What You Should Know About Prostate Cancer

What You Should Know About Prostate Cancer
By Helen Hecker

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men in the U.S. Men younger than 40 are rarely ever diagnosed with prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is deadly but can be cured if it's caught early enough. In most men, prostate cancer grows very slowly: most men will never know they have it.

The prostate is a small, walnut-sized structure that makes up part of a man's reproductive system; it wraps around the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body. The prostate gland is located directly beneath the bladder and in front of the rectum.

There may be other symptoms not mentioned here. Other symptoms might include unintentional weight loss and lethargy. There are several symptoms to be aware of.

Weak or interrupted flow of urine and painful or burning urination can be symptoms to watch out for. If cancer is caught at its earliest stages, most men will not experience any symptoms. One of the most common symptoms is the inability to urinate at all. A chest x-ray may be done to see if there's a spread of cancer. One downside to PSA testing is that health care providers are detecting and treating some very early-stage prostate cancers that may never have caused the patient any harm. Another test usually used when prostate cancer symptoms are present is the digital rectal exam (DRE) performed by the doctor.

A PSA test with a high level can also be from a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland. The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test measures the PSA enzyme in your blood for abnormalities. A urinalysis may indicate if there is blood in the urine.

The approaches to treatment include: ever watchful waiting to see whether the cancer is growing slowly and not causing any symptoms. In the early stages, surgery and radiation may be used to remove or attempt to kill the cancer cells or shrink the tumor. Hormone manipulation is mainly used as a treatment to relieve symptoms in men whose cancer has spread.

Treatment options can vary based on the stage of the tumor. What you can do now is begin to understand what exactly your treatment options are and where you're going to begin. Chemotherapy medications are often used to treat prostate cancers that are resistant to hormonal treatments.

Surgery, radiation therapy, and hormonal therapy can interfere with libido on a temporary or permanent basis. Be aware that some men chose natural treatment options and forgo any surgery, radiation or chemotherapy. Medicines can be used to adjust the levels of testosterone; called hormonal manipulation.

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. Many men simply want the best treatment they can get but what's important is picking the best treatment for you. In patients whose health makes the risk of surgery unacceptably high, radiation therapy is often the chosen conventional alternative.

Radiation therapy is used primarily to treat prostate cancers classified as stages A, B, or C. If chemotherapy is decided upon, after the first round of chemotherapy, most men receive further doses on an outpatient basis at a clinic or physician's office. Being treated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy is something to think through carefully and know that you have the option to refuse them.

If you've already been diagnosed with prostate cancer, pick the option that's best suited to you and your continuing good health. As new research comes out you can adjust your treatment options accordingly. Just about all men with prostate cancer survive at least five years after their diagnosis, 93% survive at least 10 years, and 67% survive more than 15 years.

For more information on prostate cancer treatments and prostate cancer symptoms go to http://www.BestProstateHealthTips.com Helen Hecker R.N.'s website specializing in prostate and prostate cancer tips, advice and resources, including information on prostate tests and natural prostate cancer treatments

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Brain Cancer in Dogs, and Dog Cancer Symptoms

Although you treat your dog well and make sure that he eats right and exercises, you can be shocked to see that your pet has dog cancer symptoms. Sometimes you cannot prevent this, no matter how much love you have to give.

Now you have to learn how to take care of your sick dog and know the progression of cancer to help treat it. Brain cancer has no causes within medical science at this time. It is though that brain cancer is a genetic disorder in cells that mutate, but there is no cause that veterinarians are able to find.

Dog Cancer Symptoms for Brain Cancer:

Meningioma or brain cancer is a tumor cell that forms in different parts of the brain that can go from the base of the spine to any part of the brain. Mutated cells turn to cancer and continue to grow without treatment.

This type of cancer is always malignant, and means that it will always grow in the brain until your dog perishes from the cancer or the pressure on the brain that causes aneurysms. You should know and look for the symptoms to keep suffering to a minimum for your best friend.

Brain cancer symptoms in dogs include stress and aggression, shyness and depression or personality changes. You will also see lethargy or lameness as well as appetite changes and nose bleeds, heart trouble and coordination problems. Muscle twitches and facial or eye problems can also be seen. Early symptoms to be recalled to your vet include appetite changes, weight loss or personality differences.

When the cancer progresses, there are more changes and normally extremely weak muscles. Since the brain is the center for the body, when a small portion is troubled, it can throw off many other functions in the body like heart and lungs or immune system and the liver. The brain cancer can just as easily be a secondary mass that branched from cancer somewhere else in the body. Symptoms are normally determined by where the brain cancer is located on the brain.

Although you treat your dog well and make sure that he eats right and exercises, you can be shocked to see that your dog has cancer. Sometimes you cannot prevent this, no matter how much love you have to give. Now you have to learn how to take care of your sick dog and know the progression of cancer to help treat it., so treatment is vital to survival for your dog.

There are few choices in treatment such as surgery. But this is hard on dogs because the mass must be removed, and thus a portion of the brain is also removed that causes a lifelong effect. Many owners just decide to go with care and medicines. There are some medicines made to prevent the cycle of mutation that the cells go through in cancer.

This medicine doesn't reduce the number of already formed cells, but prevents the regrowth. This medication and radiation combined will need adjustments from time to time such as diet changes and less exercise for your dog. When your dog feels bad, they want to lie down, so always let them have more rest as well as those short walks. Realize that some of the illness they feel can be from treatment, and they need you to be loving to help with the vomiting and other side effects. Remember they can't help it, and they were always there for you when you felt bad.

Janet Markowitz has been a German Shepherd Breeder for over 20 years. She has always been interested in using natural and holistic remedies for her Shepherds whenever possible. She has found that by using natural Remedies in conjunction with conventional medicine, she has achieved great success in the health and longevity in her dogs.

http://www.PetsNaturalChoyce.com/ccaps.htm

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A Few Facts About Breast Cancer

A Few Facts About Breast Cancer
By Michael Russell

. What is breast cancer?

Breast cancer is caused by the abnormal or uncontrollable growth of breast cells. It has the potential to also spread to other parts of the body. While cancer is almost always caused by an abnormal gene the chances of inheriting it from your mother or father is only 5 to 10 percent. The genetic abnormalities that occur as a result of the ageing process and other factors however cause 90 percent of the breast cancers.

. Who is affected by breast cancer?

Women are the most affected by the commonest cancer that is breast cancer. 216,000 new cases of invasive cancer and 59,000 new cases of non-invasive breast cancer were diagnosed in the USA in 2004.

Every woman at some point in her life is at risk from breast cancer. Each woman will have different risk factors.

. The period in your life when you gain weight also affects the risk of breast cancer.

After menopause, a woman who is overweight is at greater risk from breast cancer when compared to a woman of average weight. Being overweight also increases the risk of the disease coming back in women who have had it earlier.

Studies also show that the risk factor is greater for women who gain a significant amount of weight as an adult when compared with women who maintained more or less the same weight. Studies also show that gaining weight after menopause also increases the risk of breast cancer. Therefore maintaining a healthy weight as you advance in age will help minimize your risk of breast cancer.

. Having ovarian cysts means your chances of getting breast cancer are low.

Benign ovarian cysts, generally a result of hormonal imbalance, cause several problems such as irregular menstrual cycles and infertility and were originally thought to be linked with a higher risk of breast cancer. Research has shown however that the opposite is true, that is, women with ovarian cysts are less likely to get breast cancer. The reason for this association is still not clear.

. Taking the contraceptive pill may increase your risk of getting breast cancer.

According to research, it is shown that taking the contraceptive pill slightly increases your risk of getting breast cancer. For women who are most at risk from developing breast cancer, that is, women who have given birth and who have used the pill for a period of 4 years before they became pregnant for the first time, the absolute risk is minimal.

There are certain benefits too from taking contraceptive pills. They are that it improves bone mineral density, it decreases the chances of an individual getting endometrial and ovarian cancer and it relieves menstrual disorders, ovarian cysts and pelvic inflammatory disease.

. A history of family breast cancer means your chances of getting ovarian cancer are high.

Research has shown that not only is an individual at high risk if she has a family history of breast cancer, but it also increases the risk of ovarian cancer. The risk is relatively low though.

Michael Russell

Your independent guide to Breast Cancer

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What You Should Know Before Getting A Gift For A Cancer Patient

What You Should Know Before Getting A Gift For A Cancer Patient
By Nat Williams

When the people dearest to us are diagnosed with cancer, it is normal to feel shocked and not know what to do to aid them. However, that should not stop us from giving them some moral support. What better way of showing that we care for them by giving them a sweet gift to cheer them up.

How Can A Gift Help Cancer Patients?
Cancer is a very difficult disease to overcome. Small tokens of concern from friends and family members can let cancer patients know that someone truly cares about and empathizes with their situation. The gift you select should express support, a sense of hope and love to inspire them to stay positive.

Gifts for a Cancer Patient
There are many priceless choices when it comes to selecting presents for a cancer patient. Here's a tiny list of nice gift ideas for cancer patients:

• Apparel like t-shirts,hats or bags that promotes cancer awareness and survivorship
• Cancer patient journals,which are designed to encourage patients to utilize journaling as a therapeutic means of coping with their disease and its treatment
• Cancer stuffed toys like inspirational stuffed bears
• Jewelry items like cancer bracelets or cancer awareness pins that promotes cancer awareness and survivorship
• Inspirational books about cancer survivors
• Skin care products that are made especially for those getting radiation and other forms of cancer treatment
• Gift certificates for life's luxuries like massage treatments,manicures,or facials,which they might otherwise overlook during this time
• Hats,turbans,scarves,or other accessories that might help offset some of the negative side effects of cancer treatment
• Gift certificates to their favorite stores to help purchase necessities

Of course there are many other various items that may be perfect gift choices for the cancer patient in your life. The best choice depends on the individual person and the relationship between the two of you. Remember that the thoughtfulness of your gift will be highly valued just as much as the item itself.

What Shouldn't I Give to a Cancer Patient?
While it is the thought that counts when giving presents, it is important that the presents you choose do not send an incorrect message. Here's a list of gifts that are bad for cancer patients:

• Gifts that lack compassion or don't have any kind of meaning
• Gifts that could make a cancer patient feel uncomfortable about themselves such as wigs or false eyebrows
• Gifts that poke fun or humor with regards to cancer in some way
• Books on death and dying
• Gifts that not at all connected to the cancer patient's plight and are just general in nature

For more cancer general info and alternative treatments, please visit Natalie's site at CancerArchive.com

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Having a Positive Attitude Can Make All of the Difference in Surviving Cancer

Having a Positive Attitude Can Make All of the Difference in Surviving Cancer
By Connie Ragen Green

I was first diagnosed with breast cancer in October of 1992, at the age of 37. My life changed that day, in ways that I wouldn't fully understand until many years later.

I was living in Miami at the time, a city I had lived in during my teenage years. I have many friend there and thought it would be nice to live and work there for a year before returning to California, where I am originally from. I took a job with the Department of Transportation and moved to a house in an area called Cutler Ridge in January of 1992.

On the weekends I saw all of the people that I had known since I was twelve years old and first living in south Florida. We would go to the beach and spend time catching up after all those years. Although I had regularly visited I had not spent much time in Miami since I had returned to California in 1974.

On August 17, 1992, Hurricane Andrew struck Miami. The house I was renting was torn apart and I spent six hours in a closet with my little dog and my insurance policy. When I was finally able to come out of the closet my world had forever changed. I lost everything, except for my life. I thanked God every minute for sparing me after such an ordeal.

I was ready to return to California when I became quite ill. After seeing three different doctors I was told that I had breast cancer and would have to undergo a radical mastectomy. I was finally able to return to California in time for Thanksgiving, but the doctors were sure that I would not see Christmas. Again I asked God to spare my life. I told Him that I had important work to do for Him, and promised to spend the rest of my life making Him proud.

Here I am, 14 years, 6 months, and 8 days later. I have kept my promise. I have also kept a positive attitude. I believe that my outlook on life is what keeps me going. I do have important work to do and I remember that each and every day. Each moment is a gift from God and I don't forget that. Gratitude is another part of each of my days. My most important letter of gratitude was one I wrote to my first oncologist last year. I thanked him for what he had done to save my life and told him a little about how I live my life. I hope and believe that God is proud of me.

Connie Ragen Green is a motivational speaker and writer living in southern California. Visit her at http://www.ReinventYourLifeWithPassion.com/

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The Promising Reduction in Gastric Cancer Rates

The Promising Reduction in Gastric Cancer Rates
By Jon Stout

The news is full of frightening statistics about cancer and other diseases. From what we read and hear on television, we are led to believe that more and more people are being diagnosed with cancer and that more and more people are dying from it.

In some cases, this is true. Incidences of and deaths from cancer have risen every year for the last fifty. However, dont let this lead you to believe that no progress is being made.

Lets take a look at gastric cancer, for example. Gastric cancers were once the leading cause of cancer death in the United States, and in many other countries, too. However, since 1930, the incidence of and number of deaths related to gastric cancer have steadily decreased.

By 1994, gastric cancer was the eighth leading cause of cancer death in the US and the statistics appear to continue to be on the decline. So, why are we seeing less gastric cancer today than before? Well, the medical community doesnt appear to have made any definite conclusions, but there are some factors that are believed to be contributing to this promising trend.

The number one reason doctors believe that gastric cancer is on the decline is the higher consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables in our diet and the lower consumption of foods that are preserved by salt. Years ago, refrigeration in the home was not common, so keeping fruits and vegetables at the ready was not easy. And, it was common to preserve meats and some other foods with salt rather than freezing them.

When the ability to refrigerate and freeze foods in the home became commonplace, the American diet changed. We began to eat more fruits and vegetables and freeze our meat instead of curing it. So, how does this help reduce our risk of cancer?

Well, its actually quite simple. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables means a diet rich in anti-oxidants. Each day, as we convert the foods we eat into energy, we create free radicals in our body. These free radicals can damage our cells and our DNA. Unchecked free radicals are believed to contribute to the development of cancer and other diseases.

Anti-oxidants are excellent at combating free radicals. A diet rich in anti-oxidants is linked with preventing cancer, heart disease, cholesterol problems and a lower incidence of stroke.

So, if youre interested in reducing your risk of cancer, be sure your diet is rich in anti-oxidants on a daily basis. Some of foods highest in anti-oxidants are:

Small Red Bean (dried)
Wild blueberry
Red kidney bean (dried)
Pinto bean
Blueberry (cultivated)
Cranberry
Blackberry
Prune
Raspberry
Strawberry

Apple
Pomegranate
Pecan
Sweet cherry
Black plum
Russet potato (cooked)
Black bean (dried)
Plum

So, if you want to improve your health, and reduce your risk of cancer, these fruits should be staples in your diet. And, theres another way you can get your daily dose of anti-oxidants; one you might not have thought of.

Green Tea is High in Anti-Oxidants

Green tea has been widely used in Asian cultures for centuries to prevent illness and to treat it, as well. And, many recent studies have linked green tea with the prevention of cancer, and, in some cases have even found green tea to be helpful in the treatment of cancer.

Tea comes from the Camellia sinensis plant. There are many different types of tea; most of the differences come from the way the tea is processed. Tea leaves contain very powerful anti-oxidants in their natural state.

Fermenting tea leaves, which is part of processing tea leaves for black tea, converts these catechins to other compounds and reduces their health benefits. Therefore, green tea, because it is not fermented, retains more of its original anti-oxidants than black tea.

In every part of the world except Asia, black tea varieties are far more widely consumed than green tea. And, black tea is healthy. However, because green tea undergoes less processing, it far outranks black tea in its ability to provide anti-oxidants, and thereby, prevent disease.

Asian cultures have a far lower incidence of heart disease, stroke, high cholesterol and cancer. And, while there are likely other cultural and environmental factors that contribute to their lower incidence of disease; their high consumption of green tea is considered a significant factor. In fact, in 1994 the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published the results of an epidemiological study indicating that drinking green tea reduced the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by nearly sixty percent.

So, if youd like to reduce your risk of developing cancer and other diseases that often plague us as we get older, eat and drink up. Get your daily fill of fruits and vegetables. And, wash it down with green tea! Youll be doing your part to ensure you live a long and healthy life!

Jon M. Stout is the Chairman of the Golden Moon Tea Company. Golden Moon Tea carefully selects the finest rare and orthodox teas, which are processed slowly and handcrafted with extreme care. At their website, you can learn more about their current tea offerings, including their exceptional green tea, white tea, black tea, oolong tea (also known as wu long tea) and chai. Visit http://www.goldenmoontea.com for all details concerning the Golden Moon Tea Company's fine line of teas.

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Cancer Prevention Is Easier Than You Think

Cancer Prevention Is Easier Than You Think
By Mike Selvon

Cancer prevention is not like rocket science. It begins with taking a look at your lifestyle and deciding where to make changes. Change can be as simple as adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet or it can mean putting down your pack of cigarettes for good. Whatever you choose to do as a means to ward off cancer, remember to tailor your prevention methods to fit your body.

The first step in the fight against cancer is to take a look at your family history. The University of Texas' MD Anderson's Cancer Center web site reports that five to ten percent of cancer cases can come from a person's genetic make-up. The flip side of this statistic is that ninety percent of cancer cases can be controlled by the individual.

If someone in your family has battled cancer, researchers are now able to perform specific tests to find out if you carry altered genes which can cause certain types of cancers. The responsibility of getting the necessary tests and screenings lies with the individual.

Part of cancer prevention comes with heeding this responsibility and not ignoring the warning signs cancer gives to its victims. Research like this will help you to know if you should focus your efforts on breast and cervical cancer prevention or arthritis cancer prevention.

Aside from genetics, the most important part of cancer prevention is eating a well-balanced diet. This means incorporating more fruits and vegetables, meats that are low in fat and plenty of heart-healthy whole grains into your diet. Certain vegetables, such as tomatoes and broccoli, carry antibodies that support cancer prevention of the prostate for men.

If you can't eat all your servings at one sitting, try to snack on them throughout the day. And because today's society is surrounded by processed foods, reading nutrition labels is important when going to the store. Avoid foods that tend to be high in saturated fats, high fructose corn syrups and hydrogenated oils of any kind.

Exercising may not be an activity you thoroughly enjoy, but it is important to find time as a way to prevent cancer. Medical research suggests doing some form of activity for at least half an hour several times a week to keep your body in good shape.

To make exercising fun, find activities you enjoy such as hiking or gardening. Even simple tasks, like shopping at a mall, can be a form of physical activity. Being creative is the best way to keep your workouts fun and entertaining, leaving you less likely to forgo a brisk walk after dinner for the couch.

Cancer prevention involves changing habits, especially the bad ones. The University of Texas' MD Anderson Cancer Research web site reports that 87 percent of lung cancer victims were smokers.

The Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation's fall 2006 newsletter conveyed that even second-hand smoke can increase a person's risk of heart disease by twenty-five to thirty percent and can increase a person's risk of developing lung cancer by twenty to thirty percent.

More and more research comes out every year about the harmful affects of smoking, and stopping this degenerative habit is a crucial part in the fight against cancer.

Cancer prevention means making significant lifestyle changes. Simple decisions, such as snacking on fresh fruit and vegetables, can help you find room for healthier food choices. Getting your family involved in exercising helps physical activity become more fun and less of a chore for your loved ones.

Taking small steps towards big transformations will aid you in the fight against cancer and provide you with the opportunity to live a long and healthy life.

Visit Mike Selvon cancer prevention portal for more information on cancer prevention, and leave a comment at our cancer prevention blog. Don't forget to claim your FREE self help ebook on dealing with cancer.

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