Prostate Cancer Symptoms Tips What is prostate cancer symptoms? We have tips about prostate cancer symptoms

The prostate gland is an organ situated at the neck of the urinary bladder. A malignant growth of the prostate is known as prostate cancer, which usually grows very slowly and does not exhibit any major symptoms in the first few years. Advanced prostate cancer spreads to the surrounding tissues and also to other parts of the body such as bones, lungs, and liver. Symptoms of this cancer are therefore more related to an advanced state of this condition.

Advanced prostate cancer is of special significance since it is the most common cancer in American men and is the second leading cause of death after lung cancer. It causes symptoms such as pain in the lower abdomen, slow passage of urine, the presence of blood in the urine, and lower back pain. A spread to the liver can cause pain in the upper right part of the abdomen as well as jaundice, while the spread of the cancer to the lungs can cause symptoms such as cough, breathlessness, and hemoptysis.

Prostate cancer can often be suspected during routine screening because of high PSA levels. Confirmation of the diagnosis of prostate cancer can be done by a digital rectal examination, PSA level testing, ultrasound examination, and biopsy of the prostate gland. Advanced prostate cancer needs further investigations like CT scan of the abdomen, CT scan of the chest, and possibly a PET bone scan. Biopsy examination is graded according to the Gleason scale and reflects the aggressiveness of the tumour, with scores of 7 to 10 indicating a rapidly growing tumour with a very poor prognosis. Gleason scores are also useful in predicting the risk of death from this tumour. Men with Gleason scores of 2 to 4 face a minimal risk (4 to 7%) of death from prostate cancer over the next 15 years, while men with scores of 8 to 10 face a high risk (60 to 87%) of death.

The tumour is also staged according to alphabets A, B, C and D or according to the TNM (tumour, [lymph] node, and metastasis) mode of classification, in order to decide the overall prognosis of the tumour as well as the management and treatment plan. Surgery, cryotherapy, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy and chemotherapy are the treatment modalities useful in the management of prostate cancer. Local tumour, or locally advanced tumour is usually treated with a combination of surgery, cryotherapy, and radiation therapy. In the initial stages, watchful waiting is also considered a part of treatment, because of the slow growth of the tumour. Hormonal therapy and chemotherapy are considered for metastatic tumour, when it has spread to other parts of the body; however, treatment at this stage is considered to be palliative and not curative.

In this scenario, Ayurvedic herbal treatment can prove to be a boon for patients with locally advanced prostate cancer or metastatic tumour. Ayurvedic treatment can also prove to be very useful for patients with recurrent tumour, who have completed the full course of conventional treatment. Advanced or metastatic tumour needs aggressive treatment and therefore, Ayurvedic treatment for this condition needs to be instituted at the earliest, with the herbs being given in high doses. Herbal medicines which are useful in this condition have a specific affinity for the prostate and urinary tract, and also target the cancer cells within the tumour. These medicines are given in combination with other herbal medicines which have an immunomodulatory effect, so that the combined effect serves to treat the tumour at the earliest, prevents its spread to other parts of the body, and also prevents a recurrence of the condition. The added advantage of these medicines is that they do not exhibit any major toxicity even if used for prolonged periods and in high doses.

Some medicines useful in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer include Gokshur (Tribulus terrestris), Varun (Craetea nurvala), Saariva (Hemidesmus indicus), Manjishtha (Rubia cordifolia), Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), Gokshuradi Guggulu, Chandraprabha Vati, Kanchnaar Guggulu, and Maha-Manjishthadi Qadha. The combination of Ayurvedic herbal and herbo-mineral medicines has to be tailor-made according to the presentation of symptoms and the severity of the tumour in each individual. Ayurvedic treatment normally needs to be given for about 9 to12 months in order to bring about significant remission of advanced prostate cancer, as well as prevent or treat metastatic tumour. The judicious use of Ayurvedic medicines can significantly improve quality of life and the overall life span of individuals affected with advanced disease.

Such Ayurvedic herbal and herbo-mineral combinations are equally useful in patients with recurrent prostate cancer; in such individuals, immunomodulatory treatment acquires special significance, since a strong immune system helps to fight against the tumour and prevents spread or recurrence. Needless to say, Ayurvedic treatment can prove to be most useful when started at the earliest possible, and therefore it would be logical to initiate this treatment along with other conventional treatment even for individuals having localised or low-risk prostate cancer.

Ayurvedic herbal treatment thus has a definite role to play in the management and treatment of advanced prostate cancer.

Dr. A. A. Mundewadi is Chief Ayurvedic Physician at Mundewadi Ayurvedic Clinic based at Thane, Maharashtra, India. He is available as an online Ayurvedic Consultant at http://www.ayurvedaphysician.com/
The online clinic offers Ayurvedic treatment for all chronic and refractory health problems. Dr. A. A. Mundewadi, B.A.M.S., has clinical experience of over 25 years and clinical research experience of 12 years. He has conducted extensive research in HIV infection, Schizophrenia and many other chronic diseases.

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Although peritoneal mesothelioma case is rarer than pleural mesothelioma, it is often more aggressive and gives lower life expectancy compared to the pleural form. Peritoneal mesothelioma may develop as an extension of pleural mesothelioma through the lymphatic system or stand alone as the primary site of the cancer.

Most people suffering from peritoneal mesothelioma failed to recognize the symptoms as they resemble flu symptoms such as nausea or vomiting, abdominal pain or fever. A change in bowel movement may occur once the cancerous tumor grows bigger downward, on the other hand if the tumor develops upward it can disturb the respiratory system. Pain in abdominal region can happen when the mass of tumor pressurizes the nerve fibers. Weight loss and swelling abdomen are other indications of this abdominal cancer, however when patients seek their doctors' opinions at this stage it could be too late as normally the cancer has spread and grown bigger in the peritoneal cavity or abdominal cavity.

Diagnosis of peritoneal mesothelioma is very difficult and there is no defined system so far that can differentiate the stages of the cancerous tumor development. When needed, TNM staging system is normally used to detect the cancer in stages.

Treatments for peritoneal mesothelioma are similar to what is used for pleural mesothelioma which may include chemotherapy, radiation or surgery. Although these treatments can't cure the cancer, they does provide a better prognosis compared to the pleural mesothelioma. The for untreated cases is 6 months to 1 year but with aggressive treatments patients can expect to live for another 2 - 5 years.

Despite of poor life expectancy, some patients with mesothelioma successfully beat the disease and live much longer than expected. Instead of weeping and waiting for the death coming they searched for alternative solutions and radically changed their lifestyles. That's how they managed to be the survivors of mesothelioma. Rhio O'Connor and Paul Kraus for example were given a few months only to live but they rejected the idea of giving up and were determined to survive instead. No matter how small your chance is, you should never
give up.

To learn more information about peritoneal mesothelioma and other mesothelioma types and what cures are available please visit our website today.

The body is not able to fight asbestos inhalation or ingestion because of the nature of the asbestos dust and its fibers. The extent of internal damage strongly depends on when the diagnosis is made (at which phase) and the available and affordable treatment of mesothelioma. The chances of a better life expectancy are possible if the diagnosis is made early. The tumors spread throughout the body when a late diagnosis is made and then there is no alternative but to go in for pain relief treatment which is also one of the main treatment options.

Malignant mesothelioma is caused due to constant exposure to asbestos contained materials. The affected person may display obscure health problems once affected. With the advancement of the disease, the treatment becomes very difficult and life expectancy gets shortened. To improve mesothelioma life expectancy, early diagnosis and treatment becomes indispensable.

Chemotherapy:

Chemotherapy is one form of treatment for improving mesothelioma life expectancy. Two or more drugs may be administered at the same time. Cancer cells get destroyed in chemo treatment. Chemotherapy is also used to help shrink a tumor and also destroy cancer cells that almost always remain after surgery. It also helps subsequent immunotherapy and radiation to work better. Sometimes surgery is not an option and if the cancer cells have spread from the original tumor to the rest of the body, chemotherapy is the only way out. However, there are various discomforting side effects of chemotherapy.

Radiation therapy:

Radiation is another treatment to improve mesothelioma life expectancy and is given in a very high dose. It destroys tumors and reduces the spread of malignant mesothelioma. Several types of radiation are used in different ways to help in the treatment of the cancer. Radiation is also used for pain relief while treating other cancers, but not without its side effects.

Surgery and other therapies:

Parts of the body which are cancerous due to malignant mesothelioma have to be removed through surgery. The limitations and implications of surgery also depend upon where the cancer is primarily present. Along with the other treatment options, surgery is popularly used in conjunction. Before the cancer spreads throughout the body, surgery may be an effective option.

There are a number of therapies adopted in the research and trial stages. Immunotherapy is being investigated, where the immune system of the body is stimulated to fight back. The cancer vaccine is the main support of the active immunotherapy procedure. Passive immunotherapy involves the administration of immune system components outside of the body.

Another important development at the research stage is gene therapy. Mesothelioma causes a lot of damage to the DNA and this only complicates the methods of finding specific genes hat could actually help in tracking and killing the mesothelioma cancer cells. Nevertheless, research is on and it does show some promise.

Photosensitizing drugs are administered into the body intravenously in the photodynamic treatment option. To treat the cancerous cells, a fixed frequency light is used and the drugs are targeted at the cancerous cells. There are certain side effects to this treatment too.

Sometimes, but not always, mesothelioma life expectancy and malignant mesothelioma is caused due to exposure to asbestos containing materials. Exposure could take years to manifest - literally 20 to 40 years for the first signs to surface.

Asbestos exposes the human body to a silent killer - malignant mesothelioma. If proper precautions are taken the fact remains that this 'death sentence' can be avoided. Many of the doctors in private practices across the globe give this verdict.

It is to the turn of the twentieth century that the origins of this silent killer malignant mesothelioma can be traced. Many industrial giants at the time were introduced to the new material asbestos. Due to its high flexibility, this component was widely incorporated, as is still being used, to exploit its ingrained insulative properties. This very material claims the lives of many workers who were once working around it and using it. Relatives and friends of the person affected also remain at risk of contracting the disease.

Avoid exposure in the first place:

A person can get affected by asbestos indirectly. It is suggested that you avoid taking on any kind of roof repair or any other building repair work at home on your own. It is advisable to hire the services of a professional who understands the danger caused due to asbestos exposure. If mesothelioma is detected early, the chances of suppressing it are much higher. It is important to get yourself checked as early as possible to avoid further complications if you are ever in doubt about the risk of exposure.

It is prolonged exposure to asbestos that causes malignant mesothelioma; a deadly cancer. This malignant cancer is different from other forms of cancer due to the fat that it remains dormant within the carrier system for decades, anywhere between 30 and even 40 years! It is after this period that the symptoms become apparent. Mesothelioma cancer does not become malignant immediately but takes a number of years.

Hire an experienced mesothelioma attorney:

As compared to the yester years, today there is a higher diagnosis rate and chance of detection of this form of malignant mesothelioma. The disease raises its ugly head after 30 to 40 years and till then the carriers live with this deadly killer without experiencing any symptoms. Due to the negligence on the part of employers, thousands of cases have been brought before the courts around the world to help victims in improving mesothelioma life expectancy. Most of the cases are winning and victims are being paid in huge sums. This has given rise to a new breed of attorneys who specialize in this field.

Detect it early:

People affected by malignant mesothelioma cannot be cured with any amount of money at their disposal. But instead of turning the money down, it can be used to find various treatment options to relieve the pain and prolong life, thus improving mesothelioma life expectancy. The first thing is to work towards an early detection of this cancer, because only then can a more effective treatment be put in place to help in improving the survival rate. Mesothelioma has always been a silent killer and thousands have been exposed and affected by this killer disease already. Sit back, contemplate and identify asbestos exposure now to tap on potential help.

Your mesothelioma life expectancy can be put is danger if it is unwittingly subjected to the highly toxic material, asbestos. Without any trial every year thousands of people are sentenced to such a death with malignant mesothelioma.