I was out with two friends fishing from my boat, a male and his lady friend, we fished for a good part of the day. My male friend decided he had enough and wanted to go to shore but his lady friend was an ardent fisherman (Fisherlady) and she wanted to continue fishing, so I agreed to take her back out. We were anchored up in a narrow creek that didn't have an accessible shore line. I had to urinate and normally with the guys on the boat we would do so off the stern of the boat,but I didn't want to embarrass my lady guest so I waited as long as I could but could not hold out any longer. I excused myself and went to the stern of the boat to urinate. When I started to urinate it appeared that I was urinating a Merlot Wine, My urine was coming out pure blood and shortly I could not urinate at all. I mentioned to my guest the problem I was having. As it turned out my guest was a registered Nurse and the Coroner in her home town. She immediately went in to action and started hauling up the anchor and yelled to me to start the motor and head back to the dock. On the way in she called her friend and told him to meet us at the dock.
Arriving at the dock they immediately took me to the nearby hospital emergency room. I spent a half an hour filling out paper work and explaining my problem and was then told to go to the waiting room. After what seemed to be an eternity I felt I had to urinate. I went to the men's room and I was able to urinate, it started out as blood but eventually it cleared up and back to normal. I thanked my friends and I told them everything seemed to have cleared up and I was going home.
I called a doctor friend of mine and he told me that I probably ruptured a small blood vessel by waiting too long to urinate. I called my local doctor and he said I probably had an infection in my bladder. I never experienced any pain, discomfort or an inability to urinate before so I figured that it was a minor problem.
I continued to urinate normally for the next month or so and then suddenly I started urinating blood again. This time I called my local doctor and told him that I wanted to see a Urologist. The Urologist's facility was well equipped and he ran all of the usual tests, his conclusion, I had a cancer in my bladder about the size of a half dollar, but it looked like it hadn't gone so far that it couldn't be just scraped out. The Urologists facility had a surgical unit so they immediately took me in to scrape my bladder. The scraping wasn't successful as it was determined that the cancer was a not a grade two which would have made the scraping possible but a grade three which meant the cancer penetrated deeper into the tissue.
The doctor said that I had four options, Chemotherapy or Radiology which he didn't think would improve my chances of survival. The odds were somewhat greater than 50% that they would not work. The other two options were to remove my bladder and build another one from part of my intestine, which he said if it worked it would be great, if it didn't it would be a struggle for the rest of my life. The second would be to remove my bladder and surrounding tissue including prostate and nearby Lymph node. That procedure would require that I use an external bladder to replace my original one. I chose the latter and I don't regret to this day (five years later). It's slightly inconvenient but in some ways it's helpful.
What surprised me most that there weren't any signs or symptoms that I had this problem and if I didn't urinate blood when I did I wouldn't be alive today. I guess all I can say in closing is that these things don't just happen to the other guy, you're a target too. So be aware.
Paul l. Viverito
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Viverito
Monday, November 16, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
DETECTING AND DIAGNOSING PROSTATE CANCER
Researchers can't say how to prevent prostate cancer because so little is understood about what causes it. However, it is believed that eating less fat, especially from red meat and dairy products is a smart choice. A diet that is low in fat and includes plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables can help reduce the risks for getting many types of cancer as well as reducing the risk for heart disease, stroke and diabetes. There is research that seems to suggest diets including vitamin E and a trace mineral called selenium may help to lower risks for prostate cancer.
What are the signs and symptoms of cancer of the prostate? There are very few signs of prostate cancer in its early stages. When the cancer is still confined to the prostate gland there may be no pain or discomfort or any other symptom. Having trouble urinating is a symptom often associated with this type of cancer, but it may not be a symptom of cancer at all. Men, if you have trouble urinating talk to your doctor about it soon.
As with all other cancers, the earlier it is detected the better the chances of successful treatment. If the cancer has not spread beyond the prostate gland the chances of long-term survival are very good. If the cancer has spread to other body parts then it is much more difficult to treat successfully.
A cancer screening is an important part of early detection. There are two common tests for detecting prostate cancer, a PSA blood test and a digital rectal exam (DRE). High levels of the protein known as PSA are often found with many different types of prostate conditions, including prostate cancer. The PSA test can determine if there are high levels of this protein in the blood stream.
The DRE is a slightly uncomfortable procedure that is over quickly. The doctor must feel inside the rectum area to find any firm areas which may indicate a tumor. Most cancers of the prostate usually begin growing in the part of the prostate which is easily reached by a DRE. The DRE also helps to detect early rectal tumors as well.
If the doctor finds unusual results from either the DRE or the PSA test, he will usually require further tests. To confirm a diagnosis of prostate cancer a biopsy will be taken, usually in the doctor's office. A sample of prostate tissue will be removed by a very thin needle and examined under the microscope. The entire procedure will take less than 30 minutes.
The biopsy tissue will be examined in a lab to see if cancer cells are present. Further testing will be done if cancer cells are found so they can determine what stage the cancer is in and what grade the cancer is. The stage of a cancer tells how far the cancer has spread. The grade of a cancer tells how fast the cancer spreads. A fast spreading cancer is called an aggressive cancer.
Further testing is done to determine the state of a cancer. The tests may include a bone scan, a CT or CAT scan, an MRI and a biopsy of the lymph nodes. By determining the stage of the cancer, the doctor can best prescribe a treatment plan. Ask your doctor to explain to your about the stage and grade of the cancer, as well as the treatment plan options.
Remember that early detection is the key to successful treatment. Men should have regular prostate exams performed annually past the age of 50.
Jonathan is a professional educator in the healthcare field with over 15 years of experience. You can visit his latest website Pool Tables For Sale which helps people learn about Mizerak Pool Tables.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonathan_Ling
What are the signs and symptoms of cancer of the prostate? There are very few signs of prostate cancer in its early stages. When the cancer is still confined to the prostate gland there may be no pain or discomfort or any other symptom. Having trouble urinating is a symptom often associated with this type of cancer, but it may not be a symptom of cancer at all. Men, if you have trouble urinating talk to your doctor about it soon.
As with all other cancers, the earlier it is detected the better the chances of successful treatment. If the cancer has not spread beyond the prostate gland the chances of long-term survival are very good. If the cancer has spread to other body parts then it is much more difficult to treat successfully.
A cancer screening is an important part of early detection. There are two common tests for detecting prostate cancer, a PSA blood test and a digital rectal exam (DRE). High levels of the protein known as PSA are often found with many different types of prostate conditions, including prostate cancer. The PSA test can determine if there are high levels of this protein in the blood stream.
The DRE is a slightly uncomfortable procedure that is over quickly. The doctor must feel inside the rectum area to find any firm areas which may indicate a tumor. Most cancers of the prostate usually begin growing in the part of the prostate which is easily reached by a DRE. The DRE also helps to detect early rectal tumors as well.
If the doctor finds unusual results from either the DRE or the PSA test, he will usually require further tests. To confirm a diagnosis of prostate cancer a biopsy will be taken, usually in the doctor's office. A sample of prostate tissue will be removed by a very thin needle and examined under the microscope. The entire procedure will take less than 30 minutes.
The biopsy tissue will be examined in a lab to see if cancer cells are present. Further testing will be done if cancer cells are found so they can determine what stage the cancer is in and what grade the cancer is. The stage of a cancer tells how far the cancer has spread. The grade of a cancer tells how fast the cancer spreads. A fast spreading cancer is called an aggressive cancer.
Further testing is done to determine the state of a cancer. The tests may include a bone scan, a CT or CAT scan, an MRI and a biopsy of the lymph nodes. By determining the stage of the cancer, the doctor can best prescribe a treatment plan. Ask your doctor to explain to your about the stage and grade of the cancer, as well as the treatment plan options.
Remember that early detection is the key to successful treatment. Men should have regular prostate exams performed annually past the age of 50.
Jonathan is a professional educator in the healthcare field with over 15 years of experience. You can visit his latest website Pool Tables For Sale which helps people learn about Mizerak Pool Tables.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonathan_Ling
TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT PROSTATE CANCER TREATMENT OPTION
There are many factors which determine the appropriate treatment choices for prostate cancer. These factors include: age, general health conditions, the stage and grade of the cancer, and personal preferences of the patient. For example, some men would prefer to decline a painful or uncomfortable treatment if it is unlikely to increase their lifespan.
There are many surgery options for men with prostate cancer, and in some cases surgery is recommended to remove the tumor. A radical prostatectomy is a removal of the entire prostate gland. This surgery is a common choice of the cancer has not spread beyond the prostate.
A transurethral resection is a procedure to remove urinary blockage caused by the tumor in the prostate gland. This surgery is common for older men who cannot have a radical prostatectomy because they are too old or ill to undergo the other surgery. Cryosurgery is a newly studied surgery for the treatment of prostate cancer. Basically it involves freezing the tumor.
Other than surgery, there is radiation therapy to treat cancer that hasn't spread to other parts of the body. High powered x-rays are used to kill or shrink the cancer cells. If the cancer has spread, then radiation therapy may be used to shrink the tumor in order to provide relief from painful symptoms.
There are two types of radiation therapy commonly used to treat cancer of the prostate. External beam radiation is similar to having a chest x-ray or dental x-ray, except that it lasts for a longer period of time, instead of a few seconds. This treatment is usually performed at an outpatient center daily during the week, lasting for several weeks.
Internal radiation, known as brachytherapy, is when small radioactive pellets (about the size of a grain of rice) are implanted into the prostate. The tiny pellets give off small amounts of radiation directly into the prostate for several weeks or even months until the radioactive material is gone. This treatment does not usually cause discomfort.
Hormone therapy is another treatment option for men whose cancer has spread beyond the prostate or has returned after being in remission. Hormone therapy is used to reduce the natural levels of testosterone (the male hormone) in the body. Lower testosterone levels tend to make prostate cancer shrink or reduce the speed at which it grows.
LHRH is the drug used in hormone therapy to reduce a man's testosterone levels. LHRH is injected at the doctor's office once per month or quarterly. There may be an increase in pain or urinary symptoms with this treatment. Research has shown that this treatment is just as effective in reducing testosterone levels as removal of the testicles.
Orchiectomy is the surgical removal of the testicles. By removing the testicles, testosterone levels are reduced dramatically, since this hormone is produced mainly in the testicles. This procedure is common and usually has few complications.
Chemotherapy is a treatment option if the cancer has spread throughout the body and hormone therapy has been unsuccessful. The goal of chemotherapy is not to kill all of the cancer cells but to slow the pace of its growth. Chemotherapy can damage non-cancerous cells also. Because of this, doctors must carefully balance chemotherapy doses to give enough drug to kill cancer cells, but not so much that it also kills healthy cells. Side effects of chemotherapy include nausea, vomiting, hair loss and heart problems.
Over the last 30+ years survival rates of prostate cancer have increased steadily. Over 75% of men diagnosed with this cancer can be expected to live 5 or more years beyond the original diagnosis. If the cancer has not spread beyond the prostate, 99% will live beyond 5 years past the diagnosis date. The average age at which men are diagnosed with this cancer is 72.
Discuss your treatment options with your doctor. Ask questions. Be informed. Remember that early detection is the key to successful treatment.
Jonathan is a professional educator in the healthcare field with over 15 years of experience. You can visit his latest website Pool Tables For Sale which helps people learn about Mizerak Pool Tables.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonathan_Ling
There are many surgery options for men with prostate cancer, and in some cases surgery is recommended to remove the tumor. A radical prostatectomy is a removal of the entire prostate gland. This surgery is a common choice of the cancer has not spread beyond the prostate.
A transurethral resection is a procedure to remove urinary blockage caused by the tumor in the prostate gland. This surgery is common for older men who cannot have a radical prostatectomy because they are too old or ill to undergo the other surgery. Cryosurgery is a newly studied surgery for the treatment of prostate cancer. Basically it involves freezing the tumor.
Other than surgery, there is radiation therapy to treat cancer that hasn't spread to other parts of the body. High powered x-rays are used to kill or shrink the cancer cells. If the cancer has spread, then radiation therapy may be used to shrink the tumor in order to provide relief from painful symptoms.
There are two types of radiation therapy commonly used to treat cancer of the prostate. External beam radiation is similar to having a chest x-ray or dental x-ray, except that it lasts for a longer period of time, instead of a few seconds. This treatment is usually performed at an outpatient center daily during the week, lasting for several weeks.
Internal radiation, known as brachytherapy, is when small radioactive pellets (about the size of a grain of rice) are implanted into the prostate. The tiny pellets give off small amounts of radiation directly into the prostate for several weeks or even months until the radioactive material is gone. This treatment does not usually cause discomfort.
Hormone therapy is another treatment option for men whose cancer has spread beyond the prostate or has returned after being in remission. Hormone therapy is used to reduce the natural levels of testosterone (the male hormone) in the body. Lower testosterone levels tend to make prostate cancer shrink or reduce the speed at which it grows.
LHRH is the drug used in hormone therapy to reduce a man's testosterone levels. LHRH is injected at the doctor's office once per month or quarterly. There may be an increase in pain or urinary symptoms with this treatment. Research has shown that this treatment is just as effective in reducing testosterone levels as removal of the testicles.
Orchiectomy is the surgical removal of the testicles. By removing the testicles, testosterone levels are reduced dramatically, since this hormone is produced mainly in the testicles. This procedure is common and usually has few complications.
Chemotherapy is a treatment option if the cancer has spread throughout the body and hormone therapy has been unsuccessful. The goal of chemotherapy is not to kill all of the cancer cells but to slow the pace of its growth. Chemotherapy can damage non-cancerous cells also. Because of this, doctors must carefully balance chemotherapy doses to give enough drug to kill cancer cells, but not so much that it also kills healthy cells. Side effects of chemotherapy include nausea, vomiting, hair loss and heart problems.
Over the last 30+ years survival rates of prostate cancer have increased steadily. Over 75% of men diagnosed with this cancer can be expected to live 5 or more years beyond the original diagnosis. If the cancer has not spread beyond the prostate, 99% will live beyond 5 years past the diagnosis date. The average age at which men are diagnosed with this cancer is 72.
Discuss your treatment options with your doctor. Ask questions. Be informed. Remember that early detection is the key to successful treatment.
Jonathan is a professional educator in the healthcare field with over 15 years of experience. You can visit his latest website Pool Tables For Sale which helps people learn about Mizerak Pool Tables.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonathan_Ling
VITAL SKIN CANCER SYMPTOMS
Statistics shows that there is one American dies every 65 minutes and an estimate of 60,000 people worldwide dies annually due to skin cancer. The figure is rapidly increasing for everyone is prone to skin cancer. Even Though, this is treatable but people awareness of the disease is low.
This is caused by too much exposure to the sun which emits ultraviolet radiation. It commonly develops on areas such as scalp, head, shoulders and arms which are sun-exposed. But, it can also grow anywhere even on not ordinarily expose to the sun area of the skin. Light skin toned people have higher risk of acquiring skin cancer but in some cases dark-skinned people are also likely to acquire it.
Fortunately, even on early stages, this is highly detectable. One can have a preliminary self check-up on his skin and detect suspicious lesions or moles. Once, an unusual mole or lesion is detected, the health provider can confirm on the earlier stage and place early treatment as well. With this, there is about 100% rate of curability.
It is also important to know on what stage the cancer is to plan its treatment well. Generally, it is done through biopsy. Biopsy is done by taking a sample tissue to the cancerous area. The sample is then examined through the aid of microscope by a pathologist.
There are several types of skin cancer. One is basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer and looks like a sore or a waxy, red bump on the skin as showed on the picture. Though, it grows slowly, but it can spread and affect other tissues.
Another form of skin cancer is Squamous cell carcinoma. It looks like a red patch or lumps on the skin and also grows slowly.
Both of these types have the size of about 1 centimeter diameter or smaller on its first stage. If the diameter reaches 2 centimeters, the cancer cells are on its stage 2 and about to affect other organs, bones and ligaments. So, it is best to treat it before it reaches the next stage.
Melanoma is the most fatal type of skin cancer for it rapidly affects the other organs and travels through the lymph system. It is oftentimes mistaken as a mole. But unlike moles, it is changing, multicolored and has irregular shape. It has a thickness of 2 millimeters on its first stage.
The thickness of melanoma continually grows. In the picture, the thickness of the melanoma is between 2 and 4 millimeters and is now on stage II. On this stage, the cancer cells are still confined in the skin but anytime will spread beyond the skin.
We can alter and define statistics through early treatment and awareness is our best weapon in winning the battle against this disease.
Want to analyze more photos of skin cancer?
To learn more about the signs of skin cancer, please visit http://fivesignsofskincancer.net/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Roshan_De_Alwis
This is caused by too much exposure to the sun which emits ultraviolet radiation. It commonly develops on areas such as scalp, head, shoulders and arms which are sun-exposed. But, it can also grow anywhere even on not ordinarily expose to the sun area of the skin. Light skin toned people have higher risk of acquiring skin cancer but in some cases dark-skinned people are also likely to acquire it.
Fortunately, even on early stages, this is highly detectable. One can have a preliminary self check-up on his skin and detect suspicious lesions or moles. Once, an unusual mole or lesion is detected, the health provider can confirm on the earlier stage and place early treatment as well. With this, there is about 100% rate of curability.
It is also important to know on what stage the cancer is to plan its treatment well. Generally, it is done through biopsy. Biopsy is done by taking a sample tissue to the cancerous area. The sample is then examined through the aid of microscope by a pathologist.
There are several types of skin cancer. One is basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer and looks like a sore or a waxy, red bump on the skin as showed on the picture. Though, it grows slowly, but it can spread and affect other tissues.
Another form of skin cancer is Squamous cell carcinoma. It looks like a red patch or lumps on the skin and also grows slowly.
Both of these types have the size of about 1 centimeter diameter or smaller on its first stage. If the diameter reaches 2 centimeters, the cancer cells are on its stage 2 and about to affect other organs, bones and ligaments. So, it is best to treat it before it reaches the next stage.
Melanoma is the most fatal type of skin cancer for it rapidly affects the other organs and travels through the lymph system. It is oftentimes mistaken as a mole. But unlike moles, it is changing, multicolored and has irregular shape. It has a thickness of 2 millimeters on its first stage.
The thickness of melanoma continually grows. In the picture, the thickness of the melanoma is between 2 and 4 millimeters and is now on stage II. On this stage, the cancer cells are still confined in the skin but anytime will spread beyond the skin.
We can alter and define statistics through early treatment and awareness is our best weapon in winning the battle against this disease.
Want to analyze more photos of skin cancer?
To learn more about the signs of skin cancer, please visit http://fivesignsofskincancer.net/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Roshan_De_Alwis
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