Statistically 180,000 new prostate cancer cases are being diagnosed in the United States every year with about 32,000 men dying from this disease annually. Although these are the statistics that are used, the fact is that many of these men will will die and not from the actual prostate cancer, but from allowing the cancerous condition to grow until it is unmanageable. This is due to the fact that prostate cancer can metastasize or move from the prostate area and infect organs, bones and lymph nodes.
This should cause every man to pause and realize that prostate cancer is a serious disease that if given the chance will kill you. It is now the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men in the United States after lung cancer. In Canada about 17,000 males are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year and about 4,200 die each year from the disease.
The sad fact is that many of these deaths are avoidable. As with many cancerous diseases, early detection is the key to effective treatment and even cure. Prostate cancer is diagnosed based upon how advanced the malignant tumor has grown. In the early stages, we have maximum flexibility in treatment options and can both manage and in many times cure this potentially deadly disease.
Diagnosis usually start with a medical history as studies have shown that heredity may be a factor with prostate cancer. Next, a DRE or digital rectal exam is done. This is a quick and simple exam where the doctor feels your prostate for any abnormal bumps, size difference or texture. In addition to a DRE, the doctor may suggest a Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood Test. This blood test looks for abnormal markers that may indicate the presence of a developing cancerous situation.
There's growing evidence to suggest that a diet very rich in vitamins and nutrients can also help maintain our body's ability to ward off many serious diseases. Although the definitely not a cure for prostate cancer, the use of natural remedies to strengthen your body's immune system can only help to keep you healthy. There's no question that a low-fat diet along with appropriate vitamins and minerals can help keep you healthier and make you better able to fight off disease.
Several studies have suggested that men who had a diet rich in selenium and vitamin E. had fewer cases of prostate cancer. The kinds of foods that contain selenium include meat, grains, seafood, and some kinds of nuts. It's critical that you meet with your doctor before making any radical changes to your diet as other problems may arise. There's also some evidence to suggest that the nutrient lycopene found in tomato based products such as ketchup can provide some protection against contracting prostate cancer.
According to a study in the British Journal of Urology International, men that have been diagnosed with prostate cancer who take supplemental lycopene (is found in very high amounts in tomatoes) and still get their testicles surgically removed are likely to experience less bone pain, less disease and stand more chances of living longer than those who have only had surgical removal of their testicles.
In the end, a partnership with your medical doctor is the best way to remain healthier longer. By taking some responsibility for your health, changes in your lifestyle are much easier to make.
Some women don't take prostate cancer very seriously, thinking it's a mens issue and it isn't something that they need to be concerned with. Still, if you have a man in your family, it's definitely something you need to be aware of. Most guys don't look forward to the birthday that makes them old enough to need regular prostate examinations. It's not a good time, but they could save your life by catching the cancer in its early stages. Prostate cancer is the second most popular cancer in American men, second only to skin cancer. Fortunately, it doesn't need to be deadly.
Though it's a mens issue because it doesn't affect women, prostate cancer can have devastating effects on a family. About one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point in his lifetime, but since nine out of ten of the time it's caught in a local or regional area it's not extremely deadly. However, if it has spread to locations like the bone it becomes increasingly more difficult to treat. One in thirty five men will die as a result of prostate cancer. Still, the American Cancer Society estimates that more than 27,000 men will die of prostate cancer in the year 2007.
While the statistics may be scary, at least there's hope. Prostate cancer is one of the cancers that is easiest to catch with regular doctors visits and examinations. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle will make you less likely to get cancer during your lifetime, as well as help prevent heart attacks, strokes and a slew of other ailments that are considered a mens issue. It's always best to refrain from smoking or using smokeless tobacco, exercise regularly and eat a well balanced diet. As long as you're aware of the symptoms of prostate and other cancers, you can take an active step in making sure if you do get cancer, it's caught in an early stage.
Both Abigail Franks & John R. Davis are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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