All About Prostate Cancer

I have a strong family history of prostate cancer (father & older brother). I am now over 65 and my PSA tests have remained at normal levels I have that test and a rectal exam by a urologist done annually. I've heard recently that pomegranate juice may be of value in treating men wiith prostate cancer whose cancer is still progressing despite radiation and/or hormonal therapy. What I'd like to know is this:

(1) Is there any evidence that it might help in preventing or delaying onset of the disease? and
(2) Is there any indication it could interfere with early diagnosis by skewing the PSA test?

Yes I have also heard Pomegranate juice is effective to prevent prostrate cancer due to is medicinal values. But it does not cure the disease already set in. Neither it will give any adverse indication in the Prostate specific antigen test conducted. this was confirmed to me by my Oncologist friend.

Secondly while i appreciate you are taking all precautions to contain this disease, I request you not to have fear of getting it. If you are destined for something you will get it otherwise not. Take and think everything on positive note. Nothing will happen. Best of Luck

Prostate cancer usually doesn’t produce any noticeable symptoms in its early stages, so many cases of prostate cancer aren’t detected until the cancer has spread beyond the prostate. For most men, prostate cancer is first detected during a routine screening such as a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test or a digital rectal exam (DRE).

When signs and symptoms do occur, they depend on how advanced the cancer is and how far the cancer has spread.

Early signs and symptoms of prostate cancer can include urinary problems, caused when the prostate tumor presses on the bladder or on the tube that carries urine from the bladder (urethra). However, urinary symptoms are much more commonly caused by benign prostate problems, such as an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia) or prostate infections. Less than 5 percent of cases of prostate cancer have urinary problems as the initial symptom. When urinary signs and symptoms do occur, they can include:

- Trouble urinating
- Starting and stopping while urinating
- Decreased force in the stream of urine

Cancer in your prostate or the area around the prostate can cause:

- Blood in your urine
- Blood in your semen
Prostate cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes in your pelvis may cause:

- Swelling in your legs
- Discomfort in the pelvic area
Advanced prostate cancer that has spread to your bones can cause:

- Bone pain that doesn’t go away
- Bone fractures
- Compression of the spine -

Hi my father who is 71 years old and has advance stage of prostate cancer. He is going through a surgery for removal of testes to stop cancer growth. Can anyone please share their experience with regards to the side effect related to growth of breast size. Also what other side effects are related to it. Request someone to share their practical experience rather then information from websites. Thanks

Orchiectomy is a form of hormone therapy used to help control, but not cure prostate cancer. The patient is usually given a choice of this surgical and obviously permanent procedure or the use of daily pills with periodic injections that may be stopped if the patient chooses. Your father’s doctor should have discussed the pros and cons along with the side effects of both with your father and/or family members for a decision to be made.

Breast growth and tenderness is typical as is sterility, loss of sexual interest, erection problems, hot flashes, weight gain, loss of muscle mass and osteoporosis. In other words the lack of testosterone that gives male characteristics such as facial hair, a lower voice and higher sex drive and helps to protect them against many of the things that causes problems with women as we age is no longer there in the levels they are used to, so they begin to develop some of the same problems we have.

Keep in mind your father has just gone through a sudden change in hormones and may appear in many ways, including emotionally, like a woman does when she goes through the change, only we are usually better equipped to deal with it. Although this is just my personal opinion, I believe this aspect of it is often not discussed or downplayed, as 98% of urologists are male and men are men, which I’m sure requires no further explanation.

How sick will this make you and how much pain will there be? What are the chances of the cancer comming back after radation treatment? I have a friend getting ready to under go 9 weeks of treatment.

I am undergoing radiation for breast cancer at this time. Pretty easy. No pain. Doctor says it may make me tired as we progress through the treatments. The people I talk to that have gone or are going through this say the same. As for chance of reoccurence, your friend needs to discuss that with his doctor. Every person's cancer is different. Too many factors are involved to make a comment on what the chances are that it will come back or not.