Black men must face the truth about prostate cancer | Linford Christie

This summer marks 25 years since one of the greatest moments of my career, winning Olympic gold in Barcelona. It often feels like the last 25 years have flown by as quickly as the 9.96 seconds it took to run the race!

A quarter of a century on and I’ve just turned 57. In my mind, I don’t feel any different to how I felt on that day in 1992. I still feel in good shape and to this day I spend more time at the track than I do in my house. However, as I’ve grown older, I’ve become much more mindful of the potential threats to my health than I ever was then.

I’ve recently started working with the men’s health charity Prostate Cancer UK and have learned some startling statistics. As a black man over 50, my risk of prostate cancer is double that of a white man the same age. One in four black men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime – the equivalent of one member of a 4×4 relay squad.

The prostate is an invisible gland; you can’t see it, you can’t feel it. In fact, 17% of men don’t even know they have a prostate.

If I’m being honest, until lately, I was one of the many thousands of men who knew next to nothing about the vital, walnut-size, reproductive gland inside me. More than 11,000 men die from prostate cancer every year in the UK, but over the next 10 years Prostate Cancer UK is ramping up its investment in research and has set a goal to transform the disease into one that the next generation will not fear.

Despite the odds being stacked against black men, just saying the word “prostate” within many black communities remains a massive taboo subject. Still, in 2017, the disease is simply not spoken about and, if it is, it’s in a “hush-hush, don’t tell anyone” type of way. How can it be that something that affects so many black fathers, uncles, sons and friends is continually swept under the carpet and ignored?

My health has always been important to me. When I was in the prime of my career, it was the most important thing. I was conscious of my diet and keeping myself in shape. I had to; other than a pair of running spikes, my physical and mental fitness was all I had – my career depended on it. Unbeatable; indestructible; that’s what I wanted to be, and I believed I was.

As I’ve grown older, my diet is still vital, but I’ve come to realise that no matter how well I eat or how fit I am, I am not indestructible – nobody is. But there are defence measures I can take and arming myself with knowledge is by far the most important.

If prostate cancer is caught early, more often than not, it can be successfully treated. The problem lies in the fact that when it’s in its early stages the disease is just as invisible as the gland itself – it has no symptoms.

This is why awareness of the potential threat, talking to your doctor and spreading the word among men is so important – it saves lives.

I’m currently fronting Prostate Cancer UK’s campaign, Stronger Knowing More, to get black men to face up to their risk of prostate cancer and take action. If you’re a black man, you’re not only more likely to get prostate cancer, you’re more likely to be diagnosed at a younger age.

This challenge is a marathon, not a sprint, and if we’re going to beat it we need to break down the taboos and start talking. It’s only by doing this that we can put a stop to the number of men who die from the disease every year. 

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Black men must face the truth about prostate cancer | Linford Christie

Stem cells help some men with erectile dysfunction after prostate surgery

Men unable to have an erection after prostate surgery enjoyed normal intercourse thanks to stem cell therapy, scientists are to report on Saturday at a medical conference in London.

In first-phase clinical trials, eight out of 15 continent men suffering from erectile dysfunction had sex six months after the one-time treatment, without recourse to drugs or penile implants.

The positive result showed no signs of flagging during a subsequent year-long monitoring period. “As far as we know, this is the first time that a human study with a 12-month follow up shows that the treatment is lasting and safe,” said Lars Lund, a professor at Odense University hospital in Denmark, who took part in the trials.

“That is much better than taking a pill every time you want to have intercourse,” he said.

The results were promising enough to convince Danish health authorities to authorise so-called phase III “double-blind” randomised trials in which one group of men is given stem cell therapy and another placebos.

Only men recovering from prostate cancer and able to control their bladders will be enrolled in the new experiments, Lund explained.

To perform the procedure, doctors remove fat cells from a patient’s abdomen via liposuction. The cells undergo a brief treatment and emerge as all-purpose stem cells, meaning they can mutate into almost any specialised cell in the body.

“We do not cultivate the cells or change them in any way,” said Lund’s colleague Martha Haahr, head researcher and lead author of a study detailing preliminary results, published last year in EBioMedicine.

The stem cells are then injected with a syringe into the penis, where they spontaneously begin to change in to nerve and muscle cells, as well as the endothelial cells that line blood vessels. Men are under general anaesthesia while all of this happens, and are discharged from hospital the same day.

Prostate surgery is responsible for about 13% of erectile dysfunction cases. Up to 80% of men experience difficulty having sex immediately after an operation, previous research has shown.

Diabetes accounts for 40% of erectile dysfunction cases, and vascular disease another 30%. Men with diabetes would be the next target group for clinical trials, Lund said.

The results reported at the European Association of Urology conference could be an effective “therapeutic option for patients suffering erectile dysfunction from other causes,” Haahr said.

It is estimated that nearly half of men between the ages of 40 and 70 experience erectile dysfunction to some degree.

The global market for drugs treating the disorder is expected to top $ 3.4 billion by 2019.

Failure to perform sexually can also, in some men, result from relationship problems, performance anxiety or repressed homosexuality, Haahr said.

Stem cells help some men with erectile dysfunction after prostate surgery

MRI twice as likely as biopsy to spot prostate cancer, research shows

Every man with suspected prostate cancer should have an MRI scan, which is twice as likely to identify the presence of dangerous tumours as the invasive biopsy used currently, say doctors.

A major trial, which could influence a change of practice in the NHS, will amount to “the biggest leap forward in prostate cancer diagnosis in decades, with the potential to save many lives”, Prostate Cancer UK said.

Researchers publishing in the Lancet medical journal have shown that an MRI picks up 93% of aggressive cancers, compared with 48% for a biopsy. The biopsy, which removes a sample of tissue for lab testing, often misses the tumour altogether.

The Prostate MRI Imaging Study (Promis), led by researchers at University College London (UCL), also showed that more than a quarter (27%) of all men with suspected cancer could avoid a biopsy altogether.

MRI scans were shown to be better at ruling out cancer, as well as identifying tumours that are not dangerous because they are slow growing and do not need to be treated. In the trial, the number wrongly diagnosed with a cancer that needed treatment was reduced by 5%.

“Prostate cancer has aggressive and harmless forms. Our current biopsy test can be inaccurate because the tissue samples are taken at random,” said the lead author, Dr Hashim Ahmed from UCL. “This means it cannot confirm whether a cancer is aggressive or not and can miss aggressive cancers that are actually there.

“Because of this some men with no cancer or harmless cancers are sometimes given the wrong diagnosis and are then treated even though this offers no survival benefit and can often cause side effects. On top of these errors in diagnosis, the current biopsy test can cause side effects such as bleeding, pain and serious infections.”

Some men suffer a life-threatening sepsis – a bloodstream infection – as a result of the standard transrectal ultrasound-guided (TRUS) biopsy.

This is the second breakthrough in prostate cancer treatment in two months. In December, UCL published a study showing that a laser-activated drug derived from bacteria at the bottom of the sea can kill prostate cancer cells without the sometimes devastating side-effects of surgery, which can leave men incontinent or impotent.

The introduction of the scan, called a multi-parametric MRI (mpMRI), into routine NHS practice is already on its way. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (Nice), which produces guidelines for doctors on the most appropriate treatment for patients, has already launched an early review of prostate cancer diagnosis looking at the evidence from a previous trial in men with prostate cancer that has spread, and has been awaiting the results of this one.

Some hospitals are already offering MRI before any biopsy, but it will take time before it is universal. MRI machines are now in high demand for other kinds of cancer diagnosis and there will have to be special training for the radiologists who interpret the scans, which takes a high level of expertise.

Prostate Cancer UK, which helped fund the research, is now working for the introduction of MRI scans into prostate cancer units. “The current diagnostic process for prostate cancer is notoriously imperfect, so any developments which offer improvements must be adopted as a matter of priority,” said Angela Culhane, its chief executive.

“That’s why we have already been working with a range of clinical experts and professional bodies to pinpoint the potential barriers to the widespread rollout of mpMRI before biopsy and start the work of addressing them ahead of time. Now the results are formally published, we will continue to use this insight to support health professionals and commissioners to make the necessary resource and practice changes without delay. Whilst it’s clear that the rollout of mpMRI before biopsy can’t just happen overnight, it’s critical that urgent action is taken to make it available to men.”

MRI twice as likely as biopsy to spot prostate cancer, research shows

Laser-activated drug a "leap forward" for prostate cancer treatment

A drug activated by laser light successfully destroys early prostate cancer while avoiding side-effects that commonly occur with surgery, trial results have shown.

The new technique, called vascular-targeted photodynamic therapy (VTP), involves injecting a light-sensitive drug into the bloodstream. The drug is then “switched on” by laser pulses fired through optical fibres inserted into the prostate.

Of 196 men who received the treatment, about half showed no signs of the disease two years later, compared with 13.5% of those given standard care.

Because VTP targets only prostate tumours, it does not cause the long-term problems of impotence and urinary incontinence often associated with “radical” surgery or radiotherapy.

Lead investigator Professor Mark Emberton, consultant urologist at University College London hospital, said: “These results are excellent news for men with early localised prostate cancer, offering a treatment that can kill cancer without removing or destroying the prostate.

“This is truly a huge leap forward for prostate cancer treatment, which has previously lagged decades behind other solid cancers such as breast cancer.

“In 1975, almost everyone with breast cancer was given a radical mastectomy, but since then treatments have steady improved and we now rarely need to remove the whole breast.

“In prostate cancer, we are still commonly removing or irradiating the whole prostate, so the success of this new tissue-preserving treatment is welcome news indeed.”

Currently, men with low-risk localised prostate cancer are put under “active surveillance”, which means monitoring the disease but providing no treatment unless it becomes more severe.

In the trial consisting of 413 men, participants were randomly assigned either to VTP or active surveillance.

Only 6% of the VTP group later needed radical treatment, compared with 30% of active surveillance patients. VTP treatment also doubled the average time of cancer progression from 14 months to 28 months.

The trial, reported in the Lancet Oncology journal, was conducted across 47 treatment sites in 10 European countries, most of which were performing VTP for the first time.

Emberton said: “The fact that the treatment was performed so successfully by non-specialist centres in various health systems is really remarkable.

“New procedures are generally associated with a learning curve, but the lack of complications in the trial suggests that the treatment protocol is safe, efficient and relatively easy to scale up.

“We would also expect the treatment to be far more precise if we repeated it today, as technology has come a long way since the study began in 2011.

“We can now pinpoint prostate cancers using MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans and targeted biopsies, allowing a much more targeted approach to diagnosis and treatment.

“This means we could accurately identify men who would benefit from VTP and deliver treatment more precisely to the tumour.

“With such an approach, we should be able to achieve a significantly higher remission rate than in the trial and send nearly all low-risk localised prostate cancers into remission.

“We also hope that VTP will be effective against other types of cancer. The treatment was developed for prostate cancer because of the urgent need for new therapies, but it should be translatable to other solid cancers including breast and liver cancer.”

The drug used, WST11, is derived from bacteria at the bottom of the ocean. To survive with very little sunlight, the bugs have evolved to convert light into energy with high efficiency. This property was exploited to develop the drug, a compound that releases destructive tumour-busting “free radical” molecules when activated by laser light.

Gerald, a man aged in his 60s from Surrey, was one of the first patients to be treated with VTP under the care of Emberton.

He said: “The treatment … changed my life. I’m now cancer-free with no side-effects and don’t have to worry about needing surgery in future. I feel so lucky to be in this position.

“I’ve met other men who had surgery – they had to stay in hospital for days whereas I could go home the next day, and one suffered from terrible incontinence which he found very distressing.

“I had some minor side-effects for a few weeks after the operation, but I’m back to normal now.”

Each year, more than 46,000 men in the UK are diagnosed with prostate cancer and 11,000 die from the disease.

Laser-activated drug a "leap forward" for prostate cancer treatment

Ben Stiller speaks about diagnosis with prostate cancer

The actor-director Ben Stiller has spoken about his diagnosis with prostate cancer. Speaking on the Howard Stern Show, Stiller said he was diagnosed with “immediately aggressive” prostate cancer two years ago, and has had surgery to treat it.

Appearing alongside his surgeon, Stiller, 50, said he hoped being open about his own experiences would lead to greater awareness of prostate cancer’s symptoms. He also said he now regularly urged younger people to be checked for the illness.

Stiller said of his own diagnosis: “It came out of the blue for me. I had no idea.”

After seeing a urologist, who told him he had cancer, Stiller then spoke to “a bunch of different” doctors, including Robert De Niro’s physician, eventually having surgery to remove the prostate.

Stiller reported that he is now cancer-free but is still tested regularly.

The actor-director was last seen on screen in Zoolander 2, the belated sequel to the fashion comedy. That film was released in 2016; Stiller’s credits prior to that were the 2014 comedies While We’re Young and Night at the Museum 3.

Last month, Stiller visited the UN General Assembly to present secretary-general Ban Ki-moon with a petition bearing more than 1.3 million signatures, calling on governments to act with solidarity and shared responsibility for the world’s refugees.

His upcoming films include a new collaboration with Noah Baumbach, Yeh Din Ka Kissa, and a biopic of the founder of the Chippendales. Both will be released next year.

Ben Stiller speaks about diagnosis with prostate cancer

Monitoring of prostate cancer as effective as treatment in some cases

Regular monitoring of men with localised prostate cancer offers them the same – higher than expected – survival chance after 10 years as surgery or radiotherapy, according to a major study.

The trial, the largest of its type, looked at men diagnosed with the low-risk form of the disease through a PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test and found the survival rate for all three main treatment options was 99%, compared with the 90% researchers expected.

Having surgery to remove the prostate gland – a prostatectomy – or radiotherapy halved the risk of cancer progression, compared with monitoring, to around 10%, but caused more unpleasant side-effects.

The experts behind the study, funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and published in the New England Journal of Medicine on Wednesday, said it has significant implications for up to 30,000 men diagnosed with localised prostate cancer via a PSA test each year.

Chief investigator Prof Freddie Hamdy, from the University of Oxford, said: “The doctor will be able to say your risk of dying of prostate cancer within 10 years is very low. If you do have [radical] treatment, it does improve [the chances the disease will not spread] but you have those side-effects. The conversation now between doctors and patients will be much better informed than in the past and will have less bias than before.”

He said clinicians had a tendency to recommend the treatment they offer personally but hoped the study would change that.

For the ProtecT trial, led by researchers at the universities of Oxford and Bristol in nine UK centres, 82,429 men across the UK aged 50-69 were tested and 1,643 diagnosed with localised prostate cancer agreed to be randomised to active monitoring (545), radical prostatectomy (553) or radical radiotherapy (545) between 1999 and 2009. The research team measured mortality rates at 10 years, cancer progression and spread, and the impact of treatments reported by men.

Approximately 50% of men under active surveillance, which includes regular PSA tests, had surgery or radiotherapy later in the trial monitoring period because of fear the disease was progressing.

The researchers said a longer-term follow-up was needed to see whether reducing the spread of prostate cancer through radical treatment boosted longevity and/or quality of life.

Prostatectomy had the greatest negative effect on sexual function and urinary incontinence, and radiotherapy caused more bowel problems, although the number of men experiencing side-effects declined over time.

The researchers stressed they were not recommending a particular course of action for men with a positive PSA test.

Co-investigator Prof David Neal, from the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, said: “Clinicians don’t necessarily have the right answer. It’s important there’s a genuine partnership so men can really understand what the benefits and disbenefits are so they can take the right decision for them as an individual.”

Anne Mackie, director at Public Health England Screening, said the study provided “key information needed to manage localised prostate cancer”.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, with about 47,000 diagnoses and 10,000 deaths every year in the UK.

But there is currently no national screening programme because of issues with the accuracy of PSA tests and their potentially harmful consequences. However, the advantage is that they may catch the cancer early.

Dr Matthew Hobbs, deputy director of research at Prostate Cancer UK, said the results were good news for men diagnosed with the localised form of the disease, adding: “Many men decide against active surveillance because of the uncertainty about the impact of that choice and the anxiety it causes.”

He said more work was needed to ensure cancers are found at an early stage, pointing out that only 22% of men diagnosed when it has spread outside the prostate and abdomen survive for 10 years.

Monitoring of prostate cancer as effective as treatment in some cases

The Affects Of Stress On Your Prostate

It is well known that stress can have a big effect on your overall health and wellbeing. High levels of stress can leave you feeling run down, tired, and increase the risk of catching viruses. If you are battling a long-term illness then stress can have a big impact on how your body copes with the disease.
What isn’t so well known is the severity of the effect stress and anxiety has on prostate conditions such as prostate cancer, prostatitis and an enlarged prostate, known as benign prostatic hyperplasia or BHP. The benefits of stress management and emotional therapy on prostate health may also be surprising to many.

Stress and prostate health
High levels of stress and anxiety can impair the body’s immune system and prevent it from fighting off disease and illness. When a man is diagnosed with any kind of prostate problem they can experience increased levels of stress and anxiety resulting from worry, fear or even anger about having the problem. This can lead to the prostate disease worsening due to the immune system being unable to fight it.
It is important to recognize the role that stress and anxiety plays in contributing and causing prostate problems. It is always better to try and prevent a disease than attempting to treat it once it has already developed. Therefore, addressing stress and its causes is highly important when considering prostate health.

Stress and prostate cancer
The progression of early prostate cancer can be slowed by reducing the amount of stress in your life whilst also eating a healthier diet and exercising regularly, according to Dean Ornish MD. Ornish and his team at the University of California found that these lifestyle changes could put a stop to the progression of prostate cancer.
The study followed 93 men who had prostate cancer. Some of the men followed a primarily vegan diet, exercised regularly and took part in relaxation methods such as yoga for one hour a day and were found to score much better on the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test which was used to follow prostate cancer growth. The men who followed this healthy lifestyle noticed a 4% decline in their PSA count compared to the men who did not follow the healthier program who saw a 6% increase in the PSA count. In addition, the men who adopted the healthy lifestyle changes were less likely to require additional treatment.
A research team at Ohio State University has found a like between stress and the spread of cancer cells in many types of cancer, including prostate cancer. Their research shows that stress triggers a “master switch” gene in the body known as ATF3, which is expressed in all types of cells as a response to stressful conditions. This gene usually causes normal and benign cells to self-destruct if they have been irrevocably damaged, but the research suggests that cancer cells coax the immune system to release ATF3 in order for them to travel round the body and infect other areas. With stressful conditions being the most likely trigger for the release of this gene, the research shows that stress can cause the cancer to worsen and spread.

Stress and prostatitis and BPH
Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate that results in pain in the pelvis and genital area and is the cause of a variety of urinary tract symptoms. In a small percentage of cases, prostatitis can be caused by a bacterial infection with the remainder of cases mostly being the result of chronic non-bacterial prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. Stress can have a large impact on both types of prostatitis. Stress can worsen the symptoms of bacterialprostatitis but it can actually have a role in causing non-bacterial prostatitis developing.
Some experts believe that men who suffer stress unconsciously focus their stress on their pelvic floor muscles; in the much the same way as a person may get tight back or neck muscle due to stress. Chronic tightening of the pelvic floor muscles can lead to prostatitis and so men who take steps to reduce stress in their lives can lower the risk of developing the disease. Lowering stress levels can also ease the symptoms of someone who already has prostatitis.
Stress can have an impact on men who suffer and enlarged prostate, or BPH. Symptoms such as painful urination, urinary frequency and urinary urgency can be made worse by stress and anxiety. In 2007, a study carried out by the University of Iowa found that men who reacted the strongest to mental stress had the most severe BHP symptoms. One explanation for this could be that adrenaline is released in the body as a response to stress. This adrenaline causes the urethra to narrow, making passing urine more difficult and sometimes painful.

Emotional therapy
If you suffer from any kind of prostate condition then your healthcare provider should be able to inform you and organize any treatment you require. You should also enquire about emotional therapy as part of your treatment to help you combat stress and anxiety.
Emotional therapy can include a variety of different methods including:
Psychotherapy
Group therapy
Meditation
Breathing therapy
Guided visualization

Self-hypnosis
The goal is to reduce stress, anxiety and tension and promote a sense of calm and peace. Another critical part of emotional therapy is social support. If you are suffering with any kind of prostate problem then you may greatly benefit from emotional support from friends and family, as well as other men who are going through the same conditions.

Natural Supplements
Another way to help improve the symptoms of prostate problems is to take a nutrient supplement to help ensure your body is getting the right amount of nutrients to help combat the symptoms of prostate problems and maintain prostate health. Knowing your body is receiving the best and right nutrients can also help to relive any stress you may be feeling about whether or not your lifestyle is healthy enough. So if you are suffering any prostate problem then you should ensure not to ignore emotional therapy in your treatment as a natural way to combat stress and improve prostate health.

So do you want to know how I naturally cured my own enlarged prostate and dropped my PSA from 4.2 to 2.1  in just three short months? To find out Click Here. 

References

Ong, Ben. All About The Prostate. USA: bensprostate.com, 2016. Print.

Collins MM, Meigs JB, Barry MJ, et al. Prevalence and Correlates of Prostatitis in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study Cohort. Journal of Urology 2002;167:1363–66. PMID:11832733.

Ullrich PM, Turner JA, Ciol M, Berger R. Stress Is Associated with Subsequent Pain and Disability Among Men with Nonbacterial Prostatitis/Pelvic Pain. Annals of Behavioral Medicine 2005;30:112–18. PMID: 16173907.

Wallner LP, Clemens JQ, Sarma AV. Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Prostatitis in African American Men: The Flint Men’s Health Study. Prostate 2009;69:24–32. PMID: 18802926.

The Affects Of Stress On Your Prostate

5 Signs You Are At Risk For Prostate Cancer

Our bodies are highly sophisticated machines that need to be properly taken care of in order to function to their fullest. Most people know that an unhealthy diet, lack or exercise and your family’s medical history are risk factors for poor prostate health, including prostate cancer.

However, recent scientific research has shown us just how delicate our bodies really are, throwing out unusual risk factors for prostate cancer such as; height, where you live and the sex of your offspring. These five are risk factors for prostate cancer that we have very little control over.

1) Height

Finally some good news for those struggling with a Napoleon complex; it seems being tall isn’t always an advantage. Scientists aren’t quite sure why this is a factor in prostate health, but several studies in both the US and UK have shown a link between height and the chances of developing prostate cancer.

The studies showed that taller men had on average a 19% higher risk of developing the disease than their shorter counterparts. In addition, age offered no defense; under 65s taller than 6’3” were found to have an increased risk of developing an aggressive form of prostate cancer. Further studies are planned to determine whether growth hormones or genetics play a role in these increased risks.

2) Libido

You won’t be shocked to read that touching yourself too much doesn’t actually lead to blindness. However, it isn’t all good news; masturbation does affect prostate health. Scientists at England’s Nottingham University found that men aged between 20-35 who masturbated or were otherwise more sexually active relative to their peers had increased rates of prostate cancer. The one ray of sunshine; they found the opposite is true as we get older, with those more sexually active amongst over 50’s carrying a lower risk of developing prostate cancer.

3) Hand Measurements

If your personal physician told you that the simplest way to test for the risk of developing prostate cancer in the under-60s was to measure the index and ring finger, you might think he had lost his marbles. However, bizarre as it may sound, your doctor would be correct.

A team of researchers from Britain’s Institute of Cancer Research and The University of Warwick found that “that relative finger length could be used as a simple test for prostate cancer risk, particularly in men aged under 60”. According to the scientists, a man whose index finger is longer than his ring finger has one-third the risk of developing prostate cancer than his fellow whose index finger is the same length or shorter than his ring finger.   

Why this has any connection to prostate health is a bit of a mystery, although speculation has centered on the role of testosterone during fetal development. Relative finger length is known to inversely correlate to the levels of testosterone a child is exposed to during fetal development- the higher the levels of testosterone, the shorter the index finger. However, no direct causal link has been established and the increased risk of prostate cancer may well be caused by genetic or a combination of factors.

4) Male Pattern Baldness

The silver lining to losing your hair is that bald men are often said to be sexier than their fully-thatched counterparts. Perhaps this is because testosterone- the hormone which regulates many masculine behaviors- is known to play a role in male pattern baldness. However, as far as your prostate health is concerned, its bad news I’m afraid. A recent long-term study shows a direct link between baldness and prostate cancer. Its findings showed that men with any degree of hair loss were 56% more likely to die from prostate cancer than those who showed no signs of balding. These results confirm the findings of a 2012 Australian study which showed men with any degree of hair loss were 69% more likely to develop prostate cancer.

5) Daughters

The fruit of our loins are our pride and joy. Daughters in particular are precious; sweet and adorable creatures who we’d gladly lay down our lives for. Well, as it turns out we may have no choice. After studying close to 40,000 men, a team of researchers have reached a stunning conclusion.  Their research demonstrated that men who have only female offspring have as much as a 60% higher chance of being diagnosed with prostate cancer when compared with those men who have only sons.

Some might say that living in a house full of women was bound to eventually tax the health of even the most vigorous male specimen. However, the research team have suggested that genetic factors are the most likely explanation for this anomaly.

What can you do to reduce the risks and boost prostate health?

Of course these increased risk factors for prostate cancer are just that, risks. Even a tall, libidinous, balding man with short fingers and whose daughters are simply charming is not a guaranteed to develop prostate cancer. Even so, if you do identify one or more of these risks factors as applicable to yourself you do need to take precautions and act to improve your prostate health. After all, only a fool ignores the danger.

Understanding even the minor risks associated with prostate cancer allows you to better plan any precautionary steps you might want to take, including the frequency of screening. It’s also important to make sure that your general health is maintained through regular exercise and following the Paleo / Ketogenic diet principles. 

So do you want to know how I naturally cured my own enlarged prostate and dropped my PSA from 4.2 to 2.1  in just three short months? To find out Click Here. 

References

Ong, Ben. All About The Prostate. USA: bensprostate.com, 2016. Print.

Harlap, S. et al. “Prostate Cancer In Fathers With Fewer Male Offspring: The Jerusalem Perinatal Study Cohort”. JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute 99.1 (2007): 77-81. Web.

“Prostate Cancer Risk Factors”. Cancer Research UK. N.p., 2015. Web. 1 Aug. 2016.

Rahman AA, Lophatananon A, Stewart-Brown S, et al. Hand pattern indicates prostate cancer risk. British Journal of Cancer. 2011;104(1):175-177. doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6605986.

“SEXUAL ACTIVITY AND PROSTATE CANCER RISK IN MEN DIAGNOSED AT A YOUNGER AGE”. BJU International 103.8 (2009): 1142-1143. Web.

Zhou, Cindy Ke et al. “Male Pattern Baldness In Relation To Prostate Cancer–Specific Mortality: A Prospective Analysis In The NHANES I Epidemiologic Follow-Up Study”. Am. J. Epidemiol.183.3 (2016): 210-217. Web.

Zuccolo L, Harris R, Gunnell D, et al. Height and Prostate Cancer Risk: A Large Nested Case-Control Study (ProtecT) and Meta-analysis. Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention : a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology. 2008;17(9):2325-2336. doi:10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-08-0342.

5 Signs You Are At Risk For Prostate Cancer

BPH (Enlarged Prostate) Causes, Symptoms And Treatments

The Facts 
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) occurs when the prostate, which is ordinarily around the same size as a walnut and weighs about 30 to 50 grams, expands to twice or even three times its regular size.
As the name indicates, BPH is not indicative of serious diseases like cancer or other malignancies, though it can cause some discomforts as will be explained below.
Hyperplasia is the technical term for the nature of the growth itself, which in the case of BPH is caused either by an increased number of cells growing within the prostate, or by a reduction in the number of prostate cells that are dying off.
Another, similar condition is Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy, which shares common facets with BPH, but differs in that the hypertrophic growth is caused by the increased size of the cells themselves rather than a growth in their actual number.

How is BPH Caused? 
There is no concrete evidence for any one cause of BPH, but medical sources are agreed that the condition is most likely linked to aging and the impact that the production of testosterone has on older men. Some studies have indicated that the body’s system for working off testosterone slows in middle age and the body’s reaction is to use this extra testosterone for the production of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is associated with prostate growth when it is present in large amounts. Family history and ethnicity should also be taken into account, with men of European ancestry at slightly increased risk of developing the condition, particularly those from southern Europe.
Still other studies have drawn a connection between BPH and lifestyle factors like high cholesterol, excessive weight, poor diet, and immoderate alcohol consumption.
Those with conditions such as diabetes, a lowered immune system, high blood pressure, metabolic syndrome, and atherosclerosis should also practice caution and remain vigilant for the development of BPH symptoms.

Symptoms to Watch Out For 
The symptoms of BPH are varied and can occur in a range of varieties and combinations. Unfortunately each case of BPH is different and the symptoms can encompass levels from very mild to severe depending on the patient.
Most commonly, BPH will manifest itself with problems during and after urination. This is due to the enlarged prostate pressing down on the urinary tract and inhibiting the urine flow. Patients report needing to urinate more frequently, as well as a feeling that the bladder was not completely emptied on completion. Other symptoms include dribbling, and a decrease in the flow and weakening of the urine stream. Patients may also have to use more effort to begin urinating and then “push” with more force than was previously necessary. In some instances, blood will also appear in the urine, caused by the rupturing of blood vessels and small veins in the bladder as the patient strains.
In more severe cases, complications like urinary tract infections (UTI’s), bladder infections, and bladder stones may develop due to the bladder obstructions caused by BPH.
There is some evidence for a link between erectile dysfunction (ED) and BPH, although the consensus among medical professionals in this area is far from united on the topic. Studies have shown that some treatments for BPH could actually cause erectile dysfunction in the prescribed patient, and there are also some recorded cases where an ED medication has actually aided in reducing BPH.

Testing and Diagnosis 
On presentation of symptoms, doctors will perform a thorough physical examination, in addition to consulting the patient of their medical and familial history. The patient’s lifestyle will also be taken into account with issues like mobility and diet being given particular precedence. The physical exam will most likely include a digital rectal examination, the simplest and most effective procedure for detecting abnormalities like BPH in the prostate, as well as in the early detection of prostate cancer.
Doctors will often order a Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test to ascertain the level of antigens in the bloodstream, a higher rate of which results from growth in the size of the prostate, though the origin of these increased PSA’s is not always Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.
Other tests that the doctor might order or carry out in surgery are the “long and strong” test, a precise analysis of the strength and flow of the urine stream; a filling cystometry, a measurement of the time it takes to fill the bladder; and an ultrasound or other imaging test. A cystoscopy, the visual inspection of the prostate through a thin lighted tube inserted into the urethra of the penis, is also used, though less often.
It should be noted that the symptoms of BPH, especially in its early stages, are very often so mild that the condition goes undetected until found during routine physical examinations – a further motivating factor in arranging regular medical check-ups, particularly for men over the age of 35.

Treatments 
Medication – Alpha blockers are often prescribed for men who are undergoing a large amount of discomfort due to BPH. Essentially, these blockers help ease the urine flow by relaxing the bladder and the muscles of the prostate. Unfortunately, the side effects of these drugs can include headaches, nasal congestion, fatigue, and dizziness, and cases of retrograde ejaculation (where semen goes back into the bladder rather than through the urethra) have also been reported. A lowered libido and even erectile dysfunction have also been noted after patients after patients began a course of alpha blockers, though they are reasonably rare.

5-Alpha-Reductbase Inhibitors are another possibility, as they act to reduce the amount of DHT produced and so will, over the course of 5 or 6 months, reduce the size of the prostate by anywhere up to one fifth (20%). Unlike the alpha blockers, they will address the cause of discomfort over this period, but they will not reduce BPH symptoms in the short term. They are also known to reduce libido and sexual performance in some cases.

Surgery – Non-invasive surgeries such as a transurethral balloon dilation or a transurethral needle ablation have been shown to be very effective in the treatment of BPH, as has transurethral microwave thermotherapy. There is also a variety of laser treatments available.
More invasive procedures are the transurethral resection or incision of the prostate, or the transurethral vaporization of the prostate. In some cases the insertion of a stent may be necessary, or more rarely, the removal of the prostate itself.

Natural Prevention 
It is therefore certainly best to try, in so far as possible, to prevent the onset of BPH by avoiding the less healthy lifestyle choices. Ketogenic / Paleo diet and a moderate amount of aerobic exercise (like walking and resistance training) will dramatically reduce the chances of developing BPH, along with improving quality of life overall.
Increasing intake of Ketogenic / Paleo friendly foods that are low in carbs, high in protein and healthy oily fats are great for the prostate and the body as a whole, and the knock on effect is that they elevate mood and the production of disease-fighting enzymes throughout the body. These could range from leafy greens like spinach, to avocados, macadamia nuts, and even grass-fed meats like beef, lamb, and venison. Reducing alcohol consumption and increasing the amount of prostate friendly green tea taken will also limit the chances of developing BPH, as will drinking more water through the day, but limiting intake close to bedtime.

A natural approach to prevention is always a more viable and safer alternative to pharmaceutical drugs  or invasive procedures with harmful side effects. So if you suffer from BPH symptoms or would like to prevent them, you deserve to know about the harmful side effects of drugs like Flomax. Click Here to claim YOUR free eBook: The 5 Side Effects of Flomax  

I Wish You Good Health,

Ben

References

Ong, Ben. All About The Prostate. USA: bensprostate.com, 2016. Print.

“7 Non-Cancerous Reasons Your PSA Levels May Be High”. EverydayHealth.com. N.p., 2016. Web. 10 July 2016.

“Alpha-Blockers. Prostate Enlargement Drugs, Side Effects. | Patient”. Patient. N.p., 2016. Web. 10 July 2016.

Kevin C. Zorn, FACS. “What Causes PSA Elevation In The Blood? – What Is Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) Test? Results & Score”. MedicineNet. N.p., 2016. Web. 10 July 2016.

“Symptoms Of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)”. Healthline. N.p., 2016. Web. 10 July 2016.

BPH (Enlarged Prostate) Causes, Symptoms And Treatments

As a black man I need to speak out about prostate cancer

I was only recently made aware of some startling statistics: one in four black men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime; one in 12 will die from the disease. This is double the risk faced by white men in the UK.

Perhaps even more concerning is the fact that 86% of black men are oblivious to the heightened threat prostate cancer poses to their health, putting thousands in danger of being diagnosed at a late stage when treatment options are limited.

The prostate gland is an important component of the male sex system, but 92% of black men don’t know what it does, 62% don’t know where it is and nearly one in five is unaware he even has a prostate.

As a black man, I find these statistics worrying, especially as prostate cancer is a disease that can be successfully treated if caught early enough. Men over 50 and men with a family history of prostate cancer also face a higher than average risk of the disease.

Related: What 12 Years a Slave tells us about 21st century black mental health

What can we do to make sure more black men understand the added danger they face and take the necessary action that could save their lives?

Although increasing awareness is obviously a vital priority, health professionals can play a crucial role as well. Black men not only face an increased risk of prostate cancer, they are also more likely to develop the disease at a younger age. The PSA blood test is the first step men can take to identify whether anything might be wrong with their prostate; however the test is riddled with complexities and there is still a lot of confusion among GPs as to who is entitled to the test and from what age. Some remain unaware that black men face a higher than average risk and there are a number of black men who report being denied a PSA test from their GP.

The charity Prostate Cancer UK has recently produced a set of consensus statements from a panel of independent clinical experts to help GPs use the PSA test more effectively. As part of this, experts recommend that all men should be able to access PSA testing from the age of 50, but men at higher than average risk of prostate cancer (including black men) should be able to access the test from age 45.

Related: Black men face inequalities in cancer care

My constituency, Streatham in Lambeth, has one of the highest black populations in the country, which is why this issue is so important to me as their MP. I want to make sure that all GPs, not only in my constituency but across the UK, help to raise awareness of the increased risk of prostate cancer in black men and have the knowledge to initiate these important conversations with the community.

Although we still don’t know why black men face a higher than average risk, my message is clear: with one in four black men being diagnosed with prostate cancer, it is up to us in the community to act. Please speak to your dads, uncles, brothers and friends and make sure every black man over the age of 45 is wise to the risk we face. Don’t let people die from embarrassment. Ignoring prostate cancer won’t beat it.

Join the Healthcare Professionals Network to read more pieces like this. And follow us on Twitter (@GdnHealthcare) to keep up with the latest healthcare news and views.

As a black man I need to speak out about prostate cancer

Parsley destroys 86 percent of lung cancer cells and is successful in killing breast, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate and colon cancers!

In 1987, lung cancer replaced breast cancer as the major lead to of cancer deaths in girls.  More and far more study continues to point out the correlation amongst diet program and cancer. (one)

In February 2015, the American Cancer Society suggested that cancer survivors adhere to a “prudent diet” and exclusively suggested a plant-primarily based diet plan that is high in fruits, greens, unrefined grains and is minimal in red meat, processed meats, refined grains and sugars.(2)

American Cancer Society recommends that cancer survivors eat a plant-primarily based diet program!

Far more and much more research has been carried out to assess the link among our foods provide and cancer remedy.  A 2013 research identified that parsley killed up to 86 percent of lung cancer cells.  Parsley consists of a flavonoid known as apigenin.  Other plant sources of this flavonoid consist of celery, onions, oranges, chamomile tea, oregano, thyme, coriander, artichokes, and red wine. (1)

Dried parsley consists of four.five % pure apigenin coming in the highest in apigenin content material by excess weight.  Other research have located act apigenin can destroy breast cancer, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer and colon cancer cells. (1)

Apigenin discovered in parsley killed 86 percent of lung cancer!

A 2005 research located that apigenin inhibits the cell proliferation of lung cancer cell lines and advisable a blend of apigenin and anti-tumor medicines. (one)

A review from Ohio State University’s Thorough Cancer Center identified that apigenin inhibited breast cancer cells “immortality.”  Researchers identified that this takes place due to shifting a stage involved in gene regulation.  This reprograms cancer cells by turning them into standard mortal cells that die naturally. (1)

Apigenin found to inhibit breast cancer cells “immortality,” reprogramming them into mortal cells that die naturally!

An Italian study found that eating parsley frequently resulted in a 68 percent reduction in lung cancer chance.(1)

Parsley is a effective antioxidant that has been employed as a diuretic.  Parsley has been effectively employed in treating and curing kidney stones, continual irritation, and prostate and uterus concerns. (1)

Traditionally parsley has been used to treat or break-up kidney stones. In truth, the German Commission E, a governmental advisory panel, has accredited parsley for the prevention and the treatment of kidney stones. (1)

Parsley is wealthy in vitamin K, vitamin C, B-complix, iron, magnesium, chlorophyll, and histidine.  Eating a diet plan wealthy in parsley can not only aid battle cancer but can enhance antioxidant amounts in the brain and regulate blood stress. (one)

If you want to incorporate a lot more of these apigenin foods into your diet, consider adding parsley  to a salad, soup, or primary dish.  If you have a juicer, stick to this basic recipe beneath or if you do not have a juicer, just add parsley to your preferred green smoothie recipe!

Fresh Apple-Celery Juice with Ginger and Parsley

Ingredients:

• 2 celery ribs, cut into three-inch lengths


• 1 Granny Smith apple—halved, cored and cut into huge chunks


• One 2-inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled


• one/2 medium bunch of parsley with stems


• 1 1/two tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Directions:

1. In an electrical juicer, juice the celery with the apple, ginger and parsley. Stir in the lemon juice. (three)

Sources incorporated:

(one)  http://www.endoriot.com/2015/01/parsley-compound-kills-86-of-lung.html

(2)  http://www.forksoverknives.com/science-says-about-diet plan-and-cancer/

(3)  http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/fresh-apple-celery-juice-with-ginger-and-parsley

Parsley destroys 86 percent of lung cancer cells and is successful in killing breast, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate and colon cancers!

Vasectomy raises chance of lethal prostate cancer, research shows

Prostate cancer cells. Photograph: Getty Images

Males who have a vasectomy have a higher chance of building the most aggressive form of prostate cancer, a examine has discovered.

Harvard scientists analysed the health care information of nearly 50,000 guys and located that individuals who had the operation were 10% more most likely to be diagnosed with the illness.

The examine exposed a more powerful website link with the most significant types of prostate cancer, with charges of advanced or lethal illness growing by 20% in guys who had the process. The danger appeared to be highest amongst men who had a vasectomy ahead of the age of 38.

Cancer charities said the study was “really important” and urged physicians to go over cancer danger with men who have been taking into consideration sterilisation.

The most hazardous types of prostate cancer are unusual. In excess of the 24-12 months research, one.six% of men developed lethal prostate cancer. A twenty% enhance would raise that figure to much less than two%.

Kathy Wilson, a co-writer on the examine at Harvard College of Public Overall health, explained it was unclear how a vasectomy might raise the threat of prostate cancer, but one likelihood was that the operation changed the protein composition of seminal fluid produced in the prostate. “The underlying mechanisms actually aren’t known, although, and will need more clinical and experimental scientific studies,” she mentioned.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in guys in the United kingdom. Far more than 40,000 men a year are diagnosed with the disease. In 2011, practically 11,000 males died from prostate cancer in Britain.

The Harvard group analysed the healthcare information of 49,405 males for up to 24 years, from 1986 to 2010. Throughout that time, six,023 men had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, and 811 men died from the condition. A single in four who took component in the review had a vasectomy.

Getting a vasectomy had no reputable impact on the probabilities of developing reduced-grade prostate cancer, but guys who had the procedure had a 19% better threat of lethal prostate cancer and have been twenty% more most likely to be diagnosed with superior illness than other males.

During the review, reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, sixteen in each and every one,000 males designed lethal prostate cancer. A 20% boost due to vasectomy could increase that amount to around 19 in every 1,000.

The research goes a lengthy way to ruling out biases that have undermined previous scientific studies, this kind of as the tendency for men who have had vasectomies to have more healthcare checkups.

Malcolm Mason, of Cancer Study United kingdom, explained: “This is an very important examine, the largest one particular of its sort searching at the website link among vasectomies and prostate cancer. Importantly, the added threat of building prostate cancer soon after possessing a vasectomy appears to be small but of the handful of that do go on to create the disease, a higher quantity will build an aggressive type.

“Vasectomy is still an essential option for contraception, but this details ought to kind element of the discussion ahead of a guy tends to make an informed selection as to whether or not or not it is correct for him. Long term investigation must seem at a combined analysis of this review with other people of a related nature – and if these findings are confirmed, much more investigation will be necessary to perform out why vasectomy would seem to have this impact on prostate cancer risk.”

Vasectomy raises chance of lethal prostate cancer, research shows

Vasectomy can increase chance of establishing lethal prostate cancer

Last night charities stated the study was “extremely important”. Spokesmen suggested that males needed to be advised a lot more about the risks of vasectomies.

Prostate cancer is the most typical kind of cancer in guys, affecting 40,000 a year in Britain and causing ten,000 deaths.

A single in eight males will produce the condition, with most situations taking place following the age of 65.

The vast majority of circumstances are “slow growing” and medical advice frequently advises maintaining the disease below surveillance.

Several men with the cancer will suffer no harm from it, even though therapy options, like surgical procedure and radiotherapy, can have severe side results, this kind of as erectile dysfunction and incontinence.

Researchers at Harvard Health care School tracked 50,000 guys, aged in between forty and 75, from 1986 to 2010.

The findings, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, discovered throughout these 24 years that 25 per cent of males had vasectomies and 6,023 circumstances of prostate cancer were diagnosed.

In complete, less than two per cent produced the most aggressive kind of the disease, the investigation discovered. Some prior studies had recommended a connection in between sterilisation and cancer.

This new research is the initial to remove “bias factors”, this kind of as that men who have a vasectomy are a lot more regularly diagnosed simply because they are far more very likely to have typical checks.

Prof Malcolm Mason, Cancer Analysis UK’s prostate cancer specialist, said: “The extra chance of creating prostate cancer following getting a vasectomy seems to be tiny but of the couple of that do go on to build the condition, a larger variety will build an aggressive type.

“Vasectomy is nevertheless an critical selection for contraception but this information must kind portion of the discussion before a man helps make an informed determination as to no matter whether or not it is right for him.”

About a single in six males in Britain has a vasectomy. Authorities mentioned it was not clear why the process would influence cancer incidence but it could relate to modifications in the proteins in semen.

Lorelei Mucci, the research writer and associate professor of epidemiology at Harvard College of Public Health, mentioned the findings recommended improved risks among people who had a vasectomy prior to the age of 38.

She mentioned: “We saw that in males who had a vasectomy earlier in existence there was a greater risk of creating sophisticated or lethal kinds of the condition.

“This could be because of the timings and the affect on the prostate.”

Though the relative improve in dangers linked with a vasectomy was substantial the absolute danger remained little, researchers explained.

Cancer charities said the enhanced risk in aggressive circumstances, though large in relative terms, did not translate to a large total number of instances.

Dr Iain Frame, of Prostate Cancer United kingdom mentioned: “We require to be cautious about how the final results are interpreted. Even though there seems to be an increase in aggressive prostate cancer in guys who have had a vasectomy, it translates as a fairly modest boost in the variety who build aggressive prostate cancer.”

Vasectomy can increase chance of establishing lethal prostate cancer

Vasectomy can enhance risk of building lethal prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is the most typical cancer in guys, affecting forty,000 a year in the Uk and causing ten,000 deaths. One in eight males will build the disease inside of their lifetime, with the huge bulk of circumstances occurring soon after the age of 65.

The bulk of circumstances are “slow growing” and health care advice typically advises maintaining the ailment underneath surveillance.

Many males who suffer from the cancer will suffer no harm from it, even though therapy alternatives, including surgery and radiotherapy, can have critical side results, such as erectile dysfunction and incontinence.

Researchers at Harvard Healthcare School tracked 50,000 males, who were aged amongst 40 and 75 and the commence of analysis, in excess of a 24 yr time period from 1986 to 2010.

The findings, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, located during this time that 25 per cent of men had vasectomies and six,023 cases of prostate cancer were diagnosed.

In complete, fewer than two per cent developed the most aggressive type of the illness, the study located.

Some previous scientific studies had suggested a connection amongst sterilisation and cancer, but the new review is the 1st to remove “bias factors”, such as that males who have a vasectomy are much more frequently diagnosed since they are far more probably to have standard checks.

Professor Malcolm Mason, Cancer Investigation UK’s prostate cancer professional, mentioned : “This is an really essential study, the largest one particular of its kind seeking at the website link among vasectomies and prostate cancer.

“Importantly, the further threat of establishing prostate cancer following getting a vasectomy seems to be little but of the few that do go on to create the condition, a higher number will build an aggressive form.

“Vasectomy is still an important choice for contraception, but this data must type portion of the discussion just before a guy tends to make an informed decision as to whether or not it is correct for him.

Close to a single in six males in Britain decide to have vasectomies. Authorities mentioned it was not clear why the method would have an effect on cancer incidence, but stated it was achievable that it relates to odds in proteins in semen right after a vasectomy.

Analysis author Lorelei Mucci, associate professor of epidemiology at Harvard School of Public Wellness mentioned the findings recommended increased risks amid these who had the method ahead of the age of 38.

She mentioned: “We noticed that in males who had a vasectomy earlier in lifestyle there was a greater risk of developing advanced or lethal varieties of the disease. This may be because of the timings and the influence on the prostate, anything may possibly be occurring in earlier lifestyle that can boost this danger when alterations are made.”

Despite the fact that the relative increase in the threat linked with vasectomy was significant, because the most aggressive kind of prostate cancer is least widespread, the absolute chance remained little, researchers explained.

Cancer charities mentioned that the improved threat in aggressive situations, although higher in relative terms, did not translate to a large complete amount of instances.

Dr Iain Frame, Director of Investigation at Prostate Cancer Uk stated: “We want to be cautious about how the outcomes are interpreted despite the fact that there seems to be an increase in aggressive prostate cancer in males who have previously had a vasectomy, it translates as a fairly modest enhance in the number of males who really create aggressive prostate cancer.”

Vasectomy can enhance risk of building lethal prostate cancer

MR Fusion Guided Prostate Biopsy: A New Diagnostic Method For Detecting Prostate Cancer

Technology to execute prostate biopsies has been reasonably unchanged considering that the 1980′s. Conventional strategies only sample the reduce portion of the prostate, yet nearly 30 percent of cancers are situated outside this zone.

For men with ongoing concern for cancer—persistently elevated prostate particular antigen (PSA) (a blood marker for prostate cancer) and repeatedly damaging or normal biopsies—a new method, MR fusion guided prostate biopsy, could hold promise.

In a current Phase 3 examine, researchers from North Shore LIJ Health care Center demonstrated that employing a specialized MRI technique along with transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) in guys with an elevated PSA resulted in a prostate cancer detection rate that was twice as large in contrast to information from earlier studies that analyzed guys with an elevated PSA undergoing the common 12-core biopsy.

With recent limitations of PSA testing and regular twelve-core biopsy ultrasound to detect prostate cancer reliably, investigators evaluated 105 males making use of the new targeted prostate fusion biopsy method. This strategy combines the two MR and ultrasound imaging to much better determine and target suspicious lesions not revealed by the regular twelve-core biopsy procedure. Investigators utilized Invivo’s UroNav technique to attain this new approach.

Information demonstrated that prostate cancer was detected in 62 % of guys tested in the current trial compared to about 30 percent reported in prior investigations evaluating sufferers using normal twelve-core ultrasound biopsy.

The examine was published June 1 in the Journal of Urology.

Current statistics indicate that prostate cancer strikes nearly 1 in six males in the US, with above 240,000 new instances diagnosed annually and near to thirty,000 men dying of the illness every single yr.

“The results of the phase III clinical trial demonstrate that a targeted fusion biopsy detects more clinically substantial prostate cancer,” explained Artwork Rastinehad, DO, principal investigator of the review and director of Interventional Urologic Oncology at North Shore-LIJ’s Arthur Smith Institute for Urology, in New Hyde Park, NY. “As a result of this new engineering which helps choose individuals that may possibly advantage from treatment method in contrast to other individuals with low grade and low volume prostate cancers.”

In the existing study, the cancer detection price was reported to be 62.9%.

“Compared to the normal strategy which detects cancer in just 30-40% of males with an elevated PSA of which the bulk (70%) are reduced grade prostate cancer, in contrast in this examine, 77% of the cancers diagnosed were clinically important,” Rastinehad explained. The review also showed that in conditions when the twelve-core biopsy did not detect cancer, the fusion biopsy detected cancer in 15 % of instances, and in these situations, 85 percent had been clinically important.”

As Rastinehad explains, MRI is not extremely very good at detecting reduced grade, reduced volume prostate cancer, “therefore sufferers with a constructive MRI are at a higher risk for clinically substantial prostate cancer.”

“Looking at the long term, there are inherent limitations in the ultrasound-only technique, which can mislead us due to the fact it samples with no distinct targeting, therefore we are unable to assess the correct ailment burden,” explains Rastinehad. “Instead, an MRI can assess 100 percent of the prostate, and this enables us to sample any location that is suspicious, with the aim to give a a lot more thorough assessment.”

Thomas Zick, starting at age 57–a patient who underwent numerous prior damaging biopsies (3) more than a five year period–with PSA values as substantial as 35.2, along with a unfavorable PCA-3 (a urinary genetic test), was ready to stop additional evaluation for prostate cancer soon after numerous damaging biopsies.

“The elevated PSA tests had been always a concern of mine,” explained Zick.

After undergoing the multiparametric prostate MRI below the care of Dr. Rastinehad a small underneath one particular year ago, a suspicious lesion was identified on the best part of the prostate. Mr. Zick was subsequently enrolled in the trial described in this report, consisting of a common 12-core biopsy, as properly as a targeted biopsy. The twelve-core biopsy was once more unfavorable and the cancer was only detected employing the fusion-guided biopsy engineering.

Mr. Zick underwent surgical procedure in August of 2013 and these days is healthier and condition-cost-free. Of note, Mr. Zick ‘s cancer was intermediate risk prostate cancer Gleason-seven, and he was regarded higher risk with a PSA &gt20.

MR Fusion Guided Prostate Biopsy: A New Diagnostic Method For Detecting Prostate Cancer

New hope for prostate cancer sufferers following NHS U-flip

Specialists explained the selection would impact about 3,000 patients a 12 months.

Well being officials mentioned that they had listened to the responses and also regarded as further evidence on the matter, ahead of concluding that it was “too uncertain” to justify refusing the drug to sufferers on the grounds they had tried other medicine.

Charities stated the recommendation offered” a important lifeline to 1000′s of men dealing with death sentences” who had couple of choices if chemotherapy failed.

Sandy Tyndale-Biscoe, chairman of prostate cancer patients’ charity Tackle, mentioned: “Tackle is relieved Great responded to the preliminary outrage and responses to the draft advice. Ultimately this drug is obtainable to improve and prolong daily life for those who have been anxiously waiting for numerous months.”

Owen Sharp, chief executive of Prostate Cancer Uk, stated: “We are pleased that all round enzalutamide has been approved in England and Wales and that the lengthy contested blanket restriction all around use after abiraterone has been lifted.

“By getting rid of the outright ban, Good has stated that there is no clinical explanation for enzalutamide not becoming prescribed right after abiraterone.”

Producers Astellas Pharma had agreed to discount the £25,000 per patient price in order to boost entry to it on the NHS.

At present patients can apply to obtain the drug by way of the NHS Cancer Medicines fund, which can authorises person circumstances, but the Wonderful selection will suggest the drug can be used routinely.

Professor Carole Longson, evaluation director at Nice’s Centre for Wellness Technological innovation, said: “We know our guidance has a large affect on clinicians, individuals, carers and the public which is why Nice is committed to involving them in the improvement of our advice. We run consultations that let interested organisations and members of the public to comment on all of our advice in draft format, just before it is finalised.”

New hope for prostate cancer sufferers following NHS U-flip

Is There A Hyperlink Between Prostate Cancer And Continual Inflammation?

Primarily based on information from a new review from the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, guys who demonstrate evidence of continual irritation witnessed in prostate biopsies stemming from chronic prostatitis may have close to twice the risk of developing prostate cancer compared to those with out irritation.

Prostate cancer is the 2nd most widespread cancer in guys in the US.

The hyperlink between developing cancer and possessing continual irritation was even a lot more striking for males with aggressive or higher-grade prostate cancer, reflected in a Gleason score among 7 and 10. The Gleason score is a numeric scale for assessing risk of creating invasive or high-grade prostate cancer based mostly on microscopic evaluation of prostate tissue.

The study was published April 18 in the Journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers &amp Prevention.

The information from the present study is derived from data about men in the placebo arm of the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial by the Southwest Oncology Group. The objective of the trial was to evaluate if the drug finasteride could prevent prostate cancer. Irrespective of whether there were any regarding signs of cancer such as higher prostate particular antigen (PSA) levels, the protocol referred to as for biopsies to check for prostate cancer at the conclusion of the trial.

“What we’ve shown in this observational examine is a clear association among prostate irritation and prostate cancer, even though we can’t prove that inflammation is a trigger of prostate cancer,” explained Elizabeth A. Platz, Sc.D., M.P.H., a professor in the Division of Epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Bloomberg School of Public Wellness and the School of Medication.

Dr. Angelo M. De Marzo, Professor of Pathology at Johns Hopkins’ College of Medicine and associate director of cancer investigation pathology explained that inflammation is a lot as well prevalent in males to have any worth as way to assess men for prostate cancer. But, as De Marzo explained, investigators are attempting to realize the elements responsible for prostate inflammation, specifically how it may possibly lead to prostate cancer, and in the long run if it can be prevented. “I consider there will be techniques going forward for both avoiding irritation or intervening when it occurs,” Platz extra.

Platz explained that previous study has evaluated prospective back links amongst irritation and prostate cancer. Nonetheless, earlier research studied tissue from males who had a certain reason to undergo a biopsy. “Our study was developed to rule out the bias that would ordinarily exist between the way we detect prostate cancer and the presence of inflammation.”

“Because inflammation helps make PSA ranges go up, men with irritation are far more most likely to have greater PSA and, with a rising PSA, they’re far more likely to be biopsied,” mentioned Platz. “By undertaking far more biopsies on these males, prostate cancer is a lot more likely to be detected, even if irritation is not a lead to of prostate cancer.”

In their examine, Platz, De Marzo and their co-investigators studied benign tissue samples taken from the biopsies of 191 guys with prostate cancer and 209 males without cancer, examining the samples for the prevalence and extent of immune cells that indicate irritation. They discovered that 86.2 % of the prostate cancer individuals had at least one tissue sample with signs of irritation, compared to 78.two % of males without having cancer.

“We knew going into this investigation that irritation in the prostate is very frequent in men who have biopsies simply because of the larger PSA levels and other indicators of prostate cancer, but we did not anticipate the high prevalence of prostate irritation in guys who didn’t have an indication for biopsy,” explained DeMarzo.

Males with at least one particular biopsy exhibiting indications of continual irritation had one.78 times greater risk for having prostate cancer, and 2.24 occasions greater risk of obtaining an aggressive cancer, according to their results.   This distinct association was also witnessed in men with low PSA amounts at the time of their biopsies.

It is really clear, based on this research that a lot more investigation will be necessary to definitively link inflammation to elevated risk of prostate cancer.  Inflammation can be the consequence of not only infection, but also diet regime and autoimmune ailment.

It turns out that a diet which promotes cardiovascular health also benefits in improved prostate function. Reduce quantities of meat–especially burnt or overcooked meat–is integral for ensuring great prostate wellness and well as heart wellness.  Acquiring much more aerobic exercising, dropping excess weight and smoking cessation are important measures to guarantee a healthier prostate.

Medicines such as statins, which are prescribed for patients with elevated cholesterol and coronary artery disease, might also help minimize the threat of quickly proliferating prostate cancers. Statins have anti-inflammatory properties which could decrease irritation which could be foremost to large grade prostate cancers.

Other locations to check out consist of a potential connection amongst a historical past of sexually transmitted conditions and the level of irritation in the prostate. No matter whether this may possibly play a position in persistent reduced grade irritation is unclear.

Is There A Hyperlink Between Prostate Cancer And Continual Inflammation?

Blood type influences prostate cancer relapse, research demonstrates

“As however, we do not know why the dangers differ with blood group, but this work may guide us in direction of new avenues of molecular research on prostate cancer progression.

“Need to we be counselling folks with specified blood groups that they have a greater or lesser opportunity of recurrence, and must these chance factors be built into selections on remedy?”

The new analysis, presented at the European Association of Urology’s (EAU) annual congress in Stockholm this week, tracked 555 individuals with prostate cancer among 2004 and 2010.

An individual’s blood group is established by the presence of different antigens and antibodies. Antigens and antibodies serve as the blood’s defences against foreign substances.

Group O blood is the most typical in the United kingdom with 44% of the population estimated to have the kind. Approximately 42% of Britons have group A blood.

Previously, different blood groups have been related with various threat ranges for building certain cancers, this kind of as gastric and pancreatic cancers.

EAU common secretary Professor Per-Anders Abrahamsson mentioned: “This is an intriguing 1st obtaining. There is fantastic geographical variation in the incidence of prostate cancer, so there are obviously powerful genetic aspects at perform.

“Blood groups have already been proven to be linked with prostate cancer incidence, now it seems like they might be linked with treatment outcomes as effectively.”

Blood type influences prostate cancer relapse, research demonstrates

Blood variety influences prostate cancer relapse, examine shows

“As yet, we do not know why the dangers differ with blood group, but this function could guidebook us towards new avenues of molecular investigation on prostate cancer progression.

“Ought to we be counselling individuals with specific blood groups that they have a better or lesser chance of recurrence, and must these threat variables be created into decisions on treatment?”

The new investigation, presented at the European Association of Urology’s (EAU) yearly congress in Stockholm this week, tracked 555 individuals with prostate cancer in between 2004 and 2010.

An individual’s blood group is established by the presence of diverse antigens and antibodies. Antigens and antibodies serve as the blood’s defences against foreign substances.

Group O blood is the most common in the Uk with 44% of the population estimated to have the kind. Roughly 42% of Britons have group A blood.

Previously, different blood groups have been related with different danger levels for developing specified cancers, such as gastric and pancreatic cancers.

EAU standard secretary Professor Per-Anders Abrahamsson said: “This is an intriguing 1st finding. There is fantastic geographical variation in the incidence of prostate cancer, so there are naturally sturdy genetic elements at play.

“Blood groups have presently been proven to be associated with prostate cancer incidence, now it seems like they might be associated with remedy outcomes as effectively.”

Blood variety influences prostate cancer relapse, examine shows

How females can help males spot symptoms of prostate cancer

– Feeling as however the bladder isn’t emptying correctly

– Dribbling following urinating

In the over video from Prostate Cancer United kingdom, John Robertson, a prostate cancer professional nurse, explains that the symptoms could be linked to bladder difficulties, or an enlarged prostate. In some situations, they can be due to prostate cancer and it truly is very best to get this checked by a GP.

Concern of the medical doctor

A latest examine by the National Pharmacy Association showed that nearly nine in ten men never like to problems a medical professional unless they have a “severe problem”. This reticence has largely been attributed to men’s worry of the doctor, (white coat syndrome) and male machismo.

Partners, wives or girlfriends of guys should inspire their loved 1 to get checked if they notice any uncommon bathroom routines.

Historically, females have normally been the custodians of overall health in the household. Mums, grandmothers, sisters, aunts – have usually been the ones to make their men check out overall health specialists and sort any variety of sick wellness out proactively.

Ladies can assist men quell the irrational fear of going to the medical doctor, so they can seek assist prior to it is also late.

Where prostate cancer has previously spread to the bones, the signs can include long standing soreness in a single spot, this kind of as the back or pelvic bones.

Even so, Mr Robertson factors out this could be a sign of yet another illness, this kind of as arthritis.

Blood in semen or in urine could indicate prostate or urine infection, or prostate cancer, he adds. Either way, you are advised to check it out.

If you are unsure and want some guidance on prostate cancer, talk to a professional nurse at the Prostate Cancer Uk charity on 0800 074 8383 or visit the site at prostatecanceruk.org

How females can help males spot symptoms of prostate cancer