How To Know If You Have Prostate Problems

What Should You Do If You Have The Symptoms Of Prostate Cancer

If you are presenting one or more of the warning signs of prostate cancer, then it would be wise to promptly consult with a qualified physician. Your symptoms may indicate another, less serious condition and even if you do receive a diagnosis of prostate cancer, it is much easier to treat this disease when detected early on.

To learn more, contact our team of medical professionals at Care New England today.

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Why Does Prostate Cancer Happen

The causes of prostate cancer are largely unknown. However, certain things can increase your risk of developing the condition.

The chances of developing prostate cancer increase as you get older. Most cases develop in men aged 50 or older.

For reasons not yet understood, prostate cancer is more common in men of African-Caribbean or African descent, and less common in men of Asian descent.

Men who have first-degree male relatives affected by prostate cancer are also at a slightly increased risk.

Read more about the causes of prostate cancer

Hormonal Therapy For Aggressive Prostate Cancer: How Long Is Enough

• By Charlie Schmidt, Editor, Harvard Medical School Annual Report on Prostate Diseases

Men weighing treatment options for intermediate- or high-risk cancer that is still localized to the prostate can face a tricky question. A standard approach in these cases is to give radiation to the prostate along with drugs that block testosterone, a hormone that makes the cancer cells grow faster. For how long should this hormone therapy last? Thats not entirely clear. The drugs have side effects, such as fatigue, impotence, and a loss of muscle mass. But radiation doesnt control prostate cancer effectively without them. Doctors therefore aim to give hormone therapy only for as long as it takes to help their patients, without causing any undue harm.

Now, newly published results from a phase 3 clinical trial are providing some needed guidance.

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The Basics: How An Erection Occurs

At its most basic level, an erection is a matter of hydraulics. Blood fills the penis, causing it to swell and become firm. But getting to that stage requires extraordinary orchestration of body mechanisms. Blood vessels, nerves, hormones, and, of course, the psyche must work together. Problems with any one of these elements can diminish the quality of an erection or prevent it from happening altogether.

Nerves talk to each other by releasing nitric oxide and other chemical messengers. These messengers boost the production of other important chemicals, including cyclic guanosine monophosphate, prostaglandins, and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide. These chemicals initiate the erection by relaxing the smooth muscle cells lining the tiny arteries that lead to the corpora cavernosa, a pair of flexible cylinders that run the length of the penis .

How Do You Keep Your Prostate Healthy

A recent study conducted on a large cohort of men throughout their life found that frequent ejaculation with a partner or solo reduces the risk of prostate cancer. Additionally, keeping your waist within a reasonable size with exercises can go a long way to keeping your prostate and your sex life in great shape.

Stay away from processed foods as much as you can and eat whole foods which nurture your body. What is good for your heart is good for your prostate. Age doesnt matter if you have your prostate health under control.

However, as you age, muscles around your bladder can become weak. This can lead to erectile dysfunction issues as well as prostate issues. Whats most important to naturally cure prostate problems is to do relevant exercises which will also improve sexual function.

Thousands of men around the world have waved good-bye to worrying about nagging urinary problems with this best natural prostate cure. Theyve rediscovered their sexual health, eliminated poor urination, restored healthy prostate function and rekindled the intimacy they thought was gone forever.

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Natural Remedies That Can Help

Many natural remedies are available for men with BPH, and certain natural plants help keep the prostate healthy.

The most studied natural herbs used for general prostate health are extracts of saw palmetto, a palm-like shrub that grows primarily in South Florida, and extracts of the bark of the prunus Africanus tree that grow all over Africa and other similar locals.

However, many other herbs and nutrients can also be used to strengthen the prostate and relieve some of the symptoms of prostate enlargement. Many dietary nutrients may become deficient in a standard American diet . Some of the recommendations in books and on websites list foods such as pumpkin seeds as a prostate nutrient. Pumpkin seeds are extremely high in the mineral zinc, which is critical for prostate health. For more information on herbals that can help maintain prostate health see 6

Two elements that are critical for a man with BPH to consider are listed below:

Zinc A zinc deficiency can cause the prostate to become enlarged. Zinc is a necessary element for many cellular processes and an element of particular importance to the prostate, which has the highest concentration of zinc of any organ in the body. A unique metabolic capability gives the prostate the ability to accumulate zinc, and long-term zinc deficiencies can be significant. One effect of this zinc accumulation is the inhibition of abnormal growth of the prostate, primarily by increasing the rate of normal programmed cell death . 7

What Are The Most Common Prostate Problems

The three most common prostate problems are:

Benign prostatic hyperplasia : BPH is the noncancerous enlargement of the prostate. It is the most common problem in men, and it is a part of the normal aging process. Factors like changes in hormone levels and fibrosis may play a role in causing BPH. Fibrosis is the thickening and stiffness of the organ wall.

Prostatitis: Prostatitis is the inflammation of the prostate. Though it can affect men of all ages, it is more common in men younger than 50 years. It is of two types:

Bacterial prostatitis: Bacterial prostatitis can be either acute or chronic. Diagnosis usually involves detecting white blood cells and bacteria in the urine with laboratory urine tests.

• Acute bacterial prostatitis: The symptoms of acute bacterial prostatitis appear suddenly and usually subside with antibiotic therapy.
• Chronic bacterial prostatitis: In chronic bacterial prostatitis, the symptoms build up gradually and stay for a couple of weeks.

Chronic prostatitis : Doctors do not know the exact cause of chronic prostatitis. The diagnosis of chronic prostatitis is done when there are symptoms of prostatitis but no signs of infection. Bacteria are absent in urine tests.

Prostate cancer: Prostate cancer is the most common cancer amongst men in America. Having your father or brother with prostatecancer makes you more likely to develop it. High-fat diets also put you at risk for prostate cancer.

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Should I Have A Psa Test

Because the results of the PSA test are not as reliable as doctors would like, other tests and investigations are needed to diagnose prostate cancer.

A PSA test cannot identify prostate cancer on its own, and changes in PSA levels alone are not a good reason to start treatment.

If you are thinking about asking for a PSA test, it is important that you first discuss whether it is right for you with your GP so you understand what the results might mean.

The Prostate Cancer Risk Management Programme has information on the risks and benefits of the PSA test to help you decide whether or not to have it.

Symptoms Of Urinary Problems

Urinary symptoms commonly experienced with prostate problems include:

• the need to urinate frequently during the night
• urinating more often during the day
• urinary urgency the urge to urinate can be so strong and sudden that you may not reach the toilet in time
• the urine stream is slow to start
• urine dribbling for some time after finishing urination
• a sensation that the bladder isn’t fully emptied after urination
• lack of force to the urine flow, which makes directing the stream difficult
• the sensation of needing to go again soon after urinating.

Although these symptoms often do not need treatment, see your doctor if they are causing you difficulty, as they can be successfully treated.

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Herbal Therapies For An Enlarged Prostate

Several herbal supplements are marketed for enlarged prostates. Saw palmetto, beta-sitosterol, and pygeum are all are widely used in Europe. They are available in the U.S. and don’t require a prescription.

However, researchers and doctors are cautious about advising patients to try herbal supplements. Because they are not FDA-regulated, there are concerns about a product’s quality from batch to batch, according to the NIH’s Office of Dietary Supplements. Also, the safety of an herbal product depends on many things — the chemical makeup, how it works in the body, how it is prepared, and the dosage.

Something else to consider: Like any drug, a herbal remedy can affect how other medications or treatments work, or interact dangerously with your other medications. They can also have side effects. And, the AUA points out, they have not been well-studied for effectiveness or safety.

Before trying any alternative treatment, learn as much as you can about it, the AUA says. Most importantly — talk to your doctor before you try an herbal remedy. Many doctors consider alternative therapies like saw palmetto to “have no effect on symptoms, except as expensive placebos,” Slawin tells WebMD.

Beta-sitosterol: This compound is extracted from pollen of rye grass. There has been some evidence that it provides relief from urinary symptoms. However, in four studies the supplement did not increase urinary flow rates, shrink the prostate, or improve bladder emptying.

What Will Happen After Treatment

Youll be glad when treatment is over. But its hard not to worry about cancer coming back. When cancer comes back it is called a recurrence. Even when cancer never comes back, people still worry about it. For years after treatment ends, you will see your cancer doctor. At first, your visits may be every few months. Then, the longer youre cancer-free, the less often the visits are needed.

Be sure to go to all follow-up visits. Your doctors will ask about your symptoms, examine you, and might order blood tests and maybe other tests to see if the cancer has come back.

Having cancer and dealing with treatment can be hard, but it can also be a time to look at your life in new ways. You might be thinking about how to improve your health. Call us at 1-800-227-2345 or talk to your doctor to find out what you can do to feel better.

You cant change the fact that you have cancer. What you can change is how you live the rest of your life, making healthy choices and feeling as good as you can.

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What Should I Do If I Have Prostate Cancer Symptoms

If you are displaying one or more signs of prostate cancer, be sure to promptly consult with a physician. Even benign prostate conditions like prostate enlargement warrant timely medical attention, so dont delay seeking treatment. And, like most other malignancies, prostate cancer is usually more easily treated when it is detected at an early stage.

What Kind Of Treatment Will I Need

There are many ways to treat prostate cancer. The main kinds of treatment are observation, active surveillance, surgery, radiation, hormone therapy, and chemo. Sometimes more than one kind of treatment is used.

The treatment thats best for you will depend on:

• Your age
• Any other health problems you might have
• The stage and grade of the cancer
• Your feelings about the need to treat the cancer
• The chance that treatment will cure the cancer or help in some way
• Your feelings about the side effects that might come with treatment

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Staging Of Prostate Cancer

Doctors will use the results of your prostate examination, biopsy and scans to identify the “stage” of your prostate cancer . The stage of the cancer will determine which types of treatments will be necessary.

A widely used method of staging is a number staging system. The stages are:

• Stage 1 the cancer is very small and completely within the prostate gland
• Stage 2 the cancer is within the prostate gland, but is larger
• Stage 3 the cancer has spread from the prostate and may have grown into the tubes that carry semen
• Stage 4 the cancer has spread into the lymph nodes or another part of the body, including the bladder, rectum or bones about 20-30% of cases are diagnosed at this stage

If prostate cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, the chances of survival are generally good. About 90% of men diagnosed at stages 1 or 2 will live at least five more years and 65-90% will live for at least 10 more years.

If you are diagnosed with stage 3 prostate cancer, you have a 70-80% of chance of living for at least five more years.

However, if you are diagnosed when your prostate cancer has reached stage 4, there is only a 30% chance you will live for at least five more years.

Want to know more?

• Cancer Research UK: the stages of prostate cancer

Sex And The Prostate: Overcoming Erectile Dysfunction When You Have Prostate Disease

• By Harvard Prostate Knowledge

If you are concerned about erectile function, its important to understand what erectile dysfunction really is. Failing to have an erection one night after youve had several drinks or even for a week or more during a time of intense emotional stress is not erectile dysfunction. Nor is the inability to have another erection soon after an orgasm. Nearly every man occasionally has trouble getting an erection, and most partners understand that.

Erectile dysfunction is the inability to attain and maintain an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse at least 25% of the time. The penis doesnt get hard enough, or it gets hard but softens too soon. The problem often develops gradually. One night it may take longer or require more stimulation to get an erection. On another occasion, the erection may not be as firm as usual, or it may end before orgasm. When such difficulties occur regularly, its time to talk to your doctor.

Erectile dysfunction can have many causes, including some forms of prostate disease and medications and surgery for prostate cancer. Fortunately, in many cases, this problem can often be effectively addressed. Some men find relief by taking medications to treat erectile dysfunction. If these arent effective for you, a number of other options, including injections and vacuum devices, are available. The possibility of finding the right solution is now greater than ever.

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What Is A Prostate Infection

A prostate infection occurs when your prostate and the surrounding area become inflamed. The prostate is about the size of a walnut. Its located between the bladder and the base of the penis. The tube that moves urine from the bladder to the penis runs through the center of your prostate. The urethra also moves semen from the sex glands to the penis.

Several types of infections can affect the prostate. Some men with prostatitis experience no symptoms at all, while others report many, including intense pain.

Pde5 Inhibitors: Viagra Levitra And Cialis

Approved by the FDA in 1998, sildenafil revolutionized the way we think about and treat erectile dysfunction, largely because it is so easy to use and effective. Since then the FDA has approved three closely related drugs, vardenafil , avanafil and tadalafil .

All four drugs work in a similar fashion, by affecting the normal physiology of the penis. In particular, they block PDE5, an enzyme that breaks down the erection-producing chemical cyclic guanosine monophosphate. This enables the penis to fill with blood and to stay erect long enough for intercourse. Of course, its important to realize that none of these drugs is an aphrodisiac. Youve got to feel sexually stimulated in order for them to work.

The main differences between the drugs have to do with timing: how quickly they begin to work, and how long their effects last . Levitra may start working slightly faster than Viagra although the FDA says that like Viagra, it should be taken about an hour before sexual activity. Some studies suggest that Levitra may help some men who dont respond to Viagra. And while some doctors are skeptical about this claim, theres no harm in trying Levitra or Cialis if Viagra doesnt work for you.

Cialis has also been approved to treat men with both erectile dysfunction and BPH. The dose is lower, usually 5 milligrams per day.

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Prostate Cancer Caregiver Podcast Series

We are proud to announce a new podcast series geared toward helping give support, hope and guidance to prostate cancer caregivers. The goal of this Prostate Cancer Caregiver Podcast Series is to help others connect with a diverse group of people who have felt the impact of prostate cancer in their lives and empower them on their journey.

Prostatic And Paraprostatic Cysts

Cysts are similar to blisters but usually filled with fluid. They can develop in the prostate itself, which are referred to as prostatic cysts, or around the surface of the prostate, which are called paraprostatic cysts.

Prostatic and paraprostatic cysts in dogs slowly grow larger with time and when they become too big they put pressure on the pet’s colon, rectum and urethra. Some of the symptoms include constipation, loss of appetite, lethargy, abdominal pain and painful urination or defecation.

How to Fix It:

Depending on the severity of the condition, as well as the location of either prostatic and paraprostatic cyst, usual treatments include medications, castration and surgery.

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