Prostate cancer has become the stumbling block among American men to enjoying a quality life. Almost all of these men who have retired from their work wanted to relish the fruit of their labor for so many years, however their desire to make the most of their remaining years and their pension has been set aside because many of them if not all suffer from prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer is caused when abnormal cells begin to attack the prostate and other tissue near it. The abnormal cell in due time will form a mass or tumor. The type of tumor that can badly affect the prostate is the malignant. When malignant cells manifest in the prostate region, the affected man will begin to feel the symptoms of the disease.
The symptoms common among men who are living with prostate cancer are unusual urge to frequently urinate, trouble in making the first stream of urine, burning sensation, and painful urination. Other symptoms include pain at the pelvic area down to the lower back but not beyond the upper thighs, presence of blood in urine and semen.
When a patient is diagnosed to be positive of cancer through a combination of tests like digital rectal exam, prostate-specific antigen test, and transurethral ultrasound, the doctor may present to the patient the different prostate cancer treatments.
Speaking of prostate cancer treatment, cryotherapy will surely be in the list. Cryotherapy is a medical procedure that uses cryogenic substance in inhibiting cancer cells from developing. The process uses a needle inserted to the perineum (the skin that connects the anus and the scrotum). The needle is attached to a machine containing cryogenic substance. Once the needle is inserted, tiny ice balls will be released to the prostate, thus freezing the cancer cells and the prostate.
Another cancer treatment is brachytherapy. This procedure utilizes seed implants that can emit radioactive rays. These seed implants that have the same size of rice grains are implanted to the prostate using a special needle that will contain the seeds. The needle is inserted in the same way with cryotherapy. The doctor will insert a finger to the rectum to feel the prostate and make sure that the seed implants are placed properly and securely. This method works in the same way as radiotherapy, in this case the radiation is coming from within.
Radical prostatectomy is considered a major surgery in prostrate treatment. The aim of the procedure is to remove the prostate to avoid further damage to other organs proximate to the prostate.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
Prostate cancer treatment guidelines updated
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network has announced that it has updated its practice guidelines for physicians to stress active surveillance rather than treatment for many men with low-risk prostate cancer.
Roswell Park Cancer Institute played a key role in the new recommendations, with three physicians serving on the network’s 23-member guideline panel, including Dr. James Mohler, who led the group.
A big change in the guidelines is the recommendation for active surveillance instead of treatment for men with very-low- risk prostate cancer and a life expectancy estimated at less than 20 years, and for men with low-risk prostate cancer and a life expectancy of less than 10 years.
The very-low-risk category is new and represents patients with what’s considered “insignificant” prostate cancer.
The new guidelines reflect the debate in medical circles over what is the most appropriate action to take with early-stage prostate cancer.
Roswell Park Cancer Institute played a key role in the new recommendations, with three physicians serving on the network’s 23-member guideline panel, including Dr. James Mohler, who led the group.
A big change in the guidelines is the recommendation for active surveillance instead of treatment for men with very-low- risk prostate cancer and a life expectancy estimated at less than 20 years, and for men with low-risk prostate cancer and a life expectancy of less than 10 years.
The very-low-risk category is new and represents patients with what’s considered “insignificant” prostate cancer.
The new guidelines reflect the debate in medical circles over what is the most appropriate action to take with early-stage prostate cancer.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Heavy Drinking Poses Prostate Cancer Risk
Aggressive tumours are more likely to occur in men who have more than four drinks a day at least five times a week.
Men who drink heavily may be raising their risk of developing prostate cancer, researchers said in a recent study.
In addition, the study found that the drug finasteride, which can help lower a man’s risk of the disease, appears to be unable to undo the damage of heavy drinking.
The findings come from a clinical trial which looked at whether finasteride lowered the risk of prostate cancer in nearly 11,000 men over seven years.
Of the men, 2,219 were diagnosed with prostate cancer and 8,791 remained cancer-free throughout the study.
The researchers found that men who drank heavily – four or more drinks a day on at least five days of a week – were twice as likely as non-drinkers to develop aggressive prostate tumours.
The risk was seen in men who received finasteride and those given a placebo.
In addition, when it came to less aggressive, slower-growing prostate tumours, finasterife cut non-drinkers’ and moderate drinkers’ risk by 43 per cent. The drug did nothing, however, for heavier drinkers.
The findings of the study, led by Dr Zhihong Gong of the University of California at San Francisco, were reported in the Journal Cancer.
Men who drink heavily may be raising their risk of developing prostate cancer, researchers said in a recent study.
In addition, the study found that the drug finasteride, which can help lower a man’s risk of the disease, appears to be unable to undo the damage of heavy drinking.
The findings come from a clinical trial which looked at whether finasteride lowered the risk of prostate cancer in nearly 11,000 men over seven years.
Of the men, 2,219 were diagnosed with prostate cancer and 8,791 remained cancer-free throughout the study.
The researchers found that men who drank heavily – four or more drinks a day on at least five days of a week – were twice as likely as non-drinkers to develop aggressive prostate tumours.
The risk was seen in men who received finasteride and those given a placebo.
In addition, when it came to less aggressive, slower-growing prostate tumours, finasterife cut non-drinkers’ and moderate drinkers’ risk by 43 per cent. The drug did nothing, however, for heavier drinkers.
The findings of the study, led by Dr Zhihong Gong of the University of California at San Francisco, were reported in the Journal Cancer.
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