Common Questions and Answers
What is the prostate? The term ‘prostate’ derives from the Greek word prohistani which means “to stand in front of”. It’s origin of use is attributed to Herophilus of Alexandria who used the term in 355 B.C.E. to describe the small organ located in front of the bladder. The word is pronounced prostate. Many people get mixed up with prostrate which means to ‘lie flat’. The prostate is a gland found in males. It is a small firm organ, about the size of a walnut. It is located below the bladder and in front of the rectum. The urethra, the channel that carries urine from the bladder and through the penis, runs through the prostate. ^ top What does the prostate do? The prostate is a gland, so its main function is to take what it needs from the blood and produce secretions. The main function of the prostate is to produce a secretion which provides nutrition for sperm and is part of semen. An important component of this secretion is a chemical called prostate specific antigen (PSA). ^ top What is prostate disease? Prostate disease is a term used to describe any medical problem involving the prostate gland. Not all prostate disease is cancer nor will it necessarily lead to cancer. Other prostate conditions are: - Benign prostate hyperplasia/hypertrophy (BPH)
- The important word here is benign. Benign means there is no cancer. Therefore this condition is not life threatening. BPH does not increase your risk of developing prostate cancer.
- BPH is quite common. It can cause problems when urinating. In mild cases it can be managed without treatment. If moderately troublesome it can be treated with medication.
- If severe it can be remedied with various operations to relieve the obstruction. Trans-Urethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP) is the most common surgery.
- Prostatitis
- is another common benign condition that is caused by inflammation (swelling) of the prostate.
- It can cause discomfort deep within the pelvis sometimes felt all the time, or while passing urine or with ejaculation. Sometimes the discomfort is very painful. The pain can spread beyond the pelvis.
- If the inflammation, and thus the pain, is caused by an infection antibiotics will be needed.
- Acute prostatitis is a short term condition. Chronic prostatitis continues for a long time. Treatment is specific for each case. It is sometimes a difficult condition to treat satisfactorily.
- Prostodynia
- this is long standing, chronic prostate disease and is different to chronic prostatitis because there is usually no clear sign of infection or inflammation.
- Pain starts at the base of the urinary bladder, lower abdomen or groin deep inside behind the scrotum, and can spread into the penis or inside the legs, or even lower back.
- Treatments are varied and may include antibiotics, non-steroid anti-inflammatory agents (NSAID), muscle relaxants, and medication for chronic pain. ^ top
What Is cancer? Every living thing is made up of cells and our body is made up of millions of cells. Each cell has a specific function to perform within the body and after a while they die and are replaced by new cells. Damage to the genes of the cell is the underlying cause of cancer. This damage can be inherited or caused by other factors. Then, when these damaged cells start behaving abnormally and begin to increase in a disorganised and uncontrolled way, a mass called a tumour results. ^ top What is prostate cancer? Prostate cancer occurs when cells of the prostate start behaving abnormally and start to mass produce. If the cancer cells are detected early and the cancer is contained within the prostate it is easier to deal with. If not detected early it may spread outside the prostate affecting surrounding tissues.It may eventually spread to nearby soft tissues. ^ top Am I likely to get prostate cancer? Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men after skin cancer. The likelihood of developing prostate cancer is influenced by: - Being male - since only men have a prostate gland, only men can develop prostate cancer.
- Ageing - the risk of developing prostate cancer increases with age. The risk od a man in his 40's developing prostate cancer is less than 1 in 1,000. However, young men are more likely to have more aggressive tumours. For a man of 50, the average lifetime risk is 1 in 8. ^ top
What if I have a family history of prostate cancer? If you do, then your risk of developing prostate cancer is more than 3 times the average lifetime risk. If a man has a first-degree blood relative - father or brother - who has been diagnosed his chances of developing prostate are 3 times greater than normal. If he has two first-degree relatives with prostate cancer his chances increase 4 to 7 times. The risk seems to be greater is prostate cancer is detected in a blood relative at a younger age; before the age of 60 years. ^ top What if I have no symptoms? This doesn't matter. Prostate cancer doesn't necessarily cause symptoms until it has reached an advanced state and this could be 20 years or more after it has started to grow. Less commonly, it can include any of the symptoms associated with other urinary or prostate disorders. Some men may experience persistent pain or aches in the lower back, hips or upper thighs. ^ top But doesn't prostate cancer only happen in old men? Although prostate cancer is usually diagnosed in men in their late 60's and 70's, it often starts to grow when a man is in his 40's or 50's. This means that there is a very good opportunity to detect and deal with it much earlier. (And therefore increase the chances of a cure.) ^ top Do I have to have one of those "finger tests"? No. You simply need to have a PSA test, which is a simple blood test arranged for you by your doctor. It can be done in conjunction with other blood tests. If your PSA level is abnormal or if your doctor wants to check for the presence of another common cancer (rectal cancer) it would then be suggested that you have a digital rectal examination. ^ top Is prevention possible? There are three things which cannot be changed - being male, ageing, and genetic inheritance. There are certain risk factors that make it more likely for a man to develop prostate cancer. Reducing these known risk factors will help reduce the odds of developing prostate cancer, but there are no guarantees.^ top How can diet help? There is plenty of evidence that some diets are bad for our health. This includes a diet: - high in red meat, especially well done and burnt meat. Eating red meat 5 times a week could double your risk for prostate cancer.
- saturated fats and cholesterol - diets high in fat may promote tumour growth in many cancers and cholesterol plays a role in cell growth in the body and in cancer. Accumulation of cholesterol within the prostate membrane may stimulate signals that promote cancer progression.
- processed foods which contain high levels of salt, preservatives and other food additives. s. A diet high in dairy products may also increase the risk of prostate cancer.
- An excess of calcium reduces the body's levels of vitamin D which helps protect the body from prostate cancer.
Alternatively, a diet which includes lean meat, fish, whole grains, seeds and nuts, plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Growing evidence says that changing your diet and behaviour could lower your risk of developing prostate cancer. Whilst it is difficult to determine the impact of a single food in a complex diet, but more large and long term studies are underway to confirm that consuming certain substances actually fights cancer. Best Foods - Fruit - 5 servings or more per day can cut the risk of prostate cancer in half. Fruit helps, in part, by containing fructose which stimulates the body's ability to create vitamin D, a nutrient believed to reduce prostate cancer risk.
- Cruciferous vegetables - men who eat plenty of broccoli and cabbage may reduce their risk of prostate cancer. 3 or more serves a day can reduce risk by as much as 41%.
- Tomatoes - contain the powerful anti-oxidant lycopene. New research, reported by the American Association for Cancer Research,suggests that the form of tomato
 product eaten may be the key to unlocking its prostate cancer fighting potential. It appears that the greatest protective effect comes from re-hydrated dried tomatoes. So if you love sun-dried tomatoes, eat up!
- Allium vegetables - consumption of 10 grams of garlic, onions and chives may reduce your risk of developing prostate cancer. These foods contain flavinoids that have demonstrated a reduction in tumour growth in laboratory studies.
- Soy products - there is some evidence to suggest that eating Soy may be help to reduce PSA levels. Prostate cancer rates are low in cultures with high soy consumption.
- Tea - studies are showing that tea reduces levels of polyamines a substance associated with cancer malignancy. Green tea in particular, is rich in polyphenols, believed to slow the growth of cancer.
- Omega-3 fatty acids - found in fish oils, are believed to have great potential for cancer prevention. Some scientists believe that rates of cancer in the modern world are largely tied to the drastic imbalances in our diets between Omega-6 (too much) and Omega-3 fatty acids (too little). Omega-3 fatty acids are found in cold water fish such as salmon, tuna, trout, sardines and herring.
- Mushrooms and Brazil nuts - are rich in selenium which is believed to lower PSA levels and inhibit tumour growth.
- Red wine - drinking 4 or more glasses a week could cut the risk of prostate cancer in half, according to some studies. Research has found that drinking red wine had the greatest impact on the most aggressive, fast spreading prostate tumours, leading to a 60% reduction in some cases. ^ top
What about herbs and supplements? There is no single magical herb or supplement that can give guaranteed protection against prostate cancer or any other cancer There are some substances that may reduce the risk of prostate cancer. These include: - Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant found in tomatoes. Lycopene's absorption is enhanced when tomatoes are cooked - especially with olive oil. Studies have shown that a regular intake of lycopene supplements lowers risk by about 15% while other studies show that consumption of tomatoes lowers the risk by as much as 26%. (Journal National Cancer Institute 1998)
- Isoflavones, a class of phytoestrogen found in soy products, counteracts (to some extent) the effect of testosterone on the prostate gland. Studies have shown that men with prostate cancer experienced a dramatic drop in their PSA level when consuming 2 grams of soy per day. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2003)
- Selenium - areas with high rates of prostate cancer have been found to have reduced levels of the trace mineral selenium . (Journal of Urology 2004) Supplements of 200 mcg selenium have been shown to decrease the risk of prostate cancer by 63%. (British Journal of Urology 1998) Selenium may lower PSA levels and inhibit tumour growth.
- Vitamin E - a study of lung cancer in smokers has shown that supplementation with 50 mg of vitamin E decreased prostate cancer incidence by 32% and mortality by 41% . (Journal National Cancer Institute 1998) Vitamin E also supports the immune system helping to minimize the growth and spread of cancer. Seeds and nuts such as sesame seeds, almonds and pecan nuts are great sources of vitamin E. ^ top
How can lifestyle changes help? Anything we can do to help invigorate the health of our cells will definitely help us to prevent illness or at the least recover from illness. - Breathe - the body's single most important need is oxygen. When there is insufficient oxygen in the body, the cells struggle in search of more. This struggle causes stress to the cells which can lead to a number of destructive events one of which could lead to cancer. Most people don't breathe properly because we don't have to think about it and we lead sedentary lifestyles.
- Move - there is just no way around it, the human body is built to move and, unfortunately, many of the common modern afflictions and illness are caused by a sedentary lifestyle. Regular gently aerobic exercise helps the blood to flow, increases heart strength, increases circulation, helps with digestion and bowel function. Regular exercise also helps bring about better sleep patterns and release endorphins in the brain which make us 'feel good'. Exercise results in a temporary reduction in testosterone high levels of which are linked to the growth of prostate cancer.
- Water - two thirds of the body is made up of water. About 80% of the brain is water. Kidneys need water to eliminate waste. The body needs water to maintain normal function, to heal and grow. If the body is starved of water we will get sick. The body cannot store water so we need to top up regularly to maintain good health.
- Outlook - try to be positive and enjoy life as an optimistic outlook can make a difference. Every human life is precious and every day a gift to be treasured.
- Reduce stress - our bodies are designed to feel stress and react to it. When stress is constant or excessive, the body begins to break down and illness can occur.
- Modify weight - "keeping a healthy body weight reduces your cancer risk" (Australian Cancer Council). Recent research shows that increased body weight increases the likelihood of prostate cancer-related death. (Radiation Therapy Oncology Group, US) Men with a body mass index (BMI) of 32.5 or higher are 1/3 more likely to die from prostate cancer. Men with a BMI of 35 are 60% more likely to have a recurrence of prostate cancer in 3 years. Men with a BMI of 30-39.9 are 20% more likely to have a recurrence of prostate cancer. ^ top
|
.png "HPCA Art Union")
