Possibilities of treating prostate cancer

In order to prevent prostate cancer scientists are trying to find abnormal genes that are related to this disease and so identify those who are at risk of developing prostate cancer.
For these people special treatment will be instituted earlier in order to stop the disease from occurring.

Nowadays the scientists use the DNA micro-array technology for studying many genes at the same time and discover those that are related to prostate cancer. This screening could save a lot of time and could replace the currently used PSA blood test.

DNA micro-array identified a product of one gene (named EZH2) that seems to appear more frequently in advanced prostate cancers than in early staged cancers. Scientists want to find out if this gene product signalizes that the cancer is more aggressive or not. This could help doctors decide whether that form of cancer needs treatment or must only be supervised carefully.

Researchers have discovered that tomato and soybeans contain some substances that are useful in preventing prostate cancer (lycopenes and isoflavones). Vitamins are also useful: vitamin D, E and selenium decrease the risk of prostate cancer.

A new clinical trial has been developed in order to see if patients with prostate cancer respond to medication that decreases the level of the androgen hormone called DHT. These drugs (Finasteride and dutasteride) have been used until now only for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Staging prostate cancer is very important for doctors because it helps them institute the most proper treatment. CT and MRI are not so efficient in this case. Instead, enhanced MRI is quite helpful because it detects the possible cancer cells in the lymph nodes.

As a possibility of treatment is surgery. The radical prostatectomy could have some risks. If the nerves that control erection have to be removed the man will end up being impotent. Doctors are testing a replacement of those nerves with the Sural nerve but they are not positive about the usefulness of this technique.

Radiation therapy is also possible. If using conformal radiation therapy (CRT) and intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) the radiation will be directed straight to the prostate gland and affect less other normal tissues.

Chemotherapy seems to be effective in prostate cancer too. Chemotherapy drugs can be successfully used in combination with other drugs like: Taxotere associated with Calcitriol, a form of vitamin D.

A vaccine has also been tested with amazing results on prostate cancer patients. This vaccine is not like the others that are designed to prevent a disease. This is made to treat advanced prostate cancer by increasing the immune system’s response to cancer cells. The vaccine has been made out of a genetically engineered protein and a dendritic cell provided from the patient’s bloodstream. Three shots of the vaccine (Provenge) were made over the course of a month. The immune system will react and will activate immune T-cells to find and destroy the cancer cells.

Monoclonal antibody treatment can also be applied in this case. They stimulate the body’s natural cell-killing mechanism or they carry a radioactive molecule that will destroy the cancerous cell.

Another treatment is using angiogenesis inhibitors. These drugs prevent the growth of blood vessels and so, the tumor cells will not be nourished any more.

Sometimes the prostate cancer spreads in the body and affects the bones. For stopping the bone pain doctors use radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and CT. with this technique they will destroy the tumor by heating it.

For recovering patients are advised to adopt a certain lifestyle. They must not eat meat, fish, eggs, or dairy products, keep an active lifestyle and even perform yoga.

About Author: For more information about prostate cancer prevention and about early symptoms prostate cancer please review this web site http://www.prostate-cancer-center.com

Article Source: ArticlesAlley.com

Three Foods to Help Prevent Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men in the United States each year. Prostate cancer typically is an extremely slow-growing cancer. It begins in the prostate gland and is easily treatable in this stage. However, once the cancer begins to grow rapidly or when it spreads outside of the prostate gland, it is potentially dangerous and even deadly.

Prostate cancer treatments typically involve surgery and radiation therapy. Oftentimes, major damage results from these treatments. These treatments are painful and expensive.They also have serious side effects. Side effects from surgery include:

1. Risk from anesthesia
2. Risk of a heart attack
3. Risk of a stroke
4. Blood clot in the legs
5. Infection at the site of the incision
6. Risk of bleeding and requiring a blood transfusion
7. Infections in the abdomen
8. Urinary incontinence
9. Death

Prostate cancer can oftentimes be prevented through consuming good healthy foods. Some foods are particularly beneficial to the prostate gland.Tomatoes and tomato products are among the top foods for prostate health.Tomatoes are rich in lycopene which is the carotenoid that gives many fruits and vegetables their red color.

Eating tomatoes often, preferably on a daily basis can go a long way towards preventing prostate cancer. This is due to the fact that lycopene can accumulate in the cells over time and build up the ability to fight off cancer cells. Tomatoes can easily be consumed fresh or cooked in your favorite dishes. In fact, cooked tomatoes appear to have more cancer-fighting properties than raw tomatoes.

Broccoli has been proven in many studies to be effective in fighting prostate cancer. Broccoli is a powerful cruciferous vegetable rich is sulfer containing compounds known as glucosinolates. Cruciferous vegetables are especially beneficial in prostate health as they aid in removing estrogens and other toxins from the body. It is very important to prepare the broccoli correctly in order to get its cancer fighting components. It is recommended that broccoli be gently steamed to retain most of its anti-cancer compounds.

Tomatoes and broccoli may be more beneficial when consumed together rather than separately. It is believed that the different bioactive compounds in each food work on different anti-cancer pathways. This is the reason the combination of these two foods can be highly effective.

Red raspberries are not only delicious, but are rich in disease-fighting phytochemicals that can benefit prostate health and reportedly even prevent prostate cancer. Raspberries contain phytonutrients which are the healing components in the raspberries. These benefits are solely from fresh berries as opposed to processed berries or fruit drinks made from berries. So eating fresh raspberries each day is a good way to protect your prostate health.

As you can clearly see choosing to eat prostate healthy foods is one of the best and easiest things you can do to improve the health of your prostate gland and thereby decrease your risk of prostate cancer. There are many ways to include these delicious foods in your diet so plan to do so on a regular basis.

Please go to Truckingsos.com to read more articles concerning health and wellness issues and truck drivers issues such as foods for prostate health and prostate cancer treatments. Food is oftentimes the best weapon in the fight against prostate cancer.

Annalee Chambers is a trucking industry veteran and knowledgeable about the trucking industry including multiple health and wellness issues.

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