Prostate Gland and Urinary Problems

The prostate gland is a male reproductive organ. It is about the size of a walnut and is found at the base of the bladder. The urethra – a thin tube that allows the passage of urine out of the penis – runs through the prostate gland. Many men experience urinary changes as they age, which may be caused by inflammation or enlargement of the prostate gland. Troublesome urinary symptoms are sometimes, but not always, symptoms of prostate cancer.

The prostate gland is a male reproductive organ. Many men experience urinary changes as they age, which may be caused by inflammation or enlargement of the prostate gland. An enlarged prostate gland, however, does not always cause urinary problems. Troublesome urinary symptoms are rarely symptoms of prostate cancer.

The prostate gland is about the size of a walnut and is found at the base of the bladder. The urethra is a thin tube that allows the passage of urine out of the penis. It runs through the prostate gland. Fluid produced by this gland helps to protect and feed sperm, which come from the seminal vesicles via the ejaculatory ducts into the urethra.

The prostate undergoes two main growth spurts. The first is fuelled by sex hormones made by the testicles during puberty. This prompts the gland to reach an average weight of 20 grams in adulthood. For reasons that are unclear, the second growth spurt begins when men are in their 30s. The prostate continues to enlarge with age to an average weight of 40 grams in men in their 70s.

The prostate gland and urinary problems as men age

Many men experience urinary symptoms as they age, which may be caused by inflammation of the prostate gland (prostatitis). In the older male, symptoms may be the result of a blockage in the tubes due to a benign (non-cancerous) enlargement of the prostate gland (benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH). The most common symptom is difficulty emptying your bladder.

Urinary symptoms may become sufficiently difficult that they require treatment.

Symptoms of urinary problems

Not all urinary symptoms are due to changes to the prostate. Also, some men have enlarged prostates and yet experience few, if any, symptoms.

Urinary symptoms commonly experienced include:

    The need to urinate frequently during the night
    Urinating more often during the day
    Urinary urgency – the urge to urinate can be so strong and sudden that you may not reach the toilet in time
    The urine stream is slow to start
    Urine dribbling some time after finishing urination
    A sensation that the bladder isn’t fully emptied after urination
    Lack of force to the urine flow, which makes directing the stream difficult
    The sensation of needing to go again soon after urinating.


Although these symptoms often do not need treatment, you should see your doctor if they are causing particular difficulty, as they can be successfully treated.

Urinary symptoms that should be followed up

See your doctor if you experience:

    Being unable to urinate
    Painful urination
    Any blood in the urine at all
    Any discharge from the penis
    Continuous or severe urinary incontinence (you can’t hold your urine).


Inflammation of the prostate gland

Bacteria sometimes cause prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate). More commonly, the underlying cause is uncertain. You should consult your doctor promptly if you experience:

    Fever
    Lower back pain
    Pain in the groin
    Urgent and frequent urination.


Treatment with antibiotics is essential for acute bacterial prostatitis. Admission to hospital is often necessary and, as with chronic (ongoing) prostatitis, specific antibacterial drugs are required for a long time.

Enlargement of the prostate gland and urinary problems

BPH causes enlargement of the prostate, which may cause troublesome symptoms. BPH is more common as men get older.

The urethra passes through the prostate gland, so men may have problems urinating if the enlarged gland restricts the flow of urine. If the flow stops completely, a catheter is required to empty the bladder. It is rare for this form of acute urinary retention to cause kidney damage.

An enlarged prostate doesn’t always cause urinary problems. Studies indicate that the size of a man’s prostate gland has little influence on the type or severity of his urination problems. BPH is just one possible cause of urinary symptoms.

Another cause of urinary symptoms can be changes to the muscles that are part of the urinary system, which may cause bladder contractions or stop the bladder from contracting.

Diagnosis of prostate gland and urinary problems

If you are troubled by urination problems, you should see a doctor – no matter what your age. If your doctor agrees that your symptoms need further evaluation and treatment, you may need to undergo a few tests. These may include:

    Physical examination – including rectal examination to check the size and shape of your prostate gland
    A urine check – to ensure the prostate is not infected
    A flow rate check – to estimate the speed with which you pass urine
    An ultrasound examination – to assess if the bladder is emptying completely and to examine your kidneys
    Urodynamics – a series of tests on the bladder to see how your urinary system is functioning may be recommended in some circumstances.


Self-help strategies for urinary problems

If your urination problems are simple and don’t bother you very much, steps you can take at home include:

    Minimise drinks such as coffee, caffeinated soft drinks and alcohol, especially before bedtime, if getting up at night to pass urine is disturbing your sleep.
    Try ‘urethral stripping’ or ‘milking’ your urethra empty after you finish urinating if dribbling is a problem. You do this by running your finger from behind your scrotum to the tip of your penis to help press the last dribbles out. If you wait a little while after passing urine for the last drops to fall before replacing your penis in your underpants, it may also lessen the likelihood of dribbling.
    Learn pelvic floor and bladder retraining exercises as they may help to ease some urinary symptoms. See your doctor for advice.


Treatment for urinary problems

If your urinary problems are caused by infection or enlargement of the prostate gland, treatment may include:

    A long course of antibacterial medication (for bacterial prostatitis) – because infection is difficult to get rid of, the antibacterial medication will need to be taken for many weeks.
    Medications to improve urine flow and other symptoms (for obstruction caused by an enlarged prostate).
    Surgical procedures (for blockage caused by an enlarged prostate) such as transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), transurethral incision of the prostate (TUIP), laser resection of the prostate, and for very large glands, open (enucleative) prostatectomy. This last procedure involves removing the enlarged prostatic tissue around the urethra and leaving the remaining prostate behind. The type of surgery required depends on the size of the prostate and the condition of the urethra.
    A number of other procedures have been devised and promoted to reduce urinary symptoms. Talk to your doctor about your options. 

Chronic Prostatitis

Prostatitis is inflammation of prostate gland. From chronic prostatitis do suffer about 30% of males aged 20 – 50. This is most common urological condition among males.

Depending on the inflammation causes, prostatitis may be divided into two groups:

1. infectious prostatitis that may be caused by different bacteria, viruses and fungal diseases.

2. congestive prostatitis caused by congestion of prostate gland secretion and congestion of blood in veins of this organ. These symptoms are developed in case of irregular sexual life. Venous hyperemia may appear in case of longtime sedentary work (for example, in drivers of motor transport, in workers of brain work), wearing tight underwear and  excess of alcohol.

Besides this, there are other factors causing prostate inflammation such as:

• lowering of body defences
• hormonal disorder
• untreated focuses of infections from where microbes get into prostate gland, thus causing inflammation development

Risks for prostate development as a result of immunity lowering are higher in people who frequently get sick, on the back of nervous overloads, chronic stress, smocking, alcohol. 

All these factors either ease infection entering into prostate gland or lead to aggravation of blood supply in pelvic organs and congestive processes which results in microorganisms reproduction and development of inflammatory process.

Men With Healthy Cholesterol Levels Have Lower Risk of Prostate Cancer

Scientific research over and over again proves that modern doctor's recommendations about healthy lifestyle are not an empty word. Everyone knows that high cholesterol level in blood increases risks for cardio-vascular diseases. It turned out that it is dangerous also for prostate gland.

Workers of Johns Hopkins University made a research in which participated 5586 males over 55 years old. The study started in 1993 – 1996 and since then prostate cancer was found in 1251 people. In people whose cholesterol level exceeded the norm, risks for aggressive type of prostate cancer was 60% higher.

It should be mentioned that normal cholesterol level influences the appearing of prostate cancer but reduces the occurrence of most dangerous cancer forms.
Certainly, other factors could influence those results, many of which are connected with increased cholesterol. These factors are weight, bad habits such as smoking, genetic predisposition to prostate cancer, nutritional habits.

However, possible relation “cholesterol – prostate cancer” should be taken into consideration. Normal cholesterol level is better than its increased levels. Remember that lower cholesterol levels are healthy for people.

Those results were obtained as far back as in 2006 and scientists observed that taking medications lowering cholesterol level reduces risks for development of dangerous forms of prostate cancer.

The magazine “Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention” published results of other study performed in American national cancer institute which showed that low cholesterol in men reduces by 15% reduces frequency of all cancer cases.

It is not improbable that lowering of cholesterol levels with the help of modern medications helps to prevent and treat cancer but here are necessary some additional studies. Benefit of low-calorie diet consisting of vegetables, fruits and cereals is known to humanity for centuries and it still works greatly for modern men.

Who Is At Risk For Prostate Cancer?

Prostate gland is most important organ in each male, therefore prostate cancer is most awful of male cancers. One man in ten among those diseased with cancers die from prostate cancer. Mortality in men under 45 is not significant – just 3 cases per million, instead, in men over 75 the mortality increases 400 times and cancer is found in 130 cases per 100 000 men.

In Russia prostate cancer occurs two times more rarely than in the world. However, the number increases each year. The risks are different for different males. Besides age, an important role plays heredity, for example, in Asia and Eastern Europe is not so widely-spread than in USA and Scandinavia.

In some families risks are much higher which means that men whose relatives had prostate cancer should start examinations much earlier than in 75 years old. For instance, a man may make PSA test which helps to detect prostate specific antigen. However, remember that this method provides many false positive and many false-negative results and is informative only in combination with other methods.

Such factors as bad habits and bad ecological situation increase risks for prostate cancer. And most sad finding is that in men with high sexual activity the prostate cancer occurs more frequently.

Not a single male would be happy to hear the diagnosis “prostate cancer” but this diagnosis not always is a death sentence. Doctor and patient should know how would behave crazy tumor. Will it grow rapidly so that it would require last extreme measures? Or it grows slowly which allows to use medical treatment which helps to lower the risks? The answer may depend on condition of tumor vessels.

Like any tissue it requires nutrition and oxygen, therefore on the blood supply of tumor influences on its development. Studies made by several American cancer centers on more than 500 men with prostate cancer found an important regularity.

Aggressive and deadly tumors of prostate gland usually have thin irregular and primitively arranged vascular netting while slowly growing tumors it has a common look. The probability of metastasis or death is six times higher if vessels are thicker and 17 times higher in case of extra irregular vascular netting.

Prostate Health Diet

Reduce consumption of fats
Best way to reduce fats and calories in your life is to consume more vegetarian products. Fruits, vegetables and products from whole grain contain many nutritional ingredients necessary for the body such as vitamins, minerals, enzymes, aminoacids and vegetable fibers.  Whole grains contain more fibers and nutrients including magnesium than those processed.

Vegetarian products would greatly improve quality of your meals but the amounts of food you usually consume should be the same. You should never add fatted sauces to vegetable dishes and fruit deserts. Usage of refined fats (dairy butter) during food preparation should be minimal.

Unsaturated fats (polyunsaturated fatty acids) should necessarily be in sufficient quantities.  Polyunsaturated fatty acids are a raw material for production of prostaglandins which prevent prostate gland from inflammations. Best sources for polyunsaturated fatty acids are fat sea-fish, olive and linseed oils. Other vegetable oils besides healthy fats Omega-3 and Omega-9 contain also fatty acids Omega-6, excess of which provokes inflammations.

You should include carbohydrates in your meals: bread, porridge, flocks, rise and pasta. They also contain complex of nutrient substances and very small amount of fats. Here is important how you consume them, for example, pasta is good with tomato sauces, ketchups and vegetable sauces and not with sour cream or cheese.

It is better to consume ordinary yeasty bread and without usage of baking powders.

Protein products may be of vegetable or animal origins. Products rich in proteins are legumes, beans and pea.
 
Diary products also contain healthy nutrients, therefore men who are at risk for prostate cancer should not refuse from them. It is preferable to include in diet such healthy products as non-fat milk and yogurt along with fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes.

It is necessary to exclude from diet products causing kidneys inflammation (spicy and salt dishes, alcohol, coffee, chocolate). This requirement is necessary to prevent adenoma of prostate gland.

Steroid Effects on Prostate Gland

Prostate gland is sensitive to different hormonal actions and is able to absorb selectively male and female sex hormones. Here binding of androgens occurs in androgen-dependent part of prostate gland and binding of estrogens occurs in estrogen-dependent part.

Androgens in prostate gland are not accumulated, instead they are rapidly transformed. Estrogens remain mainly unchanged. Steroid hormones of all classes are transported via blood plasma in form of protein complex. Blood contains estradiol. It binds beta globulin and is able to bind steroids having hydroxyl. Unlike peptidic hormones, which act on level of external cell membranes, steroid hormones enter cells and do bind with specific protein receptor congenerous; with this steroid.

It is not established yet how do sex hormones enter the target- cells. Partially is important a simple diffusion due to positive gradient of concentration. However, this is not main way of entering. There was obtained data about mechanisms of specific transportation of steroid hormones into prostate gland cells.

With the help of mechanism, which is based on binding steroids with surface of specific carrier, testosterone may be transported against gradient of concentration in higher amounts than are usually found in male blood. A binded steroid penetrates from cytoplasm in nucleus where it reacts with chromatin and DNA, induces synthesis of messenger RNA and amenable ferment proteins responsable for hormone properties.

Prostatitis Is Most Common Urological Disease Among Men

There are many factors leading to prostatitis development (for example, sedentary work) in our life.

What is prostatitis? Who gets diseased with it?
Prostatitis is inflammation of prostate gland. There are two causes of prostatitis:
- infectious nature
- non-infectious nature
Infection in prostate itself not causes all disease manifestations. Prostate development needs predisposing causes.

Forms and symptoms of prostatitis
Prostatitis may develop suddenly as an acute inflammatory disease with all corresponding symptoms. In acute prostatitis male experiences next symptoms: fever, temperature up to 38 – 39 C, acute pains in crotch, groin, anus area, beyond pubis,  painful urination. However, more often prostatitis develops in chronic form when it not shows itself. In this case prostatitis symptoms mentioned above are absent and only body temperature may be little raised up to 37 C.

What happens if you do not get treatment?
Acute prostatitis if not treated may transform into chronic form. Both acute and chronic forms may cause such complications as prostate gland apostasis, cystitis, pyelonephritis, vesicles and adenoma.  Finally, prostatitis may cause impotency, or even infertility which would be treated hardly.

Prostatitis treatment
Prostatitis treatment constitues a big problem for doctors around the world because this disease is complicated enough to treat especially chronic prostatitis. However, this does not mean that there is no help for the sufferer.

Not in all cases prostatitis is cured but it is possible to remove prostatitis symptoms and trigger steady lasting remission. The duration of this period depends on the patient.  If he follows doctor's recommendations, he gets rid of all prostatitis symptoms forever.

So how prostatitis is treated? Prostatitis treatment should be complex. It includes antibacterial therapy, prostate gland massage, physiotherapy, immune therapy, life style change.  Only this complex treatment leads to desired effects.

Prostatitis preventive measures
Prostate gland inflammation is easier to prevent than to treat. Bring in your life changes useful for prostatitis prevention and this will save you from this disease:
- try not to stay for a long time on freeze
- do not get seated on cold stones
- if you have sedentary work you must stand up each hour and limber up
- get rid of coprostasia
- have regular sex
- treat your diseases
- have regular meals
- make exercises

Prostate Gland Diseases

Prostate gland (prostate) is a male muscular glandular organ. Glandular its part produces specific secretion, and muscular part provides entering of this secretion into sperm during ejaculation.

Sperm secretion is a liquid filled with proteoclastic ferments, which help to diffluence sperm, and amino acids helping to normal semens movement into vesical cervix when sperm enters vagina.

Major prostate problems:
- inflammations (prostatitis)
- benign hyperplasia of prostate gland (adenoma)
- malignant tumor of prostate gland (prostate cancer)

Symptoms of these diseases frequently are alike and in many cases these diseases show themselves at their last stages when treatment is quite difficult. Also do exist a number of pathological conditions of surrounding organs which may imitate prostate disease.

When it makes sense to worry about prostate gland condition?
- dysuric disorders (painful frequent urination at any age)
- pain syndrome (pain in crotch and rectum with radiation into testicles, penis, inner areas of hips; pains during and after ejaculation)
- sexual disorders (disorders of erectile function, lowering of sexual desire). Prostate gland is closely connected with male sexual function what determines its involvement into sexual dysfunction.  However, prostatitis in this case usually plays secondary role and not influences on sex quality.
- infertility with sperm disorders.

Males aged 45 and above should undergo examinations of prostate gland annually even if they do not complain at any urination problems.

Why it is important to know about prostate gland diseases?
First place among cancerous diseases in males occupy prostate cancer which not shows itself at early stages and this presents a grave risk for life and health of patient. However, prostate cancer at early stages may be treated.

Males may overcome prostate diseases if they were diagnosed at early stages and treated adequately.

Prostatitis Symptoms

Prostatitis develops suddenly as an acute inflammatory disease. Prostatitis symptoms:
-  fever
- body temperature 38-39°С
- acute pains in perineum and beyond pubis
- painful urination and defecation

However, frequently acute prostatitis may be developed into chronic form which may not show itself. Patient may have symptoms listed above but may not have them at all.  In case of chronic prostatitis temperature of the body rises up to 37°С, from time to time patient feels pains or discomfort in perineum, discomfort during urination and defecation, and not too well-marked excretas from urethra.

Often prostatitis may result from chronic sexually transmittable diseases (clamidiosis, trichomoniasis, ureaplasmosis). In this case patient suffers from the next symptoms:
- discomfort during urination
- pains in perineum
- excretas from urethra during defecation

Gradual changes in poor medical picture (it means absolute absence of any symptoms) may be not observed by patient. In several months after prostatitis, in most cases, males experience difficulties with erection. This occurs because in inflammatory process get involved nerves that respond for erection and run through prostate gland.

Chronic prostatitis has an negative impact on male well-being making him querulous , grouchy and anxious about his personal condition. And sometimes such behavior is so evident that doctors recommend for an effective prostatitis treatment it is required help of a good urologist and a good psychologist. It is great when one urologist is also a good psychologist.

Prostatitis develops suddenly as an acute inflammatory disease. Prostatitis symptoms:

• 
  
  fever


• 
  
  body temperature 38-39°С


• 
  
  acute pains in perineum and beyond pubis


• 
  
  painful urination and defecation

However, frequently acute prostatitis may be developed into chronic form which may not show itself. Patient may have symptoms listed above but may not have them at all. In case of chronic prostatitis temperature of the body rises up to 37°С, from time to time patient feels pains or discomfort in perineum, discomfort during urination and defecation, and not too well-marked excretas from urethra.

Often prostatitis may result from chronic sexually transmittable diseases (clamidiosis, trichomoniasis, ureaplasmosis). In this case patient suffers from the next symptoms:

• 
  
  discomfort during urination


• 
  
  pains in perineum


• 
  
  excretas from urethra during defecation

Gradual changes in poor medical picture (it means absolute absence of any symptoms) may be not observed by patient. In several months after prostatitis, in most cases, males experience difficulties with erection. This occurs because in inflammatory process get involved nerves that respond for erection and run through prostate gland.

Chronic prostatitis has an negative impact on male well-being making him querulous , grouchy and anxious about his personal condition. And sometimes such behavior is so evident that doctors recommend for an effective prostatitis treatment it is required help of a good urologist and a good psychologist. It is great when one urologist is also a good psychologist.

Prostatitis

Prostatitis is one of most common urological diseases causing prostate inflammation. Most often prostatitis affects men of reproductive age 20-50. Major cause of prostatitis is peculiarity of prostate gland anatomy and its blood supply. However, the disease may be caused by infection. Depending on the cause, inflammation of prostate gland may be:
- infectious
- congestive
- mixed

Infection gets into prostate gland from urethra, bladder, rectum, and also it may be transferred via limpha and blood vessels of pelvis. The agents of the disease may be pathogenic or opportunistic bacteria (Proteus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, staphylococcus, streptococcus, etc.) or venerean infections (gonococcus, trichomonas, chlamydia, mycoplasma, etc.).

Congestive form of the disease occurs in men with disorder of blood circulation or lymph circulation in pelvic organs, which leads to hormonal changes. Sedentary life-style, low sexual activity, sauna abuse, bad habbits contribute to the reduction of immunity lowering.

In mixed form of prostatitis the inflammation of prostate gland occurs when infection gets into stagnant sperm which is observed in congestive prostatitis.
However, infection not always leads to prostate inflammation development. Next factors are needed for occurring that:
1. Chronic diseases
2. Blood circulation disorder
3. Metabolic disorders
4. Sedentary life-style
5. Lack of sexual activity or, conversely, excessive sexual activity
6. Perineum trauma
7. Hypothermia

Without adequate prostatitis treatment in a male may occur sexual function disorder and changes in spermatoziods formation Prostate inflammation may course without showing symptoms and often men find out about the disease while treatment of other diseases such as urethritis, vesiculitis, urethritis, sexually transmitted diseases.

Facts About Prostatitis

1. Prostatitis may have different causes and not just only one cause.

2. Diagnostics includes detecting the form and stage of the disease. Symptoms in different patients may be common, however, the diagnosis can make only specialist. Do not try to make diagnosis by yourself because you have all chances to be wrong.

3. The clinical course of prostatitis is unstable, sometimes it may aggravate and often it may become complicated. The clinical course even may be resulted in hidden form. Therefore, medical supervision should be permanent.

4. Prostatitis treatment is complex and the most difficult thing is to chose best combination of treatment methods. Do not try to do it by yourself, you should do it along with your doctor. Do not change your doctor after you started your treatment.

5. Getting rid of infection in prostate cannot be considered recovery. The main thing is to get rid of capillary congestion.

6. Complexity and variety of pathological structure of prostate eliminate the probability of invention of a medicine against prostatitis.

7. If was achieved a long remission, do not stop doctor's examinations, because in case of complications you may not notice them by yourself.

8. Some patients think that performing advices of different doctors will help to recover more quickly, but in fact they are wrong, because different recommendations of different doctorss may thwart one another. Chose one doctor and follow just his recommendations.

9. Do not wait quick recovery.  Prostatitis is a serious disease requiring long time for the treatment.

10. Well-ordered sex life is an important background for healing: no extra sex, no long sexual continence.

11. Taking alcohol during prostatitis, even in small quantities, leads to inflammatory process aggravation.

12. Hypothermia, even short one, may lead to aggravation (for example, swimming in the river).

13. Physical activity and sports are good for prostate. Sitting mode of live slows the recovery.

14. Consuming spicy food causes aggravation.

15. Chronic constipations complicate blood circulation in prostate gland, aggravate course of prostatitis and the recovery. To get rid of constipations you should keep to moving mode of living and consume plenty of vegetative fiber.

16. You should know that in prostate appear viruses, which come from urethra where they stay permanently. However, when you change sex partner occurs mutual microbes exchange which leads to deterioration of microflora. This is bad for your prostatitis recovery.

Where Prostate Gland Is Located?

Prostate (Prostate Gland) is male internal generative organ which produces a secretion necessary for sperm protection.

Shape and size of prostate are different in men, and it may change with the increase of years or under influence of particular factors (for example, inflammatory process in prostate). However, even insignificant changes may lead not just to local but also to general disorders.

Major prostate functions:

• seminal fluids production
• participating in sperm ejection during intercourse
• erection
• participating in urine retention

Prostate is located below bladder and it comprises starting areas of urethra, in front of rectum and beyond pubic bones. Such location makes prostate difficult to achieve, so the only way to feel back side of prostate is digital rectal examination.

[click on the image below to see its full size]

Prostate gland has three parts: middle, left back and right back sides. It is made of smooth muscular and glandular tissues. It is surrounded by fibrous capsule which has borders made from connective tissue. Alveolar-tubular glands are joined into acini that represent a network of excretory ducts which are opened on the back side of urethra. There are left and right sperm ejaculatory ducts that run through thickness of all prostate gland.

Upper and lower arteries supply prostate gland with blood. However, low blood flow results not just in development of congestivus changes and also in onset of infection. The most common prostate disease among men of reproductive age is prostatitis. In men over age 50 most common disease is adenoma and prostate cancer.

Prostate Cancer Treatment Methods That Everyone Should Know

Choice of prostate cancer treatment is a quite difficult problem. Each of existing methods has its advantages and disadvantages. Patient usually has time to decide. In most cases prostate cancer slowly progresses that is why patient may think well over his decisions.

When you chose treatment method, you should take into consideration several factors: both medical and personal.

1. Disease Stage. How quickly does tumors growth? Are there metastases? Results of analysis and examinations help to get full picture of the disease. The severity of cancer is estimated according to Gleason scale and depends on the ability of tumors to the rapid growth and spread. Also the stage of the disease is indicated and it depends on presence and the number of metastases.


2. Patient's Age. Taking into consideration age may help you to estimate the risk and possible benefit of concrete treatment method. For patients older than 70 years often is chosen waiting game.


3. General Health Condition. Depending on your general health condition doctor may say if you may use this treatment method or not. If you suffer from heart disease, diabetes or earlier you had undergone operation on prostate gland – all those factors are taken into account when you chose prostate cancer treatment methods.


4. Side Effects. Prostate cancer treatment may have such side effects as impotence and urinary incontinence. Please, think how they may influence on your life.


5. Effectiveness of Treatment. Ask your doctor about prognosis and about how those treatment methods are more effective in your case according to statistics. Find out if risks and side effects are not outweigh the potential benefit of treatment.


6. Your Preferences. Many different factors may influence on prostate cancer treatment choice. Discuss this with your doctor or with person who has already undergone the same treatment and who is able to give you an adequate answer.

Any decision you want to take you should first discuss it with your family and friends who are not indifferent to your life.

Effect on Health of Prostate Cleaning

Today, it's not just about having a pair of healthy hands. One must make sure that outside and inside their body is clean. Others would do a cleansing diet for a week or drink lots of green tea as an antioxidant. Another alternative way to maintain a healthy body amongst men is to include prostate cleaning in their regimen. People have become highly health conscious through these years. Different products and tools are available to lengthen the lives of human beings. Some would spend hours in the gym every week to maintain their physique and good health. Moreover, people are becoming interested with the status of their internal organs.

According to statistics, there is a high chance that a man on his 80s could develop prostate cancer. This kind of disease could be painful and expensive. Hence, if you could, much better if you can avoid this disease from settling in. This prostate is one of the most relevant tactics that could help you protect your body from cancer. Prostate is a significant part of your reproductive system. It is a gland that is similar to the shape of a chestnut, and is like the size of a walnut. It can be found in between the bladder and rectum. Hence, this gland is accessible via anus. During your annual check-ups, this is one of the areas that your doctor looks at. Yes, it is during the anal examination.

Most men are not even aware of the main role of this gland. This is the part of the body that has the ability to neutralize the naturally acidic state of the vaginal walls. By doing this, it allows the sperm to survive the travel to the woman's ovary, and pursue fertilization. The fluid from this gland is made up of alkaline. The main purpose of cleaning your prostate is to free it from its alkaline content. By doing this, you can push out the fluid that has been in the gland for quite a long time. If the prostate is not freed from its content regularly, it may lead to prostatitis or even cancer. Therefore, it's best to learn this tactic. I don't want to freak you out but this method could be somewhat awkward for some. You see, not all of us is fond of touching our bottoms or anus. For some, it's somewhat a taboo to touch their selves in that area, which should not be the case. It takes a little time to get used to it as you have to adjust your mind and body all at the same time.

Since you will be accessing an internal part of your body, it's best to have your hands clean. Another important thing that you should take note of is to make use of a lubricant. There are different lubricants available in the market, check which amongst the line is compatible with your skin, and would not cause any allergy. Another tool that would make your work easier would be to use a prostate massager. This is similar to a dildo which can help you access the prostate gland easily. The tool can really be of huge help for those who have short and stubby hands. Having to touch your prostate can be straining not only to your arms but also to your legs, and buttocks. There is nothing to be afraid of with this method. Even the doctors practice this kind of procedure. Prostate cleaning is also done in order to help paraplegics to have their semen and prostate tested. Hence, you do not have to worry about it.

Prostate Cancer Treatment. Part Two

X-ray therapy

There are two types of X-ray therapies for prostate cancer treatment:

1. outer radiation similar to profondometer is used. Sessions are made every day and each session takes several minutes. Course of treatment takes 6-7 weeks. Usage of computerized tomography helps to define tumor localization to radiumize tumor more aimingly.


2. infernal irradiation is used. The source of irradiation is placed directly into prostate gland and it acts during several months, after which it inactivates by itself.

X-ray therapy has side effects. Most patients complain on tiredness, indigestion (diarrhea, nausea), strangury, prolonged erection.

Hormonotherapy

Size of tumors in prostate gland depend on the amount of testosterone in blood of a man. Testosterone level lowering helps in tumor decrease and in slowing of its growth. To lower testosterone level also may help testes removal (orchectomy), because exactly in testes is produced a significant amount of testosterone. There is an alternative to this method - you may just take hormonal agents.

Hormonotherapy slows prostate cancer progression, but is not treating it. Hormonotherapy has such side effects as infertility, decreased interest, flushes, impotence and osteoporosis.

Chemotherapy

Treatment with medications that do kill cancerous cells in whole body is used only in case when tumor has spread in other organs. The main purpose of this treatment is decease of pain and lowering of tumor growths. According to latest researches, Taxotere (Docetaxel) medication increases life time in ill with prostate cancer with metastasis in other organs.

After-effect of prostate cancer treatments

On completing of prostate cancer treatment, patients remain under permanent control of the doctor. To detect possible recurrence of the disease it is recommended to make regular examinations including PSA-test. After detection of recurrent cancer of prostate gland, treatment should be chosen by taking into account methods which were used for the first time.

Latest achievements in the prostate cancer study

1) HPC1 gene

The discovery of this gene helps to believe that in the nearest future may appear new data about genetic mechanisms that do lead to prostate cancer. Probably, may be developed tests that would help to detect excessive predisposition to this illness, and this may help to examine men from risk groups in early age.

2) Angiogenesis

At the present day new medications are being tested which, according to expectations, will localize tumor by means of decline of blood supply. Also is performed Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

3) Prostate Cancer Vaccines

Several kinds of vaccines improving immunity to prostate cancer are tested.

First Time Prostate Examination

Doctor has recommended you to make prostate examination. That idea makes you feel astrain, because you know where prostate gland is located and you understand that its examination will be not a very pleasant thing.

Prostate examination also is called digital rectal examination or rectal examination. The majority of men sooner or later face with the necessity of this examination. Rectal examination is performed during normal medical examination if patient complains on problems with urination or other unpleasant symptoms.

Procedure

You should have to take off your underclothing and pass paper tower round your waist so that you leave back naked. Prostate gland is located in front of rectum. You should bend down to let doctor examine it. You should stand up leaning your hands on the table, or settle on a side pressing knees to the chest.

Most likely, doctor will explain you what he is going to do and he will help you to relax. In order to fix your body in necessary position, doctor can put his hand underbelly. Then he spreads your buns to examines anus. The next step is insertion of finger in surgical glove with lubricant into anus. During insertion deep into rectum doctor makes pauses to let sphincter relax.

Stress during examination is a normal thing but you should maximally calm down. This will help you to fell less discomfort during rectal examination. To make sphincters relax doctor will ask you to retch (like during defecation). At that moment you should breath via mouth.

Doctor examines rectal paries and presses prostate gland in order to define its size, presence of tumors and indurations. At that moment you can feel desire to urinate. Some patients feel nausea and weakness. Do not worry, these are normal things. However if you feel giddiness you should immediately say it to the doctor.

Whole examination takes a little more than a minute.

After rectal examination doctor looks at fecal masses that have remain on the glove if they have blood or not. It can be a sign of hemorrhoid, polypus or intestine cancer.

Digital rectal examination can make you feel discomfort and not pain. If you feel pain say it to the doctor. Hypersensitivity to touching can be a sign of prostatitis (prostate inflammation).

Four useful tips:

• if you have hemorrhoid you should say it to doctor
• breath slowly via mouth, hold your breath
• try to relax, think about something positive
• say to doctor if you feel pain

After examination doctor will give you a napkin and he will say to you where can you make yourself smart, and then doctor will say you result oh the examination.

Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Test

Normally blood contains small amount of prostate-specific antigen (PSA). PSA is a specific protein produced by prostate gland in men. PSA increases in blood in case of prostate enlargement, prostate inflammation or other diseases. Also it increases in case of prostate cancer. Blood test detects the level of PSA. As other tests, here is possible false-positive and false-negative results. Sometimes in men diseased with prostate cancer this test shows negative result, but in men with high PSA level the horrible diagnosis is not confirmed.

For men older than 50 years is recommended to undergo digital rectal examination and PSA test. Men with bad inheritance should make examination at 45 years. As for this, there is an other opinion. Some specialists say there is not necessarily to examine every single man. You should discuss with your doctor the necessity of examination only in case when you are 50 years older or there was prostate cancer cases in your family. Because the advisability of test is quarreled, you should discuss with your doctor all its risks and advantages.

PSA test can be used to follow progress of a disease or to define the effectiveness of chosen treatment.

PSA test preparation

There is no necessary to make a special preparation for the test. To avoid false results it is better to perform PSA test exactly before digital rectal examination or in two days or more after it.

Test performance

To examine PSA they draw a blood sample from vein. When needle insertion you can feel pain but it feels not for a long time. A little dose of blood is taken in tube and it is sent into laboratories.

Duration of procedure

PSA blood sampling takes 3-5 minutes.

Bad result: what to do?

If PSA in blood is high, and when rectal examination anything suspicious was not detected, doctor can ask you to make test again.

PSA level higher than 4ng/ml means 20-25% probability of prostate cancer. If PSA level is higher than 10ng/ml then the probability of prostate cancer is 50%. The more higher PSA level is in blood the more higher is threat of oncological diseases.

However, the result of PSA test can be the evidence to establish diagnosis of cancer. PSA level can increase when innocent prostate hyperplasia. Besides that, it can increase because of infections, prostate inflammations, and also after biopsy and operations on prostate. If PSA level is above normal, it is necessary to undergo Transrectal Ultrasonography. To detect cancer it is necessary to make biopsy.

PSA test risks

PSA test itself is not connected with risk. False-positive result of this analysis makes patient undergo other examinations, and false-negative result complicates cancer diagnosis.

In majority of men over 40 years PSA level in their blood is below 4ng/ml. Men on the right side of 40 should have PSA level no more than 2.7 ng/ml.