If you have prostate cancer, are concerned about getting it, or if you're looking out for the health of someone you love, this article can help. Many men, especially those later in life have made the decision with their doctors to simply watch and wait. Prostate cancer is simply a malignant tumor of the prostate gland.

Early prostate cancer is confined to the prostate gland itself; most of the patients with this type of cancer can live for years without any problems. About one man in six will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime, but only one man in 34 will die of the disease. The main job of the prostate gland is to make seminal fluid, the milky substance that transports sperm.

Other symptoms might include unintentional weight loss and lethargy. There are a few symptoms to be aware of. Most prostate cancer symptoms, although associated with prostate cancer, are more likely to be connected to non-cancerous conditions.

The need to urinate frequently, especially at night is another symptom. There are other symptoms that may not be mentioned here. Having one or more cancer symptoms does not necessarily mean that you have prostate cancer.

A bone scan can indicate whether the cancer has spread or not. 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 urinalysis may indicate if there is blood in the urine, which may or may not be related.

CT scans may be done to see if the cancer has metastasized (spread). A number of tests may be done to confirm a diagnosis of prostate cancer. The decision about whether to pursue a PSA test should be based on a discussion between you and your doctor.

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. Medicines can be used to adjust the levels of testosterone; called hormonal manipulation. Surgery, radiation, hormonal therapy and chemotherapy all have significant side effects; know fully what they are before you proceed.

Hormone manipulation is mainly used as a treatment to relieve symptoms in men whose cancer has metastasized (spread). 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. Chemotherapy medications are often used to treat prostate cancers that are resistant to hormonal treatments.

In patients whose health makes the risk of surgery unacceptably high, radiation therapy is often the chosen conventional alternative.

Urinary incontinence can be one of the possible complications of surgery. An oncologist, a cancer specialist, will usually recommend treating with a single drug or a combination of drugs.

Besides hormonal drugs, hormone manipulation may also be done by surgically removing the testes. Anyone considering surgery should be aware of the benefits, risks and the extent of the procedure. Radiation therapy is used primarily to treat prostate cancers classified as stages A, B, or C.

Many men have lowered their PSA levels by eating a diet of living foods. Concentrating on a diet of predominately fruits and vegetables (preferably uncooked) and no junk food, should give you an observable improvement in your health within 30 days. Studies done on antioxidant vitamins question their value when not contained in food; it's clearly better to consume these antioxidants in living foods because they may also need to work with other nutrients present in the foods to work properly.

Use flaxseed oil or walnut oil in your daily dark green salad. For an easy fiber boost, mix in two tablespoons of ground up flaxseeds in raw applesauce, from 2-3 apples, made in your food processor. Supplements that help any disease or ailment include vitamin B12 -- the methylcobalamin type not cyanocobalamin, and sub-lingual -- dissolves slowly under the tongue; and vitamin D3 - especially if you can't get a daily dose of 15 to 20 minutes of sun on your arms and legs so you can make your own vitamin D3.

If possible eliminate all hormone-containing foods like meat and dairy from your diet. For natural treatment for the prostate make an appointment with a naturopathic doctor, called a naturopath; ask around for referrals. Buy lacinato kale and juice it in your juicer with sweet carrots.

Make sure to read everything you can about natural and conventional treatment online and offline. Consider sites, such as this one, just a starting point where you can begin to learn more about prostate cancer. If you've already been diagnosed with prostate cancer, essential the option that's best suited to you and your continuing good health.