The baby boomer population bubble has now reached 60 years old. This means that many of us are going to need to face illness and diseases that come with surviving six decades. Prostate cancer is one such disease that is expected to grow in number over the next few decades.

Statistically 180,000 new prostate cancer cases are being diagnosed in the United States every year with about 32,000 men dying from this disease annually. Although these are the statistics that are used, the fact is that many of these men will will die and not from the actual prostate cancer, but from allowing the cancerous condition to grow until it is unmanageable. This is due to the fact that prostate cancer can metastasize or move from the prostate area and infect organs, bones and lymph nodes.

This should cause every man to pause and realize that prostate cancer is a serious disease that if given the chance will kill you. It is now the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men in the United States after lung cancer. In Canada about 17,000 males are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year and about 4,200 die each year from the disease.

The sad fact is that many of these deaths are avoidable. As with many cancerous diseases, early detection is the key to effective treatment and even cure. Prostate cancer is diagnosed based upon how advanced the malignant tumor has grown. In the early stages, we have maximum flexibility in treatment options and can both manage and in many times cure this potentially deadly disease.

Diagnosis usually start with a medical history as studies have shown that heredity may be a factor with prostate cancer. Next, a DRE or digital rectal exam is done. This is a quick and simple exam where the doctor feels your prostate for any abnormal bumps, size difference or texture. In addition to a DRE, the doctor may suggest a Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood Test. This blood test looks for abnormal markers that may indicate the presence of a developing cancerous situation.

There’s growing evidence to suggest that a diet very rich in vitamins and nutrients can also help maintain our body’s ability to ward off many serious diseases. Although the definitely not a cure for prostate cancer, the use of natural remedies to strengthen your body’s immune system can only help to keep you healthy. There’s no question that a low-fat diet along with appropriate vitamins and minerals can help keep you healthier and make you better able to fight off disease.

Several studies have suggested that men who had a diet rich in selenium and vitamin E. had fewer cases of prostate cancer. The kinds of foods that contain selenium include meat, grains, seafood, and some kinds of nuts. It’s critical that you meet with your doctor before making any radical changes to your diet as other problems may arise. There’s also some evidence to suggest that the nutrient lycopene found in tomato based products such as ketchup can provide some protection against contracting prostate cancer.

According to a study in the British Journal of Urology International, men that have been diagnosed with prostate cancer who take supplemental lycopene (is found in very high amounts in tomatoes) and still get their testicles surgically removed are likely to experience less bone pain, less disease and stand more chances of living longer than those who have only had surgical removal of their testicles.

In the end, a partnership with your medical doctor is the best way to remain healthier longer. By taking some responsibility for your health, changes in your lifestyle are much easier to make.

The prostate gland is part of the male reproductive system. Cancer that grows in the prostate gland is called prostate cancer. It is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men in the U.S.

Men have traditionally been less likely to seek medical attention than women, especially for minor problems which often serve as warning signs for more serious underlying illness. It’s estimated that approximately 234,460 men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year, and approximately 27,350 will die of the disease.

Prostate cancer is the third most common cause of death from cancer in men of all ages and is the most common cause of death from cancer in men over 75 years old.

Some men will experience symptoms that might indicate the presence of prostate cancer. One symptom is a need to urinate frequently, especially at night. If cancer is caught at its earliest stages, most men will not experience any symptoms. Weak or interrupted flow of urine and painful or burning urination can be symptoms to watch out for. Other symptoms might include unintentional weight loss and lethargy. One cancer symptom is difficulty starting urination or holding back urine.

A PSA test with a high level can also be from a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland. When a digital rectal exam is performed it often reveals an enlarged prostate with a hard, irregular surface. A bone scan can indicate whether the cancer has spread or not.

Another test usually used when symptoms are present is the digital rectal exam (DRE) performed by the doctor. A number of tests may be done to confirm the diagnosis. There is a newer test called AMACR that is more sensitive than the PSA test for determining the presence of prostate cancer.

Medications can have many side effects, including hot flashes and loss of sexual desire. Chemotherapy medications are often used to treat prostate cancers that are resistant to hormonal treatments. Radiation therapy is used primarily to treat prostate cancers classified as stages A, B, or C.

Side effects of chemotherapy drugs depend on which ones you’re taking and how often and how long they’re taken. 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.

Impotence is a potential complication after the prostatectomy or after radiation therapy. An oncology specialist will usually recommend treating with a single drug or a combination of drugs. Treatment options can vary based on the stage of the tumor.

Other medications used for hormonal therapy, with side effects, include androgen-blocking agents, which prevent testosterone from attaching to prostate cells. The conventional treatment of prostate cancer is often controversial. Thoroughly discuss your treatment options and concerns with your doctor and other health professionals; it never hurts to get a second or even third opinion or more if necessary.

Radiation therapy to the prostate gland is either external or internal, both of which use high-energy rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Since prostate tumors require testosterone to grow, reducing the testosterone level is used to prevent further growth and spread of the cancer.

Because it’s a slow-growing disease, many men with this disease will die from other causes before they die from prostate cancer. In the end, only you with the help of your doctors, knowing your individual situation, can determine the best treatment program for you. Once diagnosed you may be want to join a support group whose members share their experiences and problems.

(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

If you have just learned that you have prostate cancer or know someone who has been diagnosed with it, you may be feeling depressed and angry. However such type of cancer can be treated and you can go on living a normal and healthy life again.

The treatment of prostate cancer can vary depending on the advancement of the disease, the patients physical state, and other factors. The first signs of Prostate cancer that someone can exhibit can be a difficulty in urinating, which occurs because the prostate gland swells up to such a large extent. This could be further divided into frequently getting up in the night to urinate, interrupted flow of urine, and no urine flow at all. There could also be blood in the urine, and a painful feeling in the hips, back and pelvis. Another symptom could present itself in painful ejaculation.

To give a prognosis for prostate cancer can also depend on if this is the first discovery of the caner or if it is a recurrence. Many different kinds of test are done to check for cancer cells. This includes a rectal examination, a probe or a less obtrusive ultra sound. Once you have been diagnosed, other tests will have to be performed to check if the cancer has spread to other areas of the body before a final diagnosis and treatment options can be given.

The severity and stage of the prostate cancer is referred to by the Gleason score, which is determined by the way the cancer tissue looks under a microscope. If the score is low it means that the tissue is normal and does not look like it will spread easily. If it is high however, then the likely hood that the cancer will spread to other areas of the body is likely.

Such type of cancer is usually found in older men and there are the usual treatments of surgery (where the lymph nodes are removed), Radiation therapy, and hormone therapy. There are also newer types of treatments for prostate cancer that are still in the clinical trial phase which include Chemotherapy, Cryosurgery, Biological therapy and a high intensity form of ultra sound.

If you have any of the above mentioned symptoms that could indicate related cancer then it would be wise to consult with your health care professional to ensure that if you do have prostate cancer it is discovered early and treated accordingly.