Six (6) Ways To Protect Yourself Against Prostate Cancer!

How Every Male of 40yrs plus Can Drastically Reduce the Odds Of Falling Victim To This Deadly Male Disease”

Did you know that “Prostate Cancer” is the #1 form of cancers among men? Around the world, it is the second highest cause of cancer deaths among men, after lungs cancer. Although there are symptoms generally associated with prostate problems, yet the fact that prostate cancer can sometimes remain dormant and undetected for many years until it is at advanced stages, is what makes it even more deadly. Not many realise that prostate cancer awareness should be much of a priority attention to every adult male as breast cancer awareness is to every woman. The good news however is, there’s a lot you can actually do to practically protect yourself against risks associated with Prostate Cancer. Here are six practical steps you can begin to implement from today:

1.Limit Your Exposure to Radiation or Heat. Radiation or excessive Heat around the groin has been found to have contributed to higher risk of prostate cancer in the past. One of the practical ways of reducing your exposure to radiations which are directly linked with your prostate is to avoid keeping mobile phones in your side pockets. Also,you may want to desist from the habit of working on your laptop from your lap. Hey, the fact that it is called laptop doesn’t mean we have to literally work on it from our laps. Funny but not so funny! Regarding excessive heat around the groin, you can help by doing a few things like; wearing loose pants, going to bed without under-pants, etc. And if you do long distance driving regularly you need to take extra precaution.

2. A Correct Diet of Fruits & Vegetables Uniquely, prostate cancer is one of the few forms of cancer that has a known fruit extract as a direct anti-agent. The anti-prostate-cancer agent known as carotenoid which is widely present in specific red fruits such as red tomatoes and large melons has made it mandatory for every matured male to form the habit of consuming these fruits, regularly.

3. Reduce Your Stress Levels Every matured male knows of how high levels of Stress affect libido and sexual activities. But what most men don’t realise is the fact that while these outward effects can be seen on the outside there’s an equal damage to your prostate cells from the inside. Practically, you could engage in some stress relieving activities; such as light exercise, therapy, dancing, massage, etc; something capable of bringing down your stress levels. *Above all, get your Doctor involved in your the health of your prostate.

4. A Family History of Prostate Cancer Risk How well do you know about your extended family background history on the risk of Prostate Cancer? Men with one or more first-degree relatives (father, brother, or son) diagnosed with prostate cancer have an increased risk of the disease. If unfortunately you could trace any form of prostate cancer scare to any close family member either lately or somewhere in the past, that’s a wakeup call to take prompt preventive actions

5. PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) Test This is a known periodic test carried out by your General Practitioner to make sure you have not started to develop cancer of the prostate. In countries like USA and the UK, this test is widely available. For those in the UK you would have to ask for PSA test from your GP in order to get one. Most people run scare because of the internal probe involved.

6.A Daily Programme of Consuming 10mg of Premium LYCOPENE for at least 30Days, Every 3Months. In my opinion, this is not optional; this is mandatory for every male of 40yrs and above. Scientists have shown in a study that the powerful antioxidant known as Lycopene kills prostate cancer cells by targeting the male hormone androgen. Recently, they discovered that Lycopene also targets androgens even in healthy prostate tissues, suggesting that it not only fights prostate cancer-cells but also reduces the risk of developing the disease in the first place. LYCOPENE intake is a very effective way of supplementing your daily tomatoes requirement.

The Connection Between Resveratrol and Prostate Cancer

Are you or do you know someone who is facing prostate cancer? Even though cancer is still a deadly disease it is not as frightening as it once was. There are many survivors of cancer. I know several survivors of prostate cancer and reading the research on resveratrol and prostate cancer gives me hope that if my husband, brothers or other loved ones get prostate cancer they too will live through it.

Resveratrol is a phytochemical contained in red grapes. This substance has been shown to inhibit prostate cancer cell growth, partly because of its antioxidant properties from the phytochemicals.

Further resveratrol prostate cancer research shows a diet high in phytochemicals in Asian men may attribute to the low risk of developing prostate cancer. Eating a diet rich with plant based foods helps to prevent cancer. Men with family members who have had prostate cancer should be kept well informed of the relationship between resveratrol and prostate cancer, so they can help stop the cancer before it begins or stop its growth if they already have it.

Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham have discovered in their resveratrol prostate cancer study that when male mice were fed resveratrol they showed an 87 percent reduction in their risk of developing prostate tumors that contained the worst kind of cancer.

You may ask how is this resveratrol prostate cancer research applicable to humans? The amount of resveratrol, used in the study with the mice would be equivalent to the amount found in one bottle of red wine. I am by no means suggesting you go out and drink a bottle of red wine. That would not be beneficial to your health at all.

The best way to get the amount of resveratrol you need is by taking a dietary supplement that contains the extract. I take a nutritional supplement that contains this cancer-fighting ingredient. It also contains other great substance like CoQ10 and ginkgo biloba along with essential vitamins and minerals.

So if you or a loved one wants to take advantage of the resveratrol and prostate cancer connection, check out my web site to find this great supplement. There is also a lot of information about nutritional supplements on there. Do it today. Reading all you can about maintaining good health or improving not so good health is the best thing you can do for yourself.

Elizabeth Ruby is passionate about good health and is a firm believer in taking quality nutritional supplements. Check out her web site at http://www.your-natural-supplements-site.info/ to find out more about good healthy supplements and which one she feels delivers the best totally balanced supplement on the market today.

How Did Chuck Kinsey Cure His Grade 3 Prostate Cancer

Last summer Chuck first discovered that he might have a problem when he got turned down for life insurance. Sure enough, a biopsy confirmed that he had cancer. His prostate had swelled up bigger than a baseball.

Chuck decided not to have surgery at least until January when his insurance would change. In November, he started following a recipe I came up with to cure my own stage 4 cancer 10 years ago.

When January arrived, his urologist examined him again and found that his prostate had shrunk quite a bit – down to the size of a small plum, according to his doctor.

His PSA score improved to 3.1 from a high of 5.8. His free PSA improved some as well, climbing from a paltry 12% to 21%…27% to 100% is considered normal.

His doctor was intrigued, telling Chuck he would be following his case closely, and took Chuck into his office to look up the hubpage where Chuck saw the recipe.

The recipe was simple. A habaneros pepper and two cloves of garlic plus an oil. In Chuck’s case, he used emulsified cod liver oil. Others might need evening primrose oil instead.

Chuck ate the recipe twice a day. I ate it once a day.

Chuck had another biopsy last Monday (March 2), on Thursday his report said he had no malignant tissue….he was cancer free. While there have been some tremendous improvements in other people with cancer who are eating the recipe…some more dramatic than Chuck’s…Chuck is the first who has a “before” and “after” biopsy confirming a cure.

When Chuck received the biopsy report, the doctor included an unusual note above his name, “Wow. I’m going to go get some more hot sauce.”

That’s probably the first time a note of that nature has ever appeared on a biospy report. But it might not be the last.

How To Deal With Prostate Cancer

Prostate Cancer, which is the second leading cause of death in men, often brings scare even to the toughest men around. This type of cancer slowly develops in the prostate though there are cases of aggressive growth of cancer cells in some individuals. When someone is diagnosed of prostate cancer, he initially sees himself dying anytime soon. Worries, fears and uncertainties envelope patients diagnosed with this type of cancer. Nevertheless, it is not just the patient who is always affected. Those who are closest to them such as their spouse, children and loved ones share the same emotions. How do you go on living as a prostate cancer patient?

In Psychology, there is this well-known five stages of grief or the Kbler-Ross model. It describes the stages people go through to deal with grief or tragedy in their lives like being diagnosed with terminal illness such as Prostate Cancer.

Denial: Once you heard the news from your doctor, it does not sink in to you completely. Your first defense is to convince yourself you are doing fine and that there were no symptoms at all, you follow a very strict diet and even exercise a lot, how sure are the doctors it is prostate cancer?

Anger: When you start to embrace what are real, feelings of denial is replaced by anger. You started to think life is not fair. You try to find something or someone to blame for your condition. You resent people who are doing better than you are. Jealousy overwhelms your emotions thinking why other people can live happily and plan for their lives while you wait for your time to succumb to your disease.

Bargain: After some time, you surrender, let go of anger and embrace hope. You start to bargain. It is like saying, “just give me more time to do the things I need to do for my loved ones then I can go in peace”. A little extension of your life will suffice the pain you are going through just to see loved ones are doing alright before you leave.

Depression: When hope is loss, prostate cancer patients start to feel depress. Knowing how certain death could be, a patient will disconnect from anyone or anything that is significant to him. It is important that loved ones continue to give emotional support to cheer patients up regardless of how hard it can be.

Acceptance: The last stage, which is acceptance, takes time to embrace. There are times it never happens. This is the moment where someone embraces his fate. He lets go of all worries, anger and grief. This may be is the hardest part of all but it releases prostate cancer or any patient with terminal illness of physiological and emotional pain. It makes things easier to bear.

These stages may not necessarily come in order when dealing with prostate cancer. It is something that is not to be rushed or pushed as each individual is to his own. There are incidents when people start to accept, the power of the mind work its way to the body. This is when miracles happen that even the most advanced technology or well trained doctors could not explain.

Prostate Cancer

Copyright 2006 Radoslaw Pilarski

Etiology

Etiology of prostate cancer development is not completely known. Factors that can influence the creation and development of this type of cancer include:

genetic factors increase in risk of falling ill among men with a positive family history regarding the prostate cancer. Mutations of suppressor genes are also taken into consideration (p53)

dietetic factors food rich in saturated fatty acids probably increases the risk of falling ill whereas the consumption of soya and rice may have a beneficial protective effect racial and geographical factors Afro-Americans are 100% more likely to fall ill, whereas the lowest death rate is reported in Japan and in China

occupational factors cancerogenous influence of heavy metals and toxins infectious factors viral infection may lead to/ be the cause of anaplasia of adenocyte cells of prostate

Histopathologically, 95% prostate cancer cases occur in the form of adenocarcinoma. Other types (primary intracellular cancer, squamous carcinoma, anaplastic carcinoma, and sarcoma) are rarely met. Adenocarcinoma usually develops in the peripheral area of the prostate (85%), in the transition area (25% ) and in the central area (5%).

Symptoms

In symptomatology of the prostate cancer, 4 clinical forms are distinguished:

1) visible form with distinct pathological symptoms 2) latent form (carcinoma latens) with no distinct pathological symptoms found 3) hidden form (ca occultum) which is detected in the case of distinct ailments caused by the existence of remote metastases, however changes in prostate are not found in the course of per rectum examination 4) accidentally detected form – based on histopathological test of the gland that was removed because of prostate overgrowth, or based on biochemical tests (PSA) During the development of prostate cancer, an induction phase that lasts about 30 years which is clinically invisible can be distinguished. During the next stage – in situ phase (5-10 years) and invasive phase (1 year), ailments connected with the local growth of tumour start to appear. During this period, symptoms connected with sub bladder obstacle appear including mainly: – pallakiuria – nycturia – weak urine stream – painful vesical tenesmus – impression of incompletion of bladder emptying The above-mentioned symptoms are typical of cancer and in some cases they may suggest mild overgrowth of prostate, or neurogenic or athermatous bladder disorders. During the dissemination phase (about 5 years), prostate cancer develops continuously infiltrating surrounding organs, such as: urinary bladder, rectum, ureters, pelvic walls and leading to urinary retention in kidneys and to secondary failure of function. Ailments typical for this period include: – haematuria – dysuria – urinary incontinence – erection disorders – aches of perineum, lumbar area and anus – haematospermia Metastases spread through the lymphatic vessels and the vascular system. Symptoms caused by the existence of remote metastases are as follows: – osteodynia and pathological fractures – pressure symptoms and spinal paralysis – lymphadema of limbs – clotting disorders – cachexy – coma

DIAGNOSTICS

In order to diagnose the prostate cancer, patient should undergo per rectum tests (DRE), PSA concentration (prostate specific antigen) in blood serum should be determined, ultrasonography per rectum examination (TRUS – transrectal ultrasound) should be done and if there is a suspicion of prostate cancer, histopathological test of the material obtained through a per rectum thick-needle biopsy done under the ultrasound control should take place. Histopathological test is the only test that confirms the presence of cancerous cells in the prostate gland area. DRE, which is an examination of sensitivity of 80% sensitivity and of specificity of 60%, enables to seize changes in the area of the prostate such as consistency change, palpable nodules and hardenings. It is the base for sending a patient to a diagnostic biopsy. At present, it is believed that cytological diagnosis achieved through a fine-needle biopsy is not sufficient to make a right diagnosis. It results from the fact that the assessment according to Gleasons classification is an important prognostic factor for the prostate cancer (see: prognostic factors). That is why a thick-needle biopsy is performed. Ultrasound use enables to take precise samples from suspicious foci. If there are no changes in TRUS picture, “sextant biopsy” is done (samples got for several places).

Recommendations for the biopsy of prostate gland: 1) palpable suspicion of the prostate cancer 2) PSA value over 15ng/ml regardless of DRE or TRUS tests 3) PSA value between 4 and 15 ng/ml with abnormalities detected during DRE or TRUS tests 4) PSA value exceeds the norm for a given age in the case of a positive family history regarding the prostate cancer

Recommendations for TRUS: 1) PSA between 4 and 12 ng/ml with abnormalities detected 2) questionable result of DRE test 3) necessity of a thick-needle biopsy Other diagnostic tests, such as CT and urography are not routinely performed because their value is questionable as far as the assessment of local stage and invasion of adjacent lymph nodes is concerned. Nowadays, magnetic resonance tomography done using transrectal coli (endorectal coil MRI – ERMR) to observe the prostate arouses great interest. Despite the increased sensitivity of the degree of the local stage, costs of the test do not allow for its routine use in the prostate cancer diagnosis. Scintigraphy of the skeleton is the most sensitive test (97%) in bone metastases detection. It is assumed that a patient with PSA under 10 ng/ml does not undergo scintigraphy because the probability of metastases is low.

Screening:

Screening: It is recommended that patients aged over 50 should undergo per rectum tests and PSA level tests every year.

PROGNOSTIC FACTORS:

Three groups of prognostic factors can be distinguished in the case of the prostate cancer:

1) development stage according to TNM 2) differentiation degree of the cancer based on the classification of Gleason and Mostofi 3) PSA level (prostate-specific antigen) in serum TNM classification

Preoperative assessment of the stage of the prostate cancer is made based on the above-mentioned tests.

T-stage: primary tumour

Tx – primary tumour cannot be assessed T0 – no evidence of primary tumour T1 – clinically unapparent tumour; not palpable or visible by per rectum imaging T1a – incidental tumour found in histopathological tests after transurethral resection of the prostate or after operational adenectomy: found in 5% or less resected tissue T1b – as above; found in more than 5% resected tissue T1c – tumour identified histopathologically by a needle biopsy (because of high PSA) T2 – tumour confined within the prostate gland T2a – tumour involves less than half of one lobe T2b – tumour involves more than half of one lobe only T2c – tumour involves both lobes T3 – tumour extends through the prostatic capsule T3a – extracapsular extensions (unilateral) T3b – extracapsular extensions (bilateral) T3c – tumour invades seminal vesicles T4 – tumour is fixed, invades adjacent structures other than seminal vesicles T4a – tumour invades bladder neck and/or external sphincter and/or rectum T4b – tumour invades levator muscles and/or pelvic wall N-stage: regional lymph nodes

Nx – regional lymph nodes cannot be assessed N0 – no regional lymph node metastases N1 – metastasis to a single regional lymph node with the diameter under 2cm N2 – metastasis to a single regional lymph node with the diameter > 2cm but

Mx – remote metastasis cannot be assessed M0 – no remote metastases M1 – remote metastases M1a – non-regional lymph nodes M1b – bones M1c – other sites According to Whitmor-Catalon classification, grades A, B, C, and D correspond to T1, T2, T3 and T4 of TNM classification respectively.

Degree of cancer differentiation:

Degree of differentiation is defined according to 2 classifications: by Mostofi and by Gleason.

Mostofis classification uses a 3-grade assessment of differentiation dependent on the degree of cell anaplasia grading (G1-G3). The higher grade, the lower differentiation of cancer tissue, the greater atypy and at the same time, malignancy. In the case of a 10-grade Gleason system, the two extreme histological images in the preparation are assessed and then, added to produce a final grade.

PSA is a proteolyctic enzyme responsible for sperm melting. It is mainly produced by glandular epithelium, it might be also produced in organs such as salivary glands, pancreas and mammary gland and by clear cell carcinoma. Commonly used norm is the following: 0-4 ng/ml. Such concentration of PSA is found among 97% of men over 40. The level over 12 ng/ml is always connected with pathology. Difficulties with diagnosis are found among patients who have this level between 5-10 ng/ml because it may both stem from the prostate cancer or a mild overgrowth of the prostate, which causes the necessity of diagnostic methods use, such as TRUS. This test makes it possible to determine PSA density (PSAD – PSA density) – PSA concentration converted to prostate volume unit. It should be under 0.15 ng/ml/g. In the case of prostate cancer differentiation and mild overgrowth of prostate, free to total PSA (PSA F/T) is used. If it is over 20%, one may assume the presence of cancerous cells in the gland. PSA level does not correlate well enough with the natural development of the prostate cancer. However, it is useful as a prognostic factor after the treatment applied and in prognosis determination. However, high final levels indicate low survival rate.

TREATMENT

Proceeding strategy in patients with the prostate cancer depends on the degree of histological malignancy, the degree of local stage of development, coexisting diseases and age of a patient. There are many controversies as far as the choice of treatment is concerned. Radical treatment is possible in T1, T2 and N0 and Mo stages. In advanced cases (T3, T4, N-+, M-+), the procedure is restricted to delay the cancer progression and mitigate its effects (palliative treatment).

Surgery treatment – radical prostatectomy

The surgery consists in the prostate gland removal together with spermatic vesicles and adjacent tissues. Surgery is done through retropubic, transcoccgeal, perineal approach or through laparoscopy. Lymphadenectomy constitutes an integral part of the surgery. If the approach makes it impossible to remove the gland and lymph nodes (perineal approach) at the same time, a separate surgery is carried out. It precedes the operation proper. It is believed that cancerous cells found in the removed lymph nodes are the reason why prostatectomy cannot be performed. Invasion of lymph nodes to a certain extent suggests PSA level over 40ng/ml together with grade >7 in Gleasons scale.

Recommendations for surgery:

1) cancer limited to the prostate gland (T1BN0M0Gx – T2N0M0Gx, T1AN0M0G3) 2) predictable life span over 10 years 3) consent of a patient If positive chirurgical margins, capsule infiltration or cancerous changes in the removed lymph nodes are found in postoperative microscopic assessment, the prognosis is worse such patients are qualified for palliative treatment. The death rate in the postoperative period does not exceed 5%. Intraoperative complications first of all include: bleeding from Santorinis plexus, damage of rectum wall, underpinning of ureter. Early complications after surgery: thrombotic and embolic complications (phlebothrombosis 3-12%, lung embolism 2-5%) and lymphocele. Late postoperative complications after prostatectomy include: urinary incontinence, erection disorders and narrowing of urethro-vesicular junction).

Radiotherapy

Apart from radical prostatectomy, radiotherapy is an effective method of treatment for patients with regional advanced prostate cancer. In radical treatment, the most frequently done using radiation from external sources, the dose of 50-70 Gy in fractions continuing over 5-7 weeks are given. T1ABC – T2ABCG1 and T1ABCG2 stages require radiation limited to the prostate. In other cases, area that is radiated includes adjacent lymph nodes as well. In recent years, multidimensional imaging with CT (3D conformal radiotherapy) is used in the treatment planning.

Brachytherapy constitutes another method that is used.

Recommendations for radical radiotherapy of the prostate:

1) prostate cancer confined with the organ 2) sufficiently long predictable survival span 3) no disorders in lower urinary tract 4) no disorders in rectum and colon 5) consent of patient to carry out treatment 6) early complications of radiation energy treatment (30% of patients) include dysuria, haematuria, diarrhoea, rectal tenesmus, inflammation of large intestine and rectum. Among later complications (11% of patients) chronic diarrhea, ulceration of rectum, bladder neck stenosis and intestinal fistula stenosis are observed.

Control of patients after radical prostatectomy and radical radiotherapy:

– per rectum test, PSA level in blood serum each 3 months. PSA level should be lower than 1 ng/ml (after radical prostatectomy it should be near to 0). Increase over 0.5 ng/ml within a year means failure of radiotherapy. Hormonotherapy

Hormonal therapy is mainly used as palliative treatment in advanced prostate cancer. It makes it possible to stop symptoms of the disease for some time and then, further progression of the disease takes place. Nowadays, the use of therapy in pulsation system is considered as it delays the development of hormone-resistant cell clones.

Ways of hormonal treatment include: 1) surgery castration (orchidectomy) 2) anti-androgens a) non-steroid b) steroid 3) analogues LH-RH 4) oestrogens, progestogens, inhibitors of androgens synthetase Hormonotherapy by analogues LH-RH is also recommended before planned radical radiotherapy. In the case of hormone-resistant cancer, treatment with combined cytoctatic and hormone (estramustine), however without significant effects.

PROGNOSIS

Prognosis depends on the development stage, degree of differentiation and PSA level (see: prognostic factors).

In T1A, B stage prognosis is good. 10-years survival 35-80%, death rate of the cancer 7-30%. In T2 stage, overall survival equals 34-85%, death rate equals 8-26%. In T3 stage, among patients who undergo non-invasive treatment for 9 years, overall death rate equalled 63%, from cancer 30%. Depending on the degree of cancer differentiation, 10-year survival of patients is the following: for cells well differentiated – 81%, for cells moderately differentiated – 58% and for cells poorly differentiated – 26%.