Health and Prostate

Some genes appear to increase a man's risk of developing many different types of cancer, including prostate cancer and testicular cancer. Prostate Cancer Genes have been linked to prostate cancer, especially in those men who were diagnosed with prostate cancer at a relatively young age (younger than 55 years old). The younger the person is when he is diagnosed, the higher the risk is for male relatives to have prostate cancer at a young age. Prostate cancer seems to run in some families, suggesting an inherited or genetic factor. Having a father or brother who has prostate cancer almost doubles a man's risk of developing this disease. The risk is even higher for men who have several affected relatives, particularly if their relatives were young at the time of diagnosis. The causes of prostate cancer are still poorly understood, and reflect complex interactions between genetic and environmental factors. Still, genes are clearly important, because a man whose father and grandfather had prostate cancer is two to three times more likely to have the disease than a man with no such family history. Read more [...]

A minimally invasive and relatively new procedure used to treat localized prostate cancer that uses very low temperatures to "freeze" cancer cells. The procedure is also known as cryosurgery or cryoablation. In this technique, the surgeon (with the help of a transrectal ultrasound) places five to eight probes through the patient's skin into the prostate gland. Once the probes are positioned correctly, the physician administers liquid nitrogen through the probes to freeze the prostate. The liquid nitrogen forms a ball of ice in the prostate; once it melts, it ruptures the cancer cells, killing them. Typically, physicians administer two freezing-and-melting cycles during one procedure to be sure all the cancer is eliminated. The doctor normally inserts a warming catheter into the urethra (which travels through the prostate gland) to prevent the urethra from freezing. Usually after this procedure, the cancer is eliminated and the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level returns to normal. The procedure does not involve incisions; therefore, recovery is quick. On the other hand, if the procedure Read more [...]

A broad group of healing philosophies, approaches, and products (also referred to as integrative medicine) that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine. Complementary treatment is generally considered to be therapy used in addition to conventional treatments; alternative treatment usually is used instead of conventional treatment. Conventional treatments are those that are widely accepted and practiced by the mainstream medical community. Although there is scientific evidence for the effectiveness and safety of some CAM therapies, in general many of these therapies have not been scientifically tested. As CAM therapies are proved safe and effective through rigorous studies, they are adopted into conventional health care. Though grouped together, complementary and alternative medicines are different. Complementary medicine is used together with conventional medicine; an example of complementary therapy is the use of aromatherapy to help lessen a patient's discomfort after surgery. Alternative medicine is used in place of conventional medicine, for example, use of a special Read more [...]

Malignant tumors of the prostate gland. Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin form of cancer and the second-leading cause of deaths from cancer among men, with about 230,000 cases diagnosed and 30,000 deaths in the United States each year. The disease takes a mild course in many men who develop it and may exist in a chronic state for many years. In some men prostate cancer is very aggressive, requiring extensive therapeutic intervention. Prostate cancer typically produces few symptoms until it is fairly advanced; as with all cancers, the earlier that prostate cancer is detected, the more effective treatment is. Symptoms and Diagnosis Measurement of prostate specific antigen (PSA) and digital rectal examination (DRE) of the prostate gland for enlargement or palpable growths are the most common screening methods for prostate cancer, though neither is highly reliable. Prostatic enlargement, called benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), is normal as a man gets older; BPH and nonmalignant growths of the prostate gland cause increases in PSA. Doctors have mixed opinions about the clinical value of Read more [...]