also affect the reliability of scores regarding other blood tests for cancer and other diseases in obese people, or at least alter the way those tests are analyzed, investigators say.

The predictive value of the PSA test depends on accurate readings of a protein, (P)rostate (S)pecific (A)ntigen continually produced by the prostate. When the prostate is enlarged - due to cancer or other disorders - the concentration of PSA in the bloodstream can increase, signaling the possible presence of cancer.

Physicians thus commonly regard increased PSA values as a first marker to diagnose prostate cancer, to be followed by other diagnostic tests such as physical exams and a transrectal ultrasound.

Complicating the diagnosis of prostate cancer further, the researchers note, is the fact that both physical exams and imaging studies of the prostate are more difficult in obese men.

Although recent studies have shown that PSA concentrations can be lower than expected in obese men with prostate cancer, the current research was designed to determine which of two dueling hypotheses explained this, notes Alan Partin, M.D., chief of the Department of Urology at Johns Hopkins' Brady Urological Institute.

One idea was based on the possibility that obese men make less PSA because they tend to have less testosterone, the sex hormone that prompts PSA production.

The other theory attributed the phenomenon to the increased amount of blood volume that obese men produce to support their size, which has the effect of thinning out the concentration of PSA.

2008 Prostate Cancer Retreat Available Online - Prostate Cancer Foundation

2008-12-03T23:09:00.000-08:00

The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) has made presentations from its 2008 Scientific Retreat available online. The PCF's annual retreat provides a forum to review advances in prostate cancer research aimed at reducing death and suffering from this prevalent men's disease. The three-day event was held in October at Incline Village, Nevada, and was attended by 293 of the world's leading physicians and scientists engaged in prostate cancer research.

The presentations, accompanied by presenter voiceovers, can be reviewed by going to: http://www.prostatecancerfoundation.org/scientificretreat. Free Adobe™ Flash and Adobe Reader™ downloads are provided on the site.

"The Prostate Cancer Foundation's Annual Scientific Retreat is a unique conference. It provides a collaborative environment to share new data that might accelerate solutions for prostate cancer," explained Dr. Howard Soule, executive vice president and chief scientist for the Prostate Cancer Foundation. "It is the most sought-after invitation in the world for prostate cancer scientists. Each year we receive more requests for an invitation than we can accommodate.

"We are pleased to make the meeting presentations available to a broader audience and hope that this online distribution will support our mission to accelerate scientific exchange, discovery and development," added Soule.

About the Prostate Cancer Foundation

The Prostate Cancer Foundation is the world's largest philanthropic source of support for prostate cancer research focused on discovering better treatments and a cure for recurrent prostate cancer. Founded in 1993, the PCF has raised more than $370 million and provided funding to more than 1,500 researchers at nearly 200 institutions worldwide. The PCF also advocates for greater awareness of prostate cancer and more governmental resources, resulting in a 20-fold increase in government funding for prostate cancer. More information about the PCF can be found at http://www.pcf.org.

Prostate Cancer Foundation

Symptoms of Prostate Gland Enlargement

2008-12-02T23:32:00.000-08:00

We should always be aware... just to be sure.

Prostate gland enlargement varies in severity among men and doesn't always pose a problem. Only about half the men with prostate gland enlargement experience signs and symptoms that become noticeable or bothersome enough for them to seek medical treatment. These signs and symptoms may include:

Weak urine stream
Difficulty starting urination
Stopping and starting while urinating
Dribbling at the end of urination
Straining while urinating
Frequent need to urinate
Increased frequency of urination at night (nocturia)
Urgent need to urinate
Not being able to completely empty the bladder
Blood in the urine (hematuria)
Urinary tract infection

Prostate Cancer Spurs New Nerves

2008-12-01T23:24:00.000-08:00

Prostate cancer – and perhaps other cancers – promotes the growth of new nerves and the branching axons that carry their messages, a finding associated with more aggressive tumors, said researchers from Baylor College of Medicine in the first report of the phenomenon that appears today in the journal Clinical Cancer Research.

Previous research showed that prostate cancer follows the growth of nerves, but this is the first time that scientists have demonstrated that the tumors actually promote nerve growth.

"This is the first report of this phenomenon," said Dr. Gustavo Ayala, professor of pathology and urology at BCM and first author of the article. "It represents an important new target in prostate cancer treatment, as prostate cancers are more aggressive when neurogenesis is present."

Ayala noted that this finding is comparable to the discovery of angiogenesis or the growth of new blood vessels. Both are part of the wound repair process.

"We also believe that axongenesis and neurogenesis is found not only in prostate cancer, but is potentially a more global phenomenon, particularly relating to those cancers that grow along nerve paths," said Ayala, also a researcher in the Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center at BCM.

Ayala and his colleagues studied the neurogenesis in tissue culture, in human tissues of patients who had had prostate cancer and compared to prostate tissues from patients who had died of other ailments. They calculated the density of nerves in human prostate tissues, including those with prostate cancer. They found that nerve density was considerably higher in patients with prostate cancer and in precancerous lesions. As part of the study, he used an entire prostate gland to reconstruct the prostate and enable scientists to see the growth of nerves and axons in three-dimensions, a computerized process that took substantial continuous computer processing.

He and his colleagues have even identified a possible method of regulating the growth of new nerves and axons through a protein called semaphorin 4F. Semaphorins are embryologically active molecules that regulate nerve growth and direction. Most disappear in adults, but semaphoring 4F is active in wound repair. When prostate cancer cells overproduce semaphorin 4F, new nerves result. Blocking semaphoring 4F prevents the growth of new nerves.

Novel Approach For Suppressing Prostate Cancer Development

2008-11-26T22:04:00.000-08:00

Researchers at the University of Southern California (USC) have found that inactivating a specific biomarker for aggressive prostate cancer blocks the development of prostate cancer in animal models.

Researchers say the upcoming study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences—now available online—may lead to a novel cancer therapy for humans.

"This research has far-reaching implications in a wide range for human cancers," says Amy Lee, Ph.D., the study's principal investigator and the associate director for basic research and holder of the Freeman Cosmetics Chair at the USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, and professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. "It is a breakthrough study."

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and develops through successive stages. The glucose-regulated protein GRP78 has been identified as a crucial entity in the development of prostate cancer by promoting cancer cell proliferation, mediating oncogenic signaling and protecting cancer cells against cell death resulting from the stress of tumor development, Lee explains. By suppressing GRP78 expression or activity, the USC researchers found that they could block prostate cancer activation and development resulting from the loss of PTEN, a powerful tumor suppressor gene for a number of human cancers.

Prostate Cancer Therapy Hampers Sex Life

2008-11-25T22:32:00.000-08:00

Men who take hormonal therapy to treat early-stage prostate cancer are twice as likely to suffer sexual problems than men who forgo treatment, according to a new study. And researchers say the negative side effects of the popular treatment may come with few proven benefits in fighting the disease itself.

About 90% of the 180,000 men in the U.S. diagnosed with prostate cancer each year are diagnosed at an early stage of the disease, when the cancer has not spread to other areas. Approximately 40% of these men are initially treated without surgery or radiation because the risks of the aggressive treatment may be too great. These men are either treated with hormone therapy or adopt a "watch-and-wait" approach without treatment.

Prostate cancer grows in response to male sex hormones, such as testosterone. Hormone therapy for prostate cancer is called androgen deprivation therapy, or ADT. The man is given a medication that decreases the level of male sex hormones -- called androgens -- in the body.

Oily fish may boost prostate cancer survival rate

2008-11-24T21:45:00.000-08:00

A recent study revealed that increasing your intake of fish and omega-3 rich seafood may improve your prostate cancer rate by 38 percent.

The study adds to a small but growing body of evidence linking fish consumption and omega-3 to potential cancer benefits. Over 20,000 men were followed for 382,144 person-years of follow-up, during which time 2,161 cases of prostate cancer were diagnosed and 230 deaths from the disease recorded. All of the men were free of the disease at the start of the study in 1983.

Both high fish and seafood omega-3 fatty acid intakes were associated with significant reductions in the risk of prostate cancer death men, compared to men with lower consumptions.

“These results suggest that fish intake is unrelated to prostate cancer incidence but may improve prostate cancer survival,” concluded the researchers.

New Findings Offer Fresh Hope To Men With Prostate Cancer That Has Returned After Attempted Cure

2008-11-23T23:23:00.000-08:00

The link between the PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood test and the detection of prostate cancer is well-established. In new findings released publicly for the first time today, Australian and New Zealand researchers have demonstrated how two serial measures of PSA can be used to accurately predict a patient's prognosis when prostate cancer returns after attempted cure.

Survival can vary enormously among patients whose prostate cancer returns after curative treatments (such as surgery or radiotherapy). Some men can live for many years without the need for treatment however others will have very limited survival in spite of immediate intervention. Up to now, doctors have not been able to predict survival in these men and therefore have not been able to identify those who would benefit from participating in trials of new therapies. Nor have they known which men are able to avoid treatment for many years and therefore not risk the side effects that these treatments commonly cause.

Radiation oncologist and TROG (Trans-Tasman Radiation Oncology Group) researcher at Calvary Mater Newcastle, Professor Jim Denham and colleagues from Australia and New Zealand obtained the results by examining data from one of the world's largest prostate cancer clinical trials - TROG 96.01.

"PSA has been commonly used in clinical management of the disease but up until now, no one has been able to forecast accurately what will happen when cancer returns after curative treatment. Two factors - the time for PSA to rise after curative treatment and the speed at which the PSA is rising - are powerful prognostic tools for specialists and can now be used to plan future treatments on a sounds basis," Professor Denham said.

Genetic Risk Factors May Tailor Prostate Cancer Screening Approaches

2008-11-20T23:06:00.000-08:00

Men with a family history of prostate cancer and African-American men are particularly susceptible to the disease, with a twofold to sevenfold increased risk. Assessing risk in these populations has been difficult.

"There have been years of effort to try to identify genes and genetic mutations associated with prostate cancer as there are for breast cancer," said Veda N. Giri, M.D., director of the Prostate Cancer Risk Assessment Program (PRAP) at Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia. "Prostate cancer is a more genetically complex disease."

"When we compared African-American men in PRAP to the high-risk Caucasian men in PRAP, we did find a difference," she said. "African-American men tended to carry more of these genetic risk markers compared to the Caucasian men. Since African-American men carry more of these particular genetic markers, they may be more informative for prostate cancer risk assessment in African-American men."

The researchers then studied how these markers influence time to prostate cancer diagnosis. "We found a trend that African-American men who carried more of these risk markers tended to develop prostate cancer earlier," Giri said. This finding did not reach statistical significance.

Giri said the take-home message from this study is that genetic markers associated with prostate cancer risk need to be characterized in prospective screening populations in order to determine how to incorporate them into risk assessment for prostate cancer, particularly for men at high-risk for the disease. "These markers may have significant use in personalizing the early detection of prostate cancer in men at high-risk in order to provide tailored recommendations for screening and diagnosis of this disease," said Giri.

Growing Number Of Young Prostate Cancer Patients Need 'sexual Rehabilitation'

2008-11-19T22:54:00.000-08:00

Prostate cancer is being detected and treated at an earlier age, resulting in more cases of erectile dysfunction in younger men. While for many this is a temporary setback, for some it can take much longer and others will never recover their former capability.

Dr Michael Lowy from Sydney Men's Health, said the result was a growing demand for "sexual rehabilitation" services, an evolving scientific and clinical branch of sexual medicine and urology.

"As well the obvious functional impact, many men aren't prepared for the emotional downside," Dr Lowy said. "Sexual rehabilitation involves treatments that can help men and their partners deal with this issue at both a physical and psychological level."

Behavior and Lifestyle Factors Influence Cancer Risk Among The Elderly

2008-11-18T21:35:00.000-08:00

According to a recent research, behavioral risk factors have a significant effect on cancer risk in the U.S. elderly population. Understanding these factors may allow clinicians to make specific recommendations for their elderly patients in order to reduce their risks of future cancers.

"About 80 percent of all cancers are diagnosed in the elderly, and more than 80 percent of known risk factors are potentially preventable," said Igor Akushevich, Ph.D., senior research scientist, Center for Population Health and Aging, Duke University, Durham, N.C.

"So far, we have not come to the stage where we are able to make specific recommendations regarding risk factors," Akushevich said. "However, we can confirm several of them which are known. As expected, we see associations of cigarette smoking with lung cancer. Moderate physical activities are capable of decreasing cancer risk, as well as careful health care insurance strategy and, hypothetically, general optimism in life."

Although the results need to be verified in subsequent studies, the researchers found significant contributions from a variety of lifestyle, behavioral and demographic variables on the risk of breast, lung, colon and prostate cancers among the elderly.

Aspirin Could Treat Prostate Cancer, For Real?

2008-11-16T22:43:00.000-08:00

It was recently found that aspirin can reduce the symptoms of prostate cancer. If this is true, this can be like a really major breakthrough!

Men already diagnosed with the cancer who were given a daily dose of aspirin or another anti-inflammatory, such as ibuprofen, had reduced levels of prostate specific antigens (PSA) a protein used as an indication of the severity of the disease.

But scientists are still not sure whether the findings actually mean an improvement in the disease. The pill could be reducing PSA levels without impacting on the cancer. Alarmingly, if this is the case, men who regularly take aspirin may be masking the symptoms of the cancer.

The use of aspirin resulted in a 9 per cent drop in PSA levels, the researchers said.

The biggest reduction appeared in men who had already been diagnosed with prostate cancer – a suggestion that it was treating the cancer rather than the symptoms.

The normal level of PSA increases naturally with age and high levels can indicate a prostate condition that is not cancer or is benign.

Bone Loss May Result From Cancer Treatment

2008-11-13T23:10:00.000-08:00

A recent study in Canada has found that breast and prostate cancer treatment can foster bone loss. The scientists explain how loss of bone mass might affect 46,000 people diagnosed with breast and prostate cancer each year and place them at increased risk for osteoporosis and fractures.

"Our study also looked at possible medications that can reverse or halt bone loss," says Dr. Fred Saad, lead author and director of urologic oncology at the Université de Montréal's Faculty of Medicine and the Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM), who completed the exhaustive study with colleagues from McMaster University, the Université Laval, the University of Toronto and the University of British Columbia.

"Bone is a dynamic tissue which undergoes a cyclic process of breaking down and rebuilding," adds Dr. Saad. "Medications called bisphosphonates help with the rebuilding process and have been successfully used to combat osteoporosis, which is good news for cancer patients."

Dr. Saad and colleagues evaluated data from more than 3,500 breast and prostate cancer studies and concluded that breast cancer patients treated with aromatase inhibitors were more likely to have bone loss and fractures compared to patients who didn't receive the therapy. Similarly, men who received androgen deprivation therapy to treat their prostate cancer had an increased risk of bone disorders. Although the numbers vary from one study to the next (from five to 45 percent), an elevated risk is consistently observed.

"Awareness of the incidence of cancer-associated bone loss raises issues for clinicians who should identify those patients who are most at risk for fractures and prescribe treatment strategies," says Dr. Saad. "This information is not only a concern for the specialists, but also for the general practitioners who frequently encounter these patients."

This is another eye opener for people who are still unaware of the dangers of treatment. This is why we try our best to spread the word out about natural healing and hopefully, people will start to take notice.

Soy, The Prostate Protector

2008-11-11T21:09:00.000-08:00

There used to be a time when only women were interested in soy. Well not anymore. Recently, it was found that increased intake of soy isoflavones significantly reduce the risk of prostate cancer by as much as 50%. With over 500,000 new cases diagnosed each year, having soy in your diet may be a good step towards the prevention of prostate cancer.

How can soy have such a profound effect on prostate cancer? Soy isoflavones may reduce testosterone levels and inhibit an enzyme involved in the metabolism of testosterone. It is this hormone that may increase prostate cancer risk. But before you start reaching for your wife or girlfriend’s “made for her” soy-fortified foods, know this: these results occur in men eating whole soy foods, such as edamame, tofu, tempeh and miso. These are things that you should add to your diet if you are a man over the age of 60. Your prostate will thank you.

While some recent studies have raised concerns about soy's safety profile, most nutritionists agree that in moderation (up to 25 g of soy protein per day), whole soy foods are safe and beneficial. If you prefer to avoid soy, you can use other foods and supplements for prostate protection such as saw palmetto, pygeum, vitamins D and E, boron and cruciferous vegetables.

2008-11-10T22:47:00.000-08:00

Having an enlarged prostate was once thought to be the result of aging, genetics and hormones, but that view is changing. The new view is that benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH), another term for prostate enlargement, may be somewhat preventable.

A recent study showed that, in aging men, physical activity can maintain prostate health and reduce the risk of developing BPH by up to 25%, compared to those who are sedentary. Light activity had some effect, but the strongest prostate protection came from regular moderate-to-vigorous activity.

Researchers think it’s cardiovascular fitness that makes the difference, by reducing body-wide inflammation. Men who have metabolic syndrome or heart disease are more likely to have BPH, as are those who suffer from erectile dysfunction. All three problems are associated with inflammation. And regular exercise helps prevent all three, in part by reducing the abdominal fat that feeds inflammation.

The anti-aging benefits of exercise can improve almost every aspect of health, and as this study shows, these benefits may be especially relevant to inflammation control and prostate health. So lace up your walking shoes, dust off your bike—whatever form of exercise you find most appealing—to walk away from the inflammation-related problems of aging.

Saw Palmetto Therapeutic For Urinary Symptoms?

2008-11-09T22:30:00.000-08:00

Physician-scientists are studying an herbal supplement that might aid in reducing the symptoms of an enlarged prostate in men. Recent figures show that benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) occurs in an estimated 50 percent of men over the age of 50 and in 75 percent of men 80 and older.

The research team, led by Dr. Steven A. Kaplan, professor of urology at Weill Cornell Medical College and attending urologist at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell, will study the affects of using saw palmetto extract compared to a placebo, with the hope of reducing the symptoms of BPH. Symptoms include difficulty starting a urine stream (hesitancy and straining), decreased strength of the urine stream (weak flow), feeling that the bladder is not completely empty, an urge to urinate again soon after urinating and pain during urination (dysuria).

It is theorized that compounds called phytoesterols, found in saw palmetto, might prevent prostate enlargement. Experts believe that prostate swelling may be caused by a rise in dihydrotestosterone (DHT) -- a testosterone derivative involved in prostate growth -- over a male's lifespan, especially during middle age. Scientists are unclear as to what causes the hormone to rise with time. However, escalating estrogen within the body has been correlated with, but has not been proven to be, directly promoting BPH. Like a basketball player blocking a shot from going into a basket, phytoesterols in saw palmetto might block natural estrogen from binding to receptors in the body.

New Tool Helps Physicians Tailor Hormone Therapy For High-risk Prostate Cancer Patients

2008-11-06T23:16:00.000-08:00

Using one of the largest databases of prostate cancer outcomes in the United States, Fox Chase Cancer Center researchers have developed a prediction tool that uses a patient's clinical information to estimate the benefit of adding androgen deprivation therapy of various durations to radiation therapy.

Such hormone therapy has been shown to help radiation kill prostate cancer cells and improve survival in men at a high risk of recurrence, but it is associated with significant side effects. Even when the cancer has been characterized as high-risk, the degree of benefit from the addition of androgen deprivation can be quite variable.

"Studies have generally lumped patients into three levels of risk, and physicians have recommended hormone therapy based on these studies," says Niraj H. Pahlajani, a resident in the radiation oncology department at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. "Our experience tells us that prostate patients can't be lumped together into broad categories and expected to respond the same way to treatment even when they fall into similar risk-categories. Fortunately, we've been able to generate a nuanced prediction tool that incorporates disease burden and individualizes treatment recommendations. We can enter each patient's clinical information and estimate the probability of the cancer coming back using different durations of hormone therapy to determine the best course."

Pahlajani says other similar tools exist to predict cancer treatment outcomes, but none is as personalized and none has yet been used to estimate the gains from different lengths of hormone therapy. The Fox Chase researchers used two key factors derived via biopsy to identify subtle differences among those at intermediate to high-risk of recurrence. The two factors were the percent of cancer-positive tissue identified and the percent of that positive tissue with a Gleason grade of four or five.

"With this information, we're able to personalize each man's treatment by quantifying the optimal duration of hormones based on his individual factors," Pahlajani says.

2008-11-05T22:50:00.000-08:00

The number of prostate cancer cases is increasing rapidly. Fortunately not all these tumors need to be operated - some are slow growing or indolent.

The question remains: how do we reliably establish which tumor is aggressive and which is not?

The answer may well be given by the PCA3 (Prostate Cancer Gene 3) test, a breakthrough in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. PCA3 is a new tool available in a simple urine test to help make better biopsy decisions - in combination with Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) - in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. It is available as the PROGENSA(TM) PCA3 assay in Europe and is the first gene-based diagnostic test in this field. It is an efficient tool to help decide if prostate biopsy is really needed to diagnose prostate cancer in men suspected of having the condition. PCA3 is, unlike PSA, prostate cancer specific. This means that the gene is only produced by prostate cancer cells and is not affected by prostate size. It discriminates better than PSA between prostate cancer and benign/non-cancerous prostate diseases such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH, i.e. prostate enlargement) or prostatitis (infection of the prostate). Therefore, PCA3 gives very useful information in deciding if a biopsy is really needed.

Most men with BPH symptoms will never need surgery

2008-11-04T23:17:00.000-08:00

According to researchers' best estimates, about 3 out of every 10 men in Europe will handle their prostate symptoms without medication or surgery and perhaps only 1 in 10 will have surgery. The rest will use medications, including herbal medicines, if their symptoms become too troublesome.

In Germany and other European countries, drugs called alpha blockers have taken over as the most common treatment choice for benign prostatic hyperplasia. These drugs were originally developed to reduce high blood pressure, but prostate symptoms will also improve at least a little for 60% of the men who use them.

In analysing the research results for surgery, the Institute concluded that the original surgical procedures still have the best results. A few of the new surgical techniques appear to have good results - for example, possibly shortening the time needed in hospital. But more research is needed to confirm this. And most of the new techniques use equipment that has not yet been tested in enough trials.

Prostate surgery can be very effective, but the adverse effects are a major concern for many men. Some of the newer techniques might have fewer adverse effects, but they may be so much less effective that the symptoms return, as bad as ever, within a couple of years.

Risk Of Bladder And Rectal Cancer Increases with Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer

2008-11-03T21:27:00.000-08:00

As I've been saying again and again, nothing beats natural. Today, another risk was added to growing number of risks that you can get from radiation therapy. That's why I've always been an advocate of natural healing. There are many choices in curing prostate cancer but there are certain levels of risk that can make you think twice. With natural healing, risks are minimal, if any.

The relative risk of bladder cancer developing after external beam radiotherapy, brachytherapy and external beam radiotherapy-brachytherapy compared to radical prostatectomy was 1.88, 1.52 and 1.85, respectively. This is compared to the general United States population the standardized incidence ratio for bladder cancer developing after radical prostatectomy, external beam radiotherapy, brachytherapy and external beam radiotherapy-brachytherapy was 0.99, 1.42, 1.10 and 1.39, respectively. The relative risk of rectal cancer developing after external beam radiotherapy, brachytherapy and external beam radiotherapy-brachytherapy compared to radical prostatectomy was 1.26, 1.08 and 1.21, respectively. The standardized incidence ratio for rectal cancer developing after radical prostatectomy, external beam radiotherapy, brachytherapy and external beam radiotherapy-brachytherapy was 0.91, 0.99, 0.68 and 0.86, respectively.

Prostate Need-To-Knows

2008-11-02T21:16:00.000-08:00

Unlike the old days when people were somewhat ignorant about prostate cancer, nowadays, it seems like a natural thing. Problem is, as educated as people seem, there are still some who are uninformed. There are also some information you might not know. This article is for you people.

Prostate cancer only occurs in males because it affects the prostate gland, a walnut-sized organism near the bladder and anus in men. Urine is carried through a tube that goes through the prostate, and seminal fluid is affected by the prostate. Consequently, the prostate is quite important in areas of waste elimination and procreation.

Specifically, this typically slow-moving type of cancer (called adenocarcinoma) focuses on cells in the prostate. Gradually, the prostate cancer spreads and is often undetected by the victim or the doctor until it has progressed. However, it’s important to note that prostate cancer can also grow more aggressively. That’s why self-exams are critical.

Like breast self-exams, prostate gland self-exams are relatively simple, but many individuals neglect to perform them. That’s tragic for the 234,460 men who will get cancer this year. (Fortunately, only about 1 in 34 will succumb to their prostate cancer due to recognition of early symptoms or signs of the illness which are “caught” by either the patient or his physician.)

Some of the symptoms include an enlarged prostate and difficulty urinating. Pain may also be present.

Try to do a self test as it is always better to find out earlier. It may give you more options too.

How To Check on your Prostate

2008-10-28T20:06:00.000-07:00

While performing a self-exam on your prostate gland isn’t simple, it could be a lifesaver by catching prostate cancer early. Below are some advice on how to check your prostate.

First, you need to know about the prostate gland. This is a small, walnut-sized object located right behind your rectum wall. Tubes pass through the prostate gland and carry urine and seminal fluid. Thus, the prostate gland is essential for both waste delivery and procreation.

For you to check your prostate, you’ll need to insert a finger into your rectum; however, because the anus walls are so delicate, you must use some kind of lubrication to avoid rupturing them. Finally, it’s recommended that you use some kind of surgical glove because it will allow you to more easily feel the prostate.

If you're a first timer, you may not be able to tell what you’re feeling. Thus, it could be a good idea for you to wait until your next physician’s appointment at which time he or she can walk you through the process.

Another way you can “check” your prostate gland is to be conscious of your bladder and bowel functions. Are you having trouble urinating? Is it difficult to have a bowel movement? Have you noticed blood in your urine, even only on occasion? Have you had trouble getting or maintaining an erection? These can all be signs that something is wrong with your prostate and although that doesn’t necessarily mean you have prostate cancer; an enlarged prostate can cause those concerns, too.

Finally, by being diligent and listening to your body, you can “check up” on your prostate.

Gene Found Activated In 70% Of Prostate Cancer Cases

2008-10-27T20:19:00.000-07:00

Scientists at the George Washington University Medical Center reported that a gene has been found activated in 70% of prostate cancer tumors, the same gene that has been discovered activated in a majority of breast cancer cases.

Significant BP1 immunoreactivity was identified in approximately 70% of prostatic adenocarcinomas, whether the analysis was performed on tissue sections (50 cases) or tissue microarray platforms (123 cases)". The findings compare to "less than 5%" BP1 activity in normal cells. The researchers conclude that "These findings suggest that BP1 is an important upstream factor in the carcinogenic pathway of prostate cancer and that the expression of BP1 may reflect or directly contribute to tumor progression and/or invasion.

New Risk Factor For Prostate Cancer

2008-10-26T19:19:00.000-07:00

An Oxford University-led study has found that the greater the levels of a protein called Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1), the greater the risk of prostate cancer.

IGF-1 levels are influenced by lifestyle factors such as diet, so the study could help in tailoring the advice given to men at high risk of developing prostate cancer.

An international team of researchers, funded by Cancer Research UK, analysed data from 12 previous independent studies on the relationship between blood concentrations of suspected prostate cancer risk factors, and subsequent onset of the disease.

Previously, some but not all studies had suggested a link between IGF-1 levels and increased risk of developing the disease. Research like this is vital to further the work on prevention and treatment of the disease. The findings are also likely to be of interest to scientists who are looking at developing drugs to prevent prostate cancer.

Prostate Cancer Gene Test Provides New Early Detection

2008-10-16T23:02:00.000-07:00

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common male cancers in the Western world. Currently, early detection of PCa depends on an abnormal digital rectal examination and an elevated prostate-specific-antigen (PSA) level requiring a prostate biopsy, often associated with anxiety, discomfort, complications, and heavy expenses.

The prostate-cancer-gene-3 (PCA3) test is a new PCa gene-based marker carried out with a urine sample. PCA3 is highly specific to PCa and has shown promising early detection results at repeat biopsy. It may allow patients to avoid unnecessary biopsies. The PCA3 gene is dominant in over 95% of malignant prostate tissue compared to benign and normal prostate tissue.
Several studies have been done to evaluate the PCA3 assay. In 2007, Marks et al showed that urine PCA3 levels were more accurate than serum PSA measurements for predicting the results of repeat biopsy.

In the October 2008 issue of European Urology, Haese et al took the study by Marks et al even further in their evaluation of the PCA3 assay in a larger population of European men with one or two negative biopsies scheduled for repeat biopsy in order to determine its effectiveness in detecting PCa at repeat biopsy.

The PCA3 score was calculated and compared to biopsy outcome. The diagnostic accuracy of the PCA3 assay was compared to the percentage of free prostate-specific antigen (%fPSA). Most of the PSA that circulates in the serum is attached to larger protein substances, so called 'complexed' PSA. The rest of the PSA is unbound or 'free'. Research suggests that PSA created by prostate cancer is more likely to be the 'complexed' type while non-cancerous or benign PSA is more the 'free' type.

In 463 men, the positive repeat biopsy rate was 28%. The probability of a positive repeat biopsy increases with rising PCA3 scores. The PCA3 score was superior to %fPSA for predicting repeat prostate biopsy outcome and may be indicative of clinical stage and significance of PCa.
The utility of the PCA3 score is independent of the number of previous biopsies, prostate volume, and total PSA.

Too Much Good can be Bad

2008-10-16T00:42:00.000-07:00

Flax seeds:

Negative effect: Increase the risk of prostate cancer

What happens: Its high content of alpha-linolenic acids (ALA) has made the ancient flax seed our modern miracle food, says Gloria Tsang, R.D., of HealthCastle.com. "It offers a vegetarian alternative to provide omega-3 fatty acid and has been shown in many studies to offer heart-healthy benefits by lowering total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad") cholesterol levels. Flax seed may also help lower triglycerides and blood pressure and keep platelets from becoming sticky, thereby reducing the risk of a heart attack," adds Tsang.

However, a few studies have also linked high concentrations of ALA to a higher risk of prostate cancer. Until more is known, men who are not vegetarians are recommended to choose fish sources for heart-healthy omega-3s instead, says Tsang.

How much do you have to eat? As ALA is concentrated in oil form, it's OK for men to eat the actual seeds, but until more studies are done they should completely stay away from the oil form (flax seed oil and flax seed oil pills), says Tsang.

Study Shows How Broccoli Fights Cancer

2008-10-15T01:40:00.000-07:00

Just a few more portions of broccoli each week may protect men from prostate cancer, British researchers reported on Wednesday.

The researchers believe a chemical in the food sparks hundreds of genetic changes, activating some genes that fight cancer and switching off others that fuel tumors, said Richard Mithen, a biologist at Britain's Institute of Food Research.

There is plenty of evidence linking a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables to reduced cancer risk. But the study published in the Public Library of Science journal PLoS One is the first human trial investigating the potential biological mechanism at work, Mithen added in a telephone interview.

"Everybody says eat your vegetables but nobody can tell us why," said Mithen, who led the study. "Our study shows why vegetables are good."

Prostate cancer is the second-leading cancer killer of men after lung cancer. Each year, some 680,000 men worldwide are diagnosed with the disease and about 220,000 will die from it.

Mithen and colleagues split into two groups 24 men with pre-cancerous lesions that increase prostate cancer risk and had them eat four extra servings of either broccoli or peas each week for a year.

The researchers also took tissue samples over the course of the study and found that men who ate broccoli showed hundreds of changes in genes known to play a role in fighting cancer.

The benefit would likely be the same in other cruciferous vegetables that contain a compound called isothiocyanate, including brussel sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, rocket or arugula, watercress and horseradish, they added.

Broccoli, however, has a particularly powerful type of the compound called sulforaphane, which the researchers think gives the green vegetable an extra cancer-fighting kick, Mithen said.

"When people get cancer some genes are switched off and some are switched on," he said. "What broccoli seems to be doing is switching on genes which prevent cancer developing and switching off other ones that help it spread."

The broccoli eaters showed about 400 to 500 of the positive genetic changes with men carrying a gene called GSTM1 enjoying the most benefit. About half the population have the gene, Mithen said.

The researchers did not track the men long enough to see who got cancer but said the findings bolster the idea that just a few more vegetable portions each week can make a big difference.

It is also likely that these vegetables work the same way in other parts of the body and probably protect people against a whole range of cancers, Mithen added.

"You don't need a huge change in your diet," he said. "Just a few more portions makes a big difference."

Meat Increases Risk of Prostate Cancer

2008-10-13T22:58:00.000-07:00

According to a research, eating meat and dairy products may increase the risk of prostate cancer.

Such a diet is said to increase the level of a hormone called Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) which promotes cell growth. A University of Oxford team examined the results of 12 studies, featuring a total of nearly 9,000 men.

They found men with high blood levels of IGF-1 were up to 40% more likely to develop prostate cancer than those with low levels.

IGF-1 plays a key role in the growth and development of children and adolescents.

In adults it continues to regulate cell growth and death, but it can also inhibit the death of cells which have come to the end of their natural life cycle.

Although they are not sure about the degree to which diet influenced IGF-1 levels was unclear.

But he said levels could be up to 15% higher in people who ate a lot of meat and dairy products.

Dr Roddam said: "There is a need to identify risk factors for prostate cancer, especially those which can be targeted by therapy and/or lifestyle changes.

"Now we know this factor is associated with the disease we can start to examine how diet and lifestyle factors can affect its levels and whether changes could reduce a man's risk."

Dr Roddam said raised levels of IGF-1 were likely not only to increase the risk of developing prostate cancer, but also to aid the spread of tumours.

Research shows that cells fed IGF-1 grow much more quickly.

However, Dr Roddam said there was no evidence to suggest that measuring IGF-1 levels could be used to develop a new test to screen for prostate cancer.

They agree that this needs more study before proven to be true but in the meantime, just to be safe, try to eat less meat and dairy products.

More awareness needed to prevent prostate cancer

2008-10-13T01:05:00.000-07:00

According to a prominent urologist, there is a need for greater awareness about it and annual checking for males over the age of 50 years in India.

"Indian tests need to be redefined since men from here are more prone to a more aggressive form of cancer which needs to be detected early," Ashutosh Tiwari, from the Weill Cornell Medical College in New York said.

In western countries, 85 per cent of the cases were detected early whereas in India the same number was detected late due to which the treatment was more challenging, he said.

"In India, there is a lack of awareness among men and there should be greater awareness of the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test which should be done by all men over 50 years at least annually," he said.

The PSA test is a screening process in detecting prostate cancer early and should be encouraged by all doctors since most people don't see urologists periodically, Anil Bradoo, head of the Mumbai Urology Society, said.

Since there are fewer urologists in the country, general practitioners should also encourage the test, he said.

Presently most prostate cancer patients in India are being treated through open surgery due to the high cost of laproscopic and surgery using a robot.

MR Imaging Helps Predict Recurrence In Prostate Cancer Patients

2008-10-09T23:49:00.000-07:00

MR images taken of prostate cancer patients prior to treatment that show that the cancer has spread outside the prostate gland capsule help predict whether the cancer will return, according to a recent study conducted by radiologists at the University of California-San Francisco.

The study consisted of 74 men with biopsy-proven prostate cancer who underwent endorectal MR imaging of the prostate, said Antonio Westphalen, MD, lead author of the study. Tumor size, stage and extracapsular extension (cancer spread outside the prostate gland capsule) were all recorded.

"The study focused on patients who were treated with radiation therapy, more specifically, external beam radiation therapy, which is the treatment of choice of about one-third of patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer," said Dr. Westphalen.

After a follow-up of an average 42 months, four patients developed metastases -- all four had extracapsular extension seen on MR imaging before treatment, Dr. Westphalen said. Three of them had more than 5mm of extracapsular extension at MR imaging, he said.

"The main goal of our study was to identify features on our imaging that would predict treatment failure, perhaps allowing for a more conscientious decision ahead of time. We found that a subset of patients who presented with imaging signs of extracapsular extension prior to radiation were more likely to develop metastases in the future," said Dr. Westphalen.

Adapted from materials provided by American Roentgen Ray Society

What Role Does Nutrition Play In The Prevention Of Prostate Cancer?

2008-10-08T23:42:00.000-07:00

Prostate cancer is the most prevalent type of cancer among men.Fortunately, about 1/3rd of these cancers can be prevented by a good and healthy diet. Dietitians of Canada men to take charge and engage in a lifetime of being physically active, keeping a healthy weight and eating a balanced diet.

According to the Canadian Cancer Society, about 24,700 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2008 and 4,300 will die of it. "While there is more promising research on the effect of individual foods in this area, so far no food or nutrient has been convincingly linked to prevent prostate cancer," indicates Meredith Cushing, RD, reviewer of the DC publication Mostly for Men: Can nutrition play a role in prevention of prostate, bladder or testicular cancer?. "The best way to decrease overall cancer risk is to consume a healthy diet following Canada's Food Guide, maintain a normal body weight and being physically active," she adds.

Kinds of food that you should be eating more of:

Fruits
Veggies
Fish
Nuts
Whole grains
Seeds
Peas
Beans
Lentils

Penn Surgeons Use Completely Robotic Surgery To Treat Prostate Cancer

2008-10-07T19:46:00.000-07:00

One of the most innovative of these treatments is robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (removal of the prostate). The University of Pennsylvania Health System is currently one of only a handful of facilities across the country offering this minimally invasive, high-tech treatment. David I. Lee, M.D., a national expert in robotic surgery, was recruited to Penn and named Chief of the Division of Urology at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where the robotic prostate program is based.

Robotic technology offers a number of advantages during surgery. For instance, the robotic “arms” filter even minute tremors of the human hand so to provide steadiness. The robot’s camera also provides a three-dimensional, stereoscopic image of the body’s interior, as opposed to a two-dimensional image on a flat screen. This improved perspective enables depth perception that sharpens the visualization of the prostate and the network of nerves and tissue surrounding it. Additionally, by scaling down the motion of the robotic instruments, the surgeon can perform extremely precise, intricate movements during the procedure. For example, if the surgeon’s hand moves five centimeters, he/she can scale the robotic hand to move only one centimeter.

Robotic technology also offers a number of advantages after surgery. Because laparoscopic surgery is minimally invasive and no large incisions are involved, robotic-assisted surgery provides numerous benefits for prostate cancer patients, including: less pain and scarring, diminished blood loss, a shorter hospital stay and reduced recovery period for a quicker return to daily activities.

The actual robot consists of a tower that manipulates instruments controlled from a console that is situated a few feet from the patient. At the console, the surgeon operates four robotic “arms” and “wrists” using hand and foot controls. One of the robotic arms holds a tiny video camera, one works as a retractor and the other two replicate the surgeon’s exact hand movements. The camera and instruments are inserted through small keyhole incisions in the patient’s abdomen. The surgeon then directs the robotic instruments to dissect the prostate gland and surrounding tissue.

Unlike standard laparoscopic approaches that require counter-intuitive movements by surgeons (whereby the surgeon must move his hand to the left in order to move the mechanical device to the right), the robotic technology affords surgeons the direct, “intuitive” control they exercise in traditional open surgical procedures, seamlessly translating their natural hand, wrist and finger movements at the console into corresponding micro-movements of laparoscopic surgical instruments inside the patient’s body.

Now this is high tech!

Based on materials provided by University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

Beta Sitosterol Gains Popularity For Natural Alternative In US And Europe For Prostate Problems

2008-10-06T20:21:00.001-07:00

Nowadays, natural health and treatments are the way to go. Used for centuries, natural methods are now seeing another surge in popularity. Men in Europe and the United States have turned to an all natural ingredient called beta sitosterol for relief of enlarged prostate and prostatitis symptoms to avoid prescription drug side effects.

Beta-Sitosterol is a popular natural alternative used for years by men in Europe. Doctors in Europe commonly prescribe natural plant type alternatives to help prostate enlargement and lower urinary tract symptoms. Beta Sitosterol, Saw palmetto, pygeum, and nettle root are common plant-based drugs prescribed to millions of men in Europe.

Men in the US are now following the popular natural remedy to solve their prostate problems, according to the product's makers.

Studies have confirmed that use of beta-sitosterol has helped in alleviating the types of prostate discomfort that aging men so frequently encounter.

Men worry about the side effects taking prescription medicine for prostate problems. They are seeking all natural alternatives like Beta Sitosterol to relieve prostate problems. "Beta-Sitosterol is a natural key ingredient in natural prostate health". Beta-sitosterol is plant sterol found in almost all plants. It is one of the main subcomponents of a group of plant sterols known as phytosterols. It is white in color and waxy in nature. It has a chemical structure that is very similar to cholesterol. High levels of Beta Sitosterol are found in rice bran, wheat germ, corn oils, and soybeans.

Yes, nothing beats natural. It's healthy, safe and best of all, it works.

Cholesterol is Also Bad For The Prostate

2008-10-05T19:34:00.000-07:00

Just when we thought it was bad enough for the heart, we find out now that our prostates are also at risk. Two separate studies from researchers in North Carolina point out an association between cholesterol levels and prostate health risks. In 2007, a retrospective study by the Durham Veteran Affairs Medical Center in North Carolina showed that 1,214 men taking statins to lower their cholesterol also experienced a proportional decline in their levels of prostate-specific antigen, or PSA. As the prostate grows, it secretes an increased amount of PSA into the bloodstream. This new study highlights the fact that cholesterol levels could be associated in some way with prostate cancer development and progression.

Poor cholesterol management may not only affect a man's risk for prostate cancer, but also his risk of biomedical recurrence after prostatectomy, according to new data from Duke University released earlier this year. Researchers identified 471 patients from the Shared Equal Access Regional Cancer Hospital (SEARCH) database who underwent radical prostatectomy between 1998 and 2007 and found that those with a high level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and those with increased serum cholesterol were up to 2.5 times more likely to experience a biochemical relapse.

While the association between high cholesterol and prostate health has been established by these data, the actual causation, researchers point out, is still unknown. However, these studies magnify the fact that being "heart healthy" can help men improve the health of their prostates.

This news gives us all the more reason to change to a more healthier lifestyle. We owe it to ourselves and our families.

Add A Little More Sunshine in your Life to Avoid Prostate Cancer

2008-10-02T17:57:00.000-07:00

A study has revealed that Vitamin D is able to prevent prostate cancer as well as increases the survival rate of prostate cancer patients. This is wonderful because as we all know, we can get Vitamin D for free - from the sun.

“…the cells treated with Vitamin D fared much better. And while the vitamin protects healthy cells, Rebecca Mason’s experiments are showing that Vitamin D has the opposite effect on cancer cells. It kills them.” - Professor Michael Holick.

Leading vitamin D researchers are suggesting that the optimum adult level seems to be 4,000 daily units which is 20 times the government level for those 50 and under. The government says 2,000 is the limit for all ages before side-effects result. The researchers disagree and say amounts considerably above 2,000 units may be warranted when considering the multitude of potential benefits.

Make sure you’re taking D3. If the label says vitamin D2, then it’s not the good kind of vitamin D. So often, you see orange juice or foods that say they’re vitamin D fortified. But many times, those are fortified with D2. Vitamin D has to be taken with fat. Taking a vitamin D pill with orange juice isn’t going to work, it won’t absorb.

Try to get brand-name recommendations. Sadly, many doctors haven’t learned about supplements in medical school, so your doctor may not be able to advise you on that. To find the best brands, do your homework. Either get names of products from people you trust, or go on the Internet and look these supplements up.

Typically, dieticians say the best source of vitamins is through the foods we eat, rather than supplements. But Judy Carr, a registered dietician and certified diabetes educator says the best food sources of vitamin D aren’t necessarily the foods we love. In December, after reading a little more about the vitamin, Carr asked her doctor to include a vitamin D analysis with her routine blood work. She was surprised when her results came back showing her levels were on the low end of normal. “I’m thinking if that’s me, because I don’t have a horrible diet, I can’t imagine what the general population’s is,” Carr says.

Dr. Michael Holick, a leading vitamin D researcher who serves as director of the general clinical research center at Boston University Medical Center, said it’s difficult to get enough vitamin D from food, noting that you’d have to eat a 3½-ounce serving of fish like salmon, mackerel or sardines “almost every day just to begin to satisfy your requirement.”

The NIH agrees. It can be difficult to obtain enough vitamin D from natural food sources. For many people, consuming vitamin D fortified foods and adequate sunlight exposure are essential for maintaining a healthy vitamin D status. In some groups, dietary supplements may be needed to meet the daily need for vitamin D.

A tablespoon of cod-liver oil contains more than 1,300 IUs. Salmon (360 IUs for 3.5 ounces), sardines (250 IUs for 13/4 ounces) and fortified milk (about 100 IUs per serving) are also good sources.

No matter what cancer you have, or are trying to prevent, the real question is should cancer patients be left vitamin D deficient? Many experts will tell you that vitamin D should not be taken for breast cancer or prostate cancer until well controlled scientific studies prove it helps. The problem with that approach is two-fold. First, you may die waiting for the studies to be conducted and two, it misses the point. The point is this: women with breast cancer should not allow themselves to be vitamin D deficient and neither should their doctors.

Finally, I’ve always thought that it’s pretty significant that the parts of the body least exposed to the sun are more likely to experience a malignant melanoma.

But a new look at 528 melanoma victims over five years also found that increased sun exposure led to increased survivability, according to the study led by Marianne Berwick of the department of internal medicine at the University of New Mexico. “It’s totally counterintuitive, and we’re trying to investigate it,” said Berwick, who is doing a similar study of 3,700 melanoma patients worldwide. “It’s really strange, because sunburn seems to be one of the factors associated with improved survival.”

Masturbation May Prevent Prostate Cancer

2008-10-01T18:44:00.000-07:00

A recent study by Australian researchers have found that frequent masturbation may prevent prostate cancer. It is believed that carcinogens build up in the prostate if men do not ejaculate regularly.

The researchers surveyed more than 1,000 men who had developed prostate cancer, and 1,250 men who had not. They found that men who had ejaculated the most between the ages of 20 and 50 were the least likely to get cancer. Men who ejaculated more than five times each week were a third less likely to develop prostate cancer.

Sexual intercourse may have a different effect because of the higher risk of contracting a sexually transmitted disease, which could in turn raise the risk of cancer.

The prostate produces a fluid that is incorporated into ejaculation, which activates sperm and prevents them from sticking together. Studies on animals have shown that carcinogens like 3-methylchloranthrene can be harbored in the prostate. Frequent ejaculation encourages the cancer-inducing fluids to "flush out."

Sounds funny but hey, it might actually work.

Lifestyle and Diet Changes Help Slow Down Prostate Cancer

2008-09-29T17:31:00.000-07:00

The most common cancer in American men, with around 200,000 new cases diagnosed each year and approximately 31,000 deaths each year, prostate cancer is serious and if left untreated, deadly.

Since common methods may actually be adding insult to injury, natural methods are being suggested and adviced. In this case, it's changing your lifestyle and diet to a healthy one. Doing so may help slow the progression of prostate cancer.

It has been noted in studies worldwide that staying within a healthy weight range and eating more plant-based food as opposed to animal products may possibly delay or prevent the development of prostate cancer.

Evidence is mounting that foods rich in vitamin E and the mineral selenium may dramatically decrease both the incidence of prostate cancer and the risk of dying from it.

Men who take those nutritional supplements in certain doses actually suffer less prostate cancer and a lower mortality rate due to prostate cancer.

Researchers recommend that men increase their intake of these vitamins and minerals through whole foods. Seafood, meat and Brazil nuts are good selenium sources, while vegetable oils, sweet potatoes, avocados, and nuts are rich in vitamin E.

Men who consume higher levels of lycopene, a nutrient found in most tomato products, have also been shown to have a lower risk of prostate cancer.

Cancer Spreads Throughout the Body When Using Common Prostate Cancer Treatment

2008-09-28T18:17:00.000-07:00

Based on a recent study, it was found that the more commonly used prostate cancer therapy called, androgen deprivation therapy, may actually cause the cancer to spread to other parts of the body. Because prostate tumor growth is generally stimulated by male sex hormones, androgen deprivation therapy, in which those hormones are suppressed, is often given to patients in order to slow tumor growth.

Prior research has demonstrated that a protein called nestin tends to be produced by prostate cancer that have metastasized to other parts of the body. Nestin does not appear to be produced by cancer cells, however, in cases where the cancer has not spread.

Researchers experimented on androgen-dependent prostate cancer cells in the laboratory. When they cut off the cells' access to androgens, the cells increased their production of nestin.

The researchers then use the technique known as RNA interference to make the cancer cells less able to produce nestin. When the cells were transplanted into the bodies of mice, they were found to be less likely to spread to other locations than unmodified cells were. The nestin-production-hampered cells were also found to have a decreased ability to move through or around other cells when compared with unmodified prostate cancer cells.

No connection was found that the nestin levels had any impact on tumor growth. "What all this suggests is that nestin levels increased when prostate cancer cells are deprived of androgens and may encourage the cells to metastasize," according to one researcher.

Take Care of Your Prostate

2008-09-24T20:39:00.000-07:00

Prostate is a small gland available only in men, situated right underneath of the bladder. It surrounds the urethra just like a collar. Its use is for secreting most of the fluids that are found in the sperm and that help spermatozoids swim easily towards the woman’s uterus.

Just like any other organ in our body, the prostate can get "sick" as well. That's why we have to take care of it too. If not, it can be a cause of pain and discomfort. Fortunately, there are things we can do to help our body avoid prostate affections. Here are a few you can do:

Eat more beans, walnuts, tofu and aliments that are rich in vitamin C and E, zinc and beta-carotene - Doctors recommend men to consume three times a week a fish meal. Their omega-3 acids are good for increasing our immunity and prevent infections.
Eat pumpkin seeds - These seeds contain an important quantity of zinc and phytosterols that protect the prostate. If you want to protect your prostate eat daily 1-2 teaspoons of pumpkin seeds. They are quite delicious and easy to eat.
Tomatoes are also prostate protectors - Their red color, given by lycopene has an important function for our health, not just a decorative effect. Tomatoes decrease the risk of developing prostate cancer! They also ease the BPH symptoms. 2-3 tomatoes a day should help you maintain your prostate integrity for sure.
Try the small palm tree extract - You can find this natural product in capsules named Saw Palmetto Herb Extract. This extract is great for reducing the number of ‘visits’ to the bathroom during the night, it improves the urinary flux and protects prostate in general. You doctor might recommend this treatment for 3 months as the positive effects can only be seen after 2 months of treatment.
Stop smoking - An American study has proven that quitting smoking reduces the symptoms of BPH and also decreases the risk of developing prostate cancer. So think of what is best for you: smoking or your health?
Make love - Due to the fact that the prostate is involved in the semen production process, ejaculation seems to have a therapeutic effect. It is like a special prostate exercise. Not to mention that is benefic for you whole body too.

As you can see, the things you can do to help your body seem pretty easy and some are even pleasurable. So go on, start a healthier life now.

New Way to Predict Cancer Spreading

2008-09-23T17:40:00.000-07:00

One of the leading causes of death for men has been prostate cancer that has spread to a second site or otherwise known as metastatic prostate cancer. Metastasis or the defining of molecular mechanisms by which the initial tumor becomes able to spread to a new site is being used to help clinicians predict an individual's chance of survival and help researchers develop new therapies.

It has been identified that a specific form of the protein KLF6 (KLF6-SV1) is indicative of poor survival in men with prostate cancer. The information in genes is converted into a protein via an intermediate known as mRNA. In the study, analysis of tumors from men with localized prostate cancer who had undergone a prostatectomy revealed that increased levels of an mRNA intermediate involved in the generation of KLF6-SV1 correlated with more rapid disease recurrence and decreased survival.

Consistent with this having an important role in metastasis, prostate cancer cells expressing increased levels of KLF6-SV1 metastasized more rapidly and more often than normal prostate cancer cells in two mouse models of metastatic prostate cancer.

Conversely, decreasing KLF6-SV1 expression in prostate cancer cells decreased tumor growth in mice. The authors therefore suggest that measuring KLF6-SV1 expression levels in prostate cancer tumors at the time of diagnosis might help clinicians predict whether or not the tumor will metastasize and that targeting KLF-SV1 might provide a new avenue for the development of therapeutics to treat individuals with prostate cancer.

This is very wonderful news and hopefully, this study will succeed in order to help more people thwart the threat of prostate cancer.

Broccoli and Other Veggies Lowers Risk of Aggressive Prostate Cancer

2008-09-22T00:10:00.000-07:00

In recent studies, it has been shown that eating veggies like broccoli and cauliflower may actually reduce the risk of developing aggressive prostate cancer. This study fills the gap between observational studies and studies with cell and animal models. While observational studies have shown that diets rich in cruciferous vegetables may reduce the risk of prostate cancer and other chronic disease, they do not provide an explanation of how this occurs. Evidence from animal and cell models has sought to provide an explanation, but these studies are usually based on high doses that would not normally be experienced as part of the diet.

The results of the study suggested that relatively low amounts of cruciferous vegetables in the diet like a few portions per week, can have large effects on gene expression by changing cell signaling pathways. These signaling pathways are the routes by which information is transmitted through a molecular cascade which amplifies the signal to the nucleus of the cell where gene expression occurs.

Although, there is still no explanation for this, it is seen that there can be something good from this. Now a Norwich-based team are looking towards a bigger study on why and how this works. Hopefully, very soon, we will have the right explanation for this. But for now, keep eating your veggies!

Pomegranate Juice: Targeting the Prostate Cancer Cells

2008-09-17T18:45:00.000-07:00

A research in California has found that the trendy beverage also uses a search-and-destroy strategy to target prostate cancer cells. On consumption, ellagitannins (ET), antioxidants abundant in pomegranate juice, break down to metabolites known as urolithins. The researchers showed that the urolithins concentrate at high levels in prostate tissue after being given orally and by injection to mice with prostate cancer. They also showed that urolithins inhibited the growth of human prostate cancer cells in cell culture.

"The chemopreventive potential of pomegranate ellagitannins and localization of their bioactive metabolites in mouse prostate tissue suggest that pomegranate may play a role in prostate cancer treatment and chemoprevention," the researchers state, recommending further clinical studies with pomegranate and prostate cancer patients.

This is wonderful news for patients seeking natural cures. So what are you waiting for? Juice up!

New Urine Test Detects Prostate Cancer Better Than Other Methods

2008-09-15T22:22:00.001-07:00

This is really good news but what is it? How does it work?

It is basically a simple urine test that screens for the presence of four different RNA molecules. In a recent study, it accurately identified 80 percent of patients in a study who were later found to have prostate cancer, and was 61 percent effective in ruling out disease in other study participants.

Compared to the current PSA bloodtest, this is very accurate. "Relative to what is out there, this is the best test so far," said the study's lead author, Arul Chinnaiyan, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Michigan Center for Translational Pathology at the University of Michigan.

Better news is that they're not done yet and that they want to improve on this first generation multiplex biomarket test as they want to develop a test to allow physicians to predict whether their patients have prostate cancer that is so accurate a biopsy won't be needed to rule cancer out. That, so far, has never been done before and is currently unavailable.

I hope they do succeed with this project. This is a truly remarkable invention that can save lives.

Pesticides Can Cause Prostate Cancer

2008-09-10T18:49:00.000-07:00

According to a study, farmers have an unusually high risk of prostate cancer, largely due to their use of certain pesticides. The results confirm previous studies that have found associations between pesticide use and risk of prostate cancer among farmers. Researchers analyzed 55,332 farmers and nursery workers who worked with pesticides in Iowa and North Carolina. Among the participants, 566 new cases of prostate cancer developed between 1993 and 1999, compared to 495 that would normally be expected. Compared to the rest of us, farmers have 14% more greater risk of developing prostate cancer.

Six pesticides, chlorpyrifos, coumaphos, fonofos, phorate, permethrin and butylate, raised the prostate cancer risk in men with a history of the disease, while one pesticide, methyl bromide, raised the risk in all of the men.

The use of pesticides should be lessened or stopped to avoid further exposure. Proper equipment should also be used.

Natural BPH remedies

2008-09-08T18:51:00.000-07:00

We all know that herbal and homeopathic remedies have been used for centuries to treat a number of conditions and the prostate gland is another example that can be soothed by a number of herbal alternatives.

Saw palmetto and Epilobium parviflorum are a good example of herbs that are able to relieve uncomfortable BPH symptoms. There are other herbs that can help in assisting the body’s ability to strengthen the immune system, address testicular tumors, prostate hypertrophy and urinary infections. An extract of the African potato otherwise known as hypoxis rooperi is one that is able to help the body cope with the symptoms of BPH and is extensively used in African traditional medicines.

As a last advice, make sure to always source out your natural medicines from reputable suppliers for maximum safety and peace of mind.

More Risks in Radiation Treatment

2008-09-05T01:23:00.000-07:00

Having radiation treatment for prostate cancer is more costly than it seems.

Recently, a group of doctors have found out that having prostate cancer treated by radiation can actually increase the risk of developing other cancers. Dr. Naeem Bhojani, from the University of Montreal’s Department of Urology, led a group of researchers from Canada, Italy and the United States to gather data on 10,333 men being treated for localized prostate cancer. Of the 10,333 men, 4,137 underwent external beam radiation. It was later determined that undergoing external beam radiation increases the risk of developing bladder cancer by as much as three times.

This is probably a wakeup call for most of us to try and treat prostate cancer naturally.

Prostate Cancer, Glutathione & PCB's

2008-04-09T06:50:00.000-07:00

Recent studies have shown that exposure to PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls, commonly used in coolants, paints, pesticides, adhesives, etc) can lead to a reduction of glutathione levels in the blood. This impact on glutathione can be a major contributing factor to prostate cancer, as well as a host of other common health problems.

High levels of glutathione have been shown to be one of the most important indicators in remaining healthy and avoiding the risks. See our previous article on how whey protein helps increase glutathione levels.

For a free 7 day sample of MaxGXL, a powerful glutathione accelerator, visit: www.7daymaxchallenge.com/ to take the Max challenge!

Caution Advised When Using Hormone Therapy for Prostate Cancer

2008-04-04T13:04:00.000-07:00

In men with localized but aggressive prostate cancer, the combination of testosterone-lowering therapy and radiation improves survival substantially more than radiation therapy alone. Preliminary results show that testosterone-lowering therapy is associated with more diabetes, more heart disease, and earlier heart attacks. However, this hormone therapy does have a significant benefit in curing prostate cancer. For instance, one study of patients with localized but unfavorable prostate cancer found that about 90% of otherwise healthy men who underwent radiation and hormone therapy were still alive after eight years, compared with about 65% of those who had only radiation therapy. The reverse was true among those with moderate or severe health problems in addition to their prostate cancer: only about 25% of those who underwent the combination were still alive, compared with 55% of those who had radiation alone.

Prostate Health Information

2008-04-04T11:44:00.000-07:00

The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system. The prostate makes and stores a component of semen and is located near the bladder and the rectum. The prostate surrounds part of the urethra, the tube that empties urine from the bladder. A healthy prostate is about the size of a walnut. If the prostate grows too large, the flow of urine can be slowed or stopped.

Prostate cancer is found mainly in older men. As men age, the prostate may get bigger and block the urethra or bladder. This may cause difficulty in urination or can interfere with sexual function. The condition is called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and although it is not cancer, surgery may be needed to correct it. The symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia or of other problems in the prostate may be similar to symptoms for prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the prostate.

Men over 50 Men of African descent over the age of 40 Men over the age of 40 with a family history of prostate cancer should consider having an annual screening.

Prostate size now factored into prostate cancer treatment

2008-03-22T09:36:00.001-07:00

Doctors and patients alike may need to consider other previously neglected factors in making decisions regarding prostate cancer treatment. In a recent multi-center study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers found that aside from the patient’s age and the grade of the tumor, factors like prostate size and other previously overlooked side-effects play an important role in determining satisfaction with prostate cancer treatment.

According to the study, previously overlooked factors such as the size of the patient’s prostate and urinary symptoms caused by prostate enlargement are important factors that influences treatment outcome after surgery. Findings from the study suggest for example, that men with larger prostates have a higher overall rate of satisfaction, benefiting more from surgery through improved urination. Hence, according to the study’s lead researcher Martin G. Sanda, MD, “assigning a general treatment or non-treatment based on someone’s age and cancer severity alone is no longer valid”.

The study, which is the first multi-center effort focused on patient satisfaction with overall cancer care, also found that various forms of prostate cancer treatment produces several side-effects – weak or frequent urination and changes in the patient’s energy levels, mood, and weight, which can affect the patient’s quality of life. Moreover, the study also confirmed the belief that cancer treatment had a direct effect on the patient’s partners.

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Soybean-rich diets may halt spread of prostate cancer

2008-03-15T04:59:00.001-07:00

Amidst the controversy surrounding soy, scientists may have found another health benefit from ‘the humble bean’. In a study published on the latest issue of Cancer Research, investigators found that genistein, a compound in soybeans and soy products, almost completely prevented the spread of human prostate cancer in mice, decreasing metastasis to the lungs by 96% compared to mice that didn’t eat the compound. For Raymond C. Bergan, the study’s lead investigator, these results show genistein’s potential as a very promising chemopreventive drug and the growing significance of diet in prostate cancer prevention.

Genistein has been shown to halt the spread of prostate cancer by preventing the detachment of cancer cells from a primary tumor and repressing cell invasion. By feeding it to groups of mice before injecting them with a potent form of prostate cancer, researchers found that while it prevented lung metastasis almost completely, it did not reduce the tumor’s size. Furthermore, genistein-fed mice were also found to have high levels of p38 MAP kinases, a protein which promotes cell migration. Nonetheless, according to Bergan, a closer investigation will show that despite the higher level of p38 MAP kinases, genistein still prevents metastasis by blocking their activation, stopping prostate cancer from spreading.

Despite the findings however, Bergan warns that much is still unknown about genistein, such that until clinical trials prove that men who consume soy-rich diets have a reduced risk for prostate cancer, results are still associative.

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Prostate Cancer promoted by certain hormonal dietary supplements.

2008-02-07T14:33:00.000-08:00

According a recent article on ScienceDaily.com, certain hormonal dietary supplements may promote the progression of Prostate Cancer and even counteract certain prescription drugs developed to treat prostate cancer.
Originally published in a January issue of Clinical Cancer Research, the research suggests that cancer patients, specifically those with Prostate Cancer, should educate themselves on the nutritional supplements that they take and understand all the implications of any prescription medications that they may be considering.
The study also calls for a more interactive role of the physician in supporting the health of their patients.

Vaccine for Prostate Cancer? Effective in mice....

2008-02-04T16:03:00.000-08:00

Research from the University of Southern California indicates that a recently developed a prostate cancer vaccine may prevent Prostate Cancer. Trials showed prevention in the development of cancer in 90 percent of young mice genetically predestined to develop the disease.
The February 1 issue of Cancer Research suggests that the same strategy might work for men with rising levels of PSA (prostate specific antigen), a potential diagnostic indicator of prostate cancer.
As always, nutrition and healthy lifestyle are still the best approach in preventing any health challenges.

Carotenoids linked to lower rate of prostate cancer

2008-01-11T17:43:00.000-08:00

The dietary carotenoid lycopene, which gives tomatoes and watermelon their red color, has been associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer in western countries where the nutrient is often consumed in tomato sauce, pizza and ketchup. The current study, published in the March 1, 2005 issue of the International Journal of Cancer, examined 404 men in southeast China, where dietary patterns differ from those of western countries and the rate of prostate cancer is low.

The researchers found an inverse association between prostate cancer and intake all of the dietary carotenoids examined, which included lycopene, alpha- carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein and zeaxanthin. Tomatoes, pumpkin, spinach, watermelon and citrus fruits were associated with reduced prostate cancer risk.

Subjects whose reported lycopene intake was in the top one-fourth of participants had an 82 percent lower risk of prostate cancer than those whose intake was in the lowest quarter. Men with the highest lutein and zeaxanthin intakes were nearly 100 percent less likely to develop prostate cancer than those whose intake was the lowest.

Results from this study suggest that diets high in vegetables and fruits rich in lycopene and other carotenoids may be protective against prostate cancer.

Whey, glutathione protect against prostate cancer

2007-12-27T16:13:00.000-08:00

In this research article from Ohio State University, scientists explain that whey protein can help protect against prostate cancer. This is achieved by raising the levels of glutathione - the master anti-oxidant in the cell. Cheese is shown not have the same beneficial impact as whey protein, which has the amino acid cysteine, a key ingredient in creating glutathione.

For a free 7 day sample of MaxGXL, a powerful glutathione accelerator, visit: www.7daymaxchallenge.com/ to take the Max challenge!

Antioxidants block prostate cancer

2007-03-20T22:24:00.000-07:00

According to this article on a Nutritional Sciences Blog, a variety of antioxidants have been shown to be effective in blocking prostate cancer. Among them, the following 3 were noted as effective:

vitamin E
selenium
lycopene

The article is based on a study from the journal Cancer Research.

News - Soy, Lycopene & Vitamin E helpful for prostate

2007-03-08T20:30:00.000-08:00

According to this Nutritional Supplements Blog, research is showing that prostate health can be enhanced by the following:

high soy intake (a 14% decline in PSA levels, but no change in testosterone)
Combining Lycopene & Vitamin E (suppressed the tumour growth by 73% and improved mortality rates by a factor of 40%)

Usana Health Sciences

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2007-03-07T09:57:00.000-08:00

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2007-03-07T09:54:00.000-08:00

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Winning the War on Prostate Challenge

2006-07-22T14:27:00.000-07:00

Conclusion
BPH is easily prevented and does not have to be inevitable as men age. The embarrassment and potential health risk can be totally eliminated with the addition of some simple protocols aimed at preventive maintenance. An appropriate age to start preventive maintenance would be any age over 40 years of age. The key is consistent and regular use.
We hope that this site will prove helpful as you strive to educate yourself and maintain optimal health!

Reflexology and the prostate

2006-07-20T07:04:00.000-07:00

Reflexology and the prostate
Reflexology is a health discipline that concentrates on manual stimulation of various reflex points located throughout the body including the feet, ears and hands. Pressure is applied to these areas using thumb, finger and hand methods. These reflex points correspond to body systems and organs located in the body and with stimulation of these various reflex points, increased energy and healing occurs in the affected target areas. In the case of prostate weakness or prostate enlargement, you would concentrate on the reflex points targeting the prostate and various endocrine glands including the pituitary, parathyroid, thyroid and adrenal glands.

In a study performed by the Bauneholm School of Reflexology in Denmark, forty-six participants, (14 aged 40 - 60, 32 aged 60 - 90), received thirteen foot reflexology treatments.

Results showed that :

thirty participants (65%) experienced a reduction in their need to urinate,
thirty-one participants (67%) experienced a better bladder pressure,
thirty-seven (80%) experienced reduced sexual problems, and,
twenty-eight (60%) experienced improvement of their general condition.

It was concluded that reflexology can help prostate problems as improvements were noted in all reported parameters.

Aged Garlic Extract to reduce BPH symptoms

2006-07-18T12:38:00.000-07:00

Aged garlic extract
A specific aged garlic extract (Kastamonu Garlic) has been reported to be successful in reducing symptoms of BPH. Whether it is this specific aged garlic product or if any can be substituted is still unclear.

Dose
The dosage of 1 ml per kilo of body weight per day over 30 days was used with the result of a 32% reduction in prostate size in addition to a significant reduction in urinary symptoms. 35

Durak I, Yilmaz E, Devrim E, et al. Consumption of aqueous garlic extract leads to significant improvement in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer. Nutr Res 2003;23:199–204.

Pumpkin seed oil improves urethra & bladder function (BPH)

2006-07-17T14:21:00.000-07:00

Pumpkin seed oil
Pumpkin seed oil has been used by itself as well as in combination with saw palmetto and in both cases has reported favourable results. 31-34 Furthermore, animal studies have corroborated these effects in that a noticeable improvement of both urethra and urinary bladder function was reported which could account for and decreased symptoms of BPH in humans.
Dose
Pumpkin seed oil extracts standardized for fatty acid content has been used in BPH studies in the amount of 160 mg three times per day with meals.

Carbin BE, Eliasson R. Treatment by Curbicin in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Swed J Biol Med 1989;2:7–9 [in Swedish].
Carbin BE, Larsson B, Lindahl O. Treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia with phytosterols. Br J Urol 1990;66:639–41 [in Swedish].
Schiebel-Schlosser G, Friederich M. Phytotherapy pf BPH with pumpkin seeds—a multicenter clinical trial. Zeits Phytother 1998;19:71–6.
Friederich M, Theurer C, Schiebel-Schlosser G. Prosta Fink Forte capsules in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Multicentric surveillance study in 2245 patients. Forsch Komplementarmed Klass Naturheilkd 2000;7:200–4 [in German].

Nettles to increase urine flow & volume (BPH)

2006-07-15T14:19:00.000-07:00

Nettles
Often contained in formulas including saw palmetto and pygeum, preliminary studies have shown that nettle extract will also work alone to reduce symptoms of BPH such as increasing urinary volume and maximum flow rate of urine. 28, 29, 30
Dose
An appropriate amount appears to be 120 mg of nettle root extract (in capsules or tablets) twice per day or 2 to 4 ml of tincture three times per day.

Koch E, Biber A. Pharmacological effects of sabal and urtica extracts as a basis for a rational medication of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Urologe 1994;334:90–5.
Metzker H, Kieser M, Hölscher U. Efficacy of a combined Sabal-Urtica preparation in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Urologe B 1996;36:292–300.
Safarinejad MR. Urtica dioica for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. J Herb Pharmacother 2005;5:1–11.

Pygeum as a natural prostate (BPH) treatment

2006-07-14T14:16:00.000-07:00

Pygeum
This evergreen bark from an African tree has been approved for use in Germany as an effective treatment for BPH. 27 Three different constituents found in pygeum have been theorized to be responsible for this therapeutic benefit; pentacyclic triterpenoids, which have a diuretic action, phytosterols, which have anti-inflammatory activity, and ferulic esters, which help rid the prostate of any cholesterol deposits that accompany BPH.
Dose
The dose has been as high as 200 mg of pygeum standardized to 13% total sterols.

Andro MC, Riffaud JP. Pygeum africanum extract for the treatment of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia: a review of 25 years of published experience. Curr Ther Res 1995;56:796–817.

2006-07-13T12:46:00.000-07:00

Saw Palmetto
Saw palmetto is a standard medical treatment for BPH utilized by many countries throughout Europe.
The fat soluble extract of saw palmetto berry when used regularly reduces and keeps symptoms in check.
Research suggests that the fat soluble constituents found in saw palmetto berry inhibits an enzyme 5-alpha reductase which in turn converts testosterone to its more active form dyhydrotestosterone (DHT) which in turn binds to prostatic tissue. Interestingly this form of testosterone has also been implicated in male pattern baldness. 23, 24
One European double blind study compared saw palmetto and finasteride, a common pharmaceutical drug used in the treatment BPH. Saw palmetto treated BPH as effectively as the drug with none of the side effects associated with the drug, such as loss of libido. 25, 26
Dose
Many studies have used 320 mg daily of saw palmetto extract standardized to 80 to 95% fatty acids.

Schneider HJ, Honold E, Mashur T. Treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Results of a surveillance study in the practices of urological specialists using a combined plant-base preparation. Fortschr Med 1995;113:37–40.
Koch E, Biber A. Pharmacological effects of sabal and urtica extracts as a basis for a rational medication of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Urologe 1994;334:90–5
Carraro JC, Raynaud JP, Koch G, et al. Comparison of phytotherapy (Permixon®) with finasteride in the treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia: a randomized international study of 1,098 patients. Prostate 1996;29:231–40.
Wilt TJ, Ishani A, Stark G, et al. Saw palmetto extracts for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. A systematic review. JAMA 1998;280:1604–9.

Zinc for natural Prostate health

2006-07-11T14:53:00.000-07:00

Zinc
It is been noted that there is a substantial amount of zinc found in prostate secretions. For this reason it has been suggested that zinc may play a role in normal prostate function.
One human study reported a normalization of prostate size in 74% of cases of BPH with the use of a hundred 150 mg of zinc for two months.
This was repeated in an animal study using smaller doses of zinc in an injectable format.
Large zinc doses affect copper levels in the body so most practitioners suggest taking 2 to 3 mg of copper along with zinc.

Bush IM, Berman E, Nourkayhan S, et al. Zinc and the prostate. Presented at the annual meeting of the American Medical Association Chicago, 1974.
Fahim MS, Fahim Z, Der R, Harman J. Zinc treatment for reduction of hyperplasia of prostate. Fed Proc 1976;35(3):361.

EFAs (Essential Fatty Acids) for Enlarged Prostate

2006-07-10T14:52:00.000-07:00

EFAs (Essential Fatty Acids)
Essential fatty acid use for enlarged prostate problems has been used since 1941. In this early study, it was reported that all 19 men with BPH included in the small study had positive effects with the use of EFAs. All 19 men reported a reduction in the amount of retained urine and 69% of the participants had a dramatic reduction in night time urination with 18 of the 19 men reporting a reduction in dribbling. 20
Along with this reduction in apparent symptoms, all men also reported improved libido and a reduction in the size of the prostate were also noted on physical examination. As this study was not a double blind study, the placebo effect cannot be ruled out as a possible reason for these positive reactions.
The dosage used was one tablespoon of flaxseed oil daily taken over several months. We now know that essential fatty acids play significant roles in overall inflammatory actions found throughout body. This could be part of the reason why positive effects were reported.
As increased vitamin E levels are needed whenever essential fatty acids are used, many practitioners suggest the use of 200 IU of a mixed vitamin E.

Hart JP, Cooper WL. Vitamin F in the treatment of prostatic hypertrophy. Report Number 1, Lee Foundation for Nutritional Research, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1941.

Amino acid mixture for BPH treatment & prostate health

2006-07-08T14:49:00.000-07:00

Amino acid mixture
A mixture of alanine, glutamic acid and glycine has been studied as a possible treatment for BPH with surprising results. After three months of regular use a dosage ranging between 760 mg initially to 380 mg three times per day after the first 2 weeks, 50% of the participants in the study reported it reduced urgency or frequency with less delay starting the urine flow. This translates to a reduction in prostate size and increased urinary function. Although it is not known how the amino acid combination works, it obviously is believed to reduce the amount of swelling in prostate tissue. 18, 19

Damrau F. Benign prostatic hypertrophy: amino acid therapy for symptomatic relief. J Am Geriatr Soc 1962;10:426–30.
Feinblatt HM, Gant JC. Palliative treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy: value of glycine, alanine, glutamic acid combination. J Maine Med Assoc 1958;46:99–102.

Rye Pollen - Natural Supplement for Prostate Health

2006-07-07T14:43:00.000-07:00

Rye Pollen
A specific proprietary product, Cernilton ®, has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties, to relax the muscles that surround the urethra, and to inhibit growth of prostate cells with the end result of dramatically decreased symptoms of the BPH. 5-17
One double blind human trial reported dramatically reduced symptoms in 78% of people with uncomplicated prostatitis as well as BPH.
Dose used in the studies was 3 tablets or 4 capsules daily.

Loschen G, Ebeling L. Inhibition of arachidonic acid cascade by extract of rye pollen. Arzneimittelforschung 1991;41:162–7 [in German].
Nakase K, Takenaga K, Hamanaka T, et al. Inhibitory effect and synergism of cernitin pollen extract on the urethral smooth muscle and diaphragm of the rat. Nippon Yakurigaku Zasshi 1988 Jun;91:385–92 [in Japanese].
Habib FK, Ross M, Buck AC, et al. In vitro evaluation of the pollen extract, cernitin T-60, in the regulation of prostate cell growth. Br J Urol 1990;66:393–7.
Jodai A, Maruta N, Shimomae E, et al. A long-term therapeutic experience with Cernilton in chronic prostatitis. Hinyokika Kiyo 1988;34:561–8 [in Japanese].
Ohkoshi M, Kawamura N, Nagakubo I. Clinical evaluation of Cernilton in chronic prostatitis. Jpn J Clin Urol 1967;21:73–6.
Suzuki T, Kurokawa K, Mashimo T, et al. Clinical effect of Cernilton in chronic prostatitis. Hinyokika Kiyo 1992;38:489–94 [in Japanese].
Rugendorff EW, Weidner W, Ebeling L, et al. Results of treatment with pollen extract (Cernilton N) in chronic prostatitis and prostatodynia. Br J Urol 1993;71:433–8.
Horii A, Iwai S, Maekawa M, Tsujita M. Clinical evaluation of Cernilton in the treatment of the benign prostatic hypertrophy. Hinyokika Kiyo 1985;31:739–46 [in Japanese].
Ueda K, Jinno H, Tsujimura S. Clinical evaluation of Cernilton® on benign prostatic hyperplasia. Hinyokika Kiyo 1985;31:187–91 [in Japanese].
Hayashi J, Mitsui H, Yamakawa G, et al. Clinical evaluation of Cernilton in benign prostatic hypertrophy. Hinyokika Kiyo 1986;32:135–41 [in Japanese].
Becker H, Ebeling L. Conservative therapy of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) with Cernilton. Urologe (B) 1988;28:301–6 [in German].
Buck AC, Cox R, Rees RW, et al. Treatment of outflow tract obstruction due to benign prostatic hyperplasia with the pollen extract, cernilton. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Br J Urol 1990;66:398–404.
Maekawa M, Kishimoto T, Yasumoto R, et al. [Clinical evaluation of Cernilton on benign prostatic hypertrophy—a multiple center double-blind study with Paraprost]. Hinyokika Kiyo 1990;36:495–516 [in Japanese].

Beta -sitosterol for Prostate health (BPH)

2006-07-06T14:42:00.000-07:00

Beta -sitosterol
One of the more effective methods of treatment is beta-sitosterol. Double blind human studies have showed positive results in increased improvement in urinary flow and other symptoms associated with BPH. 2, 3, 4
Good dietary sources of this plant sterol include; rice bran, wheat germ and corn oil, soybeans, peanuts, peanut butter and peanut flour.
The therapeutic dose is between 60 and 130 mg daily.

Berges RR, Windeler J, Trampisch HJ, et al. Randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial of beta-sitosterol in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Lancet 1995;345:1529-32.
Kiriakidis S, Stathi S, Jha HC, et al. Fatty acid esters of sitosterol 3-glucoside from soybeans and tempeh (fermented soybeans) as antiproliferative substances. J Clin Biochem Nutr 1997;22:139-47.
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