Monday, January 28, 2008

What is the best surgical procedure to treat prostate cancer

What is the best surgical procedure to treat prostate cancer?
I am from Philippines, my father was diagnosed with prostate cancer. The doctor's advice is to do surgical procedure wherein they have to remove the testicles/scrotum of my dad.
Isn't he suppose to remove the prostate instead of removing the testicles/scrotum? Once the testicles are removed, what are the chances of survival if his prostate wont be removed?
Cancer - 4 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
the removal of the prostate is a prostatectomy, i've never heard of the other. most have the prostatectomy with a radioactive seed implant for radiation.
2 :
prostate cancer is hormone fired. (it relies on the male hormone to grow and spread), by removing the testicles they remove the hormones. This operation is often performed on quite elderly patients and can be a simpler proceedure than removing the prostate itself.
3 :
The testes are best removed as they generate hormones that feed the prostate.
4 :
I have had prostate cancer and had what is called Proton Radiation. In my opinion it is the very best Prostate Cancer treatment there is available today.. It has a 90% cure rate and no side effects most of the time.. Your father would need to come to the USA for treatments most likely.... if that is possible and you would like to know more ..please feel free to email me... Also if you would like to find out more, you can go to a website called Proton Bob... Bob stands for Brotherhood of the Balloon... any way you might look at the Proton Bob website..and if you do, be sure and read the testimonials of former Proton Radiation patients... I dont think it is available in the Philippines.. however Im not 100% sure. ' There is also a new book out called YOU CAN BEAT PROSTATE CANCER. It was written by Robert J. Marckini, a prostate cancer survivor who had proton radiation.. His book does the best job I have ever seen of describing prostate cancer and all of the treatments available today... He has all the pros and cons of all of the various treatments... Any one having prostate cancer should read it.. figure you could get it on ebay dont know. Also, I have met 100s of Prostate Cancer patients...and I have never ...ever heard of any one having their testicals removed...sounds wrong to me.!!!I I understand what the other folks are saying..but unless he has cancer in his testicals.. I know of no reason they should be removed!!!!!!! I sure wouldnt let them do it until I found out more.. second opinion etc...Ohhhhh by the way the physician who treated me with the Proton Radiation in Loma Linda University Medical Center in Loma Linda University was from the Philippines and is one of the nicest people I have ever known.. I live in Texas and he has called me from California to see how Im doing and my treatments were 4 years ago!!! To answer your question about your dads survival chances.. it depends on what his PSA and Gleason scores are.. but it mainly depends on who treats him and the kind of treatments he receives.. most usually with good treatments, his chances would be very good.. would probably never die from prostate cancer.. but he needs the proper treatments and a good doctor

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Can a person with prostate cancer transmit any form of cancer to his mate

Can a person with prostate cancer transmit any form of cancer to his mate?
Is it prossible to transmit cancer to another person by contact? Case in point: An acquaintance of mine had kidney cancer and prostate cancer each of which have been successfuly cured. Later his wife had uterine cancer. Could her malady have been transmitted by the kidney/prostate cancers?
Cancer - 6 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Absolutely not, there is no evidence to suggest that cancer can be transmitted that way, especially not in the situation you describe (a cancer in one person causing a different kind of cancer in another). There are a few cases in which cancer can be transmitted, but that's because the cancer is closely related to an infectious disease which is transmissible (such as cervical cancer and HPV)
2 :
No, cancer is not contagious, ever.
3 :
Nope.
4 :
No. Cancer is not contagious.
5 :
Cancer is not a transmitable/contagious disease. It is more likely that they were exposed to the same carcinogen (cancer causing substance). Either that, or plain bad luck! You haven't mentioned their ages or how long they have been together, but if they are an older couple, age is probably the biggest contributing factor.
6 :
I'm not sure.

Sunday, January 20, 2008

At what age should you start prostate cancer screenings if you have a strong family history

At what age should you start prostate cancer screenings if you have a strong family history?
My husband will be 30 soon and I wonder when he should start psa screening for prostate cancer. His father, paternal grandfather, and paternal uncle all had/have prostate cancer. His father was diagnosed at age 43 but it appears to be out of remission now after 10 years.
I've read the recommended age is 45 or 50 yrs but if my father-in-law waited to 45 he'd be dead by now. So if you have a strong family history, what's the best time to start?
Cancer - 3 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Age 40 would be a good time to start for your husband.
2 :
$0 would be reasonable earlier if has any symptoms
3 :
Hello Bargain Mom: If your husband has a strong family history of prostate cancer he should go in starting at age 25 for blood work also to learn from his doctor what to do to avoid getting it as well as a base line screening from his doctor. But since he is over 25 now would be a good time to get checked out they will do blood work as well as a yearly physical. The best way is to get a full check up every year if you have a family history of cancer.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

What does treatment for prostate cancer consist of, and does it affect a male's ability to have sex

What does treatment for prostate cancer consist of, and does it affect a male's ability to have sex?
A very close friend of ours has been diagnosed with prostate cancer (it really *isn't* my partner or me!) and we were wondering what his treatment options might be. If the prostate gland is removed, does that eliminate the ability to have sex? Probably best to have an older person answer this: it's pretty obvious by the question that this is going to be completely out of the realm of experience for most of the teenagers.
Men's Health - 1 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
It can, but new surgical techniques have reduced the risk. I was diagnosed with it about a year ago, but a second opinion from Johns-Hopkins said no. At least not yet. Anyhow, there are a number of different treatments that depend on the age of the patient and the stage of the disease. At my age, 50, and the very early preliminary diagnosis, removal was recommended. There is a new procedure called the da Vinci procedure that is minimally invasive and less likely to lead to the nerve damage that causes impotence. However, it is still a risk, as well as a risk of urinary incontinence. And even if you are not impotent, your orgasms will be dry - seminal fluid is produced by the prostate. There are also other procedures, such as implanting radioactive 'seeds' into the prostate. It is my understanding that the risk of impotence from that or any other radiation procedure is higher than da Vinci surgery, but less than with traditional surgery. Chemo and broader irradiation can be recommended in more advanced cases. My brother had the daVinci procedure, and he is able to have sex. He uses a penile constriction band to maintain an erection; I don't know whether he had any ED problems before. He is able to have orgasms, but as I said, they are dry. Sometimes, again depending on the age,the stage, and how aggressive the cancer, they will recommend leaving it alone. Don't bank on that, though. Here's a link with info on the daVinci procedure. Tell your friend my thoughts and prayers are with him. I know how scary this is. I have to have regular biopsies to keep track of mine, and every time I go through hell waiting for the results. http://www.davinciprostatectomy.com/davinci_prostatectomy/index.aspx If you Google 'prostate cancer stories' there are lots of personal stories on the web.

Saturday, January 12, 2008

What would motivate feminists to make misleading claims about prostate cancer deaths

What would motivate feminists to make misleading claims about prostate cancer deaths?
One feminist, who claims some sort of medical expertise, he repeatedly claimed that most men die WITH prostate cancer but not FROM prostate cancer. While this is true, simply because most men of a certain age have started to develop cancerous prostate cells and therefore most men who die do have prostate cancer, this claim is very misleading because it fails to acknowledge that prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men.
Gender Studies - 13 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
I don't think too many men are gonna get real medical advice from YA, so don't worry your mind.
2 :
It's to stop those pesky males from muscling in on research funding. We like the fact that women's health issues receive the lion's share of funding and publicity, as it should be to make up for tens of thousands of years of abject oppression.
3 :
It's competitive victim status campaigning.
4 :
So, maybe, that no one starts campaigns getting on the phones and calling everyone in the country on behalf of the "Prostate Cancer Foundation", like they do for breast cancer?
5 :
The data changes from year to year. There are so many variables, it's not possible to get it exactly. And that goes for pretty much everything. Anyone undergoing treatment for any cancer is more likely dieing from the secondary unintended side effects of the treatment . BTW. PROSTATE CANCER IS CURABLE. MEN ARE RELUCTANT TO BE TESTED FOR IT, AND HAVE IT ADDRESSED MEDICALLY. THAT IS THE MAIN REASON THEY DIE FROM IT.
6 :
That sounds more like ignorance then anything. Man or woman don't know what they talking about. Don't give feministicals too much credit for subverting facts. Some ain't that smart to begin with.
7 :
It's a deflection from the fact that most men die of stress created upon them by duty & bias gender laws against them. "...In the men’s rights community, a minority in its own right, we have long lamented the cruel and destructive war that has been waged against men and boys for the past half century. We’ve shouted endlessly at a deaf world that we were on the path to destruction, and we have watched our predictions of men being reduced to indentured servants to a malicious matriarchy come true, even as society continues to dismiss and humiliate us for speaking."
8 :
Because the sexist MRA's are lobbying for more government funding for male only cancers. LAUGHABLE! Breast cancer affects men and women as does heart disease, and all the other illnesses we advocate for. A man can develop breast cancer. Women can not develop prostate cancer. Unlike the misogynist MRA we are looking out for both genders.
9 :
One feminist or many feminists? Please provide a link. Edit: We'd have to read the entire question and answer to judge for ourselves. Perhaps the individual concerned would want to answer this. I don't have the ability to read minds to know why it was so stated nor can I guess the motivation behind the statement. It would be interesting to find out. But I was pleased to read that the number of prostrate cancer cases peaked in the 1990's and is now on the decrease. Good news, indeed. In addition, only about 1% of all cancer is testicular cancer. Not that that helps. if you're in the one percent.
10 :
To address the main question itself directly, "What would motivate feminists to make misleading claims..." This, as a question, is of itself quite sufficient. Feminists rely heavily on misleading their audience. Period.
11 :
Because its what medical experts relate. They don't die from the effects of the disease but from other causes. In fact the newest information is that men should not be tested for an increase in PSA because it causes unnecessary treatments. Men younger than 40 should get tested because they are usually the ones who get the virulent form of the disease - ie the one that kills. If you can come up with a claim that its the second leading cause then you certainly have the ability to research these facts. The Mayo Clinic has very good ones for the lay person: Prostate cancer Definition Prostate cancer occurs in the prostate gland, which is located just below a male's bladder and surrounds the top portion of the urethra, the tube that drains urine from the bladder. This illustration shows a normal prostate gland and a prostate with a tumor. Prostate cancerProstate cancer is cancer that occurs in a man's prostate — a small walnut-shaped gland that produces the seminal fluid that nourishes and transports sperm. Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in men. Prostate cancer usually grows slowly and initially remains confined to the prostate gland, where it may not cause serious harm. While some types of prostate cancer grow slowly and may need minimal or no treatment, other types are aggressive and can spread quickly. Prostate cancer that is detected early — when it's still confined to the prostate gland — has a better chance of successful treatment. Symptoms Prostate cancer may not cause signs or symptoms in its early stages. Prostate cancer that is more advanced may cause signs and symptoms such as: Trouble urinating Decreased force in the stream of urine Blood in your urine Blood in your semen Swelling in your legs Discomfort in the pelvic area Bone pain When to see a doctor Make an appointment with your doctor if you have any signs or symptoms that worry you. Ask your doctor about the benefits and risks of regular prostate cancer screening. Medical organizations differ on their recommendations for prostate cancer screening, but many advise men in their 50s to discuss the issue with their doctors. The prostate gland is located deep within the pelvis, just below the urinary bladder. It affects the health of both the reproductive and urinary systems. Prostate cancer occurs in the prostate gland, which is located just below a male's bladder and surrounds the top portion of the urethra, the tube that drains urine from the bladder. This illustration shows a normal prostate gland and a prostate with a tumor. Prostate cancerIt's not clear what causes prostate cancer. Doctors know that prostate cancer begins when some cells in your prostate become abnormal. Mutations in the abnormal cells' DNA cause the cells to grow and divide more rapidly than normal cells. The abnormal cells continue living, when other cells would die. The accumulating abnormal cells form a tumor that can grow to invade nearby tissue. Some abnormal cells can break off and spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. Risk factors Factors that can increase your risk of prostate cancer include: Older age. The risk of prostate cancer increases with age. Prostate cancer is most common in men over 65. Being black. Black men have a greater risk of prostate cancer than do men of other races. It's not clear why this is. Family history of prostate cancer. If men in your family have had prostate cancer, your risk may be increased. Obesity. Obese men diagnosed with prostate cancer are more likely to have advanced disease that's more difficult to treat. Complications of prostate cancer and its treatments include: Cancer that spreads. Prostate cancer can spread to nearby organs or travel through your bloodstream or lymphatic system to your bones or other organs. Prostate cancer that spreads to other areas of the body is more difficult to treat than cancer that is confined to the prostate. Incontinence. Both prostate cancer and its treatment can cause urinary incontinence. Treatment for incontinence depends on the type you have, how severe it is and the likelihood it will improve over time. Treatment options may include medications, catheters and surgery. Erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction can be a result of prostate cancer or its treatment, including surgery, radiation or hormone treatments. Medications, vacuum devices that assist in achieving erection and surgery are available to treat erectile dysfunction. Preparing for your appointment If you have signs or symptoms that worry you, start by seeing your family doctor or a general practitioner. If your doctor suspects you may have a problem with your prostate, you may be referred to a urinary tract specialist (urologist). If you're diagnosed with prostate cancer, you may be referred to a cancer specialist (oncologist) or a specialist who uses radiation therapy to treat cancer (radiation oncologist). Because appointments can be brief, and because there's often a lot of ground to cover, it's a good idea to be prepared for your appointment. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment, and what to expect from your doctor. What you can do Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions. At the time you make the appointment, be sure to ask if there's anything you need to do in advance, such as restrict your diet. Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment. Write down key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes. Make a list of all medications, as well as any vitamins or supplements, that you're taking. Take a family member or friend along, if possible. Sometimes it can be difficult to absorb all the information provided during an appointment. Someone who accompanies you may remember something that you missed or forgot. Write down questions to ask your doctor. Your time with your doctor is limited, so preparing a list of questions will help you make the most of your time together. List your questions from most important to least important in case time runs out. For prostate cancer, some basic questions to ask your doctor include: Do I have prostate cancer? How large is my prostate cancer? Has my prostate cancer spread beyond my prostate? What is my Gleason score? What is my PSA level? Will I need more tests? What are my treatment options? Is there one treatment option you think is best for me? Do I need cancer treatment right away, or is it possible to wait and see if the cancer grows? What are the potential side effects of each treatment? What is the chance that my prostate cancer will be cured with treatment? If you had a friend or family member in my situation, what would you recommend? Should I see a specialist? What will that cost, and will my insurance cover it? Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take with me? What Web sites do you recommend? In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, don't hesitate to ask questions at any time that you don't understand something. Tests and diagnosis During a digital rectal exam, your doctor inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into your rectum and feels the back wall of the prostate gland for enlargement, tenderness, lumps or hard spots. During a transrectal biopsy, a biopsy gun quickly projects a thin needle into suspect areas of the prostate gland and small sections of tissue are removed for analysis. Your prostate cancer's stage indicates the size and extent of your cancer. A lower stage indicates cancer is confined to the prostate. A higher stage indicates cancer has grown to invade nearby tissue or spread to distant areas of the body. Prostate cancer stagesScreening for prostate cancer Most prostate cancer is discovered through routine screening. Still, testing men who have no prostate symptoms for prostate cancer is controversial. Medical organizations don't agree on the issue of screening and whether it has benefits. Some medical organizations recommend men begin prostate cancer screening in their 50s, or sooner for men who have risk factors for prostate cancer. Other organizations advise against screening. Discuss your particular situation and the benefits and risks of screening with your doctor. Together you can decide whether prostate cancer screening is appropriate for you. Prostate screening tests might include: Digital rectal exam (DRE). During a DRE, your doctor inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into your rectum to examine your prostate, which is adjacent to the rectum. If your doctor finds any abnormalities in the texture, shape or size of your gland, you may need more tests. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. A blood sample is drawn from a vein in your arm and analyzed for PSA, a substance that's naturally produced by your prostate gland. It's normal for a small amount of PSA to enter your bloodstream. However, if a higher than normal level is found, it may be an indication of prostate infection, inflammation, enlargement or cancer. PSA testing combined with DRE helps identify prostate cancers at their earliest stages, but studies haven't proven that these tests save lives. For that reason, there is much debate surrounding prostate cancer screening. Diagnosing prostate cancer If an abnormality is detected on a DRE or PSA test, your doctor may recommend tests to determine whether you have prostate cancer, such as: Ultrasound. If other tests raise concerns, your doctor may use transrectal ultrasound to further look at the issue.
12 :
I can only assume hatred of men. This same alleged professor of nursing continues to deny that men die from prostate cancer at essentially the same rates that women die of breast cancer, even in the face of specific, authoritative documentation (see link below from the American Cancer Society). http://www.cancer.org/downloads/stt/CFF2008Table_pg44.pdf Nor does she seem to care about the difference between a genuine vaccine that can prevent disease, such as prostate cancer, from a drug that merely prolongs the life of terminal prostate cancer victim by a few months. See her answer to this question: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Au06RNz0LopJDA8Tl.a1JmLty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20100531151235AAUrbMR&show=7#profile-info-er5UA2a2aa What drives this willful contempt for men's health? I will never know - but it is hard to not think that it is some kind of generalized hatred of men.
13 :
My theory is that this person is either misinformed or is else is trying to minimize the suffering of men. My beloved former slave had prostate cancer and had to have it removed. Thank god the cancer hasn't returned, but it has left him unable to have intercourse, even with little blue pills. It sounds like the person you're referring to is trying to pooh-pooh prostate cancer and minimize the damage (and death) it can cause.

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Prostate cancer

prostate cancer?
If a man has his prostate removed due to prostate cancer, is he still able to produce sperm?
Other - Health - 3 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
No, he is not. Also, depending on his age, the surgery may NOT be in his best interest. It also depends on how invasive his type of prostate cancer is.
2 :
Actually mature sperm come from the epididymis NOT the prostate. However the prostate is responsible for producing secretions that serve the function to enhance the motility of the sperm, so I suppose the answer to the question may be no. But if mature sperm where able to be harvested from the epididymis and implanted via invitro, it might be possible to concieve a child with this sperm.
3 :
I have had a radical prostechtomy (prostate removal). There is no more sperm. Also, only a small percentage of patients regain the full erection strength they once had, even with all the pills and devices on the market. I would do it over again however. No cancer for 4 years so far. I am 55 next week.

Friday, January 4, 2008

Prostate cancer

Prostate cancer ?
I want to know about prostate cancer and what constitutes the optimal form of treatment for patients with clinically localized cancers remains controversial. Can anyone give more information on it? Thanks in advance.
Cancer - 3 Answers
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1 :
Treatment decisions are at present made on the basis of tumor grade and stage and the age and health of the patient. Although selected patients may be candidates for surveillance based on age or health and the presence of small-volume or well-differentiated cancers, most patients with an anticipated survival in excess of 10 years should be considered for treatment with irradiation or surgery. Both radiation therapy and radical prostatectomy allow for acceptable levels of local control. A randomized trial comparing watchful waiting and radical prostatectomy in men with clinically localized prostate cancer is currently under way in the united states (PIVOT: Prostate Cancer Intervention Versus Observation Trial). This trail will randomize 2000 patients and will run for 15 years. Patients need to be advised of all treatment options (including surveillance) along with their particular benefits, risks, and limitations.
2 :
Yahoo GROUPS-ProstateCancerSupport is a prostate cancer group with thousands of members asking questions like this. I learned valuable information that I wish I knew before I had treatment. I would have done things differently with this knowledge. Join it and learn from the experience of others.
3 :
Unfortunately, there is often no right answer for prostate cancer therapy, the main reason being a lack of good data from well-run trials to determine the best course of therapy. The treatment does depend on the stage, grade, extent of disease and the physical condition of any one patient. Also, what may be right for one person maybe completely bad for another in the same exact condition because of differences in their outlook and goals.

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Prostate Cancer

Prostate Cancer?
I did not know what to make of this mornings news. A mixture of emptiness (not knowing what to think) and shock still pains my insides. My childhood crush, who I haven't seen in over 2 years is possibly dying from prostate cancer. It has spread to his stomach. I would like to ask if it is common among young men (20), and if genetics plays a major role? (He's father died of prostate cancer before he was born.) Does he have any chances of survival?
Medicine - 3 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
The prognosis for survival is not good. That your friend's father also died (say under 40), suggests that genetics is involved. Generally, postrate problems in men occur when they reach their 50s, and they are encouraged to be tested for PSA and have postrate examinations, generally every six months.
2 :
Genetics makes u more susceptible to getting cancer. Unfortunately what u have described does not sound good. The chances of surviving are not zero, but small. Just terrible news! Sorry to hear.
3 :
Prostate cancer is usually common in men over 50 while it is uncommon in men less than 45. Many factors, including genetics and diet, have been implicated in the development of prostate cancer. His father who had prostate cancer would suggest he acquired it genetically. His chances of survival would depend on stage of his cancer now. It seems that it had already spread on other organs according to your description so it would depend on ho far it has gone and how big the tumors are if there 's any. The appearance of his cancer cells ( Gleason score) would also help to tell his prognosis. The doctor would know and is the one who can tell. Anyway, just by your brief description we cannot tell what is going on exactly. He may have the different treatments available as he is still young so let's just extend prayers and your moral support would count a lot.