A directory of prostate cancer. Links to information about prostate cancer treatment, prevention, genetics, causes, screening, clinical trials and more.

Archive for June 24th, 2009

Knowing More About Signs Of Prostate Cancer

Wednesday, June 24th, 2009

Prostate cancer is a common form of the disease that often manifests itself in older men. There is no exact age, but from 50 years onwards you may begin to exhibit some symptoms. Rates of prostate cancer vary widely across the world. It is least common in South and East Asia, more common in Europe, though the rates vary widely between countries, and most common in the United States. It is important to catch the problem early so you can treat symptoms before they get worse. In addition, in the case of prostate cancer, catching it early will greatly improve treatment capabilities and can even save your life.

The disease can occur in men only; the prostate is exculsively of the male reproductive tract. Prostate cancer is a disease in which cancer develops in the prostate of the male reproductive system, this happens when cells in the prostate begin to grow out of control and can then invade nearby tissues or spread throughout the body. Large collections of this out of control tissue are called tumors. The tumor usually grows slowly and remains confined to the gland for many years. During this time, the tumor produces little or no symptoms or outward signs. As the cancer advances, however, it can spread beyond the prostate into the surrounding tissues. Moreover, the cancer also can metastasize throughout other areas of the body, such as the bones, lungs, and liver. Symptoms and signs, therefore, are more often associated with advanced prostate cancer. Prostate cancer may cause pain, difficulty in urinating, erectile dysfunction and other symptoms.

The cause of prostate cancer has not been identified but the cancer is thought to be related to benign prostatic hypertrophy (BHP). The risk factors include advancing age, heredity, hormonal influences, and such enviromental toxins, chemicals, and industrial products. The best way to try and prevent prostate cancer is to modify the risk factors for the disease that you have control over. You may want to try to eat a low fat diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables. Certain foods, vitamins and minerals have been suggested to decrease your chances of getting prostate cancer, however doctors are still studying more data before any particular food or supplement can be endorsed for preventing the disease. Currently, there are studies looking at selenium, lycopen, vitamin A and other retinoids, vitamin D, vitamin E, and soy for prostate cancer prevention.

Since it is a disease of older men, many will die of other causes before the disease can spread or cause symptoms. Deciding on treatment can be daunting not only because there are far better options for treatment today that they were ten years ago but also because not enough relaiable data are available on which to base the decisions. Prostate cancer can be treated with surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, occasionally chemotherapy, or some combination of these. Most men who have the risk factors do not get the disease, on the other hand, men who do get the disease often have no known risk factors, except for growing older. Prostate problems happen in a large percentage of men over the age of 50, so you should watch for symptoms if you are older. However, not all men with prostate problems are over fifty, so you should see a doctor if you notice these symptoms, regardless of your age.

3 Essentials of Good Nutrition

Wednesday, June 24th, 2009

Nutrition is the act or process of nourishing or being nourished, good nutrition is the cornerstone of any successful weight loss, or fitness program. The human body is a complex machine that requires adequate fuel in order to function at optimum levels. Proper nutrition impacts all physical, and mental aspects of our lives. The fuel we consume, or our food, is used by our bodies as energy, for the renewal of cells, and as building blocks for hormones, anti-bodies, and enzymes.

Many of us never worried much about our nutrition when we were younger, but as we get older, it is crucial that we watch what we put into our bodies. Eating pizza and fast food on a normal basis just doesn’t fly with our bodies like it used to. We need to be careful when it comes to our diet because it can greatly affect the way we feel each day.

In order to keep good nutrition, there are a few essential things you should incorporate into your daily routine. A healthy diet can do wonders for your nutrition! It is always best to avoid foods with saturated and trans-fats. It’s also a good idea to stay away from beverages high in sugar like soda and sports drinks.

Water is always a great choice! It is free of any calories or unwanted sugars and fats. Not to mention, you can drink as much as you want, the more the better! Exercise is also a key component in good nutrition. Even if you’re not used to much physical activity, a little bit is better than nothing. You can take stairs instead of elevators, park further away in the parking lot, etc.

There are plenty of little ways to stay active for those of us who don’t have the time and money to hit the gym everyday! The more you exercise, the easier it will become and the better you’ll feel! Another extremely effective way of nourishing your body is consuming a multivitamin daily. We can’t always get the necessary nutrients from our diet alone, but vitamins take care of what we miss.

These few suggestions can put you well on your way to a road of good nutrition if you can begin to integrate them into your daily lifestyle. Incorporating these tips into your routine will slowly but surely make you look and feel better!

No matter how you decide to alter your lifestyle in terms of nutrition and exercise, be certain to get yourself on a good multivitamin, and to detox your system regularly.