Cancer Information

In this beating cancer with nutrition article about shiitake mushrooms, you will discover:

What are shiitake mushrooms?
Why are shiitake mushrooms an important part in beating cancer with nutrition?
How many shiitake mushrooms do you need to eat to help prevent cancer?

What Are Shiitake Mushrooms?

Shiitake mushrooms are a popular mushroom which is used in Asian cuisine.

They umbrella shaped and golden brown in colour.

Shiitake mushrooms typically grow on trees which have fallen.

Although they are a popular gourmet mushroom, they have also been used for centuries for their medicinal properties.

Apart from strong anti-cancer properties, shiitake mushrooms also have other powerful beneficial health properties such as antioxidants and antiviral compounds.

These powerful beneficial health properties within shiitake mushrooms, is the reason why they are traditionally used in Chinese medicine to help the following health conditions:

DiabetesGallstonesHigh CholesterolStomach UlcersThe Common Cold

Why Are Shiitake Mushrooms An Important Part In Beating Cancer With Nutrition?

Shiitake mushrooms are an important part in beating cancer with nutrition because they contain a substance called lentinan.

Lentinan stimulates your immune system and helps your body’s defenses to protect against cancer, viruses and fungal infections.

Clinical trials have shown that lentinan can improve the survival rates of patients with the following types of cancer:

Stomach CancerColon CancerBreast Cancer

Lentinan can increase a powerful anti-viral substance called interferon and the antioxidant enzyme called superoxide dismutase within your body.

How Many Shiitake Mushrooms Do You Need To Eat To Help Prevent Cancer?

To help protect yourself from cancer, you can consume between 5g and 15g of dried shiitake mushrooms per day or take 400mg of shiitake mushroom extract supplements, three times a day.

Warning: Shiitake mushrooms extract supplements taken in large doses have been known to cause upset stomach.

Pregnant or breast-feeding women should not take shiitake mushrooms extract supplements or consume shiitake mushrooms.

As with all supplements, please consult your doctor before taking them.

So, to sum up…

Shiitake mushrooms have been use for centuries, both in Asian cuisine and medication.

Shiitake mushrooms contain a powerful substance called lentinan.

Lentinan gives shiitake mushrooms they’re strong antioxidant, antiviral and anti-cancer properties.

Shiitake mushrooms can help to protect you from all types of cancer; they are a vital part in beating cancer with nutrition.

Stewart Hare C.H.Ed Dip NutTh

newbeingnutrition.com/cancer.htm Download ‘How To Protect Against Cancer Naturally’ Free
E-book

Website: newbeingnutrition.com/wordpress/ NewBeingNutrition.com

When was the last time you tried to buy a plain old deodorant? I’m only asking because I can’t find one anywhere, or rather I couldn’t.

Instead, everywhere sold anti-perspirant deodorants and I just wanted the deodorant without the anti perspirant bit.

Why?

Well, in the last two years I have lost three friends to breast cancer and have had my own personal mammogram scare. Fortunately the biopsy was benign but even so it was a pretty traumatic experience and I began to wonder what on earth is going on.

I read in the paper last week that the rate for Breast Cancer is currently 1:9 and that all women aged between 50 and 69 should receive a free breast examination every two years. Unfortunately those ladies most at risk like my mother who is over 70 years of age don’t qualify.

Another thing I discovered is that in a recent study carried out by Reading University in UK on breast cancer patients, every single tumour contained parabens.

Now parabens are common preservatives in several personal care products. They are derived from petrochemicals and personal and skin care manufacturers have a tendancy to call them ‘organic preservatives’ which gives the impression they are safe.

The reason they are able to do this is because the chemical term for ‘organic’ means anything that contains a carbon atom. Since crude oil comes from decaying leaves and living matter which existed thousands of years ago, its DNA contains carbon. Sneaky, eh?

The problem with parabens is that they mimic estrogen, apart from also causing allergic skin reactions and being eye, skin and respiratory tract irritants.

Found in body creams, lotions, body washes, anti perspirants and deodorants, parabens are used in more personal care products than practically any other synthetic ingredient.

Now deodorants reduce, cover up or eliminate the odours most of us would prefer to remain hidden and anti perspirants slow down the action of the sweat glands. They do this by obstructing the amount of perspiration that can be excreted.

That’s the problem and why I was looking for a deodorant.

You see the sweat retarding agents are normally based on aluminium complexes and I know from bitter experience that aluminium is a neuro toxin. That means it attacks the neurons in the brain. It doesn’t have to kill them, just disrupt them in some way and you get mental problems.

My son is autistic and you can read all about my run in with heavy metals including aluminium in my book Autism, Amalgam and Me - Jodi’s Journey Continues. Aluminium has also been linked to Alzheimer’s disease which has been predicted to triple by the year 2050. It’s a horrible long destructive illness which tears families apart.

But back to the anti perspirant deodorants.

I don’t know if you are aware of it but your skin is often referred to as your third kidney. It is the biggest eliminatory organ in your body and is a two way membrane. It will absorb 60% of whatever you put on it.

Toxins get in through hair follicles and sebaceous glands and are eliminated through perspiration. Now picture the scenario for most women.

We like to keep our underarms devoid of excess bodily hair so we shave. We also like to smell fresh, so we smooth on deodorants or anti perspirants to the area from which we’ve just removed this hair. As toxins enter the body via hair follicles and sebaceous glands they inevitably get inside our bodies but if we then block up our under arm sweat glands by using anti perspirant deodorants, how do they get out?

Seemingly, they don’t and I wonder if that’s why my three friends died of breast cancer and all those women had parabens in their tumours. What do you think?

Apparently a study of 400 American women found that those who shaved three times a week and applied deodorant at least twice a week were almost 15 years younger when diagnosed with cancer than women who did neither.

The answer, therefore, could be to stop shaving and let your natural body odours loose, or find a safer alternative. Thankfully I’ve managed to find just that in a 100% toxic synthetic chemical free deodorant which comes in three different aromas.

It’s organic in the true sense of the word which means it uses only natural substances and methods. I can read and pronounce every single ingredient and as it is Certified Organic to food standards I could theoretically eat it and suffer no ill effects. I don’t intend to try it though. Just putting it under my arm pits, feeling safe and secure in the knowledge I’m not being poisoned is enough.

No more toxic anti perspirant deodorants for me. How about you?

For 100% toxic free deodorants and the World’s First cosmetic, skin and personal care products certified to organic Food Grade Standards free of harmful synthetic chemicals, see bestorganicsforhealth.com www.bestorganicsforhealth.com
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Jean Shaw is the author of I’m Not Naughty, I’m Autistic - Jodi’s Journey and Autism, Amalgam and Me - Jodi’s Journey Continues. See jeanshaw.com www.jeanshaw.com

Three main lifestyle habits lay the foundation for breast cancer prevention. They include:

• Staying physically active
• Limiting alcohol
• Eating right

The evidence so far tells us healthy eating and regular exercise really does contribute to breast cancer prevention. Plus, if you limit your exposure to substances that promote breast cancer, you will benefit even more.

There are some risks toward a higher incident of breast cancer that you cannot control. These include:

• Your age
• Genetic make-up

Although these two factors may loom against you there are still steps you can take on your own to prevent breast cancer. They provide no guarantee that you still will not develop the disease. They will give you a start toward breast cancer prevention.

Some of the easiest things you can control is what you eat and drink and how much exercise you get.

There remains a strong link between alcohol consumption and breast cancer. Seems that it does not matter the type of alcohol one consumes, whether it be wine, beer or mixed drinks, there does not seem to be a difference according to researchers. A step toward breast cancer prevention would be to limit your alcohol to less than one drink per day or to avoid alcohol completely.

Researchers tells us there is also a clear link between obesity or weighing more than is appropriate for your age and height and breast cancer. This is especially true if you gain the extra weight late in life or after menopause. The reason for this is that excess fatty tissue is a source of circulating estrogen in the body. Breast cancer risk is linked to how much estrogen you are exposed to during a lifetime.

If you stay active with a regular exercise regime you are better able to maintain a healthy weight. This one accomplishment alone lowers your risk of breast cancer regardless of age or genetic make-up. We are consistently told to aim for 30 minutes of moderate exercise on most days of the week. Always try to include weight-bearing exercises like walking, jogging or aerobics, which have the added benefit of keeping your bones and joints strong and healthy.

To date studies suggest a slight decrease in risk of invasive breast cancer for women who eat a low-fat diet. The effect is modest. It is probably a good idea to eat a low-fat diet anyway because it reduces your risk of other diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease and stroke. A low-fat diet also can help you maintain healthy weight, which in turns, will help you in taking steps toward breast cancer prevention.

For the greatest benefit limit fat intake to less than 35 percent of your daily calories and restrict foods high in saturated fat.

Researchers have discovered two promising agents to help us prevent breast cancer. They are:

1. Retinoids
2. Flaxseed

Retinoids are natural or synthetic forms of vitamin A. Retionids may have the ability to destroy or disturb the growth of cancer cells. Retinoids may also be effective in premenopausal women and in those whose tumors are not estrogen-positive.

Flaxseed is quite high in one phytoestrogen, which is “lignan.” Phytoestrogens are compounds that occur naturally and lower circulating estrogens in the body. Lignan appears to decrease estrogen production and may help to inhibit the growth of some breast cancers.

Research continues, however, any woman at any age or genetic make-up can start today toward breast cancer prevention simply by staying active, watching what you eat and limiting intake of alcohol.

Source: Mayo Clinic

© 2007 Connie Limon All Rights Reserved

This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.

Written by: Connie Limon. For an extensive list of FREE reprint articles about Breast Cancer visit us at smalldogs2.com/BreastCancerArticles smalldogs2.com/BreastCancerArticles

Questions to assess breast cancer recurrence risk are an important part of understanding your prognosis after your surgery and treatment program are concluded. While most women and men are successfully treated for breast cancer, it’s a fact of life that up to 10% of breast cancer patients will have a recurrence of breast cancer in their lifetimes.

Here are some questions to assess breast cancer recurrence risk that you can discuss with your medical doctor to learn more about your particular situation.

Questions about about your health history:

Does my ethnic or racial ancestry influence breast cancer recurrence?

Do I have genetic tendencies (genes like BRCA1, BRCA2, and others) that put me at greater risk for more breast cancer?

If I have relatives (especially close relatives like my mother and sister) with breast cancer, does that change my prognosis?

Would my mother’s exposure to chemicals like DES change my prognosis?

How does my age change my risk of breast cancer recurrence?

Does my reproductive and menstrual history affect my prognosis?

Questions about your particular cancer:

How does the tumor size and grade affect my breast cancer recurrence rate prognosis?

If my breast cancer is only in one breast, will the other breast get cancer in the future?

What is the hormone receptor status of the cancer and how does that change my prognosis?

What is the tumor HER2/neu (human epidural growth factor receptor-2, a gene that controls cell growth) status, and how does that affect my risk of breast cancer recurrence?

How far is the lymph node involvement?

Is there any metastasis to other areas of my body?

Questions about what you can do to help yourself:

What healthy habits should I practice to reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence?

Remember, there is always something you can do to help make your life and health better. Here are some health habits you should know.

Early detection is your greatest tool. Always observe your body, do monthly self-examinations, see your doctor for examinations, and choose recommended mammograms for greatest protection.

Research on healthy habits and breast cancer shows that restricting alcohol to one drink a day and weight control, especially managing green-tea-health-news.com/belly-fat.html “belly fat,” are healthy habits that may reduce breast cancer risk. There are also green-tea-health-news.com/breast-cancer-recurrence.html several studies showing that daily exercise, eating 5 fruits or vegetables daily, and 5 cups of green tea daily can reduce breast cancer recurrence risk by 50%.

And get involved with your body and your future by asking these questions to assess breast cancer recurrence risk.

Sharon Jones has over 40 years training and experience in science, mainstream health care, and alternative health care. Her website is green-tea-health-news.com green-tea-health-news.com

In 1995, Ju was thirty-six years old and her son seven years old. One night she felt a lump in her right breast. This was later diagnosed as cancerous. It has been twelve years since her diagnosis and Ju is still doing fine. In May 2007, I conducted an in-depth interview of her case.

Q: You said your family is very important to you. Was there any “pressure” in your family life?

Ju: Not really. All along I was an independent and strong willed person. Whatever I wanted to do, I would do it and then inform my family. My husband respected me as an individual. In fact, I normally would probe my husband to help me make decisions. He is more of a quiet type, which initially I did not know how to appreciate. That was one of the things I have begun to realize. Before I found the lump in my breast, I was very depressed.

Q: Would you like to share your feelings about your relationship with your husband?

Ju: I felt like there was not enough communication between. I didn’t realize that even before I married him, he was a very quiet person. When you expect to change people, it will never happen. Now, I realize I should change myself instead of others. After my cancer diagnosis, I begun to appreciate him because he allowed me to do whatever I wanted, at the same time giving his fullest support all the time.

Q: How long did you suffer this depression?

Ju: Four to five years.

Q: Was it right before your diagnosis or was it much earlier on in your marriage? Your son must be about two years old then?

Ju: Yes, yes. We were married for six years before we had my son.

Q: What was it like during the six years?

Ju: I was working at that time. When you are on “honeymoon”, things were always different. The depression came in after the baby.

Q: Did you become a house-mother after the baby?

Ju: Yes. I was a house mother, a housewife. And I took out my temper on my poor child. I felt very bad.

Q: Were you depressed or frustrated?

Ju: I guess both — all in one. The early power was gone. Life was no longer the same as before.

Q: Can you describe more? You said something about venting your anger.

Ju: For a two- or three-year old, my son was a very well behaved boy. He was so well behaved that I felt I was the “bad” one. I realized this later on.

Q: Was there any particular period of time that you had “extra stress” during this four year duration? Or was it just a chronic stress?

Ju: My husband was a chef, doing business in Kuala Lumpur. As you know, in business, income was not reliable. So, that worried me too. When I worked, I also contributed financially to my parents. So, when I stopped working, I still have to give to my parents, but there was this limit. So, it was also a financial stress.

Q: Was there any particular incident that had “eaten up your heart”? Any specific emotional burden?

Ju: There was one thing that was nagging me. On the intellectual side, my husband did not meet my expectation. I liked to read books. I liked to discuss things. I liked to analyze. My husband was a very cool type. Even if he was angry, he would just . . . (rolling her eyes upwards to demonstrate). There would be no outburst from him. This got to me. I wanted a reaction, but couldn’t get one. I’d told him: “Can’t you talk to me?” He would reply: “There is nothing to talk about.” I guess that was the main factor. Sometimes you’d wish you could have found somebody different. Then I would tell myself: “Don’t be silly. He has his good points.”

Q: Was this situation, an up down up down situation, or what is constantly there?

Ju: I would say it was constantly there.

Q: Can we say that you are living an unsatisfied life?

Ju: Yes, at that point in time.

Q: Anything else that you want to add? Anything that stands out in your memory during these four to five years?

Ju: No, I don’t think so.

Q: Were you focused as a housemother?

Ju: Yes. But I expected a lot. Even from my child. I expected him to be more extrovert and outspoken like me. My son is also quite a quiet person.

Q: Are you a perfectionist?

Ju: I am a perfectionist. That’s why I hurt myself in the process. When I do something, it has to be done perfectly — and my way only.

Q: People’s way?

Ju: No. I guess I learnt it the hard way. In the process I hurt myself and I hurt a lot of people.

Q: This was the stressful period before the cancer diagnosis. Before that, was there any stress, during your childhood, in your family, like a trauma or an accident?

Ju: During childhood, I had a fall and my wound could not heal. I had to use a high dosage of penicillin at that time. Even until now, I am not supposed to take any more penicillin. My body will reject it.

Q: In your childhood days, were you bullied?

Ju: My sister would always bully me. I am the youngest daughter. Only one sister (fifth) bullied me most of the time.

Q: Did you feel hurt?

Ju: Oh yes. We always fought. I used to hate her at one time. It was a very strong emotion. I felt very suppressed. But by teenage years, we’ve made up.

Q: What was your relationship with your father?

Ju: All along the relationship with my father was very good. I was and am very close to my parents.

Q: What about your childhood?

Ju: I was from a poor family. In school, I felt a bit left out or overlooked by my teachers. There was this lady teacher in particular that made me feel that way. When I was seven, eight or nine years old, I already started to find out what was good for me. I learnt to fend for myself and that helped me later on in life.

Q: While you were working, was there any stress?

Ju: There were a lot of reports to do, but it was fine.

Q: During the stressful period of four to five years before cancer, do you have any unexplainable symptoms? Like insomnia, anxiety attacks, constipation?

Ju: Constipation, yes. I used to suffer that, especially two to three days before my menses. My husband used to buy me the “liquid thing” for inserting.

Q: Can you describe your menses? Were there clots, or any pain?

Ju: No, not much but a lot of bloating. Sometimes I had headaches.

Q: Did you have stomach problems?

Ju: Yes, I did. If I took the wrong food, I would have diarrhea too.

Q: Were you on any hormone pills?

Ju: No.

Q: Were you on any particular diet? Or was there any particular food that you like very much?

Ju: Oh yes. I love Western food. When I was working, in the hotel, we were doing quite well. We used to go to Western restaurants for all those kind of food. I like baked crabs, oxtail soup, fried char koay teow.

Q: How would you describe your social life? Late nights?

Ju: Late night because of my shift. I finished around 11.00 p.m., and sleep was around 12.00 mid-night.

Q: What about your knowledge on cancer.

Ju: If you get cancer, you die — that much that I knew at that time. And then, I knew that there would be no cure for cancer. I didn’t have friends who suffer from cancer and I was really ignorant then.

Comments

Leaves do not rattle without breeze. Similarly, there must be a reason or reasons why Ju had cancer at such a young age of thirty-six. None of her siblings or parents has cancer. Ju was a healthy person and in life was not exposed to any known carcinogen. Alas, medical science could not offer any reason for this.

We are told that breast cancer strikes women randomly for no known reason or prior warning. Besides that, has anyone ever asked why cancer strikes on the left breast in some women and the right breast in others? Again, medical science has no answer!

The Chinese holistic healers have long known that cancer could be due to emotional distress and unfulfilled expectation in life. Ju had been living an emotionally unsatisfied life and was depressed for some time. Something was “eating her up” from within. To the Chinese, the Stomach Meridian is one important energy channel that nourishes the breasts. Emotional distress could impede the energy flow through this channel as manifested by her “weak stomach.” Blockage of energy flow could give rise to mass or tumor.

Over many years of experience, I have noticed that a yang or male-related-emotional distress generally results in cancer of the right breast in women. Yin or female-related distress results in cancer of the left breast. One practical lesson to learn from this story — take life easy and try not to carry too much “emotional baggage”. Let go and be happy.

For more information about complementary cancer therapy visit: cacare.com cacare.com, NaturalHealingForYou.com NaturalHealingForYou.com, BookOnCancer.com BookOnCancer.com

If you are a man over 65 and believe you have prostate cancer this is the perfect article for you. Here is some basic information on this cancer, some of the symptoms of it, and how it is treated.

What is prostate cancer? It is when the cells in a man’s prostate gland grow abnormally. It is most commonly found in men over 65 and takes some time to grow. In fact, it will take some years before the prostate grows large enough to cause any serious problems. The majority of all cases are found before the cancer spreads so they are treatable and only a small amount of men actually die from it.

That is some basic information on cancer in the prostate, but what are some of the symptoms you should look for? There are usually no symptoms seen at the early stages of this form of cancer but rather men find out they have it during a regular medical check up.

The best way to find out if you have prostate cancer is to get a regular medical check up each year but if you have any of the following symptoms you should go to a doctor immediately. If you are unable to start your urine stream or the urine stream is weaker than normal, you either cannot urinate or you are urinating more than usual, there is blood in your urine, you have pain or burning while urinating, or you feel like your bladder is still not emptied after urinating, you should go to a doctor.

If you have any of those symptoms you should not worry, this form of cancer is treatable. Depending on the kind of cancer cells you have, your age and general health, how far the cancer cells have spread, and your preferences, there are different ways to be treated. You and your doctor can choose from radiation, hormone therapy, surgery, or a combination of them. If you are 70 or older and the cancer has not spread you may not have to do any of the treatments, you may just have to wait and watch.

Now if you have been treated for prostate cancer how can you expect the treatment to affect your life? The most common problems after surgery and radiation treatments are urinary incontinence, or not being able to control urination, or impotence, or not being able to have an erection.

This is just some of the basic information on prostate cancer, some of the symptoms of this cancer, and how the cancer is treated.

Interested in what the most common onlineprostatehealthguide.com/Prostate-Cancer-Symptoms.html prostate cancer symptoms are for men between the ages of 45 and 80?

Try visiting onlineprostatehealthguide.com onlineprostatehealthguide.com an informative website that provides prostate cancer advice, tips and resources to include information on understanding the onlineprostatehealthguide.com/article-30-prostate-cancer-stages.html prostate cancer stages that occur in men diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Lymphoma is one of the few types of cancer that can develop and grow in the body without an individual knowing and it is only when the cancer spreads around the body to other organs that obvious symptoms become apparent. There are a number of symptoms that are commonly associated with lymphoma, such as swollen lymph glands, chronic fatigue, fever, night sweats and unexplained weight loss, however all of these symptoms can and often are caused by much less serious conditions such as a simple infection or the flu.

When the symptoms persist however most sufferers go to the doctor and although the doctor might have suspicions as to their cause he will undoubtedly send the individual for a series of diagnostic tests before confirming the presence of lymphoma. These diagnostic tests may include:

Blood tests
Because lymphoma affects the lymphocyte cells that travel in the blood stream, performing microscopic analysis of these cells can show if they are abnormal in shape and size or if they are present in very large numbers. Occasionally the cancerous lymphocytes will still be confined to the lymph glands and so will not show under the microscope however even during this early stage they release chemicals that are known as cancer markers and specific tests on blood can identify these markers.

CT and MRI scans
These are very high definition imaging techniques that can show just how large a tumor has grown and where in the body secondary tumors have spread to, if indeed they have spread. If the primary lymphoma tumor is in a position to be removed by surgery i.e. by removing the affected lymph glands, then the imaging techniques can help to identify possible complications before the surgery begins so that the surgeon doesn’t encounter anything unexpected. They can also help to show how other lymphoma treatments are working because any shrinkage in the tumor size will be apparent when two separate images, taken at different times, are compared.

X-rays
X-rays are commonly used in the diagnosis of lymphoma because when a radioactive agent is injected into the blood stream it causes any abnormal or cancerous cells to glow brightly on the X-ray film. By performing a torso scan i.e. of the major organs, any affected areas can easily be identified and the cancer specialist can get a good idea of the extent of the lymphoma and what treatment will be most appropriate.

Bone and liver biopsies
When other diagnostic tests have been performed and the lymphoma has been identified as late stage then bone and liver biopsies may be carried out. This involves a very thin slither of either bone or liver tissue being taken with a hollow needle and the resulting tissue is examined with a microscope. Generally if cancerous cells are found in either of the two sites then the lymphoma is deemed incurable and any treatment offered will be palliative i.e. it will make life more comfortable and it may prolong life for a short period of time.

Lymphoma can be a difficult cancer to treat and so it is important that it is diagnosed early. Some of the diagnostic tests are uncomfortable however they are much more preferable to endless rounds of chemotherapy and the adverse side effects that accompany it.

For more information and resources on hodgkin’s and non-hodgkin’s lymphoma, other types of lymphoma, symptoms, treatment, lymphomaresources.com/Medication.html medication for lymphoma patients, solutions and facts, visit Jeremy Parker’s complete reference guide on lymphomaresources.com lymphoma.

It’s a sad but true fact that this year well over 30,000 men in the United States will die from prostate cancer despite the fact that, in many cases, the warning signs of a developing problem will have been clearly evident and simply ignored.

Like many cancers, prostate cancer can develop with very few if any cancer prostate symptoms in its early stages. Most men will however also develop another prostate problem during their middle and later years known as an enlarged prostate, or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which will display a range of symptoms. There is no connection between the two conditions and one will not cause the other, although both will commonly be present at the same time.

What this means in simple terms is that the vast majority of men will develop a range of symptoms in their middle and later years which point to a problem with the prostate gland and which could be simply a benign enlarged prostate or prostate cancer or both. And what do they do? Well, in most cases they simply ignore the symptoms as a sign of the normal ageing process.

Most of the symptoms of a developing prostate problem are associated with your ability to urinate and will include an increasing difficulty in starting urination (a need to strain in order to begin urinating), a weak or slow flow of urine once urination begins with a tendency for that flow to stop and start and a taking a long time to finish urinating. In addition many men experience a need to urinate frequently with difficulty in waiting and often a need to get up regularly during the night to visit the bathroom.

At this stage all too few men will pop in to see their doctor who will diagnose the problem as simply being an enlarging prostate and the patient will be happy to live with the minor inconvenience, knowing that it is not serious, or may be prescribed medication to relieve the symptoms. More importantly, in making his diagnosis, the doctor will also run a couple of simple tests to check for the presence of prostate cancer and, where this is found it is often at a very early stage and can be effectively treated.

For the majority of men who simply ignore the symptoms (or diagnose themselves as simply having an enlarging prostate) it will be the arrival of additional symptoms such as increasing tiredness, pain in the back, hips and thighs and an unexplained weight loss that will eventually force then to consult their doctor. By this time their prostate cancer will almost certainly have spread and is quite probably beyond the stage at which it can be cured.

The vast majority of prostate cancer deaths could be avoided if men would simply consult their doctors when signs of a developing prostate problem appear, rather than simply ignore then.

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Many men, especially those later in life have made the decision with their doctors to simply watch and wait. About 80 percent of men who reach the age of 80 have prostate cancer. It’s deadly but can be cured if it’s caught early enough.

Like other cancers, the cause of prostate cancer is not known; it appears to be more common in African American men and men with a family history of the disease. The prostate gland is located directly beneath the bladder and in front of the rectum. The male hormone testosterone contributes to the growth of cancer.

Because the symptoms can mimic other diseases or disorders, men who experience any of these symptoms should undergo a thorough work-up to determine the underlying cause of the symptoms. Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease are bone pain or tenderness, and abdominal pain. There may be other symptoms not mentioned here.

Most prostate cancer symptoms, although associated with prostate cancer, are more likely to be connected to non-cancerous conditions. If cancer is caught at its earliest stages, most men will not experience any symptoms. One symptom is difficulty starting urination or holding back urine.

There are several potential downsides to PSA testing; for example a high PSA does not always mean a patient has prostate cancer. CT scans may be done to see if the cancer has spread. What is called a free PSA may help tell the difference between BPH (benign prostatic hypertrophy), an enlargement of the prostate gland, and prostate cancer.

A urinalysis may indicate if there is blood in the urine. A prostate biopsy usually confirms the diagnosis. The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test measures the PSA enzyme in your blood for abnormalities.

Recent improvements in surgical procedures have made complications occur less often. Medicines can be used to adjust the levels of testosterone; called hormonal manipulation. Surgery is usually only recommended after thorough evaluation and discussion of all available treatment options.

Prostate cancer that has spread (metastasized) may be treated conventionally with drugs to reduce testosterone levels, surgery to remove the testes, chemotherapy or nothing at all. Some drugs with numerous side effects are being used to treat advanced prostate cancer, blocking the production of testosterone, called chemical castration; it has the same result as surgical removal of the testes. Side effects of chemotherapy drugs depend on which ones you’re taking and how often and how long they’re taken.

An oncology specialist will usually recommend treating with a single drug or a combination of drugs. Chemotherapy medications are often used to treat prostate cancers that are resistant to hormonal treatments. Anyone considering surgery should be aware of the benefits, risks and the extent of the procedure.

Other medications used for hormonal therapy, with side effects, include androgen-blocking agents, which prevent testosterone from attaching to prostate cells. What you can do now is begin to understand what exactly your treatment options are and where you’re going to begin. Hormone manipulation is mainly used as a treatment to relieve symptoms in men whose cancer has spread.

In patients whose health makes the risk of surgery unacceptably high, radiation therapy is often the chosen conventional alternative. Whether radiation is as good as prostate removal is debatable and the decision about which to choose, if any, can be difficult.

Once diagnosed you may be want to join a support group whose members share their experiences and problems. As new research comes out adjust your treatment options accordingly. Consider articles such as this one, just a starting point where you can begin to learn about prostate cancer.

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Have you recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer? If so, you need to sit down and discuss all the possible treatment options with your doctor. Some treatments may not be appropriate for you, so it’s important to determine which options are most suitable. There are a number of factors that need to be considered when determining which type of treatment is likely to be the most effective. It’s often quite difficult to determine which treatment is most appropriate, as it depends how much you give to each factor. Some men also find it difficult to cope with the idea of living with the side effects of certain treatments, such as baldness, impotence or urine incontinence.

Initially, you need to consider basic factors such as your age, overall level of health, your goals for treatment, and how you feel about possible treatment side effects. These should be discussed extensively with your doctor and partner. If something is really bothering you, it’s important to share that with your doctor. You have a right to be fully informed about all your options. Addressing your concerns and trying to find a treatment that is effective but still acceptable to you is part of the duties and obligations of your doctor. If you don’t care about side effects and you just want to get rid of the cancer, fine. But if your concerns are substantial, even to the point of being more important than curing the cancer, then you need to share those concerns upfront.

It’s also important to think about your age. If you’re already in your 70’s and your health is poor, it may not be the preferred choice to follow an aggressive treatment regime. Prostate cancer is a relatively slow growing cancer, and it can take years before it spreads into other parts of your body. If cancer is left alone, and not operated on, it’s often found that it grows even slower. So you could use this to your advantage. Instead of risking your life by undergoing surgery, it may be a better choice to undertake hormone therapy. This is unlikely to get rid of the cancer, but it can retard its growth to a great extent. The advantage of hormone therapy over other more invasive treatments is that it also has very few uncomfortable side effects.

If you’re only in your 50’s or 60’s, or even if you’re older but in good health, then you might be more interested in the treatments that offer the best chance of a cure. These can include things such as radical prostatectomy, external radiation and radioactive treatment, as these are generally considered the most effective methods for eradicating prostate cancer cells. However the side effects of these treatments can be serious, ranging from urine incontinence to impotency. This is why it can be very important for you to consider all factors before choosing which treatment option you want to pursue. There’s no need to make an instant decision, you should take the time to discuss treatment with your family and partner. Whatever decision you make, the support of your family and friends is very important.

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