Wednesday, November 28, 2012

For a man going through radiation, due to prostate cancer, and has uncontrolable bowels

For a man going through radiation, due to prostate cancer, and has uncontrolable bowels?
Is there some form of diet, so that he doesn't get untimely urges to go to the bathroom. Any suggestions at all would be helpful. Thanks
Cancer - 6 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :

1 :
Increase fiber intake to "bulk up" the stool. Avoid high fat foods that can cause diarrhea.
2 :
Adding the fiber as listed above will definitely help. Fiber draws in the water to prevent the diarrhea and it also loosens the stool to prevent constipation. That is why it is so stressed for every one to eat more fiber. Something like Metamucil or the walmart version is fine. Good luck.
3 :
Be aware that radiation to the prostate may also reach the nearby intestine which is very sensitive to radiation. A radiation effect on the bowel from the prostate treatment could be the problem. Let your radiation therapy doctor know; he is surely familiar with the connection.
4 :
Check with his physician. It is likely he can use over-the-counter Immodium AD occasionally to prevent sudden urges.
5 :
I had the same problem and there were two things that helped me the most.. The best thing was eating beef jerky.. and the second was eating green bananas hope this helps. Well one other food that helped was bisquits and gravey.. .. but still the best was beef jerky.. I had a little of the problem when having my radiation... but the jerky ended it pretty fast..I think the people recommending more fiber do not know what they are talking about.. more fiber made my problem much worse when I was having radiation for prostate cancer.. lay off fiber..
6 :
I've heard that when you have that type of cancer that you do have problems with the bowels....hope that gets better!

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Saturday, November 24, 2012

My Grandpa had prostate cancer,but I am a girl.Does that still mean I have a higher risk of getting cancer

My Grandpa had prostate cancer,but I am a girl.Does that still mean I have a higher risk of getting cancer?
Please answer soon,I keep getting worried wondering if I might actually get cancer....
Cancer - 4 Answers
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1 :
Shouldn't think so. My father died from prostate cancer over 30years ago and , as far as I know, I have no symptoms of the disease. (Am female)
2 :
From the information you've given, you're at no increased risk of cancer. Cancer is rarely hereditary; hereditary cancer accounts for fewer than 10% of all cancer cases. You see, you don't inherit a general tendency to get cancer, and there isn't a general 'cancer gene'. A sign that cancer MAY be hereditary within a family due to a rare faulty gene is when several members of the same side of a family have had the same type of cancer - ie they have all had breast cancer, or all had colon cancer - especially if some developed it at a younger than usual age. An isolated case of cancer within a family (such as you describe) is not hereditary, nor is two or more family members having had different types of cancer. You also don't say how old your grandpa was at diagnosis; cancer diagnosed after the age of 50 is rarely hereditary. With at least one in three people developing cancer it isn't unusual for two, three or more members of the same family to have had non-hereditary cancers.
3 :
Cancer is caused when normal cells get replicated wrong during the normal body growth process. But normally the immune system will find those bad cells and take them out. If too many of them occur because of exposure to toxins or if your immune system is too weak the bad cells begin growing unchecked and that is what becomes cancer. The fact that someone in your family had cancer means their immune system didn't deal with it. If you eat a decent diet and keep your immune system strong you have a much smaller chance at cancer getting to you.
4 :
It's ok. Please don't worry. You do not have an increased risk because of your Grandpa. I'm sorry about your Grandpa.

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Tuesday, November 20, 2012

How does the survival rate fluctuate regarding prostate cancer

How does the survival rate fluctuate regarding prostate cancer?

Cancer - 2 Answers
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1 :
The figures are confusing to say the least. The odds are that an older man will die of some other thing. All cancer rates have fallen somewhat.
2 :
Hi. Survival rates for victims of prostate cancer are relatively high compared to most other types of cancer. Although there is some room for interpretation, generally, - for those men who have been tested early enough, the 10 year (or more) survival rate is an 80 - 90% value. It is useful to break up prostate cancer victims into three main groups: 1) If the cancer has not extended beyond the prostate organ itself, the prognosis is best. Members of this group are most likely to find themselves in the high survival class. 2) If the cancer has extended beyond the prostate (e.g. to closely surrounding tissues, or near lymph nodes) there is still a very good likelihood of cure, defined as a 10 year survival rate. 3) If the cancer has extended (metastisized) to far site organs or tissues, i.e. bone, liver, lung or brain; - there is currently treatment on a palliative basis only. There is no known cure at this stage of the disease. If progressed this far, secondary bone cancer is the usual site of incidence. It is VERY IMPORTANT to be tested as early as possible. The medical community recommends all men test annually after age 50, and that all men who have a relative with a history of prostate cancer test starting annually at age 40. I SAY testing should start no later than age 30. The PSA blood test is not expensive, so if your medical insurance doesn't cover, YOU should be happy to pay up. If a man tests later in life, and finds out then that he has prostate cancer, or worse that the cancer is of the aggressive form or has simply started out as the more usual slow prostate cancer, but has now has enough time to metastisize, - well then than man has been very unlucky indeed; and in my humble opinion has not been well served by the medical community's advice to test after 50 years of age. I hope this answer has been of some help to you and your friend. Best regards,

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