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.

Helen Hecker
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/from-a-nurse-choosing-the-best-prostate-cancer-treatment-options-for-you-115090.html

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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. At an advanced age, the risks of surgery for prostate cancer or other more radical treatments may actually be worse than the disease. The main job of the prostate gland is to make seminal fluid, the milky substance that transports sperm.

The prostate gland is located directly beneath the bladder and in front of the rectum. In most men, prostate cancer grows very slowly: most men will never know they have the condition. Detected in its early stages, prostate cancer can be effectively treated and cured.

Most prostate cancer symptoms, although associated with prostate cancer, are more likely to be connected to non-cancerous conditions. If you have one or more prostate cancer symptoms, you should see a qualified doctor as soon as possible. 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. Other symptoms might include unintentional weight loss and lethargy. One of the most common symptoms is the inability to urinate at all.

Another test usually used when prostate cancer symptoms are present is the digital rectal exam (DRE) performed by the doctor. 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. A chest x-ray may be done to see if there’s a spread of cancer.

A prostate biopsy usually confirms the diagnosis. What is called a free PSA may help tell the difference between BPH (benign prostatic hypertrophy), an enlargement of the prostate gland, and prostate cancer. The decision about whether to pursue a PSA test should be based on a discussion between you and your doctor.

Other medications used for hormonal therapy, with side effects, include androgen-blocking agents, which prevent testosterone from attaching to prostate cells. Whether radiation is as good as prostate removal is debatable and the decision about which to choose, if any, can be difficult. Anyone considering surgery should be aware of the benefits, risks and the extent of the procedure.

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. Chemotherapy medications are often used to treat prostate cancers that are resistant to hormonal treatments. Surgery is usually only recommended after thorough evaluation and discussion of all available treatment options.

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

Treatment options can vary based on the stage of the tumor. Recent improvements in surgical procedures have made complications occur less often. Hormone manipulation is mainly used as a treatment to relieve symptoms in men whose cancer has spread.

Urinary incontinence can be a possible complication of surgery. Surgery, radiation therapy, and hormonal therapy can interfere with libido on a temporary or permanent basis.

As new research comes out 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. The one thing that you should not do however is rely on any information obtained from the Internet to make your final decision.

Helen Hecker
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/do-you-think-you-have-a-prostate-problem-or-possibly-prostate-cancer-124037.html

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Visit (http://www.mdanderson.org/diseases/endometrial/) for more information about Uterine Cancer

Uterine cancer survivor Sharon Winkleman and M. D. Anderson Cancer Center’s Dr. Karen Lu talk about uterine cancer symptoms, diagnosis and treatment options and the treatment experience at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center

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I am showing some symptoms for testicular cancer. I have booked an appointment with my GP next week. I was thinking, if it turns out it is cancer, what can they do for me considering they are notbased in a Hospital (just a health centre)? Would I not just be better going to A&E? Is your GP always your first stop for Health concerns like this? I am only young. Never had to see a doctor before hence my limited knowledge on the process.

First off well done for getting yourself checked out.

Your GP should be the first step as he/she will be able to get you a referral with a specialist(if you need one) and will be able to give you some idea of what the problem is. A & E isn’t really the place to go for something like that, unless it starts to hurt a lot.

Secondly it may not be cancer. It could just be a cyst or something else that’s totally harmless so don’t get worried until you know for sure. It could be nothing.

Also , you could try phoning the doctor again and getting the appointment moved forward. Just tell them you’ve found a lump and they’ll do this for you. It’s best to get it checked as soon as possible.

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CARCINOMA AND CANCER ARE ONE AND THE SAME.

In medicine, carcinoma is any cancer that arises from epithelial cells. It is malignant by definition: carcinomas invade surrounding tissues and organs, and may spread to lymph nodes and distal sites (metastasis). Carcinoma in situ (CIS) is a pre-malignant condition, in which cytological signs of malignancy are present, but there is no histological evidence of invasion through the epithelial basement membrane.

Carcinoma, like all neoplasia, is classified by its histopathological appearance. Adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, two common descriptive terms for tumors, reflect the fact that these cells may have glandular or squamous cell appearances respectively. Severely anaplastic tumours might be so undifferentiated that they do not have a distinct histological appearance (undifferentiated carcinoma).-

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