My father died of complications in his prostate. Currently I am experiencing some difficulty in urinating, no pain but I have to sometimes force the urine out. I am also experinecing waking up at night at an average of 2 to 3 times to urinate. What are ways to alleviate my problem and prevent development into prostate cancer or similar ailment ?|||SEE A DOCTOR! This is not a normal condition, and with the history in your family, you should get it checked out.|||Please, go see a doctor. This is the only solution. It may save your life. There is nothing to be ashamed or worried about. Just go.

I have this friend, who is only 34, he has Chronic Infection of the Prostate. I learned from my brother that it could turn into cancer. I wanted to know how long can a man live with prostate cancer?|||Hello,

as one of the previous answerers has mentioned it DOES sound like your friend has %26quot;chronic prostatitis%26quot; - which is an inflammation of the prostate. This may or may not be related to an infection of the prostate, and is quite different from cancer. There are some people who believe that chronic prostatits increases your risk of prostate cancer although it is not really clear that this is the case. If there is an increased risk of prostate cancer with chronic prostatits, then this increase is very small.

It should also be noted, that even if your friend%26#039;s chronic prostatitis results in him having cancer, at age 34, it will be many years before this even begins to occur. Prostate cancer is a cancer that is related to age. Only about 5% of 50 year old males have prostate cancer but by age 80 about 80% of men will have it. The vast majority of these men have absolutely NO difficulties from this cancer and will never know that they have it. (They will die with the disease, but not OF the disease.)

Finally to answer your question: Once a man is known to have prostate cancer, how long can he live? The vast majority of the time the answer is MANY, MANY years. Patients who have their cancers detected either via the blood test (PSA) or from the digital rectal examination rarely die from prostate cancer in the long run. In fact, it is not even clear that these cancers even need treatment! - although most of these men will choose to received some form of treatment. For those whose cancer comes back after treatment (and this is only about 10-15% of these low-risk men), it will typically return ~5-10 years AFTER they are treated. Once it returns, and if it is not cureable, the men will typically die of their disease anywhere from 5-10 years following this! So for men whose cancers are detected early, the vast majority can be cured (or do not need treatment!), and those whose cancers are not cured will still live 10-20 years.

There are a smaller proportion of men, who present with more advanced cancers (higher PSA levels, or spread of the tumour at diagnosis) whose cancers will tend to spread more rapidly, and may die more quickly of the disease. This does not apply to your friend (who does not even have cancer), but even in these cases, patients will still typically live anywhere form 3-10 years with the disease.

Hope this helps with your question.|||personally I would look it up in google or Yahoo! so that you get true information.

I%26#039;ll look it up for u and give you the URL.

http://www.news-medical.net/?id=22510|||Prostate cancer is usually adenocarcinoma. Symptoms are rare until urethral obstruction occurs. Diagnosis is suggested by digital rectal examination or prostate-specific antigen measurement and confirmed by biopsy. Prognosis for most patients with prostate cancer, especially when it is localized or regional, is very good; more men die with prostate cancer than of it. Treatment is with prostatectomy, radiation therapy, or, for some elderly patients, watchful waiting.|||Ablation.|||It sounds like you%26#039;re talking about prostatitis, which is not prostate cancer. Two completely different problems. As for symptoms of prostate cancer, in the early stages, there are no symptoms of prostate cancer. This is why early detection is done with PSA and physical exam.|||Try this link:

www.psa-rising.com

Infection and cancer are two different things.

Fewer than 20% of Americans with Prostate cancer will die of it

but under National healthcare and it ignoring the Poor and the OLD

57% of Brits with Prstate Cancer will die

50% of French

50% of Germans

25% Canadian

Because they DO NOT treat it!

Will Hillary care really save you?|||Yes, I%26#039;m sure George W. Bush is out there telling people of their prostate cancer.|||I guess she is not likely to care. But it leads me to a question: when Penis Clinton was investigated by a special panel about lying under oath while being questioned by Paula Jones%26#039; lawyers and about his relationship with Tonica Blairinsky, excuse me, I mean Monica Lewinsky, he seemed to be deliberately drinking so that soon he was able to convince the panel that he had to go to the toilet. So does this behavior lead to prostate cancer?|||Again you provide data with no source and expect us to simply believe it.

This time I notice that you exclude Aust and NZ - is that because they do it better than we do this time?

And again since the health systems in these countries vary drastically to sum them up as %26quot;national healthcare%26quot; is demonstrative of sublime ignorance or an intention to mislead - I will let you decide which.

i have a friend who has something wrong with his prostate ,the doctor told him that he might have prostate cancer , he needs to check further .what are symptoms of prostate cancer ?|||The only true symptoms of prostate cancer are and elevated PSA test. An enlarged prostate itself if not always cancer. That could be benign prostatic hypertrophy aka an enlarged prostate. My dad has prostate cancer plus I am a nurse so if you have more questions just ask.|||i can tell you this, it tastes gorgeous.|||The prostate is a gland that encircles a mans urethra like a doughnut. When it is enlarged- from either a tumor, or %26quot;benign prostate hypertrophy or BPH%26quot; (an enlarged prostate that is not cancerous) the most obvious symptom is difficulty completely emptying the bladder. He may get up through the night to pee, and might have trouble peeing even though he feels like he has to go.

Without a further workup it is not possible to tell if it%26#039;s cancer or BPH.

I%26#039;ve been told that Ovarian Cancer is to a woman as Prostate Cancer is to a man. If that is true, then I think that my health insurance company is guilty of discrimination. But I am not an authority that can make that judgement. I am wondering if it would be worth my time to start a lawsuit against any big health insurance company for this issue. I do not have the money for something like that and would need a really good attorney that would be willing to do this for free. Any suggestions? (PS. I%26#039;ve been having pains in the lower groin area and no doctor that I%26#039;ve been to has said anything about O.C. except one that said the test is not covered. I think it is the CA-125 test.)|||The first diagnostic tool for ovarian cancer is a GYN exam with rectal. Sometimes the mass can be felt that way. Insurance covers this test. Next, a CT scan should be done. This will give a clear view of tissue and disclose any masses. This test is covered by insurance also. You can have a vaginal ultrasound-covered also. All these tests are covered IF there is a possibility of OC. Do you have bloating, extra gas, pressure in the lower abdomen and pelvis? Do you have fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss although your abdomen is distended, pain in your back or leg?

The CA125 is just another diagnostic tool-Although ovrian cancer usually causes a high CA125, other conditions can also. Sometimes there is only a small elevation. This test should be the last step-not the first. If you have not had the other tests I listed and are experiencing the symptoms I mentioned, don%26#039;t waste time worrying about a lawsuit-take all the other steps first. Sorry this answer is so long but I have been there in re to ovarian cancer. The CA125 was done AFTER all the other diagnostic tools were used. Please let me know what happens.|||Women won a lawsuit against the insurance companies when Viagra came out. Birth control was always concidered %26#039;optional%26#039; and wasn%26#039;t covered, but insurance companies were willing to pay for the viagra even though it is contraindicated for the people who really need it. If you can find a pro bono lawyer, go for it!|||You need better health insurance, probably just cost you more.|||I don%26#039;t know for sure - I heard some time ago that breast cancer is to a woman as prostate cancer is to a man because of the high incidence of both. Check with the insurance company, not the doctor as he may be wrong. You don%26#039;t want to start a lawsuit and then find out that the test was covered.|||Women are different and men are different. Ovarian cancer is different and Prostrate cancer is different. I the insurance company make discrimination like this they can be sued. I request you to read the terms and condition of the insurance policy and see what are the diseases it is covered and they cover Pre-existing and determined diseases. Because insurance charges are different for the covers provided by them.

I had heart problem and took insurance mentioning this fact and issued the policy without excluding heart ailments. Subsequently I had heart bypass surgery and when I submitted my Claim the insurance company refused to Honor it saying it was pre-existing. I filed a law suit and got the full money.

So the terms of the policy are very important. After going through the same you can take up legally.|||Try the links in http://www.hot8sites.com/cancer/|||The accuracy of the CA-125 test has been in question for quite a long time. People can have false positives or vice versa. Unfortunately there isn%26#039;t a single accurate blood test to confirm or deny a woman has ovarian cancer. Ultrasound, MRI, CT Scans or PET Scans may be able to rule out presence of a tumor.

You could have something such as cystic ovaries or endometriosis.

i was diagnoised with Prostate cancer 18 months ago. i had an biopsy done and out of 12 biops only 1 cancer cell showed up. I have recentely lost my urologist due to insurance. He explained everything too me and for forty-five minutes I listened along with two of my children. After all was said and done I decided on the %26quot;wait %26amp; watch%26quot;. He said something else may kill me before my prostate cancer. He said if a male lives long enough he will have %26quot;prostate cancer%26quot;.

Now to the new Doctor, a Navy Dr. that I am not thrilled about. First of he does not believe in the %26quot;Wait %26amp; watch%26quot; theory. In December he wants to do another biopsy regardless what my PSA level reads. My PSA was 5.2 last examination, and anything over 4.0 you should have a biopsy.

This Navy Doctor does not believe in the %26quot;watch %26amp; wait%26quot;. He wants to do another biopsy regardless what my PSA level is

Should I go see my original Urologist even though I want be covered with Insurace; i.e. just for a second opinion.|||I didn%26#039;t understand your question, however frequent PSA is recommended for close follow up of your case…..|||If you feel more comfortable with this urologist and want to pay the money, then by all means go. However, your new doctor is taking a more proactive approach to your health. It%26#039;s worth it to do biopsies, especially since you do have the prostate cancer to begin with. Some doctors, especially older ones shy away from tests and procedures to save patients time and money and stress. However, this is not the best approach for many people. Give this new doctor a chance, he does things differently and that could end up saving your life. Better safe than sorry.|||The decision what to do is yours, not your doctor%26#039;s. You can try to impose this kind of status with your current doctor. Or you can try to find a doctor who believes in the %26quot;Wait %26amp; watch%26quot; approach and accepts your current insurance.|||I am assuming the VA urologist is the one who told you to do another biopsy. I think I would seek a 3rd opinoin and then decide. You may be eligible for seed plant radiation depending on what your MD says.

I am a cancer RN and I would hate for you to leave your prostate troubles to %26quot;wait and watch%26quot;. Prostate cancer is nothing to mess around with. Take your biopsy result to a 3rd urologist and also speak with an Oncologist and decide how you want to proceed and dont wast any more time.

5 is a high PSA, but not the highest I have ever seen. I think the navy doctor is trying to protect you from cancer spreading.|||the wait and see method could be you wait and see it spread real quick. have the biopsy done just to be sure.|||Once you%26#039;re diagnosed with prostrate cancer.

What%26#039;s the point for another second opinion and more biopsies? Doctors are notorious for that.

That%26#039;s all you need to add to your psychological stress. More tests, more probings, more biopsies and more sticks. The first biopsy is good enough and the test of PSA levels.;for monitoring.

Now, you want to know what intervention are they going to take. You should go back to the Navy dr. Getting treatment from a military hospital is good as they are more radical. You don%26#039;t want somebody to p@ssy foot around for a diagnosis like that. You might need surgical intervention AND chemotherapy to arrest any spread.

If there was only 1 cancer cell, that%26#039;s a good prognosis. All you need is radiation therapy to attack and reduce it. Regardless, you should be in the care of an oncologist, who specializes in cancer. If the oncologist determines that the cancer is advanced , he might recommend surgery. You might have to have that prostrate surgically removed and still go for a round of chemothrapy to be on the safe side.

I know of a lot of patients surviving from prostrate cancer after the surgery. You have to regulate your diet. No more diet hgh in animal fat or red meat. If your cancer was early detected as your case sounds.; you have a good chance of having the cancer arrested. But you shouldn%26#039;t waste any more time.

I strongly urge you to go to the navy dr. and lay your cards on the table. He sounds like the guy for you .Ask him to refer you to a surgeon.and an oncologist. Even if the oncologist requests another biopsy. At least you are in the right hands. A word of caution, biopsy as well as surgery tend to cause metastasis. So you need that chemotherapy to avoid metastasis as it%26#039;s on a systemic basis. . Radiation is good if the cancer is contained and hasn%26#039;t spread as you can%26#039;t radiate the whole body. Urologists and all internists for that matter tend to be more conservative. You don%26#039;t want to apply the %26quot;wait and watch %26quot; theory for Ca. Time is of the essence. Don%26#039;t let them play russian roulette with your life.

You are bound to incur more expenses along the way. So stick with the one with insurance.You don%26#039;t really need the added stress. Try to maintain a positive attitude. Don%26#039;t give up on yourself.

When my mother was diagnosed with cancer, this Dr. suggested liver biopsy. I said no,it%26#039;s painful. He says it%26#039;s not. Okay, try it on yourself., I said.

All of this advice, I%26#039;m giving you are derived from my long years of experience as a professional nurse. And also from my personal experience. Usually, the doctors don%26#039;t discuss

to you, the patient, the full details. Some of them are new and inexperienced. And nurses like me, interact with the patients on a daily basis. So we are more aware of the medical as well as the reality and practical aspects.

Try to pray to God. I%26#039;ll keep you in my prayers. Pls let me know how it goes. I hope you make the right decision.

Homeopathic and holistic approach to medicine is good but not for cancer.|||Take a look at the site below which explains many misunderstood things about the cancer industry, and has some natural cures too.

Cancer

http://dgwa1.fortunecity.com/body/cancer…|||Have you checked to see if there is another Navy doctor you can go see for a second opinion? It%26#039;s very important to be comfortable with the response you recieve from the doctor. We were given 10 minutes with a urologist and then fought to get approval to see a second one. The second one spent an hour with us and answered all our questions. Then we had another fight to get approval for the second urologist to do the surgery. There are several books out there that can give you enough information that you will know what kinds of questions to ask. Also I would suggest you go online to the American Cancer Society. There is a lot of help there. Good luck|||If you have a diagnosis of Prostate Cancer, it doesn%26#039;t matter if there was cancer in only 1 out of 12 cores of biopsy, it%26#039;s still cancer. Therefore, there really is no reason for you to repeat a biopsy. The next step is either expectant management, surgery, or radiation therapy.

However, regardless of what people say, there is often no straight, cut-and-dry answer as to what to do in prostate cancer treatments.

Not having more information on your history, for now I%26#039;ll make the assumption that your prostate cancer was detected because of a slightly high level of PSA with a normal prostate exam and the biopsies you had were positive. This means you have a clinical Stage I cancer. Given your PSA level, it is pretty unlikely that your cancer has spread else where (especially if your prostate exam did not reveal any nodules. It might be a little different if the exam was positive.) The other important info to know about is the Gleason Score of your prostate cancer. If it%26#039;s 7 or below, it%26#039;s a low-intermediate grade, if 8 or greater, then high grade, and the aggressiveness of the cancer is higher.

It is important to look at all of the prognostic indicators of your disease in order to have the best idea of whether your cancer is an aggressive one that is dangerous, or a more benign one less likely to cause problems. Staging, PSA, and Gleason Scores together will help the physician to make a diagnosis. For instance, if all of the clinical information suggest good prognostic disease, and if you are otherwise well, Watch-%26amp;-Wait (aka expectant management), may be a very reasonable approach. The decision regarding what to do, ultimately comes down to you: are you someone who is ok to live with cancer, or are you someone who can%26#039;t stand it and need it to be treated as aggressively as possible?

One thing patients sometimes forget is that if you go to a specialist, you%26#039;ll get what he/she has to %26quot;sell.%26quot; Remember, cancer treatment, especially prostate cancer, requires a multi-disciplinary approach. You might consider getting an opinion from someone besides a urologist. Seek the advise of a medical oncologist, who is not vested in doing surgery or giving you radiation, and may be able to give you additional information.

my husband has prostate cancer for about a year now he is very affraid but will not talk about and will not let me help him. he will not let me go with him to the doctors office. i care for my husband very much and i love him very much i tell him all the time we have been married for 19 years now he tells me that he want a divorce and he says that we are seperated with out me even knowing but he still comes when he wants to so i may see him once out of a two week period he also says that he does not love me any more but i know he does he is very affraide and also confused ever since he was diagnose with his cancer he will not go for counseling at least not with me question is ………..how can i get my husband back to me.|||Oh boy. Sounds like he%26#039;s having a mid life crisis as well.

Prostate cancer is far far from a death sentence. In fact most men will develop it in some form in their lives and most of them will never even have any symptoms.

You might also consider that this may not be the only health or other issue that he has. He may be hiding something else.

All you can do is try to open any possible lines of communication. Be very careful to not put any pressure on him in the process as he sounds like he%26#039;s at the breaking point already. In other words try hard to push your own needs and concerns aside. That%26#039;s going to be hard I know. Maybe try writing him a letter or email?

Good luck.|||Wow this is a tough question…..Can you set him down and let him know that you are just as scared for him as he is..And you really would like to be a part of what is going on.? It almost sounds as if he thinks that if he left you then if he dies you wont be as hurt…….That in someway he is saving you…..Not so sure….sorry|||There is no a whole lot you can do but try to talk calmly and rationally about it. Prostate cancer is ot necessarily a death sentence, but it is if nothing is done about it. I saw a friend of mine father die a horrible death because he did not get the prostate cancer treated. Men can get all out of shape because they think they are going to lose their manhood, but my understanding is this is not always the case. Try to convince him you are trying to help so he can live a long normal life. As I have read on several occasions most men die with prostate cancer not from it.|||First: See what you can find out about nutritional support. Garlic is a natural antibiotic, blueberries fight cancer, as does vitamin C (you can take up to 3000mg of C daily), in divided doses, etc…

Go online and see what you can find out about him incorporating a healthy diet and good multi-vitamin with mineral into his daily routine.

Your man%26#039;s immune system is failing. Ultimately, the body will strive to regain health.

He needs a minimum of 8 hours sleep every night.

He needs to not allow himself stress in his life.

He needs to boost his endorphin and seratonin levels, which helps support the immune system. In english: He needs to laugh.

Help him to find his balance, his karma, his center. Meditation helps. Visualization helps. He needs to envision himself as healthy.

I%26#039;ve had two cancerous tumors removed, about 5 years apart. When people would ask how I was I%26#039;d say, %26quot;Well, other than the cancer, I%26#039;m perfectly healthy.%26quot;

To date, 4 years since the last one, I%26#039;m perfectly healthy.

Also research Pau d%26#039;Arco. Have him discuss it with his doctor. Pau d%26#039;Arco inhibits tumors. There are a host of other %26quot;tumor inhibiting%26quot; herbs…I liked this one.

And he may want to consider doing a de-tox, de-toxification where you try to eliminate as much of the %26quot;negative%26quot; toxins and stuff your body stores. You can pick up a bottle of de-tox at GNC or Wal Mart, most any pharmacy will carry it, and you don%26#039;t need an Rx.

Usually a de tox will consist of a group of roots and herbs like Red Clover Leaf, Burdock Root and Ginger, to name a few.

Once he decides he%26#039;s going to start the bottle, and you only need to do this Once, then he wants to consider incorporating a bland and soft diet, so he%26#039;s not taxing his kidneys, liver and digestive system. He needs to drink more than 8 glasses of water every day, to help with eliminating toxins. And he needs to do this until he finishes the bottle. Then go full swing into your nutritional support. Eat healthy meals, incorporate your vitamins and minerals and herbs and Garlic. (I find Ginger to be Too Strong, but if he likes it, he can eat ginger in his diet.)

As far as your personal relationship with him goes, cancer is incredibly personal….you face your own mortality, you want to protect the ones you love, you shake in your boots, and you turn your face to God.

He isn%26#039;t going to be able to focus on you right now. Let him come. Learn how to give him a good back rub. Make sure you have this information printed out for him. Serve a nutritious, cancer-fighting meal.

Give him some tools for survival.

Rent a comedy. See to it that he gets his dose of laughter while he%26#039;s there, …and when he wants to go, tell him you love him, everything is going to be just fine, and you will wait for him. (Remember those stress levels, bring them down.)

Check out the link below for starters…..

I wish you luck, Nubia,

God bless you and yours, dear…

My friend Dad died of prostate cancer, he told me that the attending doctor told him that the cause of prostate cancer is over sex or under sex. Is this correct? They%26#039;re twelve in the family.|||It continues to amaze and irritate me that these kinds of stories appear so frequently among lay people. Maybe the comment by the physician was said in jest, or the patient didn%26#039;t quite catch the context of the statement that was uttered by the physician. Or just maybe the physician was having a bad day, month, year, or life.

At any rate, if that statement was made, it is, in my humble opinion, irresponsible, at the least.

Physicians are trained to be non-judgemental, but they are only human too.

The cause of any cancer is a combination of factors which, at the level of the molecular machinery of a cell, cause that cell to begin to divide uncontrollably. Errors appear in the DNA (genes) of the cell and it just becomes a cell that %26quot;can%26#039;t say no%26quot; to continuously divide. Thus, a tumor forms and as the tumor grows larger, more errors occur, and the behavior of the cells is no longer helpful to the person, but harmful.

When we understand that each of our bodies is made up of trillions of cells, yes, thousands of billions, it is a wonder that more cells do not become tumors than do.

The body has mechanisms for dealing with these abnormal cells, but for reasons still unknown completely, these mechanisms allow the tumor to progress.

The more rapidly a cell type divides normally in the body, the more often those cell types become cancerous.

Thus, in women there is a relatively high incidence of breast cancer, and in men, prostate cancer.

There are many factors that are associated with a higher incidence of cancer in certain ethnic groups, but as to the certain cause of one individual%26#039;s cancer, medical science is simply not sophisticated enough to make that determination yet. It may never get to that level of sophistication.

So, take good care of your body, it is the only one you will get in your lifetime. And the same goes for me and for any other person.

There was a very special man who lived in the Holy Land 2000 years ago who stated in his language:

%26quot;MODERATION IN ALL THINGS%26quot;

That remains the best advice, I believe, for all of us.|||its gentic….|||Ageing.|||I read a doctors report that said all men will get prostate cancer if they live long enough. I think we need a cure.

Increased research funding for prostate cancer and childhood asthma at the National Institutes of Health?|||Clinton|||I%26#039;ll answer your propaganda with Guess which one made THE TOP TEN MOST CORRUPT POLITICIANS LIST on Judicial Watch?? Answer: Both did and both are still keeping there ratings. Hillary has the #1 spot Obama has #8 Making the top ten most corrupt is quite a achievement because the list shows any corruption of ALL Politicians Republican and Democrats. THE TOP 10!!! But Liberals care less about corruption . If you eliminate ALL Political Corruption you would be eliminating All the Liberal Democrat Party! A very good idea indeed!

What is prostate cancer? plz be as detailed as you can|||%26quot;Prostate Cancer is a malignant growth of the glandular cells of the prostate. Our body is composed of billions of cells; they are the smallest unit in the body. Normally, each cell functions for a while, then dies and is replaced in an organized manner. This results in the appropriate number of cells being present to carry out necessary cell functions. Sometimes there can be an uncontrolled replacement of cells, leaving the cells unable to organize as they did before. Such abnormal growth of cells is called a tumor. Tumors may be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Cancer is abnormal cell growth and disorder such that %26quot;cancer cells%26quot; can grow without the normal controls and limits. A malignancy is a cancerous growth that has the potential to spread and cause damage to other tissues of the body or death. Cancers can spread locally into surrounding tissues, or cancer cells can break away from the tumor and enter body fluids, such as blood and lymph, and spread to other parts of the body. Lymph is an almost clear fluid that drains waste from cells. This fluid travels in vessels to the lymph nodes, small bean-shaped structures that filter unwanted substances, such as cancer cells and bacteria, out of the fluid. Lymph nodes may become filled with cancer cells.

As with most cancers, prostate cancer is not contagious.%26quot;|||It%26#039;s cancer of the prostate|||The prostate gland is a male organ situated below the bladder. In males past puberty, it produces a fluid that is a major constitutent of semen. Prostatic fluid is stored in the seminal vesicles, which inject it into the urethra at ejaculation. The urethra passes through the prostate gland.

Cancer (%26quot;carcinoma%26quot;) is the uncontrolled growth of rogue cells.

Adenocarcinoma of the prostate gland occurs when cells in a man%26#039;s prostate gland become abnormal and poorly differentiated. Adenocarcinoma is the typical prostate cancer, although there are other types of cancer, much rarer, that also manifest themselves in the prostate gland. (Properly speaking, these other cancers should be called %26quot;small-cell cancer of the prostate%26quot; or %26quot;neuroendocrine cancer of the prostate%26quot; or something else, rather than %26quot;prostate cancer%26quot;. All of them are quite rare.)

When cancerous prostate cells migrate to another location, such as a lymph gland, bone, or lung, the cancer is still prostate cancer — not lymphatic cancer, bone cancer, or lung cancer. Even if prostate cancer spreads (metastasizes) to the lungs, it looks and acts like prostate cancer, not like lung cancer.

Prostate cancer is the slowest-growing type of cancer, and one of the commonest (in men). Most men who live long enough will eventually develop prostate cancer; but most of them will die of something else before the cancer grows large enough to kill them.

In the United States, about 200,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year, and about 20,000 men die of it.

As a rule of thumb, a tumor consisting of a billion cancer cells is large enough to detect. If the cell population doubles another ten times, reaching a trillion cancer cells, it%26#039;s too much for the body and the patient dies. A very slow-growing (%26quot;indolent%26quot;) form of prostate cancer might double every two years, and thus might take 20 years from detectability to death if left untreated.

Normal prostate glands secrete many chemicals. Among them is PSA (prostate-specific antigen). Because no other organ secretes it in any appreciable quantity, PSA is an excellent indicator of how many prostate cells a man has. For this reason, the U.S. recommends PSA tests for all men starting at age 50 (younger if the man%26#039;s race or genes predispose him to higher risk). If PSA levels are abnormal, it sometimes indicates cancer; if PSA levels climb at a higher-than-normal rate, it can indicate cancer progression.

Treatments for prostate cancer include the following:

1. Active surveillance: Stay aware of the disease, watch for symptoms, and track changes in PSA.

2. Nutrition: (Some foods and supplements are said to slow the growth of prostate cancer.)

3. HIFU: Destroy the prostate with high-intensity focused ultrasound. Not yet approved by the FDA in the U.S.

4. Hormone therapy: Starve prostate-cancer cells by depriving them of DPH, a metabolite of testosterone.

5. Cryotherapy: Destroy the prostate by freezing.

6. Brachytherapy: Destroy the prostate with radioactive implants.

7. External radiation: Destroy the prostate gland with beams of radiation.

8. Lumpectomy: Excise only a well-defined tumor from the prostate, keep the remainder intact.

9. Prostatectomy: Surgically remove the entire prostate gland.

Of the treatments noted above, 1 and 2 can be combined with any other therapy. When a patient first opts for a therapy that removes or destroys prostate tissue (3 through 9), this is called the %26quot;primary%26quot; therapy; if further treatment is started or continued afterwards, it is called %26quot;secondary%26quot; therapy.

A very typical course of screening, diagnosis, and treatment might look like this:

0a. A young man needs no screening till age 40 or 50.

0b. Routine digital rectal exams (DRE) and PSA tests every few years disclose nothing abnormal.

0c. At age 55, a PSA test discloses a reason to suspect cancer. Patient is referred to a urologist for workup.

0d. Imaging tests and/or DRE provide further reason for suspicion, and a biopsy is scheduled.

0e. The biopsy confirms a cancer. From the samples, an estimate is made of the cancer%26#039;s grade (aggressiveness) and stage (progression thus far).

The patient has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. For the rest of his life, he should stay aware of his PSA level.

1. In a low-grade cancer, a patient might choose active surveillance for several years, while improving his diet and exercise and getting regular PSA tests.

2. If the cancer grows, or is more aggressive, a patient will typically opt either for surgery (to excise the prostate and allow it to be examined pathologically; radiation remains available as a secondary treatment if the cancer returns) or for primary radiation therapy (to destroy the prostate through radiation; but post-radiation surgery is usually not feasible).

A patient whose prostate has been excised or destroyed almost always retains/regains continence and usually retains/regains potency. However, because he lacks a prostate gland, he no longer produces prostatic fluid and is no longer capable of fathering children without extraordinary measures.

In most cases, prostatectomy or radiation is %26quot;successful%26quot;; this means that the cancer becomes undetectable and remains undetectable for ten years. However, because prostate cancer grows so slowly, even a successful treatment does not mean the man is free from any risk of recurrence.

3. If the cancer returns (as shown by a PSA level of greater than 0.2), further treatment is usually advised, often consisting of radiation combined with hormone therapy.

4. Because of the many promising therapies now in the pipeline, undergoing clinical trials, if a man diagnosed this year with prostate cancer can keep it at bay for another decade or so, chances are good that he can continue to control it using new drug therapies that won%26#039;t be available until 2015 or 2020 or later.

What with the slow-growing nature of the cancer, the relative ease of early detection, and the many treatment modalities, most men can survive 15 to 50 years after their initial diagnosis, so long as they receive proper care.