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

Prostate cancer is the number one cancer affecting men in North America. The risk of getting prostate cancer increases with age, lifestyle and family history. While there is nothing you can do about aging, you can make some lifestyle changes that will help with prevention.

For better prostate health, avoid foods that are high in fat, like meats and dairy, that can elevate testosterone levels and can stimulate prostate cell enlargement and growth. Minimize alcohol consumption. Certain foods can also help prevent prostate cancer and slow down the growth.

Increase your intake of soy - use it to replace high fat foods like red meats and cheese. Increase your zinc by eating foods like pumpkin seeds in the shell, nuts, oysters and beans. Selenium is also important and can be found in tuna, eggs, shellfish, wheat germ, herring, kelp, onions, garlic, mushrooms, brazil nuts, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds and cashews.

Exercise is very important for prostate health. It helps improve circulation and blood flow to the prostate gland. It also helps digestion which includes the removal of waste. Exercising also helps to keep the weight off since obesity leads to an increased risk. Be sure to get enough sleep as well. It helps with stress levels and allows the body to repair itself.

Early screening and detection is crucial, since success rates are very high when the cancer is in the early stages and confined to the prostate. Men over 50 should get annual screenings. While prostate cancer in men younger than 50 is rare, men with a family history of prostate cancer should begin screening at age 40.

For men that have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, they should speak to their urologists to consider treatment options. There are the traditional options like surgery and radiation, which can have unfortunate side effects including incontinence and impotency. There are also alternative treatments including chemotherapy, hormone therapy, cryotherapy, brachytherapy and high intensity focused ultrasound or HIFU.

HIFU is one of the newer prostate cancer treatments where high intensity focused ultrasound is used to destroy cancer tumors with pinpoint accuracy. The procedure is non-invasive and non-surgical, using computerized imaging and controlled by specially trained urological surgeons. The procedure takes approximately 2-2.5 hours and recovery time is much faster than with other forms of treatment. The success rate is similar to traditional treatment methods, like surgery and radiation, but with fewer side effects.

The procedure began in Europe, and there are now 10 year published results showing the high success rates. In North America, the procedure is not available in the U.S., but was approved in Canada in 2003. The first clinic to open in North America was the Maple Leaf HIFU clinic in Toronto. They have performed over 700 treatments - more than any other North American clinic. They are staffed by top urologists who prefer this less invasive option because of the positive outcome with fewer side effects. If you are diagnosed with prostate cancer, speak to your urologist about HIFU and other treatment options, and do your own research online.

Nancy Stonecutter is a nurse who writes about family and child care. She recommends the http://www.hifu.ca/ site for more information on this prostate cancer treatment option.

View the original article here

Prostate cancer is the leading cancer among men in North America. Early detection is important since the outlook for successful treatment is very high with the earlier cancer stages. Prostate cancer can grow very slowly or be very aggressive, so your urologist will want to check your PSA levels and do a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis and monitor the disease. Younger men (50-80) faced with prostate cancer are often concerned with significant side effects after treatment. Radiation and surgery can often result in incontinence and impotence. General health, age and the stage of the cancer will also impact the treatment decision.

There are many options for prostate cancer treatment and recovery. The traditional treatments like surgery and radiation are still popular, but urologists are also recommending alternative treatment options including HIFU or High Intensity Focused Ultrasound.

HIFU is a prostate cancer treatment option that uses the heat from the ultrasound waves to kill the cancer in the prostate. The waves are focused and precise up to 1/10thof a millimeter. A specially trained urologist uses a computer controlled rectal probe to recreate a 3D image of the prostate on screen and fires 600-700 pin point accurate ultrasound rays to the targets on the prostate. HIFU can treat the prostate with minimal damage to surrounding tissues and organs. It is also non-invasive and non-surgical, done under a general or local anesthesia.

An outpatient HIFU procedure is beneficial because it helps individuals recover from the disease with fewer significant side effects than other prostate cancer options such as radiation therapy and radical prostatectomy surgery. In fact, no deaths have been reported with the HIFU type of treatment. More quality of life can be maintained after outpatient HIFU treatment is complete as it is much easier on the body.

Generally, individuals who choose this method only need one round of treatment, which can last 2-3 hours. However, more treatments can be scheduled if needed if the cancer is persistent and PSA scores are still elevated months later

Extensive research has been done on outpatient HIFU procedures. Within 48 hours of this treatment the complete destruction of the glandular tissue in the prostate area has begun and by three months it is replaced by a healthier fibrotic tissue. There is a residual effect in the PSA levels of individuals who undergo this treatment. Before beginning the program, these levels are often very high, but begin to regress once treatment has begun until they reach a normal low level.

The HIFU procedure does not require an extended stay. It can conveniently be done in licensed and registered HIFU clinic. The procedure is not available in the U.S., but it is available in Canada and Europe. Worldwide, over 30,000 men have treated their prostate cancer by HIFU.

Most published data and clinical results of more than 10 years of HIFU in Europe and North America are based on the Ablatherm HIFU device. There is one other HIFU device manufactured by a US company called Sonablate. The first North American clinic to offer the procedure was the Maple Leaf HIFU clinic. They began offering the procedure in 2005, shortly after Health Canada approved it in 2003. That clinic, located inside the Cleveland Clinic Canada, is the only North American clinic that offers the Ablatherm treatment. The clinic is staffed by top urologists and is licensed in the province of Ontario.

The HIFU prostate cancer treatment is gaining favor with patients and physicians as it is non-invasive and offers similar success rates to radiation and surgery. Anyone considering treatments should do their research and consider all the options available after discussing treatments with their urologist.

Barb Francis, aka Cooking Queen, is an author, food and health expert. She looks for natural and alternative treatments and foods to promote health and wellness.

View the original article here

Prostate cancer is now the most common cancer affecting North American men. Over 180,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in the U.S. this year alone. In Canada, approximately 25,500 men will be diagnosed. It is estimated that 4,300 of those men will die from the disease, as it is the third leading cause of death among cancers.

The prostate is a chestnut size gland that is located in front of the rectum, behind the bladder. The prostate produces the majority of the seminal fluid that is used to transport sperm. There are no obvious signs of prostate cancer when it is in the early stages, and it may develop slowly at first. Early detection is crucial since the cure rate is much higher for early stages of the disease. Annual screenings are recommended for men over 50 years of age, or earlier for younger men if there is a history of prostate cancer in the family.

Prostate cancer occurs when cells do not follow the normal cycle of dividing, maturing and then dying, but outlive normal cells and form new, abnormal cells. These abnormal cell growths are called tumors. In order to determine the best course of treatment and the likelihood of a successful treatment outcome, urologists will perform a biopsy and assign a stage to describe the cancer. The stages are classified according to T-N-M (tumor-nodal metastasis and other metastasis). The stages indicate the size and number of the tumors, and if the diseases has spread beyond the prostate. The earliest stage (T-1) has a 90% or higher cure rate. The highest stage (T-4) responds poorly to all forms of treatment as the disease is locally extensive. Therefore, early screening and treatment is the key to success.

If you have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, you will need to consider your treatment options. The best option for you will vary depending on your age, health and personal preferences. The most common traditional options are radiation and surgery (radical prostatectomy). These options can be very hard on the body, with longer recuperation times and possible side effects including impotency and incontinence. Other non-surgical prostate cancer treatment options include hormone therapy, chemotherapy, brachytherapy and cryotherapy. Another one of the newer treatment options that is gaining favor with urologists and patients is HIFU or High Intensity Focused Ultrasound.

With HIFU, ultrasound waves are delivered with pinpoint accuracy to heat and destroy tumors on the prostate. The procedure lasts approximately 2-3 hours and is out-patient based. Since it is non-surgical and non-invasive, recovery is faster and there are fewer side effects. Success rates compare favorably to surgery and radiation. HIFU is not available in the U.S., but it is available in Canada and Europe. The first HIFU clinic was opened in Toronto in 2005, shortly after Health Canada approved the treatment in 2003. The Maple Leaf HIFU clinic in Toronto has treated over 700 patients, more than any other North American clinic. Over 30,000 men have been treated by HIFU worldwide. There are now documented clinical studies and research that date back over the past decade showing success rates for Ablatherm HIFU that are favorable to those of radical prostatectomy or radiation.

The best choice of treatment will also depend on your health, age, any prior treatments and lifestyle, as well as insurance and finances. If you have prostate cancer, learn more about surviving prostate cancer and the treatment options available to you by doing your research online and discussing options with your urologist and loved ones.

Barb Francis, aka Cooking Queen, is an author, health and kitchen expert. Barb believes healthy living can prevent or cure most diseases, and many foods have curative properties that can keep us healthy and disease free. http://www.cookingqueen.wordpress.com/

View the original article here

One of the most prominent prostate cancer treatments available is high intensity focused ultrasound, or HIFU. This updated technology helps men by removing cancerous tissue on the prostate and around it via an advanced acoustic ablation technique using ultrasound wave powers. The area where the cancer is forming is targeted via sound waves enabling HIFU to raise the tissue's temperature, causing the tissue to break down, thus eliminating the cancer.

Many physicians recommend HIFU because of the limited harmful side effects if presents. Because of the precision and control associated with HIFU, other side effects common to other prostate cancer treatments, including incontinence and erectile dysfunction, are greatly reduced. The whole HIFU procedure often takes only three hours and a few hours after the procedure is over, men are able to go home. Minimal anesthesia is utilized during the HIFU process to lower the level of discomfort men may feel with the rectal probe. HIFU does not use radiation and is considered non-ionizing. This simple means that the HIFU treatment may be utilized on more than one occasion if necessary without causing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. Because of this fact, many cancer physicians utilize HIFU if they find little success with other treatment options for prostate cancer.

For prostate cancer treatment, many physicians look toward the Sonablate 500, a very well known HIFU system utilized in many hospitals and clinics. Controlled via a computer, the Sonablate 500 delivers HIFU energy toward the prostate using a rectal probe. This action is set to eliminate all tissue in the area that has been affected by cancer. The Sonablate 500 utilizes integrated biplanar ultrasound imaging, offering real-time monitoring and planning of the treatment, as well as before and after images of the prostate and the infected area.

The HIFU system can be compared to the concept of focusing the rays of the sun through any magnifying lens. Precise focusing of the ultrasound energy is provided by HIFU. This focusing of the ultrasound energy increases the affected tissue's temperature in the targeted area. This is done very rapidly while all unaffected tissue in the area remains safe and does not increase in temperature. The physician, when the procedure is over, is able to monitor the precise lesion located in the target area. However, before this can occur, first the physician creates a plan to locate all the infected tissue areas. Numerous physicians prescribe to HIFU because it offers high imaging resolution. This enables physicians to efficiently identify the vital structures in the area, including the recta wall, neurovascular bundles, and seminal vesicles. This guarantees that only cancer-affected areas are targeted and no unnecessary damage occurs.

Before the HIFU therapy can occur, patients must have two enemas prior to the treatment, often two hours. Light anesthesia is administered to ensure that the patient remains completely still throughout the procedure as a very small rectal probe is used. This probe emits a number of ultrasound waves that will bounce off tissue. Physicians are provided with real-time images of the entire area, providing them with detailed and immediate feedback. At the end of the procedure, only two hours of recovery time are needed to let the anesthesia wear off. In only a few days time, patients may return to their life.

Dr. Anshu Guleria and his staff at the Virginia Prostate Cancer Center have considerable experience in minimally invasive treatments for prostate cancer. They will take the time to sit down with you to see if HIFU is the right prostate cancer treatment for you. When HIFU became available in North America, Dr. Guleria studied the reports of its use in Europe and decided that HIFU is going to be the next evolution in localized prostate cancer therapy. Dr. Guleria is the most experienced doctor practicing HIFU for Prostate Cancer in Virginia and he looks forward to helping you decide what is the best prostate cancer treatment option for you. For more information, please go to http://www.virginiaprostatecancer.com/

View the original article here

Prostate cancer is the leading cancer among men in North America. 80% of men over 80 will get prostate cancer. The prostate is a chestnut size gland which produces proteins and fluids to carry sperm upon ejaculation. Usually, there are no obvious signs or symptoms of prostate cancer, at least not when it is in the early stages. The cure rate is very high when it is in the beginning stages, so early detection is crucial. Treatment in the T-1 and T-2 stages has a 90% or better cure rate, so it is important to know how to take control of your prostate health and what to look for.

All men over theage of 50 should get annual screening, unless there is a history of prostate cancer in the family, at which point they should start screening at 40. The only reliable way to way to determine if prostate cancer exists is by visiting your doctor for a screening. Screening can be a relatively simple procedure which usually begins with a digital rectal examination. Your doctor will check your prostate by inserting a gloved finger into the rectum. The prostate in located below the bladder, in front of the rectum, so your doctor will be able to feel the prostate via the rectum to check for tumors. The other form of screening is a PSA or prostate-specific antigen test. The PSA test gives a reading of protein made by the prostate. A low PSA level of less than 4 ng/mL, would usually mean no further testing is required. If the PSA Levels are high, or rise over time, then your urologist will want to evaluate further.

If the tests lead your physician to suspect that prostate cancer may be indicated, a biopsy will likely be performed. This is the only sure way to diagnose prostate cancer. A local anesthetic is generally given, then an ultrasound probe is inserted to check for abnormalities. A biopsy needle is inserted to take 6 to 12 tissue samples, which are then viewed under a microscope. The tissue samples are compared to normal prostate samples, then given a Gleason score of 1 to 5, with 1 being close to normal and 5 being highly abnormal. Your doctor will determine the stage of the cancer and how far the cancer has spread. High PSA scores indicate a more aggressive cancer, with tumors more likely to grow and spread to other organs. The risk category and the need for treatment will be determined by the size and extent of the tumors, combined with the PSA levels and Gleason score.

Treatment options will vary depending on the risk category. Your age, health, race and family history will also be taken into consideration when determining the best course of action, so it is wise to research your options and discuss them with your urologist. For organ confined prostate cancer, one of the best prostate cancer treatment options is HIFU, which minimizes the possibility of risks and complications, including impotency and incontinence. HIFU is High Intensity Focused Ultrasound, where ultrasound waves are used to destroy the cancer tumors. A specially trained physician uses a computer guided Ablatherm HIFU probe which targets the tumors with pinpoint accuracy, without damaging surrounding organs or tissues. Get an annual prostate exam for early detection and learn more about the HIFU prostate cancer treatment if you are diagnosed with the disease. A healthy lifestyle and regular check ups are essential for men over the age of 50, as prostate cancer is the leading cancer for men in North America.

Nancy Stonecutter is a nurse who writes about family and child care. Visit her blog at http://www.nancythenurse.wordpress.com/ for more information.

View the original article here

Since the Sonablate 500 for HIFU, or high intensity focused ultrasound, hit the medical market, many more physicians are using this minimally invasive procedure. The Sonablate 500 uses what is known as a transrectal probe that enables the physician to focus all the ultrasound waves onto a targeted area of the prostate. The procedure only takes up to four hours and is considered an out-patient procedure. Physicians have found a number of advantages with this new technology, making the Sonablate 500 the most trusted HIFU treatment currently available.

If possible, individuals are always looking for ways to not stay in the hospital overnight after a procedure. As previously mentioned, the Sonablate 500 is an out-patient procedure. This is because there is no surgery and the procedure is does not leave the patient in much pain. A wider therapy zone is offered because of the design of the transducer focal length and probe. Because the zone is 120 degrees, physicians are capable of getting fast access to the targeted area on the prostate without ever having to reposition the probe.

Physicians like the Sonablate 500 for HIFU because it offers them great imaging of the whole prostate gland and areas surrounding it. Physicians are provided with immediate feedback through the use of images made in real time, allowing them to have the ultimate precision necessary throughout the duration of the procedure. Through superior imaging, a customized plan can be developed for the patient. Three dimensional imaging is also provided to further enable a physician to plan a precise treatment plan to attack all targeted areas.

The design of the Sonablate 500 has been updated to assist physicians and make the procedure more comfortable for the patient. Prior to the development of the Sonablate 500, machines for HIFU did not have power level adjustment capabilities. This meant that no matter the patient's prostate cancer situation, every patient was treated with the same level of power. As well, prior to the Sonablate 500, physicians had minimal control over the probe placement and positioning because it was a stationary device. The Sonablate 500 took these items in mind and created power adjustment capabilities to increase safety and customize each patient's plan. Not only that, but the Sonablate 500 allows physicians to move the probe and readjust it for maximum comfort and most advantageous outcome.

Quite possible the biggest risk that patients are concerned about when it comes to treating prostate cancer with HIFU is the possibility of it causing erectile dysfunction. They have heard a number of stories where men undergo a procedure to eliminate the affected areas of the prostate but become impotent after. The manufactures of the Sonablate 500 were able to create integrated software and hardware that allows it to locate blood flow as well as neurovascular bundles through precision techniques. Because of the amazing imaging capabilities plus the ability to adjust the power level and have full control over the probe itself, the physician is able to avoid all neurovascular bundles that may cause nerve damage leading to impotence.

Central Maryland Urology Associates is a state-of-the-art urology practice, comprised of 8 urologists located in Columbia, Maryland, half-way between Washington, DC and Baltimore, Maryland. CMUA is the only urology practice exclusively serving Howard County for over 30 years.The CMUA mission is to provide the highest quality of urologic care for our entire community through innovation, service excellence, compassion, and patient safety.

The CMUA HIFU Center is headed by Dr. Kevin Blumenthal, one of only a select few urologists trained in HIFU in the entire Mid-Atlantic region. http://www.marylandprostatecancer.com/

View the original article here

Prostate cancer is the number one cancer affecting men in North America today. The number of men diagnosed with the disease continues to increase, but the good news is that there are also better treatment options and higher rates of cure than ever before. Better screening and tests has led to earlier diagnosis, usually before prostate cancer becomes clinically evident. Early stages (T-1 and T-2) have a very good prognosis for cure through several treatment options. The traditional options of radical prostatectomy and radiation may not be the best choices, especially for younger men 50-75, as side effects can include impotency and incontinence. There are alternative forms of treatment available that are non-invasive with similar cure rates. One of those treatments is HIFU, or High Intensity Focused Ultrasound.

For patients with organ confined prostate cancer, especially early stages of prostate cancer, HIFU is a treatment procedure that should be considered over the traditional treatment methods of surgery or radiation. HIFU is non-invasive, there are fewer side effects, and recovery is faster as it is a single treatment. Post HIFU outcomes remain very positive - comparable to radiation and surgery.

HIFU was approved for use in Canada in 2003. Maple Leaf HIFU was the first HIFU clinic in North America, opening in May 2005. The clinic has treated more men with prostate cancer than any other HIFU clinic in North America. Maple Leaf HIFU has treated over 700 patients in their downtown Toronto clinic. Maple Leaf HIFU is staffed with top urologists and registered nurses specially trained in the high intensity focused ultrasound procedure.

The medical director of the clinic is Dr. William Orovan, a urologist with almost 30 years experience. He explains how he got involved with HIFU, "I have felt for some time that we need to look for treatment options for prostate cancer that are less invasive, with high expectation of cure - but minimal side effects. Ablative technologies, like Ablatherm HIFU, carry small risks of damage to collateral tissue. Unlike radiation, there is no risk of significant damage to the bladder or rectum over the short or long term."

HIFU has not yet been approved in the USA, but has been around in Europe much longer than North America. Worldwide, over 30,000 men have been treated with HIFU. Extensive clinical studies and published research on Ablatherm HIFU from the past decade show that the outcomes and results are similar to radical prostatectomy and radiation for destroying the cancer. HIFU is a preferred treatment since damage to surrounding nerves and organs is minimal, resulting in fewer side effects and complications. There is also less down time and quality of life is preserved.

Maple Leaf HIFU is located inside the Cleveland Clinic Canada - a world renown hospital, care, research and training center. The Maple Leaf HIFU clinic is the only clinic in North America with the Ablatherm device to perform HIFU. The procedure is done on an outpatient basis.

If you are diagnosed with prostate cancer, learn about HIFU prostate cancer and other treatment options. Then discuss them with your doctor and family to find the best treatment for your age, lifestyle, cancer stage and other factors.

Stephanie Browning (Eco Chick) is an environmentally conscious mom and activist who likes to learn about alternative methods for medicine, technolgical advances and creating a better, healthier planet.

View the original article here

Did you know that nearly 200,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year? Quite alarming if you come to think of it. But most of the cases are actually low-grade. That means the tumors are slow-growing and small. So slow and small that there really is not much threat to life. In fact, most of these men will probably die of something else before the cancer even starts to get them.

However, most men with low-grade cancer immediately jump into traditional prostate cancer treatments such as surgery or radiation therapy. Without being fully aware of the possible consequences. Or they may be aware of them, but they just didn't understand how great the impact will be. More out of sense of getting it out and over with rather than a logical approach to their problem.

Afterwards they are stuck with leading miserable sex lives on top of their unending runs to the bathroom. Which they could have avoided had they decided to consider watchful waiting and just treat the cancer as it progresses - if it progresses.

Let's say you have been diagnosed with low-grade, slow-growing prostate cancer. Which would you choose? To deal with the side effects of treatment or maintain your quality of life? You see you actually have an option to set aside these conventional treatments and just turn to them when the time comes. If and when you need to. But for now? Just enjoy your life as it is.

This we call - watchful waiting.

What is Watchful Waiting?
Watchful waiting or active surveillance is one option for managing prostate cancer. It means deciding not to resort to traditional treatments like radiation, surgery, and seed implants just yet.

Watchful waiting does not mean you're not going to do nothing about it. Rather, you're just delaying the treatment, if possible, so you still get to put off the side effects and continue to live life as it was meant to be lived - manhood intact.

With watchful waiting, your condition has to be regularly monitored naturally. This means getting your PSA levels every 3-6 months and undergoing annual biopsies to assess whether the cancer cells have spread or have become more aggressive. If the tests reveal the aggressive growth of cancer then that's the only time when the patient may begin with the appropriate treatment.

FACT: Turns out nearly 70% of those with elevated PSA levels come back with negative biopsies. Also for some, PSA readings can fluctuate more than you'd think from day to day.

Obviously your relationship with your doctor is crucial here. Since you need to closely work together in assessing, monitoring, and managing your condition.

The Role of Biopsy
Biopsy is a very important part of the watchful waiting routine since it is the only way for doctors to get the insights they need about the progress of the cancer. During a biopsy, the pathologist is able to stage the cancer as well as assess whether the cancer has any potential to get aggressive.

How Effective Is Watchful Waiting? - The Statistics Says It All
According to one study, men who were diagnosed with low-grade slow growing cancer who sought active surveillance were shown to have an almost 80% survival rate. And that the patients are nearly 19 times more likely to die in 10 years due to causes other than the cancer.

The Issue on Overtreatment
Many doctors now believe that prostate cancer is actually being over-treated. They conclude this since 40% of men diagnosed with prostate cancer are actually perfect candidates for watchful waiting. Yet actual statistics shows that 90% of men are opting for radical treatments. And so these patients never would have to deal with the side effects should they have elected not to embrace any surgical procedure. An important fact considering they are still projected to survive for several years without experiencing any of the symptoms.

Still you can't blame men who decide to take the route of surgery. Because not everyone would be able to face the day knowing what might be going on in their prostate. In fact, some studies support that a third of men chose treatment because of their anxiety over watchful waiting. It was simply too difficult for them to cope with it emotionally.

Who Are the Perfect Candidates?
For those patients whose tumors are small and slow growing (this means those with PSA levels less than 10 and Gleason Score less than 7), watchful waiting may be the better route to take. However, watchful waiting is not for everyone. Basically high risk patients such as those with prostate cancer family history and those who are African Americans are more likely to develop aggressive cancers so they may be better off deciding to elect a treatment option of some sort.

What Are the Risks Involved?
The only risk involved in watchful waiting is when the prostate cancer has been misclassified. For example, the lab techs failed to detect aggressive cancer cells which had already spread into other regions. That's why you need to work closely with your physician so you can carefully monitor your condition and minimize such risk.

The Bright Light
In the hope of medical experts to be able to help patients decide better on how to manage their condition, scientists are now actually working on genetic tests that would hopefully pre-determine which certain cancers are slow growing or aggressive. Still, we need to keep our hopes high.

Deciding on what approach you should take in managing your cancer is something which you have to mull over carefully. Because you basically have to tradeoff the side effects of radical treatments vs. the anxiety of living with the cancer. So it's still your choice in the end. Which would you find easier to live with?

Protecting men from themselves is a full time job. Whether it's explaining the ins and outs of prostate cancer treatments to what to make of your Gleason score. ProblemProstate.com can help with that and other prostate health issues.

View the original article here

High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) is gaining popularity as a novel, non-invasive method for the treatment of prostate cancer. It is an extremely accurate procedure which aims to destroy all pathogenic tissues by high frequency sound waves. This kind of treatment method had been long sought by doctors to treat prostate cancer. Some of the possible benefits of HIFU for prostate cancer as opposed to traditional methods of treatment are less loss of erectile function and less incontinence. Thus, HIFU is an extremely desirable treatment for many men.

HIFU has been used for years in Europe and Asia but has only just been approved in other parts of the world. Unfortunately, while some countries like Canada accepted data garnered from European studies about the efficacy of HIFU, others like The United States did not, and it is currently in trials in America.

Unfortunately, this leaves Americans with no options for this procedure other than to leave the country for treatment. Although cost for HIFU in countries like Canada and Mexico can be above $25,000, the treatment can be had in other countries for less than half of that.

Passport Medical, North America's leading medical tourism company and the winner of the 2011 "Leadership Excellence In Medical Facilitation" award organizes overseas HIFU treatments for American and Canadian patients looking for affordability, quality, and safety. Fortunately, the prostate treatment with HIFU only requires 3-4 days away, and patients can usually return to work immediately after their return.

The Growth Of Medical Tourism And Its Benefits

Medical tourism refers to the practice of traveling internationally to obtain healthcare services. The idea is often initially met with a strange look, and then people realize the many benefits associated with the practice. Excellent quality healthcare services are provided all over the world in major metropolitan centers. Major private hospitals attract the top physicians, many who have trained internationally. This is why medical tourism is increasing at a rate of over 30% per year.

So why travel abroad for healthcare? There are typically several reasons this happens:

Uninsured Or Underinsured

Many Americans do not have health insurance and are looking for affordable options. With healthcare costs skyrocketing, many can't afford the often outrageous costs associated with necessary procedures like orthopedic surgery and cardiovascular surgery. Other countries often offer the same procedures in internationally accredited private hospitals for as much as 80-90% less. A knee replacement that can cost $50,000 in the US can be had for $7000 in Taiwan, for example, at one of the world's top joint replacement facilities.

More Affordable Elective Procedures

With the economy is dire straits, more people are being careful with their discretionary spending. Elective procedures like cosmetic surgery, fertility treatments like IVF, and dental care can be financially debilitating in the U.S. Countries like Costa Rica and Mexico attract tens of thousands of visitors each year for affordable dental and cosmetic surgery, and many of the clinics are treating over 85% North American patients due to the huge cost difference. A full mouth restoration that can cost $70,000 in the U.S. can cost as little as $15,000 In Costa Rica, a saving of 83%. In addition, many are shocked to find out The World Health Organization even ranks Costa Rican healthcare higher than U.S. healthcare, so arguments about diminished quality are totally unfounded.

Seeking Alternative Procedures

One other reason people are leaving home for healthcare is to access treatments that are not currently allowed in The United States. Treatments like stem cell therapy and promising treatments like HIFU for prostate cancer are attracting thousands of Americans each year in search of what they can't access at home. Medical tourists are taking control of their healthcare and seeking treatment options outside their borders.

Popular Destinations

Above 50 countries have acknowledge medical tourism as a national industry. Of these, a few are very well known. Countries like Costa Rica, Taiwan, India, Thailand, Singapore are only a few of the countries that are attracting tens of thousands, and in some cases hundreds of thousands of international patients every year.

Various agencies are now looking to help patients organize these foreign health trips and to provide affordable, high quality treatment options. Passport Medical has grown to be North America's leading medical tourism company connecting clients with the world's top facilities for healthcare. Passport Medical received the 2011 "Leadership Excellence In medical Facilitation" award and has been a keynote speaker at a variety of international medical tourism conferences.

View the original article here

High intensity focused ultrasound, also known as HIFU for short, is an updated technology to assist men diagnosed with prostate cancer. It provides an acoustic ablation technique that utilizes the power of ultrasound waves to get rid of cancerous tissue on and around the prostate with fine accuracy. The targeted area is focused on using sound waves, allowing HIFU to increase the temperature of the tissue, causing it to completely break down.

Because of HIFU's control and precision, the overall risk of negative side effects connected with other prostate cancer treatments are greatly reduced, including erectile dysfunction and incontinence. Men only have to set aside up to three hours for the HIFU process and it is listed as an out-patient procedure. The HIFU process is often done in one sitting and minimal spinal or epidural anesthesia is used just to limit discomfort of the rectal probe. There is no actual radiation associated with HIFU - it is non-ionizing, which means that this treatment can be used more than one without damaging healthy tissue. Because it can be used when necessary, many physicians look at HIFU as an alternative method if other prostate cancer treatment options do not work.

Sonablate 500 is the most popular HIFU system used in the treatment of prostate cancer. This device is controlled by a computer and it delivers HIFU energy at the prostate through a rectal probe that removes all the cancer-infected tissue in the region. The technology found in the Sonablate 500 uses integrated biplanar ultrasound imaging which provides planning and monitoring in real-time as well as images of the location of the prostate both before as well as after the treatment.

The action of the HIFU is comparable to the action of focusing sunlight through a magnifying lens. HIFU provides precise focusing of ultrasound energy during the therapy session which increases the core temperature of the tissue that is located in the focal zone. This is done at a quick pace and all intervening tissue located around the focal zone remain safe and do not undergo an increase in temperature. In the end, there is a precise lesion within the target area that can be easily monitored by the cancer physician. Before undergoing HIFU therapy, a plan is created to determine all the areas that harbor cancerous tissue. Many physicians like the HIFU system because its high imaging resolution allows physicians to easily identify all vital structures, including neurovascular bundles, rectal wall, and seminal vesicles, and guarantee that only the affected areas will be targeted without causing unnecessary damage.

Prior to the HIFU therapy, patients are required to undergo two enemas two hours prior to the procedure. Because the patients need to remain still all through the duration of the treatment, a light anesthetic is given. A small rectal probe is inserted into the patient that emits ultrasound waves that bounce off the tissue. During the procedure, real-time images are provided by the Sonablate 500 of all the areas in and around the prostate. This offers the physician with immediate, detailed feedback. When the procedure is done, individuals often need roughly two hours to fully recover from the anesthesia before being sent home. After a few days, they can go back to their regular life.

Central Maryland Urology Associates is a state-of-the-art urology practice, comprised of 8 urologists located in Columbia, Maryland, half-way between Washington, DC and Baltimore, Maryland. CMUA is the only urology practice exclusively serving Howard County for over 30 years.The CMUA mission is to provide the highest quality of urologic care for our entire community through innovation, service excellence, compassion, and patient safety.

The CMUA HIFU Center is headed by Dr. Kevin Blumenthal, one of only a select few urologists trained in HIFU in the entire Mid-Atlantic region.
http://www.marylandprostatecancer.com/

View the original article here

Prostate cancer is a serious problem that is most commonly found in older men. It is the third leading cause of cancer deaths in men of all ages, and the most common cause of cancer related deaths in men over 75. It is rarely found in men younger than 40 so it is very important to have common prostate checkups around that age.

Prostate cancer starts in the prostate gland, which is the walnut sized structure that is part of a man's reproductive system. There are a number of different treatment options. Doctors will run tests and review all of the different options with patients to come up with the most effective plan to treat prostate cancer.

One of the most well-known treatments is prostate surgery. Prostate surgery requires removing the prostate and tissue around it. This is really only an option when the cancer has not spread past the prostate gland making early detection critical. Before this surgery is done is does require a thorough discussion between the doctor and patient about all of the possible side effects and benefits. There are problems that can arise after the surgery which includes erection problems and difficulty controlling urine and bowel movements.

Another prostate treatment is radiation therapy. Radiation therapy is going to use x-rays or other radioactive methods to kills cancer cells. This is another treatment that works most effectively on prostate cancer that has not spread outside of the prostate. It may also be used after surgery to make sure no cancer cells survived in the prostate area.

This prostate cancer treatment is mostly painless and radiation therapy will normally last for 6 to 8 weeks. Treatments are normally done five times a week, but the patient can come from home they do not have to stay in the hospital. The device that uses radiation to kill prostate cancer cells looks like a normal x-ray machine. The side effects of this treatment can include impotence, loss of appetite, skin problems, and bladder problems.

Other slightly less used treatments include prostate brachytherapy, hormone therapy, and proton therapy. Brachytherapy includes placing little radioactive seeds into the prostate to kill cancer cells. Hormone therapy uses drugs to treat the symptoms associated with prostate cancer. Proton therapy is another radiation treatment but it normally causes less damage to the surrounding area. In the end, the best prostate cancer treatment is early detection and close monitoring of the area.

The Prostate Clinic, treatment and complete care for all the diseases and conditions which affect the prostate, urinary and reproductive system. Please visit our website at http://www.theprostateclinic.com/

View the original article here

Provenge (sipuleucel-T) manufactured by Dendreon corporation is the new therapeutic immunotherapy for prostate cancer patients with an advance metastatic tumor. The therapy was approved last April 29, 2010 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration allowing 12 manufacturing facilities in New Jersey to operate. During the annual meeting of the Genitourinary American Society of the Clinical Oncology on 2010, Doctor Philip Kantoff said that the study is considered to be the first large controlled clinical trial that showed an immune system based therapy that extended the lives of cancer patients. Recently, Dendreon's 36 manufacturing facilities in New Jersey were approved by the U.S. FDA allowing the company to increase Provenge production supply supporting the 12 manufacturing facilities that was already been approved last April of 2010.

Provenge is an autologous type of cellular immunotherapy that halts and delays prostatic tumor growth by targeting prostatic tumor antigens. This type of immunotherapy is designed to improve the prognosis and quality life of patients with advance and recurrent prostate cancer who are resistant to hormone therapy as well as to other treatment modalities. This therapy is believed to prolong the survival rates of metastatic prostate cancer patients. According to Dr. Daniel George, director of the Genitourinary Oncology, Provenge has the largest reported survival benefits in patients with asymptomatic (no symptoms) or the minimally symptomatic metastatic prostate cancer.

Provenge therapy works by collecting the patient's white blood cells and expose them with a prostate specific antigen known as prostatic acid phosphatase. These cells are incubated with the antigen that is designed to attack the prostate cancer when injected back to the patient. As it is inside the body of the patient, the antigen instructs the immune system to attack and destroy the cancer cells. This therapy is designed to induce an immune response against prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP); an antigen expressed in most prostate cancers. Provenge therapy is the first among the new class of therapeutic therapies that belong to an autologous cellular immunotherapy; it is a personalized type of immunotherapy treatment that makes use of the white blood cells of each patient. According to the Dana Farber cancer institute investigators, Provenge therapy marks the beginning of the new era in which patient's own immune systems become part of the therapeutic arsenal against cancer.

Men who are not responding to hormonal therapies and who have metastatic prostate cancer as well as the patients who experience little or no cancer-related pain having efficient organ functioning are candidates for the therapy. Provenge is administered thru infusion via the intravenous veins of a person. It is given at three doses having two weeks range of interval. 512 patients with advanced metastatic prostate cancer as well as the patients who were resistant to hormone therapy were enrolled to the clinical study of phase 3 trial conducted at the cancer treatment centers. Randomly, patients were given with Provenge and an inactive placebo. Compared to the patients who received the placebo pills, Provenge extended the patient's median survival by 4.1 months and has reduced the overall death rate by 22.5 percent. According to Dr. Mitchell Gold the president of Dendreon Corporation, the significant 4.1 month median survival benefit Provenge demonstrated a representation of a major milestone in the treatment of the metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer.

The common adverse reactions reported during the safety evaluation of 601 patients who underwent the Provenge treatment or the leukapheresis (extraction and incubation of white blood cells) procedure were fatigue, chills, fever, back pain, nausea, headache and joint ache. Critical adverse reactions that were reported in patients receiving Provenge include acute infusion reactions and cerebrovascular events e.g. stroke. Indications of infusion reactions include chills, difficulty of breathing, dizziness, hypertension and vomiting. The majority of the adverse reactions were mild to moderate in severity.

According to Dr. David Penson, a professor of the Urologic Surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, the approval of Provenge represents significant advancement in the care of men with advanced prostate cancer. Provenge now offers new treatment of choice among the few treatment options available. "The approval of Provenge, as the first autologous cellular immunotherapy, represents a new significant scientific and clinical advancement for the treatment of prostate cancer," said Philip Kantoff, Medical Doctor and Chief of the Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Chief of Clinical Research Officer at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.

Urieash Ul is a prostate cancer health expert who has been providing people relevant information about prostate cancer. You can visit his site to learn more about prostate cancer.

View the original article here

Assessing the outcome of radiation treatment for prostate cancer is both confusing and difficult. The ultimate outcome measure for the treatment of all forms of cancer is the number of people who die from it, but prostate deaths may not occur until ten, fifteen, or more years after treatment. Because the average age of men with prostate cancer who are treated with radiation has traditionally been older than that of men treated with surgery, many will die from other causes before living long enough to ascertain whether or not their prostate cancer would have killed them.

In lieu of using death as an outcome measure, most researchers on radiation treatment use a rising PSA level, as do those who measure the outcome of surgical treatment. However, there is a major difference: following surgical removal of the prostate, the PSA level is expected to drop to zero; following radiation treatment, this is not always the case. Radiation is expected to kill all the cancer cells, but not necessarily all the normal prostate cells. The same is true in radiation treatments for cancers of the breast or pituitary gland; radiation is expected to kill all cancer cells but not all normal cells, so the breast and pituitary continue to function after radiation treatments have been completed.

Following radiation treatment for prostate cancer, the PSA is expected to fall, but the level of which it is expected to fall is widely debated. Some researchers say it should become less than 1.0, others 0.5, and other 0.3.

Assessing the recurrence of cancer following radiation treatment is still more complicated, however, because of what is called the PSA bounce. In approximately one third of men treated with radiation, PSA levels increase one to three years after treatments, then return to a lower level. This rise does not signify the recurrence of cancer but is instead thought to be caused by a delayed release of PSA from irradiated cancer cells. The PSA increase associated with the bounce may last for as long as a year. During this time, there is no way tot ell whether the PSA increase is merely a PSA bounce that has no clinical significance, or whether the PSA increase is merely a PSA bounce that has no clinical significance, or whether it indicates a failure of radiation treatment and a recurrence of the cancer. If it is a PSA bounce, it will go back down; if not, it will continue to rise. Despite the problems in assessing the effectiveness of radiation treatment using the PSA, there is a strong evidence that the lower the PSA goes after radiation, the less are the chances of recurrence.

Comparing the outcomes of different studies of radiation treatment also generates problems. Some studies use the ASTRO guidelines, while other studies modify those guidelines or use an absolute PSA nadir, such as 1.0 or 0.5. Statistical problems are abundant: some studies use the actual numbers for the follow up period and other estimate future number based on the follow- up period.

Here you can find all the tips and info on prostate cancer symptoms and Symptoms of Prostate Problems. Whether you are new to the topic or an expert, make sure to learn more about prostate cancer.

View the original article here

Here I am back home after treatment for prostate cancer, feeling great and the NHS has performed at the highest level of excellence from beginning to the end.

How did it all start? I'm retired and age 73 leading an active life sailing and playing golf. Of course, like a lot of men, I almost never visit a doctor. I would be out playing golf and a friend might say something like "I have to watch it a bit as my cholesterol level is a getting high, what's yours like" My stock answer would be I don't know I never go to the doctor. That was until I had some prolonged diarrhea and the local pharmacy would not sell me any tablets but instead advised me to see my doctor. The doctor treated me for my symptoms with some tablets to stop the diarrhea but he also arranged for me to have a blood test. When the results came back I was told that everything was okay except that my PSA level was a little high at 5.5.

An appointment was made to see an Urologist at Canterbury hospital this was a routine examination of the prostate and a flow test. After this he arranged for me to come back the next day for a Biopsy where twelve small samples of tissue were taken from the prostate. This is a simple procedure that is performed with a camera scope and probe up the back passage with a local anaesthetic.

The next stage was to see a consultant back at Canterbury hospital who explained the findings from the Biopsy. This showed that there was Adencarcinoma of the prostate with one core showing a Gleason reading of 4+3=7. I was then referred to a surgeon who explained that there were two surgical options either regular that could be done in Canterbury hospital or laparoscopic surgery which could be undertaken at Kings hospital London. He also explained that there were other options like external and internal radiation.

I immediately said that I would prefer to avoid surgery if at all possible and would like to look at all the other treatments and especially Brachytherapy which is internal radiation with a number of radio active seeds being implanted directly into the prostate. I had heard of this procedure from a friend of mine, about the same age as me, who had recently been treated for his prostate cancer with this method.

The surgeon referred me to the Oncology department at Canterbury hospital after which an MRI scan was arranged in order to determine whether the disease had spread outside of the prostate or was confined. Fortunately for me it was found to be confined. I then saw Dr Thomas at Canterbury who agreed that I was a suitable candidate to undergo the Brachytherapy and a request was made for funding from their PCT. This was on the 9th November 2010.

In early January I received a letter advising me to attend the Maidstone hospital for a Pre-assessment on 26th January. All went smoothly and on 3rd February I attended the Maidstone hospital again this time for Mapping. This involves putting a catheter in that is filled with fluid, so that the urethra is visible and then a camera probe is inserted in the anus to explore and map exactly where the radioactive seed will be inserted. These stay active for a about a year gradually decreasing in output.

Three weeks later on 24th February 57 radio active seed were injected via 19 separate injections performed under a general anaesthetic. I was given antibiotics to prevent infection and other tablets to help with urinating as the prostate can get somewhat swollen after this procedure. I now feel great and have not had any side effects following the implants.

Brachytherapy is non invasive and would appear to be the ideal treatment for cancer of the prostate providing the disease is confined and not spread into other areas of the body and is also not too aggressive. Surgery although usually very successful can sometimes cause sexual dysfunction problems which is not something to worry about with Brachythereapy.

I have read so many horrifying stories of poor treatment and service at the hand of the NHS but in my case I have nothing but praise for everyone concerned from my local GP Dr. Kitchener, to the urologist, oncologist, consultants, radiologist, nurses and all the other staff. I was delighted with the treatment and service that I got. I'm sure that the implants will do their job and the cancer cells will be killed off and I can look forward to many more happy years.

The moral of the story is that if you catch these problems early there is usually a cure so I would suggest that all men over the age of 50 should get tested on a regular basis. It's a simple blood test and I believe that in a year or so there will be other testing procedures that are even more accurate than the current PSA.

Discover how you can continue to enjoy your sex life here at our blog.

View the original article here

The proper therapy for prostate cancer is not apparent. Therapy selections fluctuate based mostly on the stage of the tumor. In the early levels, chat to your doctor about numerous possibilities like medical procedures, radiation therapy, or, in older individuals, monitoring the cancer without having lively treatment method.

Prostate cancer that has spread may possibly be handled with drugs to decrease testosterone levels, surgical procedure to get rid of the testes, or chemotherapy.

Surgical procedure, radiation treatment, and hormonal treatment can interfere with sexual want or overall performance on both a momentary or long lasting basis. Examine your considerations with your wellness care supplier.

Surgical procedure:

Surgery is usually only encouraged right after a thorough analysis and discussion of all remedy alternatives. A guy thinking of surgical procedure really should be mindful of the rewards and challenges of the procedure.

* Surgical treatment to take away the prostate gland is frequently encouraged for treating phases A and B prostate cancers. This is a lengthy technique and issues are achievable. There are several diverse surgical procedure choices. See: Radical prostatectomy and Robotic medical procedures.

* Orchiectomy alters hormone production and might be suggested for cancer that has spread to other places of the system. There could be some bruising and swelling correct following surgical treatment, but this will steadily go away. The loss of testosterone manufacturing may well lead to problems with sexual operate, osteoporosis (thinning of the bones), and reduction of muscle mass.

Radiation Treatment

Radiation therapy is applied principally to cure stage A, B, or C prostate cancers. No matter if radiation is as very good as prostate elimination is unclear. The determination about which therapy to decide on can be hard. In sufferers whose overall health would make surgical procedure as well dangerous, radiation treatment is often the preferred substitute. Radiation therapy to the prostate gland is either exterior or internal:

* External beam radiation remedy is performed in a radiation oncology middle by specially skilled radiation oncologists, typically on an outpatient foundation. In advance of remedy, a therapist will mark the element of the system that is to be handled with a unique pen. The radiation is delivered to the prostate gland working with a machine that seems like a regular x-ray machine. The treatment by itself is commonly painless. Aspect results may possibly incorporate impotence, incontinence, urge for food loss, exhaustion, skin reactions this sort of as redness and irritation, rectal burning or harm, diarrhea, inflamed bladder (cystitis), and blood in urine. Exterior beam radiation treatment is normally performed 5 days a week for six - eight weeks.

* Prostate brachytherapy or internal radiation involves placing radioactive seeds inside you, straight into the prostate. A surgeon inserts little needles through the pores and skin behind your scrotum to inject the seeds. The seeds are so small that you don't experience them. They can be momentary or everlasting. Simply because internal radiation treatment is directed to the prostate, it reduces injury to the tissues all around the prostate. Prostate brachytherapy could be offered for early, slow-growing prostate cancers. It also may possibly be given with external beam radiation treatment for some sufferers with more superior cancer. Side results might incorporate ache, swelling or bruising in your penis or scrotum, red-brown urine or semen, impotence, incontinence, and diarrhea.

* Radiation is occasionally applied for discomfort relief when cancer has spread to the bone.

Drugs

Medicines can be used to modify the levels of testosterone. This is known as hormonal manipulation. Simply because prostate tumors call for testosterone to expand, minimizing the testosterone degree typically operates really effectively at preventing additional progress and spread of the cancer. Hormone manipulation is mostly utilised to alleviate symptoms in guys whose cancer has spread. It could also be carried out by surgically eliminating the testes.

The medications Lupron and Zoladex are also staying utilised to deal with sophisticated prostate cancer. These medicines block the manufacturing of testosterone. The method is usually called chemical castration, simply because it has the exact same consequence as surgical removal of the testes. Nevertheless, as opposed to surgical procedure, it is reversible. The medications need to be presented by injection, generally every three - 6 months. Achievable facet effects contain nausea and vomiting, very hot flashes, anemia, lethargy, osteoporosis, lowered sexual want, and impotence.

Other medicines used for hormonal therapy contain androgen-blocking medications (such as flutamide), which avoid testosterone from attaching to prostate cells. Doable aspect results consist of erectile dysfunction, reduction of sexual want, liver difficulties, diarrhea, and enlarged breasts.

Chemotherapy like a pillsforall is usually utilised to deal with prostate cancers that are resistant to hormonal solutions. An oncology specialist will typically advocate a single drug or a mix of medication. Chemotherapy medications that may possibly be utilised to cure prostate cancer incorporate:

* Adriamycin
* Docetaxel
* Estramustine
* Mitoxantrone
* Paclitaxel
* Prednisone

After the 1st round of chemotherapy, most adult males acquire more doses on an outpatient foundation at a clinic or physician's office. Aspect effects rely on the drug, how usually you consider it, and for how extended. Some of the aspect effects for the most frequently utilised prostate cancer chemotherapy medication contain:

* Blood clots
* Bruising
* Dry skin
* Tiredness
* Fluid retention
* Hair reduction
* Reducing of your white cells, red cells, or platelets
* Mouth sores
* Nausea
* Tingling or numbness in hands and ft
* Upset belly
* Weight gain

Monitoring

You will be carefully watched to make positive the cancer does not spread. This includes regimen medical doctor check out-ups. Monitoring may well incorporate:

* Serial PSA blood check (typically each three months to 1 yr)
* Bone scan or CT scan to check out whether or not the cancer has spread
* Comprehensive blood count (CBC) to keep track of for indicators and indicators of anemia
* Monitoring for other indicators and signs, these as tiredness, fat loss, greater pain, decreased bowel and bladder perform, and weakness

View the original article here

Prostate cancer is actually a treatable kind of the disease. Many patients diagnosed with this kind of cancer survive their ordeal because of two things: the early detection of the malignant cells in their prostate and the combination of the treatments that are used.

The early detection of prostate cancer is important because it is in the early stages that the malignant cells are still controllable. They are still low in number and the damage they have done is still minimal. Performing surgery and chemotherapy may still guarantee complete elimination of the cells. On the other hand, if the disease is detected on its advanced stage, recovery is slimmer. Hence, there is a need to employ more aggressive treatment options.

There are several advanced prostate cancer treatment options that a patient can use. These treatments may be more like the ones administered to prostate cancer in its early stages. It can consist of surgery, chemotherapy and even radiation treatment.

However, with advancement of the cancer, one treatment is not enough to lessen the increasing number of cancer cells that come with it. There is a need to combine two or more treatments in order fight the cancer cells aggressively and more effectively. This is also to avoid metastasizing of the cancer cells and affecting other surrounding parts.

The treatments available for advanced form of this cancer include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery and hormone therapy. While these treatments all work to eliminate the cells, prevent its spread and are actually treatments alone, advanced prostate cancer treatment options are combination of these methods. The combinations are known to be more aggressive and more effective. For example, the patient can go for surgical removal of the tumor. As maintenance, chemotherapy can be added as treatment in order to ensure that no more cells will be left to inflict further damage.

As another option, alternative treatments are also used in prostate cancer. These are all natural methods such as diet protocols and concoctions known to possess anti-cancer properties.

Of course, before trying out these treatments available, it is best to consult the doctor first. The doctor will provide a thorough evaluation on the condition of the patient as well as the state the patient is already in. He may advise doing extensive procedures or take several medications both for the extermination of the cancerous cells as well as the other symptoms that come with the disease.

Discover more of the advanced prostate cancer treatment options and pick out which ones will work more effectively.

View the original article here

What is one of the most misunderstood parts of the male reproductive system? The prostate gland! This gland about the size of a walnut, presses up against the bladder and surrounds the urethra and has made life miserable for millions of men. The prostate adds one of the components to semen and helps to expels semen during ejaculation. A simple job that often goes unnoticed. But if a man's prostate begins to swell and requires prostate treatment it can change his life dramatically.

There are a number of reasons the prostate gland may swell. They tend to be related to lifestyle, diet or disease. One of the first signs something is wrong with a man's prostate is he begins to develop urinary problems. The swollen prostate gland presses against the bladder giving men the strong urge to urinate. But the inflated prostate pinches the urethra shut making it difficult to empty the bladder. This often has men running back and forth to the bathroom attempting to urinate without success. It can be frustrating and painful.

One of the causes of prostate problems is cancer. Prostate cancer is deadly and prostate cancer treatment has many negative side effects. It can lead to impotence, incontinence and a loss of desire for sex. Prostate surgery is usually the last option. Most men try to treat it with diet, lifestyle changes and array of other options before resorting to surgery. Prostate Surgery often leads to impotence, depression and a loss of will to live.

The Prostate Clinic, treatment and complete care for all the diseases and conditions which affect the prostate, urinary and reproductive system. Please visit our website at http://www.theprostateclinic.com/

View the original article here

The primary response to prostate cancer is surgery. Other forms of treatment involve chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, and radiation therapy. This form of cancer has an elusive diagnosis at times and can require several tests to confirm its presence.

A man may have this disease but experience no symptoms and be unaware. Often times the slow growing cancer does not exhibit any symptoms until the advanced stages of growth. Confirmed diagnoses of prostate cancer tests include CT scans, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), biopsy and more.

Some symptoms include erectile dysfunction, trouble in urinating and problems during sexual intercourse. Men that have surgery may also undergo aftercare that includes other forms of prostate cancer treatment.

Cancer of the prostate is usually found by a biopsy; a test involving removal of tissues or cells. It then usually undergoes microscopic examination by a pathologist. It can also be chemically analyzed. As a result of medical research it is known that diet and genetics may aid in the development of it.

Cancer of the prostate is mostly found in men near the age of 50. It is important for men to get tested even if they are not experiencing any of the symptoms. Prostate cancer can spread into the lymph nodes and into bones. Prostate cancer treatment begins with a confirmed diagnosis.

Adam Levine lead singer for Maroon 5 strips down in the Feb 2011 issue of Cosmopolitan UK in support of Everyman Charity. The charity encourages all men to get early testing for prostate and testicular cancers. It does make sense!

The Prostate Clinic, treatment and complete care for all the diseases and conditions which affect the prostate, urinary and reproductive system. Please visit our website at http://www.theprostateclinic.com/

View the original article here

On March 30, 2011 the U.S. CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) insurance program announced a proposal of full coverage payment of Provenge (Sipuleucel-T) therapy for the advanced metastatic stage prostate cancer patients. Along with its proposal, the insurance said there is an adequate evidence to pay for the expenses but for now the agency is still weighing the benefits of the therapy treatment and the final decision is expected by June 30 of next year. An advisory panel in the United States also backed Provenge by suggesting that the available data showed by the Dendreon Corporation could help patients. It is certainly a cause for concern when people see the cost of expenses of the treatment; many are considering the cost and benefits as well as its guarantees with regards to prolonging survival rates. This article wishes to provide readers information about Provenge therapy and the role of the CMS agencies.

Provenge (Sipuleucel-T) is a type of immunotherapy that is designed to treat and improve the lives of patients with an advance and recurrent prostate cancer who have become resistant to hormone therapy and who are non-respondent to other treatment modalities. This therapy works by obtaining the white blood cells of a patient and is incubated to a specific prostate antigen to specifically target the tumor when it is returned back to the body. This therapy induces an immune response against the prostate tumor. Provenge therapy costs $93,000 for three infusions given at a one month course of duration.

Provenge was approved by the Food and Drug Administration last April 2010. Data studies showed that Provenge increases survival by 4.1 months on average. According to Dr. Mark Scholz, a California based prostate oncologist and one of the public speakers urging for the CMS support for Provenge, "Provenge is a new agent that is clearly beneficial for patients". Patients, doctors and Dendreon Company urge the Medicare's advisers to pay for the high cost of therapy. Medicare payment coverage could also encourage other private insurances to pay for the expense. Aetna Inc and Humana Inc and some other health agencies have already agreed to pay for the therapy. According to the consensus analyst forecast data from Thomson Reuters, Provenge could see more than $2 billion in global sales by 2015.

The question left for us now is that who is really gaining the benefit, is it the company, the hospital, the doctors or the patients? Provenge therapy is needed by patients who have become resistant to other treatment modalities, this are the patients who have tried everything and spent everything just to lengthen their life frame. Living in this world, the cost of money does not amount to every second of our lives. Provenge is a chance given to the patients' nearly approaching death and the high cost of treatment can never amount to the happiness of spending our time with our families, friends and loved ones.

Urieashashlu Ul is a prostate health expert who has been providing people relevant information about prostate cancer treatments. You can visit his site to learn more about the prostate cancer treatments.

View the original article here

The treatment of prostate cancer is complex and depends on a multitude of issues that includes the grade and stage of the cancer along with the age, overall health and the type of treatment that the patient is comfortable with. For elderly men who may have a slow growing tumor or a low life expectancy the treatment may just be watching and waiting, along with keeping the man comfortable. There are three type of treatment for prostate cancer that includes surgery, radiation therapy, and hormone manipulation.

Surgery:

Surgery for prostate cancer includes several types of prostatectomies. For men in the early stages of the disease the cure may be as easy as having a prostatectomy. There are four types of prostatectomies.

• A radical prostatectomy involves removal of the prostate, prostatic capsule, seminal vesicles, and a portion of the bladder neck. Many men experience varying degrees of urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction.

• A retropubic prostatectomy is most often performed because it allows adequate control of bleeding, visualization of the prostate bed and bladder neck, and access to pelvic lymph nodes.

• A perineal prostatectomy is often the preferred choice for older men or men who might be poor surgical risks. This approach takes less time and there is less bleeding.

• A suprapubic prostatectomy is used if problems with the bladder are expected, but otherwise is seldom used. It is more difficult to control any bleeding because the surgical approach is through the bladder.

Radiation:

If the cancer is stage 3, or locally advanced beyond the prostatic capsule, treatment by surgery becomes somewhat controversial because of the likelihood of hidden lymph node metastasis and relapse. A prostatectomy, if performed, is used to help relieve urinary obstruction, but not to treat the cancer.

Radiation therapy may be used as a primary treatment for prostate cancer. Long term problems of impotence and urinary incontinence may be avoided and survival rates are comparable to that of surgical treatment.

Radiation may be delivered either by an external beam or interstitial implants of radioactive seeds of iodine, gold, palladium, or iridium. Interstitial radiation has a lower risk of impotence and rectal damage than external beam radiation.

Radiation has a palliative role for men with metastatic prostate cancer, reducing the size of bone metastasis, controlling pain, and restoring function, such as continence.

Hormonal Therapy:

Androgen depravation therapy is used to treat advanced prostate cancer. Many cells in the growing tumor are androgen dependent and either stop growing or die if deprived of androgens. Other cancer cells, unfortunately, thrive without androgen and are unaffected by therapy to reduce circulating androgens. The effects of hormone therapy can vary from complete but temporary regression of the tumor to no response at all.

The key to successful prostate cancer treatment is early detection and treatment. This is why it is so important for men in their 40s and older to go to their doctor for regular prostate exams. Cancer of the prostate can be successfully treated if caught in its early stages of development.

To learn more about Prostate Health please visit the website Prostate Health Answers by clicking here.

View the original article here