So just what is prostate cancer?

The human body starts its life as a single cell which divides repeatedly to form new cells. As cell division continues so the newly created cells, acting as the building blocks of the human body, form themselves into walls of tissue creating the various parts that we recognize as the human body. This is not however the end of the process as, throughout our lives, our bodies change constantly with old cells wearing out and dying and other newer cells continuing the process of division to replace them. Occasionally however this process of division does not follow the pattern that it should and a cell divides incorrectly, forming two cells which do not carry the correct information to function normally.

At the same time this frequently sets off a chain reaction so that these cells in turn begin to divide, forming further faulty cells. This, in simple terms, is the basis of all cancers and, where faulty cell division takes place in the prostate gland, then the result is prostate cancer.

The prostate gland, which is about the size of a walnut, sits between the bladder and the rectum and partially surrounds the urethra (the tube which carries urine from the bladder) and its main function is to produce and store a clear fluid which makes up about thirty percent of male semen. Although we tend to think of cancer whenever the prostate is mentioned, there are in fact numerous other problems that can affect the prostate gland, many of which can be quite easily treated.

Prostate cancer is rarely seen in men under the age of 40 and, although cases are seen between the ages of 40 and 65, the vast majority of prostate cancer cases arise in men over the age of 65.

In many cases however the progress of the disease is slow and early stage prostate cancer often carries few if any noticeable symptoms. For this reason many men can suffer from prostate cancer for years before it is diagnosed and the average age at which diagnosis is made in the United States is currently 70. If caught in its early stages prostate cancer can be successfully treated either by surgery or radiation therapy (radiotherapy) and, while such treatment can often leave its mark in terms of ongoing problems with urination or a degradation or loss of sexual function, the cancer will often not return.

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 Mutant Gene Linked To Aggressive Cancer Of The Prostate

US researchers have found that men with prostrate cancer have an increased risk of aggressive tumor if they are carriers of a gene mutation which is normally linked to breast cancer in women.

This finding could have major implications in treatment options for prostrate cancer

If a patient carries the mutated gene, he may want to opt against watchful waiting of prostrate cancer, where it is just monitored and not treated.

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Surgery or radiation treatment may be the best option here.

It is difficult to distinguish between aggressive tumors and the ones that may stay without spreading or enlarging. The researchers examined 979 men with prostrate cancer and 1251 men without the cancer. They looked at whether the men carried the mutations of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes. These are the genes that cause an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer in women.

Only Ashkenazi Jews were included in the study because they are five times more likely to carry the mutation in the genes than the general population. The study found that the mutations did not increase the risk of a man getting prostrate cancer, but those who already had the cancer stood a higher risk of having a more aggressive tumor.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer, after skin cancer, in America. It affects one in six men

Statistically, more than 192000 men are likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2009. More than 27000 men also die from it. Every 2.7 minutes one new case occurs and a patient dies from the disease every 19 minutes.

More than 2 million Americans are estimated to have this disease currently. Old age, family history of prostrate cancer and African American race are factors that increase the likelihood of this disease.

As men grow older, the risk of developing prostrate cancer increases exponentially

1 in 10,000 under the age of 40 will be diagnosed with prostrate cancer. From the ages of 40 to 59, this rate shoots up to 1 in 39. From 60 to 69 years of age, it is 1 in 14. More than 65% of prostate cancer diagnoses are made in men above the age of 65.

African American men have 56% more likelihood to develop prostate cancer than Caucasian men. They are also 2.5 times as likely to die from the disease.

If the father, brother or son has a history of prostrate cancer, the man is twice as likely to develop the disease. If two or more relatives have prostrate cancer history, the likelihood increases to four times.

Now the study conducted on gene mutation and prostrate cancer, estimates that participants with aggressive tumors had 3.2 times more likelihood of carrying the BRCA2 gene mutation than the men in control group.

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Author Alex White is a free lance writer and a health & fitness expert who has been associated with several health care providers across various specialties. Through his articles, Alex White wishes to inform and educate public about Prostrate Cancer. which will benefit those who are looking for resourceful information regarding health.

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Here are some more informative articles about prostate cancer and genetics…

Control the Epstein Barr, Hepatitis, and Herpes Viruses With Gene 

The release mentions Dr. Illa R Singh from the University of Utah who said about his recently published research that “for the first time we have analyzed prostate cancer and normal prostate tissue and found cancers are much more likely to … According to Dr. Polansky, chronic viruses are genetic parasites, which “starve” human genes and cause them to behave as if they have been mutated. Now, we all know that mutated genes cause cause cancer

Virus Infection May Cause Some Cases of ‘Fatigue Syndrome 

The RNASEL gene, a strong candidate for the hereditary prostate cancer 1 allele (HPC1), encodes a single-stranded specific endoribonuclease involved in the antiviral actions of IFNs. … A mutation can be good or bad or indifferent. The results shift over time. Genes for one situation can become very bad in another situation. Exposure to many different genetic agents both alien and domestic can cause swift and huge changes inside the organism even leading to death. 

Cancer Gene BRCA 2  The Word Is Hope

So if a test shows the mutated gene is present there are certain steps you can take. Ob fef viously regular screening is essential. Remember that the best cancer is no cancer but if it does occur, early detection gives you the greatest chances

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Nearly all men will run into some form of prostate problem during their middle or later years and, thankfully, in most cases these problems will be relatively minor or, if they are more severe, at least not life threatening.

For some men however the problem will be prostate cancer and a diagnosis of cancer can literally turn your world, and that of your family, upside down.

Hopefully, more and more men will begin the process of screening for prostate cancer and their problem will be caught at an early stage when there are several treatment options available and the possibility of curing the disease completely is good.

But, whether this is the case or not, a diagnosis of prostate cancer can still be devastating and you need to consider carefully just how you are going to deal with it.

As with so many things in life these days dealing with prostate cancer can be complicated and there are many different opinions about just what the best course of action is. For this reason it is always wise to take a step back for a moment and educate yourself about this disease before rushing into any decisions. Your doctor will be able to give you advice and also to furnish you with some literature and of course there is probably no better place to research the condition today than right here on the Internet.

Many people panic when they are diagnosed with cancer but, unless your prostate cancer is a particularly aggressive form of cancer and is spreading rapidly, which is rare, you do not need to do anything today and can take a few days to let things sink in and to do your homework. This is also a good time to get a second opinion. Many people worry about getting a second opinion thinking that they are in some way doubting their doctor’s competence. This however is not how your doctor will see it if he is worth his salt and it is very sensible to get another view on your condition and opinion about how best to treat it.

You will find that there are usually several treatment options open to you depending upon several factors such as your age and general state of health, as well as whether or not you are suffering from any additional problems arising out of an enlarged prostate, such as kidney damage or bladder infection. In the vast majority of cases however, even when your options are narrowed because of your age or health, you will still have several routes which you can follow.

However, before you get involved in the details of different treatment options it is also a good idea to sit down and consider just how you feel about having cancer. This may seem an odd thing to say, but people react very differently to a diagnosis of prostate cancer and just how you feel about will be an important factor in your treatment decision.

For example, do you feel strongly that you want to do whatever it takes to get this ‘thing’ out of your body and that you couldn’t possibly stand the thought of living with cancer for a moment longer than is absolutely necessary. Or do you feel that you have lived to a ripe old age and that you wish to pass your remaining days in comfort and certainly do not want to put yourself through surgery or the side-effects or radiation treatment and chemotherapy.

Take the time to think carefully about your own situation and that of your family and weigh your own personal circumstances carefully. If you are alone and in your late seventies you may feel differently from a relatively young man in his forties with two young children to care for.

Medical treatment is not simply a matter of science but is something which is very personal to you and should always focus on your needs and, most importantly, on your wishes.

ProstateProblemCenter.com focuses on a wide variety of prostate problems including enlarged prostate treatment.

By Donald Saunders

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Title: Gene Test Helps Detect Prostate Cancer
Category: Health News
Created: 6/1/2009 7:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 6/1/2009
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Title: More Than 650,000 Cancer Deaths Avoided
Category: Health News
Created: 5/27/2009
Last Editorial Review: 5/28/2009
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In the coming year close to a quarter of a million men in the Unite States alone will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and this article looks at the ten questions which most men are asking about this widespread and often fatal disease.

What are prostate problems?

Prostate problems will affect ninety percent of all men by the time the reach the age of eighty and in all too many cases the problem will be that of prostate cancer. But just what is the prostate gland and what does it mean to be diagnosed with prostate cancer? Here we look at the ten questions which are most often asked by men who encounter prostate problems.

1. What is the prostate gland and what does it do?

The prostate gland is situated between the bladder and the rectum, partly surrounding the urethra which carries urine from the bladder out of the body, and forms part of the male reproductive system, making and storing fluid which forms part of a man’s semen. The prostate gland is about the size of a walnut in an adult.

2. What is prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer is a form of cancer which normally appears late in life and tends to be slow growing as a result of which many men, despite having prostate cancer, in fact die of other unrelated conditions. This said, prostate cancer is the second commonest form of cancer in the United States today and in 2006 some 235,000 men were diagnosed with the disease and approximately 27,000 men died from it.

3. Who is likely to contract prostate cancer?

Men in general are at risk of contracting prostate cancer although as it is an age related disease it tends to appear only from about middle-age onwards with the risk of contracting the disease increasing with age. Prostate cancer is more likely to appear in black men and where there is a family history of the disease.

4. What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?

In the early stages of the disease there are normally few if any symptoms and it is possible to suffer from prostate cancer for many years without even knowing it. When symptoms do start to appear they are likely to include such things as difficulty in urinating, the need for frequent urination (especially at the night), a poor flow or urine which tends to stop and start, painful urination, blood in the urine or semen, pain when ejaculating and pain in the lower back, hips or upper part of the thighs.

5. Are there other conditions which can mask the presence of prostate cancer?

Many older men suffer from an enlarged prostate which places pressure on both the bladder and the urethra and interferes with the flow of urine and with sexual function, producing many of the same symptoms that are seen in prostate cancer. This condition is not however cancer but is a benign condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH.

It is also quite common for the prostate gland to become infected and inflamed, again producing similar symptoms, and this also benign condition is known as prostatitis.

6. Is it possible to be screened for prostate cancer?

Yes, although current screening is not foolproof. The two most commonly used screening test will indicate the possibility of a developing problem, which may or may not be cancer, and point to the need for further more specific testing.

The tests currently in use are the digital rectal exam (DRE), in which a doctor carries out an investigation of the prostate gland by feeling it with a gloved finger inserted through the rectum to detect the presence of hard or lumpy areas, and a blood test used to detect the presence of a substance which is known as prostate specific antigen (PSA) and which is made by the prostate gland.

7. How reliable are present screening methods?

Neither of the current screening tests is foolproof and both can easily miss prostate cancers. However, the two tests used together can produce quite reasonable results and are certainly preferable to not screening for the condition at all. Research is currently underway to find a more accurate method of screening.

8. How is a diagnosis of prostate cancer made?

There is really only one way to confirm the presence of prostate cancer and this is by carrying out a prostate biopsy. This involves removing a number of small samples of tissue from various different parts of the prostate gland and examining these under a microscope in the laboratory.

9. How is prostate cancer treated?

If prostate cancer is localized (that is to say confined only to the prostate gland) there are at present three main forms of treatment available.

One option is to do nothing and to simply watch and wait. If this seems an odd course of action it should be borne in mind that many prostate cancers appear at a very advanced age and, as long as the cancer remains within the prostate gland and is slow growing, the best option for an elderly patient might well be to do nothing at all.

Where active treatment is carried out this will often be to either treat the prostate gland with radiation to kill the cancer cells or to simply remove the prostate gland surgically.

In cases where cancer has spread outside of the prostate gland there are a wide range of treatment options available depending on the degree of spread. This is however a complex area and beyond the scope of this short article.

10. What is the best treatment for localized prostate cancer?

This is a bit like asking ‘how long is a piece of string’ as there are a large number of factors which need to be taken into consideration, not the least of which are the patient’s own circumstances and wishes.

In the majority of cases however prostate cancer is slow growing and there is usually no need to rush into a treatment plan. This gives patients time to discuss their condition with their doctor, including taking a second or even third opinion if they wish, and also to discuss matters with their partner and family before making any decision.

By Donald Saunders
ProstateProblemCenter.com provides prostate problem information and advice on such topics as spotting an enlarged prostate symptom to prostate surgery.

Information about the prostate and possible problems

New Three-Minute Cancer Test Technique

New test could diagnose prostate cancer in only three minutes and ensure that thousands of men get treatment at the earliest possible stage of the disease, scientists said yesterday.

Carbohydrate restriction may slow prostate tumor growth

"It’s very exciting ? this is a potential new mechanism to fight prostate cancer growth and help patients live longer with their disease," 

New faster test for prostate cancer in the works 

Now, a team of scientists from the University of Durham in the UK have developed a new three-minute test for the diagnosis of prostate cancer in collaboration with the University of Maryland. The test detects changes in the wavelength of … In theory, a result that can be gained more quickly could allow doctors to begin treatment faster in the cancer’s earlier stages, when it has the greatest chance of being effective. 

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Prostate cancer is classified as an adenocarcinoma, or glandular cancer, that begins when normal semen-secreting prostate gland cells mutate into cancer cells.

The symptoms or conventional treatment of prostate cancer will not be discussed here, as they are well documented, and a great deal of research has been underway for a long time.

Rather, our discussion is first of all the mutation of the normal prostate cells, and then, a restoration without mutation of new cells, letting the body’s immune system clear away the cancer.

Mutation of Prostate Cells

A genetic mutation is defined as a distinct change of the DNA sequence within a gene or chromosome of any organism. This in turn results in the creation of new characteristics or traits not found in the parental type.

Mutations occur very seldom on their own in nature. Instead, they are usually caused by mutagens (substances or forces that give rise to mutations). In the case of the cells of the prostate, these may be (often are) environmental in nature, or by direct invasion of strong radiating forces.

Whatever the specific cause, the cancerous mutations on the prostate gave rise to new cells that if generally left untreated, can metastasize, and end up with death as the result.

Conventional Treatment vs. Alternative Treatment

There are now several options available to the men afflicted with this condition. There is also an alternative treatment that can be used on its own, or in conjunction with any of the various conventional treatments available.

The alternative treatment suggests the afflicted man to get in intimate touch with his deepest self, and locate the perfect pattern of non-diseased genetic codes which produced non-diseased prostate cells.

Once this is done, the pattern can be superimposed on the cells of the prostate, and the new cells are produced to the original pattern. This is called application of the Konov Principle

The Konov Principle

Sergey Konov, a contemporary Russian film producer, writer and original thinker, has coined the phrase Genetic Memory to express the repository of all chemical-physical events in our bodily and mental existence.

Konov has explained that in the case of cancer of the prostate, the genetic memory has records of both the normal and cancerous genetic information.

By the application of addressing the genetic memory, one can re-establish the priority of the normal arrangement

Addressing the Genetic Memory

By following some basic yogic exercises in relaxation and concentration, one may become gradually aware of one’s inner and basic nature, including the mechanism of genetic reproduction of cellular material.

The technique of achieving this may be found in earlier articles covering application of the Konov Principle.

The actual possibility of discovering one’s ideal genetic combinations and then superimposing them upon the later, mutated variety is a real and practical possibility.

Doctors are still quite uncertain about the nature of the healing process, and quite impressed with recent "placebo" cures occurring when patients believe strongly enough they are being treated.

These patients may have accidentally found their way to their own genetic memories, and healed themselves.

This article does not suggest you should reject medical treatment if you need it, but rather, should you find yourself ill, with say, prostate cancer, some deep self-realization techniques and practice, can bring you closer to realizing your own nature, and help yourself effect a cure.

Here are a list of alternative ways to relax and go deeper for healing:

Learn and practise the art of meditation

Find out how to get all the healing benefits of laughter yoga

Take an easy route and let go of struggle with music

Learn how to transform pain into joy and give your immune system a natural boost

More info: On cancer including prostrate cancer and a wide variety of information on alternative treatments for a variety of conditions, as well as information on all apsects of health are available at www.net-planet.org

By sacha tarkovsky

Technorati Tags: cancer cure prostrate treatment, natural cancer cure, new cancer cure, prostate cancer cure

Title: Diet, Fitness Coaches Help Cancer Survivors
Category: Health News
Created: 5/13/2009
Last Editorial Review: 5/13/2009
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Title: Where You Live May Affect Your Cancer Diagnosis
Category: Health News
Created: 5/12/2009 8:42:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 5/12/2009
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According to a recent survey conducted by the Prostate Cancer Charity organisation, men with prostate cancer are not receiving the same level of care as for other cancers and as the level of care for women although it is not fully understood why.

 One of the possible reasons is thought to be a lack of clear guidelines by NICE although the process of establishing these is underway. Other variables affecting level of care, concern the attitudes of health practitioners, men’s expectations and societal perceptions and valuing of the older male population.

Some men are receiving the kind of care they value but there is also room for standards to improve. A large number of men with prostate cancer, about 25% of the study, felt that they weren’t provided with enough information and have needs that are unacknowledged which creates a certain amount of uncertainty and leaves them feeling rather dissatisfied and uninformed as to the best course of treatment. It seems mostly what was wanted was for someone to take the time to listen and show that they care.

Recommended steps to address these issues included providing good quality information at the appropriate time, improving the communication skills of health practitioners, spending more time on listening with empathy and improving team work skills amongst the various professionals concerned.

It was argued that improving men’s expectations and the ability to be assertive about what they want as regards the kind of treatment and kind of care they can expect as an older man is a move in the right direction

Reasons Cancer Patients Don’t Talk About Pain

It may sound counterintuitive, but cancer patients sometimes don’t tell doctors about their pain. Eugenie Obbens, MD, acting chief of the Pain and Palliative Care Service at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, says

Stupidity about health targets and cancer

Not testing for prostate cancer because you have no trouble urinating and no other reason to suspect trouble is one thing, but superbugs and bad hospital standards are no reason to bury your head in the sand. Once you have a diagnosis, you can make your choice, of course. … Fear of poor NHS care really is no reason to let cancer take its course, because it only ever takes one course: it spreads throughout your body, leaving you in immense pain, and then kills

Are You Afraid to Go to the Doctor Because You’re Fat?

This isn’t just a matter of political correctness: Stereotypes and discrimination stand in the way of getting the medical care you need. Providers who aren’t sensitive aren’t putting your needs first.

UK Health News 

“Screening all older men for prostate cancer ‘could reduce deaths by a fifth’,” said the Mail. “Prostate cancer hope” said the Mirror. “Calls for new policies on NHS cancer tests” said the Independent. “Prostate cancer screening could cut ….

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