Prostate Cancer Treatments

The principle function of the prostrate gland is to secrete seminal fluid, a nutrient for sperm, and eject it into the urethra during ejaculation. As it ages it can become cancerous without any specific cause. For prostrate cancer, this process is commonly a slow one. It goes undetected in its initial stages, and once symptoms start to manifest, it has already advanced into a more critical stage.

Once confirmed as prostrate cancer, it is important to collect all the information that is possible to decide on a course of treatment. The relevant inputs are the age and health condition of the patient, how far the cancer has progressed and how fast it is advancing. There is a computerized nomogram to assess the probability of a cure. The patient, along with the physician and the family, has to opt for the course of treatment that is best for him.

The simplest treatment is ‘watchful waiting.’ The treatment concentrates on relieving the symptoms and performing periodical tests like DRE and PSA and others, as required. If the cancer is localized, surgical removal of the prostrate may be the best option. The success rate of this procedure, if caught in the early stages, is very high. But the side effects of this surgery are impotency, the inability to control urination, and other disadvantages associated with a major surgery. Laparoscopic surgery for removal of the prostrate is a new procedure.

Radiation therapy offers a non-invasive treatment, when the cancer is localized or just beyond the prostrate. But there are side effects of radiation therapy. These include injury to the rectum and bladder, bleeding rectum and bladder, urinary problems and burned skin. There are mainly two types of radiation therapy. The external beam radiation therapy uses radiation from outside to attack the cancer cells. Brachy therapy implants a small radioactive seed directly into the tumor to treat it. Cryotherapy is freezing the entire Prostrate with liquid nitrogen and killing it all, including the cancer cells. The urethra is kept heated to save the duct. Hormone deprivation therapy aims to cut off the male hormone testosterone, which is considered a fuel for cancerous cells.

There are many other chemotherapies that are very promising, especially when the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, like the bones and lymph nodes. There are over 200 new therapies under development, many of them supported by the Prostrate Cancer Foundation.

About the Author:
Seth Miller
Prostate Cancer provides detailed information on Prostate Cancer, Prostate Cancer Symptoms, Prostate Cancer Treatments, Prostate Cancer Causes and more. Prostate Cancer is affliated with Prostate Health.
Added: Thu Apr 20 2006
To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Selenium May Help to Prevent Prostate Cancer

According to a federally sponsored study, published by a Stanford University urologist, men with abnormally low levels of Selenium in their blood are four to five times more likely to develop prostate cancer. Selenium is a trace element that is supplied in certain foods and supplements.

The study suggests that making a point of eating Selenium-rich foods, such as Brazil nuts and tuna, or taking a Selenium supplement, may help reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Supplementation is especially useful for older men, as Selenium blood content decreases with patient age.

Although there are no solid statistics regarding exactly how much levels of Selenium in the blood are improved by supplementation, head researcher, James D. Brooks, MD is decidedly optimistic about the subject. He believes that supplementation could potentially be of great benefit in preventing prostate cancer, but goes on to comment that more precise research is needed in order to discern exact statistics on the extent of those benefits.

Overall, the researchers who conducted this study believe that they have made some very interesting discoveries, and that increasing levels of Selenium in the blood can significantly reduce a patient's risk of developing the most common form of cancer affecting men.

About the author:
Jeremy Maddock is the webmaster of http://www.immunewellness.com- your source for high quality information about a variety of health products, including Selenium - http://www.immunewellness.com/selenium.htm
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Simple Ways to Prevent Prostate Cancer

We all know that prostate cancer can happen to any male and it is a very common type of cancer. There are ways you can incorporate certain foods into your diet to greatly reduce the chance of getting prostate cancer and it is good to add these types of foods in your regiment anyway.

We all know that prostate cancer can happen to any male and it is a very common type of cancer. There are ways you can incorporate certain foods into your diet to greatly reduce the chance of getting prostate cancer and it is good to add these types of foods in your regiment anyway. One of the easiest foods to add is fish, this is because fish oils have been found to drastically reduce your risks of getting prostate cancer by as much as eleven percent. Most cultures, which have lots of fish in their diets have extremely low rates of the overall population of prostate cancer.

Selenium appears to also be an easy answer to reducing prostate cancer, you could add a daily supplement vitamin with 200 micrograms to assist you. Vitamin E is also a good idea. Soybean products, soy milk and tofu (yuk) are also good things to add into your diet if and when possible. Tomato sauce is something you should add to your diet and you should be able to do this without too much problem.

Unfortunately we have been seeing an increase in the number of prostate cancer by about 3 % per year in white men 2.3 per year by black men. The good news is the most men do not die of prostate cancer these days due to good screening, better treatments and early detection.

Some things you should not eat? Well high intakes of fat, meat and dairy products. If you love to cook red meat on the BBQ, you might wish to do that in moderation. Smoking and alcohol did not appear to be bad for prostate cancer, but are risks of other cancers as we all know. There are many other things you can add to your diet that you should be thinking about. Perhaps you should study this subject and think on it now and continue to get yearly checkups because if you do get prostate cancer and it is treated early, you stand a very good chance of coming out in flying colors.

About the Author:
"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs
Submitted on 2005-10-05
Article Source: http://www.articlesarea.com/

Prostate Cancer

The prostrate is a gland found only in males and located in front of the rectum, on the neck of the bladder. It is a walnut-sized gland about 3 cm in size that encircles the urethra. The prostrate produces seminal fluids and, along with the sperm received from the testes, releases the semen into the urethra during ejaculation. It also prevents the semen from flowing back into the bladder.

Prostrate cancer starts quite late in life; the number of persons who have prostrate cancer but are dying of other causes is large. One in 6 American males is likely to get prostrate cancer but only one in 32 dies of it.

The cause of prostrate cancer is not known. There are some known risk factors, none of which are controllable. Old age is the prime risk factor. The percentage of white Americans is less than the blacks who have this cancer. Hispanics come next and Asians and Native Americans are the least affected. So obviously, race is another risk factor. Hereditary is the third risk factor, when prostrate cancer runs in the family.

A person may have this cancer and not know it for quite some time. Digital Rectal Examinations (DRE), as part of a regular check-up, may be able to detect an enlarged Prostrate and lead to further investigation. Symptoms are experienced late in the progress of the disease. They include difficulty in starting and ending urination, frequent and weak urination or painful and burning urination. Impotence and painful ejaculation are other symptoms of this cancer. The initial DRE may be followed by other diagnostic tests, like the Prostratic Specific Antigen (PSA) test, CT scan, X-ray and cystoscopy. A biopsy has to be done to determine whether a tumor is benign or cancerous.

The prognosis of prostrate cancer depends on the stage in which it is detected. If the cancer is within the gland capsule, Radical prostatectomy or removing the prostrate with some surrounding tissues has a very high success rate. Radiation therapy and hormonal therapy are the other options. These therapies may have side effects that may not be acceptable, particularly to aged persons.

The patient and doctor have to make an informed decision, considering the disease stage, side effects of treatment, condition of the patient, speed of growth of the cancer and other factors, to determine which line of treatment to follow.

About the Author:
Seth Miller
Prostate Cancer Symptoms provides detailed information on Prostate Cancer, Prostate Cancer Symptoms, Prostate Cancer Treatments, Prostate Cancer Causes and more. Prostate Cancer Symptoms is affiliated with Prostate Health.
Added: Thu Mar 30 2006
To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

10 Important Steps To Beat Your Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the United States and it is the second most common cause of cancer death in men over age 55. The incidence of prostate cancer increases dramatically with each decade after 50. Fortunately, prostate cancer tends to be slow-growing compared to many other cancers – the majority of prostate cancers either do not spread or cause any significant harm for decades.

In general, men run a 1-in-6 chance of developing prostate cancer at some point in their lives. More than 230,000 new cases are expected this year in the United States, with about 27,000 deaths.

Most men will choose conventional treatment, often surgery or radiation, but there are life-changing potential side effects they need to be aware of, and discuss with their doctors.

Surgery, called a prostatectomy for the surgical removal of the prostate gland, means impotence for about 75% of the men choosing this path, according to a September 2004 study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Also, about 14% of the men were incontinent – could not control their bladder – five years after the operation.

With standard radiation therapy, the odds of impotence are about the same, 73%. The incontinence rate was much lower, just under 5%. There are new radiation therapies we discussed in the new guidebook How To Beat Your Prostate Cancer that have better outcomes.

No matter what conventional therapy a man chooses, if he does nothing else there is a 30% to 40% chance that his cancer or another cancer will recur. That’s because his immune system was not strong enough to protect him from the first cancer, and if he does nothing it will be no stronger the next time it is needed. In addition, radiation and chemotherapy depress the immune system, leaving it weaker than it was before you got treatment. Finally, any cancerous cells that survive the radiation and chemotherapy treatments, or escape the surgeon’s knife – and a few ALWAYS do – must be cleaned up by the immune system. Yet those cells that survived radiation or chemotherapy are, by definition, the strongest mutant cells. Cells that survive chemotherapy even have their own name: Multi-drug resistant. All of this means that if a man’s cancer recurs, the cure rates the second time around are much, much lower – on the order of 5% survival.

So even if a man chooses conventional treatment, the information and advice on alternative treatments in How To Beat Your Prostate Cancer is very important for his recovery and continued good health.

Here are 5 of the 10 important steps covered in a Free Report by the authors of How To Beat Your Prostate Cancer that have worked for others:

1. Pick a doctor carefully. The numbers above on impotence and incontinence are pretty scary. Top surgeons who perform hundreds of these operations tend to have better numbers, and you should ALWAYS get the statistics in advance from any doctor before you let them treat you. Remember that if you are talking to a surgeon, he probably will want to operate. If your doctor is a radiation oncologist, don’t be surprised if he pushes radiation. A clinical oncologist might counsel chemotherapy. Always consider the source. If you want to try alternative therapy first, since you really are not pressed for time, choose an alternative doctor or health care practitioner just as carefully.

2. Boost your immune system. If you’re going to undergo conventional treatment, you need to boost your immune system to deal with the impact of chemotherapy and radiation. You also need to clean up the remaining cells after therapy, and then build back your immune system so cancer does not recur. If you are going to pursue an alternative treatment path while you have the time, boosting your immune system is Job #1. Several chapters in How To Beat Your Prostate Cancer show you how to do that.

3. Alkalize your internal environment. Cancer cells are highly acidic, and cancer can’t live in an alkaline environment. You can test your pH level with test strips from the pharmacy or health food store. It should be over 7.0, preferably in the 7.2 to 7.4 range. If your internal body environment is acidic, it makes it much easier for cancer to grow and metastasize. Prostate cancer often metastasizes to the bones, making it much harder to beat.

4. Get more oxygen to your cells. Cancer hates oxygen. In the lab, when they are doing an experiment where they want cancerous cells to grow quickly, they simply turn down the oxygen. When they want to stabilize the experiment, they turn the oxygen back up. The same is true of your body.

5. Take vitamins and supplements. If you eat the Standard American Diet, you are eating fruits and vegetables grown on depleted soil, picked too early so they won’t ripen and spoil while they’re in the distribution chain, and then probably overcooked. Even if you are eating organic fruits and vegetables, grass-fed pastured meat and raw milk, you still can’t get the massive amounts of vitamins and supplements you need to let your immune system overcome a cancerous tumor that has become established. You must take high-quality vitamins and minerals, digestive enzymes and specific anti-cancer supplements like those recommended in Chapter 7 of How To Beat Your Prostate Cancer.

* * * * *

The complete Free Report with all 10 important steps a man can take to begin fighting his prostate cancer right away can be obtained from http://www.beat-prostate-cancer.net.

About the Author:
Michael Murphy is the Executive Director of the Cures Research Institute, an organization dedicated to combining the best of conventioal and alternative medicine to drmatically improve outcomes for people with health problems. © Cures Research Institute 2006
This article was posted on September 27, 2006
Article Source: articlecity

Prostate Cancer Symptoms

The prostrate is a walnut-sized gland found only in males. It surrounds the urethra near the neck of the bladder, in front of the rectum. It secretes seminal fluid to nourish the sperm, and ejects it during ejaculation. We know the prostrate less for its role in the reproductive system than for the problem it creates in the form of prostrate cancer. One in six American males gets prostrate cancer, and one in thirty-two dies of it. It is the second most fatal cancer after lung cancer. The onset of cancer starts as the person ages, and blacks are more prone to it than whites. It runs in the family, though no specific genes have been isolated. The peak incidence of cancer starts in the age group of 65-75.

Prostrate cancer progresses very slowly in most cases, and does not have any specific symptoms during its early stages. Most of the time it is detected during a simple medical inspection by a Digital Rectal Exam (DRE), which prompts further investigations to confirm cancer.

As the cancer progresses, the gland throttles the urethra, which causes the first symptoms. The frequency of urination increases and it is very weak. There is burning pain during urination, and some traces of blood can be seen. There is a sensation of inadequate emptying of the bladder. Impotence or painful ejaculations are other important symptoms. As stage three of the cancer starts, it spreads to the adjoining area. Prostrate cancer cells attack the bones as they advance. A deep bone pain in the legs, hip and backbone should alert the patient about the possibility of this disease. When it reaches stage four, the cancer cells are transported by the lymphatic system and bloodstream and create secondary tumors in the lymphatic nodes, called metastatic prostrate cancer.

Diagnosing prostrate cancer is done in stages. When DRE needs further investigation a Prostrate Specific Antigen (PSA) test is done, which indicates the possibility of cancer. A biopsy done using a number of samples from different areas of the prostrate should confirm the presence of cancer. The treatment options are radical prostatectomy, radiation therapy and hormone therapy. But, as most of the patients are old and the progress of the disease is slow, many men opt to wait, observe and seek only symptomatic relief.

About the Author:
Seth Miller
Prostate Cancer Symptoms provides detailed information on Prostate Cancer, Prostate Cancer Symptoms, Prostate Cancer Treatments, Prostate Cancer Causes and more. Prostate Cancer Symptoms is affiliated with Prostate Health.
Added: Tue Apr 18 2006
To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Prostate Cancer - What Every Man Needs to Know

Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancers in men. Prostate cancer is often found in elder men and the risk of prostate cancer increases with age. It occurs mostly among the male population of 50 years and above. In prostate cancer, cancerous cells are primary formed in the prostate that then gets transferred to other cells through the process of metastasis. Prostate cancer spreads to other parts of your body like bones.

Causes of Prostate Cancer:

Scientists still do not know the exact cause behind prostate cancer. No one knows why some people suffer with prostate cancer while others do not. Clinical researchers and scientists are working hard to find the answer of this basic question. However they are optimistic to come out with a ‘prostate cancer cause’ report very soon.

Prostate Cancer Symptoms:

There are no definite prostate cancer symptoms that can be easily noticed by the patients. Prostate cancer does not show any cancer symptom or sign at the initial stage. However, few prostate cancer symptoms have been identified by the National Cancer Institute .

These specific prostate cancer symptoms are given below:
1) Frequent urination.
2) An interrupted or weak urine flow.
3) Trouble while urination.
4) Sensation of pain while ejaculation.
5) Inability to urinate.
6) Burning sensation or pain during urination.
7) Blood in the urine or in the semen.
8) Stiffness or frequent pain in the upper thighs, lower back or hips.

These symptoms are however, not specific for prostate cancer. Therefore if you experience any of these symptoms, don’t panic- just consult a doctor.
Prostate cancer treatment: Treatment of prostate cancer depends upon factors such as the location of the tumor, general health condition of the patient, age of the patient and size of the tumor.
Prostate cancer can be treated with help of following treatment methods.

1) Surgical castration by orchidectomy: the cheapest and simplest prostate cancer treatment is orchidectomy. The only disadvantage is a psychological effect of the loss of testicles.
2) Prostate cancer can be treated with the help of oestrogen hormone and LHRH-analogues. This is a "medical castration." This prostate cancer treatment is very expensive. Oestrogen can be taken orally but oestrogen prostate cancer treatment can give rise to thrombotic complications.
3) Hormone therapy can also be used as prostate cancer cure.
4) The chemical found in black pepper, which causes the tongue to burn, sweat to pout out and eyes to water commonly called as capsaicin is thought to be helpful in prostate cancer cure. US researchers have found that capsaicin can cause human cancer cells to kill themselves. This study is guiding to the way for a new prostate cancer cure.
5) Radiotherapy can also be used for prostate cancer cure. Radiotherapy just destroys cancer cells by radiation. The method is absolutely painless. But treatment of prostate cancer with the help of radiotherapy can cause some side effects like impotence and diarrhea.
6) Brachytherapy can also be applied to cure prostate cancer. Here radioactive elements inhibit the growth of prostate cancer cells.

About the Author:
Tyson J Stevenson creates useful articles & reviews on a wide variety of everyday subjects. Expect to see his name often. View further samples of his work at HubbuH or at Prostate Cancer Symptom
Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com

The Risk of recurrence in prostate cancer

Prostate cancer disease

Prostate cancer - the most common form of cancer in men is Prostate cancer, the second leading cause of cancer death. The Main risk factors include age (incidence increases in men over the age of 65 years). It is more prevalent in the western world and about 10% of cases can be linked to family history. The recurrance Rate of the prostate cancer is high.

Mostly, the Prostate cancer is a continuum; progressing through localized, locally advanced, advanced and hormone-refractory stages In general it is a slow growing cancer. He is primarily under hormonal control i.e. testosterone. The choice of treatments which include watchful waiting, surgery (prostatectomy), radiotherapy, hormonal therapy and chemotherapy are dependent on the stage of disease.

1. Most important, that If detected early, using PSA determination, DRE examination and biopsies, and treated appropriately, survival rates are excellent.

2. The most critical focus for the treatment of prostate cancer is to treat those cancers where it is necessary.

3. The Decisions about the best management of prostate cancer can be very complex and depend upon the:

- Pathology of the cancer (unlike other cancers, prostate cancer often progresses very slowly)
- The impact that treatment can have on quality of life, including sexual activity
- Stage of the disease (non-metastatic (localized or locally advanced), metastatic or hormone refractory)
- Age and general health of the patients at diagnosis
- Patient’s preference for treatment
- PSA at diagnosis

4. The treatment options for prostate cancer are:

- Deferred treatment often called ‘watchful waiting’ or 'active surveillance'
- Surgery – Radical Prostatectomy
- Radiotherapy – External Beam and/or Brachytherapy
-Hormonal (endocrine) therapy – Androgen Ablation e.g. anti-androgens, medical castration (LHRHa) or surgical castration
- Chemotherapy
- Palliative Therapy e.g. chemotherapy
- Investigational Therapies

Prostate Cancer Recurrence Rates ***

Prostate cancer is now detected at earlier stages due to heightened awareness and improved screening techniques. Despite definitive therapy, cancer cells may remain and can go undetected for years until they develop into metastatic disease. The risk of recurrence is high, suggesting there is a need to improve treatment approaches. Therefore, it is important to predict pathological stage and risk of disease recurrence early, so that appropriate treatment and/or monitoring can be initiated. The result's of all new treatments will bring us in the future the chance of a lower prostate recurrance.

**You can inform you about the recurrence Rates on:
http://www.prostateline.com/prostatelinehcp/9898_15850_8_0_0.aspx

This gives you an overview with a study case – and the results.

Health-Service-Online
Admin Fritz
http://www.cancer-info.info

About the author:
Fritz Frei
Health-Service-Online bring's the problems of cancer on the point! Everybody can check out the new's of the risk of prostate cancer - the recurrance rate is high and there is most important - to check out this desease early!
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Staging and Grading of Prostate Cancer

Staging and Grading

Once the diagnosis of prostate cancer has been made the disease has to be staged and graded. The stage refers to the extent and spread of the disease while the grade refers to the nature (aggressiveness) of the particular tumor. Staging will determine the extent of disease and provide important prognostic information that will influence the management decisions.

Staging investigations - PSA - X-rays of lumbar spine and pelvis - Chest X-ray - Radionuclitide bone scan - MTI scan of pelvis

TNM Staging system

T stage (extent of primary lesion)

- T1 - tumor confined to prostate, not palpable or visible on TRUS - T2 - tumor palpable or visible on TRUS but confined to prostate - T3 - spread beyond the prostatic capsule - T3a - extracapsular spread only - T3b - involvement of the seminal vesicles - T4 - invasion into rectal wall, bladder neck or pelvic wall N (Nodal) status - N0 - regional nodes not involved - N1 - regional nodes involved by tumor M (Distant Metastases) - M0 - no distant metastases - M1 - distant metastases present

Grading

Grading refers to what the cancer looks like under a microscope. The most commonly used system is the Gleason grade and score. The glandular pattern is compared to that of a normal prostate and scored out of 5, where 1 resembles a pattern very close to normal and 5 resembles severely distorted glandular architecture. The two predominant glandular patterns within the cancer are graded out of 5 and the combined score calculated out of 10. The higher the Gleason score, the more aggressive is the tumor and the worse is the prognosis. Patients with cancers confined to the prostate (T1 and T2) and no involvement of the lymph nodes or other organs (N0 and M0) are potentially curable by surgery or radiotherapy. Patients with disease beyond the prostate are not curable.

With our next information – we will inform you about the “Risk factors for enlarged prostate” – so you should have a look on this site in the next 2 weeks! If you have any question sends us your e-mail.

Health-Service-Online
Fritz Frei Admin
http://www.cancer-info.info

About the Author:
Fritz Frei make it easy to check out the important details about the diagnoses and test's of the prostate cancer. To receive more information's about all cancer -questions - Links and last research NEW's - visit the http://www.cancer-info.info.
This article was posted on March 20, 2006
Article Source: articlecity

Prostate Cancer, the Most Prevelant Non-Skin Cancer in the US

According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, this type of cancer is the most prevalent non-skin cancer in the United States. A man is diagnosed with prostate cancer every three minutes, and one dies every seventeen minutes. It is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men second to lung cancer. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that over 70% of diagnosed prostate cancer cases occur in men over the age of 65. These two organizations, as well as others are working toward increasing public awareness and making screenings more readily available to all populations. Research

In order to catch prostate cancer in its early stages, it is recommended that men with no risk factors get an annual screening every year beginning at age 50. If there is a relative, such as a father or brother who has been diagnosed, then the recommended age to begin prostate screening is 45. In men with at an even higher risk, such as African American men and those with a higher familial incidence, routing screening should begin at age 40. For many men, it may be more embarrassing than uncomfortable to initiate and undergo a rectal examination or blood PSA test.

Prostate cancer usually exhibits no symptoms and the only way it can be detected is through a rectal prostate exam or a blood PSA screening. The Prostate Cancer Foundation reports that if signs are present, they may be subtle and attributed to other causes, such as, painful or difficult urination, urinary frequency, painful ejaculation, difficulty obtaining an erection, blood in urine or semen, and pain or stiffness below the waist and above the knees.

There are different treatment regimens available for prostate cancer, such as hormonal treatment or chemotherapy, depending on to which stage the cancer has progressed, whether it is localized, recurrent, or metastatic. The physician may even recommend no treatment depending on the individual situation, and what the patient feels is best for him. A second or even third opinion should be sought regarding the diagnosis and proposed treatment plan, for peace of mind that whatever path chosen is the right one. Cancer can be very scary to many people, creating a great deal of stress. When newly diagnosed, patients may have difficulty expressing their thoughts and feelings to their physician as well as their loved ones, and they should be encouraged to seek spiritual and/or psychological counseling to help them accept the situation for what it is and deal with it in a healthy manner.

About the Author:
Tyson J Stevenson creates useful articles & reviews on a wide variety of everyday subjects. Expect to see his name often. View further samples of his work at HubbuH or at Prostate Cancer Symptom
Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com

Many compounds in milk thistle, have shown potent anti- prostate and anti-lung cancer activity

Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) : Milk thistle have antioxidant properties that help the liver function and stay healthy

Milk thistle is sometimes called silymarin, which is actually a mixture of the herb's active components, including silybinin (also called silibinin or silybin). Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) herb is a tall, stocky, plant that grows fruit, and is native to the Mediterranean. Milk thistle supplement has been used for thousands of years as a remedy for a variety of ailments, especially liver problems. Milk thistle supplement is a very powerful antioxidant and as such helps to remove toxic elements from the body. In regards to liver function, milk thistle seed extract has the ability to stimulate the flow of bile from the liver. It is this bile stimulation that is believed to account for the effectiveness of milk thistle in treating ailments of the liver and aiding digestion.
Studies show silymarin, silibinin, and other flavonoids found in milk thistle liver. Silymarin is a powerful antioxidant that is ten times as potent as vitamin E Silymarin in milk thistle which is assumed to protect liver cells in the following ways:

- Silymarin has antioxidant properties. Antioxidants are thought to protect body cells from damage caused by a chemical process called oxidation.
- Silymarin has anti-inflammatory effects, which keeps liver cells from swelling in response to injury.
- Silymarin seems to encourage liver cell growth. By changing the outside layer of liver cells, it prevents certain toxins from getting into liver cells.

Many compounds in milk thistle, for instance silibinin, have shown potent anti- prostate and anti-lung cancer activity.

History of Milk Thistle

Milk thistle extract was still grown in old-fashioned British gardens at the end of the nineteenth century. The young leaves (with spines removed) were used in spring salads and as a spinach substitute. Young stalks, peeled and soaked, are eaten like asparagus. The roots, soaked in water overnight to remove bitterness, are eaten like salsify. In Germany during the nineteenth century, doctors commonly treated jaundice and other liver diseases with an extract from milk thistle seeds. The scientific study of herbs continued to be concentrated in Europe, and in 1949, German researchers found that milk thistle tea appeared to protect the livers of animals exposed to high doses of carbon tetrachloride, a potent liver toxin.

In Medieval Europe, the milk thistle was a remedy for snakebite and rabies. The plant has veins that contain a white, milky-appearing liquid, so was naturally considered useful for encouraging lactation. The milk thistle acquired the additional names of Marian thistle and lady's-thistle.

Milk Thistle Benefits

Milk thistle extract is most closely associated with treating ailments of the liver and digestive system, but it has shown promise in treating a number of other ailments as well. These include
- Gallstones
- High Cholesterol
- Allergies
- Skin cancer

Athletes and bodybuilders may benefit from the use of milk thistle supplements. Athletes and bodybuilders typically use many nutritional supplements at one time, in order to boost performance. The use of a number of supplements at one time may produce synergism that results in enormous stress being placed upon the liver.

After a cycle of anabolic steroids, pro-hormones, thermogenics, or any other supplement, athletes may find it helpful to allow the body to rest from supplementation, while taking herb milk thistle to promote liver health.

Numerous studies from Europe have shown conclusively that taking milk thistle supplements helps extend the life of patients suffering from cirrhosis. Researchers tracked patients diagnosed with cirrhosis for five years, and found that those taking 200 milligrams of milk thistle extract three times a day had improved liver function and death rates that were approximately 50 percent lower than those taking placebos. Several European studies have also shown that silymarin helps normalize liver function in people with hepatitis A, B, and C.

More Detail About Milk Thistle

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Author By Rosa parks
Added: 10 Oct 2006
Article Source: http://articles.simplysearch4it.com/article/38697.html

Prostate Cancer: All About Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is a disease that affects adult males and is known to occur when the cells of the prostate begin to grow uncontrollably. Although prostate cancer can be cured if detected and treated early, most of its symptoms rarely cause concern for most men and are likely to be overlooked in the initial stages. Unfortunately, too often, cancer detection just may be postponed until it is too late.

Symptoms
Symptoms include the urge to urinate frequently, especially at night. There could be pain or bleeding while urinating and the patient may find himself suffering from frequent pain or stiffness in his lower back, hips or upper thighs. Since most of these symptoms seem to resemble fatigue or tiredness, they are often overlooked. It is recommended that a proper medical check up be undertaken at regular intervals to find track any indicative symptoms for prostate cancer.

Diagnosis
DRE and PSA tests are carried out to determine the extent of growth of your prostate cells. These tests may not prove the presence of prostate cancer, but conducting a biopsy will determine the presence of cancerous cells in the body. The biopsy method involves taking tissue samples, using needles and using ultrasound imaging to detect cancer cells. Although the biopsy procedure itself may be a short one, patients are often asked to be at the hospital stay on for a full day at the hospital where several tests are carried out. A diagnosis is also required to find out if any of the symptoms match the disease, because of the prostate cells in a cancerous condition or due to some other reason.

Grading and Staging the Disease
Gleason grading and scores help determine the extent to which the disease has spread and also to find out the damage caused by the presence of cancerous cells in the prostate. Localized, locally advanced and metastatic are the three stages in which a prostate cancer patient is classified as. These three stages are in order of the least to the most dangerous of stages of prostate cancer. Also, the chances of a cure and treatment are more possible in a localized stage and are almost impossible in the metastatic stage.

About the Author:
Author Barney Garcia writes about on Prostate Cancer: All About Prostate Cancer to visit :- prostate cancer, cancer prostate
Article Source: http://www.articles411.com

Staying Active Helps Reduce Risk of Prostate Cancer

Those men who stay active can significantly cut down on their risk getting prostate cancer. In fact the more aerobic the exercise the better walking, hiking, swimming and bike riding were some of the examples given in a study by Harvard Medical School on ways to stay healthy and simultaneously reduce your risk of prostate cancer.

Those men who stay active can significantly cut down on their risk getting prostate cancer. In fact the more aerobic the exercise the better walking, hiking, swimming and bike riding were some of the examples given in a study by Harvard Medical School on ways to stay healthy and simultaneously reduce your risk of prostate cancer. Those who went to a gym twice to three times per week and used the treadmill did best, although even those who played golf three times a week reduced their risks as well.

Most all physical activity which included a form of cardiorespiratory workout seemed to work. These men were able to reduce their risks by 75%, a huge gap over those were the most inactive one-third of all males. The cut off seemed to be 20 minutes per day or an average of 20 minutes a day over a weeks period. Those who worked out three times a week for thirty minutes are more were amongst the lowest risk groups. Some life insurance questionnaires now ask these questions, when determining risk and that ought to tell you something as well. Not only is it good for your heart but your prostate as well.

There are two factors being looked at as to why this is? One thought was that since high testosterone levels were are part of high risk categories, that those who did physical activity reduced their risks because they were lowering their testosterone levels during cardio respiratory workouts. This tends to make a lot of sense.

It would be best to get screened for prostate cancer and continue your work outs or increase them to put you into the lower risk categories. Discuss this with your physician and do some of your own research to see what works best for you. Please be thinking on this, it could save your life.

About the Author:
"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs
Submitted on 2005-10-05
Article Source: http://www.articlesarea.com/

Chronic Prostatitis and Autoimmunity

Prostatitis can be categorized either as chronic bacterial or chronic prostatitis (CP), also known as chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) or pelvic myoneuropathy. Aside from these two types, the condition can also be classified as acute or asymptomatic inflammatory. The disease is defined as any form of inflammation of the prostate gland. This disease can affect both young and middle aged men.

Chronic bacterial prostatitis is a condition involving recurrent urinary tract infections originating from an infection in the prostate. Chronic prostatitis, on the other hand, can be inflammatory or non-inflammatory. Autoimmune and neurogenic inflammation have been theorized as the main factors behind CPPS. Neurogenic inflammation can be the result of dysregulation of the local nervous system which can be due to past traumatic experiences. An anxious disposition or unconscious pelvic tensing can also lead to neurogenic inflammation.

Men who suffer from prostatitis might feel pain during urination or ejaculation. CP/CPPS is believed to be the result of an autoimmune process or chronic inflammation that resulted from a breakdown of immunoregulatory mechanisms in the area around the prostate. A number of reasons have been identified to cause autoimmunity. These reasons include bacterial, fungal or viral infection, toxin exposure, physical trauma, genetics, stress and diet.

Infection that causes autoimmune reactions can be caused by a virus, bacteria or fungi. It can also be caused by parasites and normal bacterial flora. Researchers have also found that a persistent, ongoing infection can result to an autoimmune reaction. Aside from these organisms, antibiotics have also been implicated in autoimmunity. A study in 1999 reported that certain chemicals can cause genetic reshuffling or the activation of part of the immune system which can cause fatigue, rashes and muscle pain.

Another factor implicated in autoimmune reaction is physical trauma. One example of this is vasectomy. It is a well known fact that vasectomy often leads to an autoimmune reaction primarily due to the possibility of exposing the body's tissues to sperm through the incisions made during the operation. Diet is also believed to play a role in the development of autoimmune conditions. Several experiments that have been conducted showed that a diet rich in proteins, minerals and vitamins can lower a man's chances of developing an autoimmune disease.

Researchers also believe that susceptibility to autoimmune reactions can run in families, proving the theory of genetic predisposition in relation to CPPS and chronic bacterial prostatitis. Aside from genetics, psychological factors have also been implicated in the development of autoimmune conditions, with psychological stress being the primary factor linked with autoimmunity.

Chronic prostatitis is caused by a host of factors ranging from those found in the environment to elements that are beyond the control of man. With the onset of research studies supported by modern methods and techniques, this condition has become more controllable and this could only be good news to men all around the world.

About the Author:
Trevor Mulholland
Mensglands.com provides you with info on chronic prostatitis, its treatments and symptoms and how to overcome or reduce the risk of getting it. http://www.mensglands.com/
Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com

Robotic Prostate Surgery - What You Need to Know

Forbes, Science Daily, ABC News. It seems everyone is talking about the da Vinci robot lately. No, the robot has nothing to do with science fiction or the Italian Renaissance. It has to do with prostate cancer and the increasingly popular robotic prostatectomy.

About Prostate Cancer
In the United States alone, prostate cancer affects a quarter of a million men each year. The prostate exam is practically a right of passage for men entering their 40's. The most common treatment for prostate cancer is removal of the prostate (a.k.a., the prostatectomy).

About Laparoscopy
Over the years, laparoscopic techniques have been applied to all kinds of surgery. In general, laparoscopic or "minimally invasive" surgeries require less recovery time than open surgeries (mainly because the incisions are smaller, and the entry and exit process is less damaging). When you see a medical program on TV where the doctor is inserting slender cameras and tools into tiny incisions, you're seeing laparoscopic surgery.

Early Challenges
Even with all of its advantages, laparoscopy had a bumpy start with prostate surgery. The first U.S. surgeons to use laparoscopic techniques for prostate surgery found it too difficult. It was hard to teach, hard to perform, and physically exhausting.

The da Vinci Solution
In recent years, a new form of robotic prostate surgery has emerged. It's known as the da Vinci robot, and it solves some of the challenges of robotic prostatectomy (prostate removal). With the da Vinci system, a 3-D camera gives a magnified view inside the patient, while the surgeon operates the robotic arms from a console nearby.

Benefits to Patient
Robotic laparoscopic prostate surgery has several benefits over open surgery. First, the incisions are smaller. Patients treated with the da Vinci robotic system leave the operating room with much smaller incisions than patients who have open surgery. In most cases, this speeds up the discharge time. With da Vinci surgeries, patients often go home the next day and resume normal activities within a week, compared to the six-week average for open surgery.

Benefits to Surgeon
Many doctors who use the da Vinci robotic system appreciate the increased visibility. In an article at Forbes.com (July 27, 2005), Dr. David Samadi said this: "With regular laparoscopy you only have one camera, which gives you a two-dimensional view. You lose one dimension -- depth perception. The 3-D view with the robot is absolutely beautiful." The da Vinci method is also easier to learn than the earlier attempts at laparoscopic prostatectomy, and it's reported to be much less exhausting for the surgeons performing it.

Questions to Ask
If you are considering robotic prostate surgery over traditional open surgery, you should make the following questions part of your doctor-screening process: * How long have you been performing prostate surgery in general? * How long have you been using the da Vinci robot? * How many of these surgeries do you perform each year? * What is your overall success rate with robotic surgery? * Are there any unique considerations to robotic surgery as compared to open surgery?

Conduct Your Own Research
This article is not intended to glorify the da Vinci robotic approach to prostate surgery, or to claim that it's perfect. The purpose of this article is to give you a solid foundation of knowledge upon which you may conduct your own research. For this reason, I've provided a link below to an excellent information source.

About the Author:
Brandon Cornett
If you are considering robotic prostate surgery and would like to learn more about it, I recommend contacting the specialists at the Urology Team in Austin, Texas. You can also learn more about this and related subjects by visiting http://www.urologyteam.com or http://www.prostatecenterofaustin.com
Added: Fri Oct 13 2006
To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

The Causes of Prostate Cancer

What is the prostate? Where is it located? What does it do? What causes prostate cancer? There are many questions that may be associated with the prostate. We hope that we can answer some of those questions. The prostate is a gland located in a man’s pelvis. It is about the size of a walnut and weighs about 20 grams.

The prostate in found in front of the rectum, behind the pubic bone. It is below the bladder and surrounded by pelvic muscles. The prostate has an important role in seminal activity.

Unfortunately, there are many diseases that are associated with the prostate. Prostate cancer is a common one that affects many men but you may also suffer from enlarged prostate, prostitis and other complications.

Some symptoms or signs of problems may include difficult urination, increased urination at night, urgent urination, starting and stopping of a stream or feeling like you must “push” it out, urinary infection and others.

If you feel you may be having prostate problems, you need to see your doctor for an examination. You will be asked questions about yourself and your family history and there will be a physical exam and urine tests. A bladder ultrasound and a prostate ultrasound can also help diagnose.

When you have been diagnosed with a prostate condition, your doctor will discuss possible treatments with you. Medicine may be needed to shrink the prostate. There are different factors that can affect your chances of prostate cancer. You should talk to your doctor if you are concerned with this.

If someone in your family has had prostate cancer, you will want to have regular checkups and remain prostate healthy. You should not feel nervous or embarrassed to have check ups, they are very important to your future health.

About the Author:
James Hunt has spent 15 years as a professional writer and researcher covering stories that cover a whole spectrum of interest.
Read more at www.best-for-prostates.info
Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com

The Best Prostate Cancer Treatment Alternatives

Prostate cancer is a very common problem with men over the age of 80 and it starts becoming frequent with men over 50. By the time they are 80, almost half will have some form of prostate cancer which is not noticeable. Even though it is dangerous, just like any other cancer type, prostate cancer is very seldom the cause of death for the men who have it. Although this is such a common illness, doctors are still uncertain of the precise causes for prostate cancer. Ethnicity is one of the factors that offers some differentiation, with black men the highest risk and Asian men the lowest.

Curing prostate cancer is possible, but the condition has to be detected in the early stages. Many men do not even seek medical advice when the symptoms are present, partly because they are very similar to those of another disease: BPH or benign prostatic hypertrophy. Most men will experience difficulties while urinating, noticing a weak or intermittent flow of urine. Other symptoms include urgent needs to urinate or the need to wake up several times a night to do this. Some patients also observe a dribbling of urine after and even before urinating.

There is no universal treatment that will work the same in individual cases. Doctors have to determine several decisive factors, such as general health condition, age, location of the tumor in the prostate, size of the tumor. The number one option for treatment is surgery. However, the main operation, known as radial prostatectomy, is extremely tiring to the body, so the patient has to be in good condition. Most surgery patients are men between 50 and 70 years of age who do not seem to have extensive cancer damage. There are some side effects involved with this procedure, mostly related to erectile dysfunctions and minor urination problems. However, modern techniques greatly reduce the side effects and the success of surgery is high.

Choosing a hormone therapy is another option. This treatment does not kill the cancer cells but it reduces the size of the prostate tumor of the majority of patients. Most doctors recommend this treatment together with surgery for best effects. Cancer growth is stimulated by testosterone, the male sexual hormone, and hormone therapies reduce its level. By reducing testosterone levels, the prostate becomes less subjected to cancer cell growth. Based on patient medical history and overall health level, doctors may or may not choose to prescribe hormone therapy.

Sometimes, the doctor might suggest an alternative treatment to surgery. Radiotherapy can work by destroying cancer cells through radiation. The method is painless and involves only out-body procedures. However, some side effects like diarrhea and impotence have been noticed. Brachytherapy is the other. It involves the implantation of radioactive elements in the prostate, which are inserted with the patient under anesthesia. In time, the radioactive elements loose their properties, but they also help diminish cancer cell growth.

About the author:
George Anderson is very interested in prostate cancer and the variety of treatments available. See his website at http://www.onlyprostatecancer.com
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Risk Factors of Prostate Cancer: Who Are Most Likely to Have It?

Prostate cancer has been found to occur in higher percentages among African Americans than any other race. Compared with Asian and European countries, the United States is where the disease occurs more commonly.

Aside from skin cancer, prostate cancer has been reported to be the most common type among American men. It has been projected that more than 200,000 new cases of this condition will be diagnosed in the U.S. and more than 27,000 male patients will die of the disease in 2006. Statistics also showed that a little over 1.8 million American men are survivors of the condition.

Prostate cancer has been found to occur in higher percentages among African Americans than any other race. Compared with Asian and European countries, the United States is where the disease occurs more commonly. The reasons for these percentages are not conclusive. Some experts are claiming that this might be due to the diet of Asian men which is rich in vegetables and fruits as opposed to Western males' red meat-rich diet. In the case of higher number of confirmed cases in the United States, medical researchers are asserting that this might be due to better diagnostics systems in the country compared with less developed areas.

Among the factors associated with the risk of acquiring cancer of the prostate, age is the primary culprit. The condition is quite uncommon among men aged below 45, but the chance of having it increases rapidly after age 50. In terms of genetics, men with a first degree relative, like a brother or a father, who has the condition have been found to be at higher risk of developing the cancer. Although no study has yet to find what particular gene affects a man's chances of developing this condition, statistics have shown that those who have affected relatives tend to develop cancer in the prostate as they reach the common affected age.

Diet has also been implicated as a risk factor of this type of cancer. For those who eat a lot of red meat and high fat dairy products, the risk of developing the cancer is believed to be higher. Smokers have also been considered as among the high risk groups. This might be because cigarettes and tobacco have been credited as contributing factors in DNA damage and mutation, although scientists have yet to map out the exact process by which smoking contributes to the development of cancer in the prostate.

Since cancer of the prostate is a slow developing type, it might not be diagnosed for years. Autopsy reports have shown that some men who have died of other causes have been found to have cancer in their prostates but have shown no symptoms and have not suffered or been affected by the disease. The condition, being more common among older men particularly those who are over 50 years old, can just be present without showing itself and without bothering the person; and eventually, the patient might die of other causes without the cancer ever manifesting itself or making the individual suffer.

Despite being a slow developing type in majority of the cases, it is still an advantage if prostate cancer can be diagnosed at its earliest stage. Numerous treatments and management methods have been developed through the years which have provided higher survival rates and caused the number of deaths to decline every year. Scientists are hopeful that eventually, this condition will be absolutely explained and prevention techniques will be developed.

About the Author:
Trevor
Mensglands.com provides you with info on prostate cancer, its treatments and symptoms and how to overcome or reduce the risk of getting it. http://www.mensglands.com/
Submitted on 2006-09-02
Article Source: http://www.articlesarea.com/

Prostate Cancer - A Quick Overview

Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is a group of malignant cancerous cells, or in other words a tumor that begins most often in the outer areas of the prostate. Excluding skin cancer, prostrate cancer is the most common type of cancer diagnosed in American men.

Prostate cancer is highly treatable when it is diagnosed and caught early. So, it's important that you consult your physician or urologist after any signs that might make you suspect you have prostate cancer.

Usually there are no early signs or symptoms of prostate cancer. However, when the tumor grows, it may spread from the prostate to surrounding areas. At this point the person will start to notice symptoms. Somesuch symptoms include the following:

• Frequent urination (especially at night)
• Weak urinary stream
• Inability to urinate
• Interruption of urinary stream (stopping and starting)
• Pain or burning on urination
• Blood in the urine
• Pain in lower back, pelvis or upper thighs

Preventing the testicles from producing testosterone may relieve many of the above symptoms. The extent of the following treatments and the chance of success depend upon the seriousness (stage) of the cancer, what type you have, your age, and the your general health before the cancer.

The major treatment options for prostate cancer include:

• Hormonal therapy
• Surgery
• Radiation Treatments
• Chemotherapy
• Watchful waiting (Observation)

The specific options selected for treatment will depend on several factors including the man’s age, the stage of the disease, and the advice of the urologist and physician. Don’t hesitate to ask your doctor or your urologist if you have any questions concerning your treatment!

CoolNurse.com

About the Author:
Amy Otis, RN
Added: Thu Jun 30 2005
To find other free health content see e-healtharticles.com

Is It True that Eating Broccoli Can Reduce Risk of Prostate Cancer?

Indeed there have been many studies and much research to determine what types of diets can prevent which types of cancers. Some of what you may have heard about which food you eat are merely folklore handed down, while others are actually based on data from actual studies.

Indeed there have been many studies and much research to determine what types of diets can prevent which types of cancers. Some of what you may have heard about which food you eat are merely folklore handed down, while others are actually based on data from actual studies. Eating lots of vegetables seems to lead one to think that there are in fact substantial benefits for all sorts of things to help us remain healthy. Eating fruits, drinking tea, proper intake of vegetables have all been among the things that are often recommended to prevent prostate cancer. It stands to reason that a healthy diet can assist you in reducing the risk of prostate cancer and there is evidence that broccoli indeed may just be one of those vegetables which can help.

One study seems to indicate the fruit intake did not substantially help in reduction of the risk of prostate cancer, but did help in reducing the risks of other cancers. Men who ate vegetables three times a day had a one-third or greater chance of not getting prostate cancer of those that did not have lots of vegetables in their diets.

Which vegetables were considered the best to eat? Well it seems brussel spouts, cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli were some of the best and could increase reduced risk by just over 40%. Orange colored vegetables also hit high on the list by other studies carrots, sweat potatoes, squash and yams. You should be eating a wide range of to reduce your risk of cancer and different fruits and vegetables prevent different types of cancer. If you have some type of cancer which runs in your family, you ought to do a little research of your own and think on this.

About the Author:
"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs
Submitted on 2005-10-05
Article Source: http://www.articlesarea.com/