As you have probably noticed, there are plenty of cancer awareness products these days. This is essentially because cancer is such a major issue at this point. Millions of people are always discovering that they are afflicted with some form of cancer. One thing for everyone to keep in mind is that anyone can get cancer, and it can actually affect you at any age. It is simply different for different people. Everyone has cancer cells, and different things activate them in different people. So it is important to be aware of just how severe cancer is. This is why cancer awareness products are seen everywhere.

There are many different types of cancer. Whether you knew it or not, different types of cancer can affect the lungs, colon, prostate, breasts, brain, liver, kidneys, ovaries, and bones. It really just depends on what you have. Naturally there are some ways to help prevent cancer. One of these is by eating healthy. This allows your immune system to be strong, and fight off and problems that should arise. A strong body is a healthy body. It is smart to avoid foods that are not organic. Especially since they often contain pesticides, GMOs, hormones, and antibiotics. These are all bad for your body.

If you take a look online or in stores, you will encounter all sorts of cancer awareness products. Some are geared specifically toward breast cancer. These are often pink, and sometimes come with a pink ribbon on them. If you see cancer awareness products, they are likely sold to raise money for cancer foundations. So if you buy something, part of the money from the sale will go toward the foundation. This is why so many people choose to support various foundations by purchasing cancer awareness products. The pink ribbons you buy can actually be worn in order to show your support.

If you would like to see what cancer awareness products are sold online, simply check out convenient websites like Wrist-Band.com, CancerSucks.com, and shoppositiveenergy.com, and 4thefight.com. All of these websites offer various cancer awareness products to choose from. There are also plenty of everyday life items that support cancer foundations. Some of these items are baby strollers, water glasses, clothes, and wristbands. It is a good idea to explore the previously stated websites and see what cancer awareness products are right for you. This is a fight for everyone. So it is helpful if everyone can get involved.

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brain cancer

careless radiation testing

It started when my brother-in-law, who is kind of fond of the drink, fell down heavily at home one day when a stroke hit him. It was a minor stroke that he recovered from with a week in hospital; but to be on the safe side, the doctors recommended a kind of radiation test that they said would help them identify the exact spot the blockage existed in that had caused the blood flow problem in his brain. The radiation test was to be a procedure called the CT brain perfusion scan; it was kind of scary to hear about – it was to beam the equivalent of hundreds of x-rays worth of radiation into his brain. We might have suspected that this would cause problems later on, but all the high-tech wizardry we were surrounded by kind of helped calm our fears. And then it started – there was the perfect circle of hair that just dropped out of his head one day soon.

When we brought it up with the doctor, he didn’t say that he believed that there was something wrong with the procedure; he wondered if my brother-in-law had started combing his hair in the wrong direction. This was kind of like the way Toyota likes to blame the out-of-control acceleration in their cars on drivers getting their pedals mixed up. We began to read up, and then came this breaking story in the New York Times that really was a wake-up call. That CT brain scan was what was behind it all the time. Those machines (made by GE, Toshiba and others) didn’t have the software set up so that they would be easy for the technicians to use; the companies didn’t train the lab technicians properly, and my brother-in-law had ended up getting 10 times the radiation he should have. And there are so many people this is happening to that there’s actually a class action lawsuit being planned.

What exactly happens then when this machine zaps your brain? The most visible thing that happens right away is that you lose your hair for a few weeks. But there are more serious things that go on within. Brain cancer and memory loss happen to be real possibilities. The problem here is that there is so much going on on the cutting-edge science of radiation therapy that there has been not enough time to discover everything that can go wrong, and to establish training procedures that will help lab technicians learn their skills properly before they zap anyone into orbit. There actually is no legal limit to how much radiation they can give you either.

While they suspect that brain cancer could be a strong possibility, there hasn’t been enough time that has elapsed that they could actually find out how serious things can be. Perhaps the problem is that we’ve come to depend on safety features built into everything we use. If you don’t close the door of your microwave properly, it’s not going to work; if you don’t close the door of your car properly, it’s going to warn you repeatedly. Technicians who work these machines easily use the automated features provided, assuming that they’ve been designed to be idiot proof – to warn them when they are about to zap someone into getting brain cancer. They forget that idiot-proofing is just a consumer innovation. Professional equipment doesn’t come with these features, because they assume that technicians know what they are doing. If it’s at all comforting to hear this, a few high-ranking hospital staff at hospitals around the country have suffered the same effects. It just goes to show how light the veneer of the safety is that we take for granted.

Technorati Tags: brain cancer, radiation testing

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Mesothelioma Cancer

Mesothelioma cancer is a rare type of cancer that attacks the lining of the lungs, abdomen, and heart. Men develop this about four times more often than women. All types of Mesothelioma are usually fatal with the exception of benign Mesothelioma.

Once this cancer has been diagnosed the prognosis is not very promising. Most patients have a life expectancy of only less than one year. However, it is also dependent upon how soon the cancer is diagnosed and how aggressively it is treated. These factors can lengthen or shorten the patient’s life expectancy.

Mesothelioma cancer is rather odd in the way it behaves. The cause of it is exposure to asbestos. Yet it can take anywhere from 20 to 50 years following exposure to the asbestos before symptoms begin showing up. These symptoms can include:

* Shortness of breath

* Persistent cough

* Fatigue

* Lumps under the skin in the chest area

* Weight loss

* Nausea

* Pain and swelling in the abdomen

* Obstruction in the bowel

* Heart palpations

* Irregular heartbeat

* Trouble breathing

* Night sweats

* Testicular lumps that may or may not be painful

Anyone experiencing these symptoms needs to contact their doctor immediately. If Mesothelioma cancer is suspected, the doctor will perform certain tests to confirm the diagnosis. These tests may be in the form of X-rays, different types of scans, and a biopsy.

Once the diagnosis has been confirmed the next step is to find the best treatment options for the patient. These can be anything from chemotherapy to surgery. The most common types of treatments are chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or surgery.  Immunotherapy and gene therapy are experimental treatments that can also be tried. Many patients use a combination of treatments to try to fight this cancer.

As the dangers of asbestos were known long before anything was done to protect workers from Mesothelioma cancer, there have been many ongoing law suits against companies who either produced or used asbestos products. The exposure to asbestos occurred in the 20th century until the danger was exposed in the 1970’s. It was at this point in time that asbestos started to decline. Today, families of the victims of Mesothelioma are winning large law suits everyday due to the negligence of the companies who were responsible for exposing their loved ones to this deadly mineral.

The sad thing about this cancer is that it is one that could have been avoided completely with a bit of research and study into asbestos before assuming it was safe to use.

Technorati Tags: Asbestos Mesothelioma Cancer Symptom, Mesothelioma Cancer Symptoms

Regardless of what cancer you are talking about, they truth is they are all frightening Although there isn’t any surefire way to prevent it, there are most definitely things that you can do to prevent cancers of all sorts. While different cancers have different aspects to them and different causes, the basics often tend to remain the same. Of course eating right and exercising is always very important, but there are other things that you should be doing to prevent cancer from developing. However, as far as skin cancer is concerned, doing as much as you can to protect your skin from getting over-exposed is far more critical Also, recognizing the early signs of skin cancer is crucial toward surviving it.

Should Not Be Taken Lightly

We all hear about skin cancer and how awful it is, but there are so many people who really don’t take it as seriously as they should. Everyone always thinks that it would always be someone else and never them who would get skin cancer. As a result, many aren’t aware of the signs and symptoms of skin cancer and don’t realize they have cancer until its too late.

With more types of skin cancer than ever before, it has never been more important to take the time to learn about skin cancer and why it is so dangerous. Of course, even more important is knowing all of the measures that can be taken to get protection from the sun and avoid getting skin cancer~And most importantly of all, find out the different things that you can do to protect yourself from the sun and prevent skin cancer before it even starts.}

Different Types

If you want to learn more, then the first thing that you will have to learn is what the different types of skin cancer are that can develop in the human body. There are around twenty different types that a person can develop, but three in particular that are especially common. One of the most dangerous types is melanoma, even though it only represents about 4% of all skin cancers.

You can detect melanoma fairly easily most of the time. One warning sign in particular is a spot that resembles a freckle, while being flat and brown with asymmetrical or irregular edges.

As you can see, skin cancer is an incredibly important subject to talk about and one that you need to take very seriously The best measure is always prevention, so learn and put into action all the ways that will help you avoid getting cancer to begin with By visiting your doctor or even a dermatologist, you can learn more about it and all the things you can do in order to prevent it.

See Also: Skin Cancer Warning Signs

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Colon Cancer also known Colorectal cancer. Colon cancer 2nd most deaths for cancers in the US. Colon cancer is cancer that starts in the large intestine (colon) or the rectum (end of the colon). The colon is the part of the digestive system where the waste material is stored. The rectum is the end of the colon adjacent to the anus. Together, they form a long, muscular tube called the large intestine (also known as the large bowel). Tumors of the colon and rectum are growths arising from the inner wall of the large intestine. Benign tumors of the large intestine are called polyps. Cancer of the colon or rectum is also called colorectal cancer. In the United States, it is the fourth most common cancer in men and women. It is the third most common form of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the Western world. Colorectal cancer causes 655,000 deaths worldwide per year.Many colorectal cancers are thought to arise from adenomatous polyps in the colon. These mushroom-like growths are usually benign, but some may develop into cancer over time.

Colon cancer often causes no symptoms until it has reached a relatively advanced stage. Thus, many organizations recommend periodic screening for the disease with fecal occult blood testing and colonoscopy. It is common in the Western world, and is rare in Asia and Africa. In countries where the people have adopted western diets, the incidence of colorectal cancer is increasing. Most cases of colon cancer begin as small, noncancerous (benign) clumps of cells called adenomatous polyps. Polyps of the colon and rectum are almost always benign and usually produce no symptoms. They may, however, cause painless rectal bleeding or bleeding not apparent to the naked eye. There may be single or multiple polyps. Polyps greater than 1 centimeter have a greater cancer risk associated with them than polyps under 1 centimeter. Polyps with atypia or dysplasia are also more likely to progress on to colon cancer. The risk of cancer is much higher in sessile villous adenomas than in pedunculated tubular adenomas. Cancer is found in 40% of villous adenomas, as compared to 15% in tubular adenomas.

Chemotherapy is also used to treat patients with stage IV colon cancer. Surgery remains the primary treatment while chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy may be recommended depending on the individual patient’s staging. High-fiber foods help move waste through your digestive tract faster, so harmful substances don’t have much contact with the lining of the intestine. High-fiber foods are also rich in phytonutrients, which appear to protect against several forms of cancer. Calcium and vitamin D also seem to help protect against colorectal cancer. There is certainly just as much buzz about folate and colorectal cancer prevention as there has been about calcium. The jury is still out on antioxidants and the prevention of colorectal cancer. Taking antioxidants, such as vitamin C or carotenoids, may reduce cancer risk but other studies have failed to back up these results. Vegetables high in folate, like leafy greens, seem to offer particular protection from colon cancer, especially for those who drink alcohol. Cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli and cauliflower, also contain phytochemicals that may prevent damage to colon cells.

Colon Cancer Treatment and Nutrition Tips

1. Chemotherapy is also used to treat patients with stage IV colon cancer.

2. Radiotherapy may be recommended Treatment fot colon cancer.

3. High-fiber foods help move waste through your digestive tract faster.

4. Calcium and vitamin D also seem to help protect against colorectal cancer.

5. Taking antioxidants, such as vitamin C or carotenoids, may reduce cancer risk but other studies have failed to back up these results.

6. Vegetables high in folate, like leafy greens, seem to offer particular protection from colon cancer, especially for those who drink alcohol.

7. Cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli and cauliflower, also contain phytochemicals that may prevent damage to colon cells.

Juliet Cohen
http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/colon-cancer-and-nutrition-203361.html

We all have heard of lung cancer but how many of us are well aware of its symptoms? The lung cancer is one of the most perilous diseases that kill thousands of Americans every year and each year the number of cases are increasing. With the occurrences of lung cancer on the rise, it is essential that we learn about the basic factors leading to lung cancer and what should be the courses of action in case of lung cancer diagnosis. Here are the basic information regarding lung cancer that will help you to understand how and when it develops and how to steer clear of this killer disease.

Lung cancer is that condition of your lungs where an abnormal reproduction of cells takes place. And it can happen in one or both of your lungs. Sometimes lumps of cancerous cells or the tumors invade the organs. Our lungs allow the oxygen from the air to pass into the bloodstream and carbon dioxide to eliminate from the system. Now any kind of lung disease including lung cancer impairs this function of lungs to transfer oxygen into blood and remove carbon dioxide from it. The result is many kinds of disorders relating to breathing trouble and cough.

Do you know what the most dreadful part of the lung cancer is? One rarely comes to suspect that he or she is suffering from lung cancer until it is too late and goes beyond any kind of treatment. This is because, signs and symptoms associated with lung cancer are never acute or alarming until the later stages of malignancy and it is often at this stage when someone starts to experience the typical symptoms of lung cancer. So it is recommended that if you ever experience any symptom even remotely related to lung cancer, rush to the doctor without delay so that in case of diagnosis of lung cancer you can avail the treatments as early as possible. The earlier the disease is diagnosed; greater are the chances of survival.

So what are the common symptoms of lung cancer? Nagging cough that seems never to end coupled with constant chest pain may be the warning of something being grossly wrong with your lungs. If you are suffering from recurring pneumonia or bronchitis, it may be an indication that you should immediately see an oncologist. The person displaying certain apathy for food followed by a remarkable weight loss may be an indication of lung cancer and the patients of lung cancer often complain of fatigue. However, swelling of neck and face is also one of the symptoms of lung cancer.

Remember lung cancer can be prevented if you give up smoking. So stay away from the cigars, cigarettes, pipes and other tobacco products. Also insist that the smokers should always smoke inside the smoking zone; do not allow the second hand smokes damage your lungs.

Barney Garcia
http://www.articlesbase.com/advertising-articles/lung-cancer-basic-facts-51661.html

Of course, with the growth rate of population in the environment and the alarming effects of technology in food and water, it is imperative that you start taking detox diets.

Doctos found that Hg was higher in sweat than in urine of exposed factory workers. Sweating can pose serious risks for unconditioned persons and especially those in pregnancy or some with vascular disease (although medical supervision may make dry sauna beneficial for many with cardiovascular disease).

Drinking green tea may help you lose weight. According to clinical studies conducted by Dr. Abdul Dulloo, of the University of Geneva in Switzerland, green tea raises metabolic rates and speeds up fat oxidation.

1.Blood and Lymphatic – Strengthens and invigorates the blood and lymph fluids. 2.Cardiovascular – Greatly improves circulation in the body. 3.Liver and Gallbladder – Rejuvenates the liver. 4.Lungs – Dissolves and expels mucus buildup in the lungs. 5.Kidneys and Bladder – Flushes the kidneys/bladder by removing excess uric acid buildup. 6.Colon Conditioner – Helps to stimulate bowel movement. 7.Carbon – Removes all the toxic residues we unwisely put into our bodies. Teens partying late at night and imbibing drugs and alcohol for added fun, often dominated the silver screen. Quite a pretty picture isn’t it? Oftentimes teens see it as an epitome. Although Hollywood does its part to show a different side of alcohol and drug addiction with movies like “Trainspotting” and “Girl Interrupted”, the character still ended up being glamorous and ideal in nature and often overshadows the dark side of addiction.

Fact Or Fiction – The Truth About Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal Cancer is a disease that only affects older men.

FICTION: It can affect anyone, men or women equally. Men and women 50 years or older are at greater risk for the disease.

Colorectal Cancer is usually curable.

FACT: It is usually curable when detected early. More than 90 percent of patients with localized cancer confirmed to the colon or rectum are alive five years after initial diagnosis.

Getting tested is necessary for individuals who have symptoms.

FACT: Men and women age 50 or older should get screened regularly for colorectal cancer. Unfortunately, symptoms for this disease are often silent and therefore it is important to get screened regularly even if you have no symptoms. About 75 percent of all new cases of colorectal cancer occur in individuals with no known risk factors for the disease.

I cannot do anything about being diagnosed with colorectal cancer.

The combination of vitamins and minerals through detoxification work in this fashion to remove toxins from your body tissues and body organs, from your water stores, fat deposits, and within your bloodstream.

Hence, it is important to create an alternative that will promptly help the body to gain back its detoxification capacity and fight back imminent diseases.

Detox methods include dietary changes, fasting, supplements, exercise, yoga/meditation, improving the environment (using CFC-free hairsprays, for example), New Age methods include aromatherapy, salt bath, skin brushing, etc.

Scientists estimate that over 50 percent of the U.S. population consumes too much heavy metal. It’s not hard to believe when you consider the metals found in industrial byproducts, tainted drinking water, pesticides and even dental fillings.

FICTION: Colorectal cancer is highly preventable. Some preventative measures include eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in fat, regular exercise, moderate alcohol consumption, and no smoking. In addition, it is extremely important to get screened for colorectal cancer after the age of 50. Screening can help to identify colorectal cancer in its early stages or before it even begins. These also include aerosol cleaners, gasoline, cleaning fluids, butane, and acetone. These things are legal to sell or buy however, they are not controlled substances and they are relatively cheap when compared with drugs.

There really are no treatment options for colorectal cancer.

FICTION: Treatment will depend on the type, grade and stage of the cancer. Management of the disease may include surgery and radiation in the earlier stages of the disease, and chemotherapy options such as Camptosar®, Xeloda® or 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) are generally used in the later stages of the disease when the cancer has spread to other areas of the body. No two individuals respond the same to therapy, but there is evidence to demonstrate that one or all of these treatment options can effectively aid people living with colorectal cancer.

I can have a good quality of life if diagnosed with colorectal cancer.

FACT: Many people diagnosed with colorectal cancer can have a good quality of life. There are effective treatment options, support groups, and supportive care to help cancer patients cope with the side effects of treatment, as well as the emotional and everyday concerns of living with this disease.

There are a variety of ways that drug and alcohol rehab work to help a person stop abusing a controlled substance. One way is commonly referred to as ‘cold turkey’.

There has been a lot in the news lately about the amazing healing properties of turmeric, a free-radical-fighting antioxidant-rich curry spice that has been hailed as a defense against both cancer and Alzheimer’s.

It is always safer just to replace any old fillings with new ones which are guaranteed to contain no heavy metals.

Of course certain herbs and supplements may help someone with intestinal problems like dyspepsia, indigestion, wind and irritable bowel syndrome. Detox Drugs from your body and live a healthier life

Planning is important if you want to achieve something. Creating simple detox diets require simple planning. You just have to set up the list of foods that you should be eating.

David Willis
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/the-truth-about-colorectal-cancer-123327.html

When a gentle form of chemotherapy using decitabine is used a new study showed this to e very beneficial to patients with pre leukemia. Pre leukemia, which is now more commonly known as Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) only recently was acknowledged as being a legitimate form of cancer even though it nearly always has led to the development of leukemia.

Published in the latest issue for the American Cancer Society journal was this study and it takes a comprehensive look at pre leukemia and its signification on the human body.

New Research Revealed

According to researchers, an estimated 45 percent of patients living with pre leukemia and relapse respond to a second course of treatment, but don’t receive the quality and duration in the second response that they did in their initial rounds of chemotherapy. This new finding leads researchers to believe that initial treatments should be longer rather than many rounds of therapy because it is more beneficial in the long-run.

The study showed that those treated with about three courses of decitabine resulted in 10 out of 22 patients examined got any sort of response. A partial or complete response in all three cell lines were experienced by three patients, seven experienced improvements in the hematoma and as little as 50% drop their transfusion requirements. The average overall rate of survival was reported to be 28 months and decitabine-retreated people had about a 13 month survival rate thereafter.

Decitabine retreatment in 12 of the patients not achieving a second response either had no effect or suppressed the abnormal cells without bone marrow repopulation with the normal cells. Of these 12, four patients went from having pre leukemia to developing acute leukemia.

In conclusion, the authors state how beneficial it is for pre leukemia patients to receive long initial rounds of chemotherapy followed by shorter rounds of maintenance.

What is Pre Leukemia?

Pre leukemia is an illness that influences the bone marrow and causes the dysfunctional red and white blood cells to increase. The cells normally blast and create from the stem cells while spreading in the blood stream and killing the blood cells that are normal. As a result of this abnormal production of blood cells, less red blood cells are formed in order to circulate and carry to the body oxygen.

Those adults in their 50s are commonly effected by pre leukemia and even though therapy is at hand, researchers are trying hard to find a cure. In most cases, patients who have pre leukemia develop blood cell cancer, which is better known as leukemia. As shown in this study, these patients benefit most from this new DNA hypomethylating agent, dectabine,

Do you know someone who is suffering from pre leukemia? If so speak to one of our experienced attorneys at our law firm right away, this way you are guaranteed the legal help and guidance you are entitled to.

Technorati Tags: cancer, leukemia, pre leukemia, Pre Leukemia Treatment

Lymph node cancer or lymphoma is a cancer that accounts for approximately five percent of all cancers. It predominantly effects males but is not exclusive to men. Those most at risk are between the ages of fifteen and thirty four and those over the age of fifty-four. This does not mean that anyone outside of this age range is not at risk but statistically it does seem to fall inside those age groups at a greater rate. Like all other cancers, early detection and treatment is the key to a greater chance of recovery.

Hodgkins Disease is a form of lymph node cancer but is rare in its occurrence. It also statistically effects mostly men between the ages of fifteen and thirty-four and men over the age of fifty-four but is not exclusive to men only. Some of the most common symptoms of Hodgkins Disease are night sweats, unexplained wight loss, constant fatigue and unexplained fever. If you are experiencing any or all of these symptoms it is wise to have yourself examined by a doctor as these also could be the symptoms of another disorder.

All other remaining types of lymph node cancer are known as non-Hodgkins lymphoma. The majority of lymph node cancers treated are of the non-Hodgkins type. The symptoms of non-Hodgkins lymphoma are the same as Hodgkins Disease. Night sweats, unexplained fever, chronic fatigue and unexplained weight loss.Lymph node cancer is also known as lymphatic cancer. Those with a family history of lymph node cancer statistically fall within a higher risk group of contracting the disease. This is true for both men and women.

Lymph node cancer is a type of cancer that involves the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is an integral part of the bodies immune system. Statistically, the occurrence of lymph node cancer has increased approximately seventy-five percent since nineteen-seventy-three in the United States. Research has revealed that approximately one in fifty-two men and one in sixty-one women in the United States will contract non Hodgkin lymphoma within their lifetime. Studies have indicated that a greater exposure to herbicides and pesticides is greatly responsible for this increase.

Lymph node cancer is curable and if detected early and with effective treatment a person with lymph node cancer has a greater chance than ever before of being cured of this disease and if cured can expect to live a long and normal life. Many new and innovative treatments for lymph node cancer have been developed and are now available. The medical community has a greater understanding of lymph node cancer than in years past. Treatments that were once experimental and have been found to be effective are now being used to treat and cure lymph node cancer.

As a person ages it is to be expected that he or she will encounter medical challenges, it is part of the aging process. Lymph node cancer might be one of those challenges you encounter in your life’s journey. How soundly these challenges are defeated depends greatly on how you approach them. A fighting spirit has been proven time and again to be a powerful weapon to have in your arsenal when battling cancers of all types. Accepting defeat in any challenge almost guarantees defeat. The will to fight and live on has carried so many cancer survivors to victory over the disease.

Sven Ullmann
http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/lymph-nodes-cancer-117993.html

Prostate problems have symptoms that are easy to identify. Many of them are caused by the obstruction of the urethra and the loss of bladder function. Symptoms vary with each individual but the most common symptoms involve changes in urination habits. Symptoms include:

A weakened stream of urine, or interrupted stream

Having an urgency to urinate or leaking and dribbling

More frequent urination during the night

Some men who have an enlarged prostate will not suffer any symptoms and others may face serious problems. Some men with an enlarged prostate do not have symptoms, while other men may have symptoms but their prostate is not too large. A man may not know he has a problem until he stops urinating totally. This can happen if he is on an over-the-counter decongestant drug. The drug used in decongestants may prevent the bladder opening to relax to allow the urine to flow out.

Cold temperatures, alcohol, or long periods of inactivity can also cause retention of urine. If you are having any of these symptoms, contact your doctor to have the problem checked. In most cases, the symptoms can point to BPH or enlarged prostate, but sometimes it can mean a more serious condition that may need immediate treatment.

If symptoms are left untreated, more serious complications can be the result. The strain on the bladder and the retention of urine can cause kidney or bladder damage and urinary tract infections. It may lead to the inability to control urination, cause kidney or bladder stones and may resist treatment if not diagnosed early.

Diagnosis can be done with a routine checkup with your doctor. Part of that routine checkup will be a prostate check if you are over the age of 40. The doctor can feel the part of the prostate that is positioned next to the rectum by doing a rectal exam. If the doctor suspects that you may have a problem with your prostate, he/she will probably refer you to an urologist, a specialist in urinary tract problems. The urologist may perform several tests in order to isolate any prostate problems.

Besides the digital rectal exam the doctor may perform a blood test that will show if there is a high number of PSA, a protein made by the prostate gland. If high levels are found it may signal prostate cancer. A PSA test may be given to men who have successfully been treated for prostate cancer. There is a problem with using only a PSA test to discover prostate cancer. High levels of PSA in the blood could signal other benign prostate conditions.

Other tests to check for prostate cancer are a rectal ultrasound. A probe inserted into the rectum sends sound waves at the prostate gland and then displays the prostate on a screen. If the prostate looks unusual a needle biopsy can be done during the ultrasound. The needle picks up a few tiny pieces of the prostate gland and the doctor, or, more likely a specialist, can examine them under a microscope. Your doctor will help you decide further tests that you may need.

Verlyn Ross
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/symptoms-of-an-enlarged-prostate-91642.html