Categories
News on Health & Science

Prostate Cancer Cure Has Side-Effects

[amazon_link asins=’1455504181,061514022X,0738213470,1490484094,B00E0LIS18,B06XPW2FD4,0988710501,069200565X,B00B73T208′ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’finmeacur-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’df7b5f1f-7b1a-11e7-b0f4-2143e7259da2′]

One of the first large quality-of- life studies on today’s prostate cancer treatments suggests that for some men, it is a matter of picking your poison and facing potential sexual, urinary or other problems.

Of the choices studied – surgery, standard radiation, hormone therapy or radioactive seeds – the seeds seemed to carry a lower risk of several of these side-effects.

Hormone therapy – when combined with radiation – had a big effect on men’s vitality and sexuality. The radioactive pellets sometimes led to sexual problems too, but more often involved discomfort in urinating.

The research, published in New England Journal of Medicine , does not address the cure rates of different treatments. Moreover, not every treatment is an option for every man. For example, radioactive pellets are generally used only in men with early-stage cancer that is slow-growing.

Nor does the study speak to decisions about whether to treat at all a slow-growing form of cancer that can take 10 or 20 years to become life-threatening.

An 80-year-old man may choose to avoid all treatment and the assorted complications. But for a man of, say, 50, the study provides some insight into the side effects of different options, said Dr William Oh, a Harvard University prostate cancer specialist.

“We’ve just never had the data that put patients’ side-by-side like this before,” said Dr William Oh.

The researchers surveyed about 1,200 patients, as well as 625 wives who were enrolled at nine US hospitals from March 2003 to March 2006.

Telephone surveys were done before treatment began and at two, six, 12 and 24 months afterward.

Sources: The Times Of India

Enhanced by Zemanta
Categories
News on Health & Science

Think Before Taking Multivitamins

[amazon_link asins=’B00MEVITCY,B0028AD6WO,B00280M13Y,B00KNN0SQA,B0007YCC7S,B000EEBWHM,B01DZRAUGI,B00JPPVC62,B004QQ9LVS’ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’finmeacur-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’63ff9558-74e0-11e7-821d-fb5400849574′]

Excessive multivitamin use could increase prostate cancer risk.

.CLICK & SEE

Go slow on those multivitamins guys!

Men need to be cautious about taking multivitamins more than once a day, for a new study has found doing so may increase the risk of prostrate cancer.

The researchers conducting the study also found that though there was no link between multivitamin use and the risk of developing localised prostate cancer, men who took multivitamins more than once a day were 32 per cent more likely to develop advanced prostate cancer.

They also found that such men were 98 per cent more likely to die from the disease. However, the researchers warn that the study had its limitations.

They pointed out that it was not designed to determine whether multivitamins actually caused cancer; it did not ascertain which multivitamins were taken; and the results failed to establish a relationship between dose and response.

Moreover, other studies have shown no connection between prostate cancer and multivitamins. Harvard Men’s Health Watch, which published the study, suggests that a good diet and other lifestyle changes may help lower prostate cancer risk.

The publication also suggests that though the new study cautions against excessive multivitamin use, it does not show harm from a daily supplement that sticks to the recommended daily amounts of the standard vitamins.

Source:The Times Of India

Categories
Ailmemts & Remedies

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

Definition
Benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH) is non-malignant enlargement of the prostate. The prostate is a walnut-sized gland located at the neck of the bladder surrounding the urethra. It is part of the male reproductive system.

click & see the pictures

BPH is the most common benign neoplasm (non cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland) in men, and has a high prevalence that increases with age. The increase in size of the prostate inside its capsule exerts pressure on the urethra, which passes through the capsule, resulting in obstruction to urine flow.

Half of all men have BPH identifiable histologically at age 60 years, and by 85 years the prevalence is about 90%. In the USA about 25% of men will be treated for BPH by age 80, and over 300,000 surgical procedures are performed each year for BPH (mostly transurethral resection of the prostate, TURP). This makes TURP the second most common surgical procedure, second only to cataract surgery – at a cost estimated at $2 billion per year.

Causes
The exact cause of BPH is unknown. It may be related to changes in hormone levels as men age. These changes probably cause the prostate to grow. Eventually, the prostate becomes so enlarged that it puts pressure on the urethra. This causes the urethra to narrow or, in some cases, close completely.

Symptoms:

There are several symptoms of BPH. Symptoms usually increase in severity over time.But most common symptoms are :-

Difficulty starting to urinate
Weak urination stream
Dribbling at end of urination
Sensation of incomplete bladder emptying
Urge to urinate frequently, especially at night
Deep discomfort in lower abdomen
Urge incontinence

Diagnosis:
Although there are a number of diagnostic test procedures which can be used for BPH, urine flow rate recording is the single best non invasive urodynamic test to detect lower urinary tract obstruction. There is insufficient evidence to recommend a cut-off value to document appropriateness of therapy.

The most common tests sre:
Urine flow study
Cystometrogram (a functional study of the way your bladder fills and empties)
X-ray of the urinary tract
Cystoscopic examination
Transrectal ultrasound

Testing for prostate specific antigen (PSA) is often used to screen for prostate cancer, a malignant condition. However BPH, which is far more common, may cause a lesser elevation in PSA levels, which may raise false concerns about the presence of cancer.

Treatment:
There are a number of treatment options. These include watchful waiting, medical therapy, balloon dilatation and various surgical procedures. But In mild cases of BPH, no treatment is necessary. In many cases, men with BPH eventually request medical intervention.

Modern Medications include:

Finasteride (proscar)   inhibits the production of the specific form of testosterone which is responsible for prostate glandular growth. (In some men, finasteride can shrink the prostate.)
Dutasteride (avodart)   also inhibits the production of the specific form of testosterone which is responsible for prostate glandular growth. Like proscar, avodart can result in shrinking of the prostate
Alpha-blockers (flomax, uroxatral, cardura, terazosin)  reduce bladder obstruction and improve urine flow by relaxing the muscles of the prostate and bladder neck.

Men with BPH should not take decongestant drugs containing alpha agonists such as pseudoephedrine. These drugs can worsen the symptoms of BPH.

Minimally Invasive Interventions
These are used when drugs are ineffective but the patient is not ready for surgery. Non-surgical treatments include:

Transurethral Microwave Thermotherapy (TUMT)  uses microwaves to destroy excess prostate tissue

Transurethral Needle Ablation (TUNA)   uses low levels of radio frequency energy to burn away portions of the enlarged prostate

Transurethral Laser Therapy   uses highly focused laser energy to remove prostate tissue

Surgery
Surgical procedures include:

Transurethral Surgical Resection of the Prostate (TURP) – a scope is inserted through the penis to remove the enlarged portion of the prostate.

Transurethral Incision of the Prostate (TUIP) – small cuts are made in the neck of the bladder to widen the urethra. The long-term effectiveness TUIP is not yet clearly established.

Open Surgery – removal of the enlarged portion of the prostate through an incision, usually in the lower abdominal area. This is much more invasive then TURP or TUIP.

To these surgical options must be added a number of medical treatments currently under trial. The AHCPR report concluded that there was presently insufficient data on any of these to permit conclusions regarding their safety and efficacy. The new treatments should not form part of purchasing contracts until one year follow up data from properly conducted randomised controlled trials are available.

Alternative Treatments:
Preliminary clinical trials suggested positive results with saw palmetto, an herb native to the Southern United States. However recent studies, particularly a carefully conducted randomized double-blind study indicate that the use of saw palmetto is no different than placebo in reducing BPH symptoms, raising questions about the true clinical effectiveness of this product.

Prevention
Because prostate enlargement occurs naturally with advancing age, there are no specific prevention guidelines.

A New Way in Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Natural Prostate Remedy

Ayurvedic remedies for Benign prostatic hypertrophy

Homeopathic Remedies For BHP

Yoga Exercise to help : 1.The Locust (Yoga Exercise)

2.Meditation

3.Basic Breathing (Pranayama)

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advise or help. It is always best to consult with a Physician about serious health concerns. This information is in no way intended to diagnose or prescribe remedies.

Help taken from: http://www.beliefnet.com/healthandhealing/getcontent.aspx?cid=12003 and http://www.jr2.ox.ac.uk/bandolier/band11/b11-3.htm

Categories
Ailmemts & Remedies

Enlarge Prostate

[amazon_link asins=’B010RJHF06,B005GWUGPG,B072HY6W6K,B013EX5NCE,B00994YCW0,B01N7CIA0Z,B00PEQTZQK,B01M0URBJA,B012OMRPZ4′ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’finmeacur-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’ad63d24a-6454-11e7-93f9-e34bc8135957′]

A man’s prostate gland usually starts to enlarge after he reaches age 40 years or middle age. This condition is called Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH).

CLICK & SEE THE PICTURES

The prostate gland, which is normally about the size and shape of a walnut, wraps around the urethra between the pubic bone and the rectum, below the bladder. In the early stage of prostate enlargement, the bladder muscle forces urine through the narrowed urethra by contracting more powerfully. As a result, the bladder muscle becomes thicker and more sensitive, causing a need to urinate more often.

The prostate gland secretes a fluid that is discharged with sperm. The gland itself surrounds the urethra, which is the tube that carries urine from the bladder out through the tip of the penis. As the prostate grows larger, it may press on the urethra. This narrowing of the urethra can cause some men with prostate enlargement to have trouble with urination. Prostate enlargement may be the most common health problem in men older than 60 years.

Causes.
The causes of an enlarged-prostate are still something that the medical field does not understand despite it being so common for men to have an enlarged-prostate when they are in their middle forties. This increase, usually as much as twenty five percent, can cause a variety of different medical issues some of which are not easy to deal with.

Although the most common factor is aging there are a few links that researchers have made among those who suffer from an enlarged-prostrate. These include the fact that more men with this problem can trace their roots back to Europe. Oddly there seems to be no link between an enlarged-prostate and a man’s sexual history. The number of lovers or years of sexual activity do appear to affect a man’s chances of having an enlarged-prostrate. As a matter of fact it is more common for this problem to occur in married men.

Symptoms:
Many men with an enlarged prostate have no symptoms. Common symptoms may include the following:
1.Difficulty starting urination.

2.Dribbling of urine, especially after urinating

3.A sense of not emptying the bladder

4.Leaking of urine

5.More frequent urination and a strong and sudden desire to urinate, especially at night

6.Blood in the urine

As well, an enlarged-prostate can cause one of three more serious conditions that affect urinating. These three are acute urinary retention, chronic urinary retention or urinary tract infections. Any of these can be a problem and eventually lead to more serious illnesses including the possibility of kidney damage. Therefore it is essential for anyone suffering the symptoms of an enlarged-prostate to be sure to see their health care provider.

Treatment:
Treating an enlarged-prostate varies with the symptoms experienced. Many men may have an enlarged-prostate but show no symptoms at all. If so then no treatment is required. Others will have urinary difficulties. Most of the others things that are recommended for these with an enlarged-prostate are tricks to help them urinate without difficulty or the suggestion on spreading out their liquid intake.

Home Remedies:

1.Try to avoid drinking more liquids after 6 pm to reduce the need to urinate frequently during the night.
2.Drink 8 glasses of water a day to help prevent bacteria from accumulating in the bladder.
3.Drink cranberry juice 4 times a day to increase the acidity of the urine, especially if you feel a urinary tract infection coming on.

Ayurvedic Suppliments: 1. Prostaid 2.Gokshuradi Guggulu 3.Chandraprabha Bati 4.Shilajeet tablets / Capsules

Diet: Hot spices are to be strictly avoided. The patient should be given as much water as possible to drink. Fresh lemon juice, fresh coconut water, orange juice, sugarcane juice and pineapple juice are extremely useful in this condition. The patient should be given fruits like apple, grapes, peaches and plums in good quantity.

Life Style: The patient should not expose himself to sun or heat. Excessive perspiration takes away lot of water from the body and the urine thus becomes concentrated. Passage of this concentrated urine through the urinary tract causes irritation and gives rise to burning sensation.

Yoga Exercise: The Locust(yoga exercise) very good for enlarge prostrate

Click to learn more about:-> Prostate Enlargement

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advise or help. It is always best to consult with a Physician about serious health concerns. This information is in no way intended to diagnose or prescribe remedies.

Help taken from:Allayurveda.com and 37minutes.com

css.php