Prostate cancer is a serious issue that affect hundreds of thousands of men each year.  Prostate testing and screening is an important means of catch this deadly cancer in its early stages.  If you are diagnosed with prostate cancer there are a number of treatment options available.
Watchful Waiting
If PSA screening and testing indicates the presence of a very small or slow-growing cancer then your doctor may recommend passive therapy.  This consists of simply keeping a closer eye on the development of the cancer by repeated testing and observation.  This course of action is especially appropriate for those that are very elderly or who are in very poor health.

Hormone Therapy

Hormone therapy uses varying drugs to reduce the amount of testosterone in the body or to block testosterone getting to the cancer cells.  Testosterone can actually work against the body by causing the cancer to grow more quickly.  Hormone therapy can reduce the growth of cancer, but isn’t usually enough to kill the cancer cells.  This treatment is usually used in combination with another treatment to completely remove the cancer.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the use of chemicals that destroy growing cells in the body.  Like hormone therapy it is better suited to controlling cancer growth than in curing it.

EBRT

External Beam Radiation Treatment or EBRT uses high-powered x-rays to destroy cancerous tissue.  EBRT is performed over the course of a couple of months, usually on a near daily basis.  The procedure is painless, causes only minimal side effects and the individual sessions take very little time.

Radioactive Seed Implants

This form of treatment, also called brachytherapy, uses small radioactive pellets that are implanted into the prostate in the area of the cancerous growth.  The pellets emit high dose radiation for a lengthy period of time (usually depleting within a year).  These pellets are surgically implanted with a needle while the patient is unconscious and are not removed after losing their radiation.

Radical Prostatectomy

Radical prostatectomy is the complete surgical removal of the prostate gland.  This can be accomplished either by retropubic surgery (through and incision below the bellybutton) or perineal surgery (through an incision in the perineum).  This type of surgery can have significant effect on bladder control and sexual function.  Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy is a relatively new form of radical prostatectomy that uses remote control robots to perform the procedure in a more sterile and less invasive manner.

Multiple Approaches

Unfortunately, despite the many advances in the treatment of cancer, there still isn’t a miracle cure for prostate cancer or any other type of cancer.  Also, not all instances of cancer will respond the same way to the same treatments.  If, with treatment, your prostate cancer does not show signs of improving or if it seems to be progressing despite the treatment then your doctor may want to try other approaches.  There is no sure-fire way to beat cancer, but the early cancer development is caught and treatment is begun the better the chances of stopping it before it becomes life-threatening.

Prostate cancer is the number two cancer risk for men.  Because prostate cancer is such a prominent risk for men, many doctors urge getting regular prostate exams and testing after the age of 40.  There are a number of methods used to identify prostate cancer in its earliest stages when it is more easily treatable.

DRE

A digital rectal exam should be a part of any man’s yearly physical.  This exam allows the doctor to judge the health of the prostate, evaluate any enlargement that may be happening and to check for nodes that could be cancerous growths on your prostate.

Screening

If you doctor feels that you have a higher than average risk for developing prostate cancer then he or she may recommend cancer screening.  There are a number of factors that increase the chances of developing prostate cancer.  African-American men are the most susceptible.  Chances of prostate cancer also increase as you get older or if you have had prostate cancer in the past.
A screening test can help to catch cancer before it produces any symptoms and before it spreads.  Often by the time a patient experiences symptoms the cancer has already grown and spread to other organs.  However, just because your doctor recommends screening doesn’t mean that he or she necessarily thinks that you have cancer, only that you may be at higher risk for it.

What is PSA?

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening is the type of screening most often used to help catch early-stage prostate cancer.  The prostate-specific antigen is a protein that is made by the prostate.  Most men have a fairly low PSA level.  When PSA levels rise it can be a red flag that there is a tumor affecting the prostate.  However a high PSA level does not necessarily mean cancer, it can also indicated a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate.  PSA screening does not indicate cancer but can let your doctor know if further testing is needed.

Further Testing

If PSA screening shows elevated levels of prostate-specific antigens but there are no other signs of cancer then the doctor may simply recommend regular DREs and PSA screenings to monitor the prostate for changes.  However, if PSA levels continue to rise or if the doctor detects a growth during a digital rectal exam then there is cause for further testing.  These test can help discover if there is indeed a cancerous growth or if it is a non-cancerous issue with the prostate.
Testing to determine and diagnose cancer can vary.  The doctor may want to test to rule out non-cancerous causes first, such as doing a urine test to eliminate the possibility of a urinary tract infection.  Transrectal ultrasound, x-rays or cytoscopy can be used to get an image of the prostate to eliminate the possibility of non-cancerous enlargement.
If cancer is suspected the doctor will want to do a biopsy.  A tissue sample will be taken from the prostate using a needle.  It can then be examined under the microscope to look for abnormal cell growth (cancer).

Prostate cancer ranks as the number two cancer-related killer of men.  It is the single most common cancer to be diagnosed in men.  It is estimated that close to 192,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2009 alone.  Of those, more than 28,000 will lose their lives.  Prostate cancer is an issue that will effect an estimated 1 out of every 6 men.
There are a number of unavoidable risk factors that increase a man’s chance of developing prostate cancer.  African-Americans are the most susceptible to prostate cancer, but other factors like simply advancing in age increase the chance of prostate cancer.  No one can affect their race, gender or age, but it is important to be aware of the risks and take steps to alter things that can be changed to reduce the chances of developing prostate cancer and promote a healthier prostate.

Exercise

There are several lifestyle changes that can help to reduce a man’s risk of prostate cancer and increase prostate health.  Simple changes to diet and eliminating other risk factors like smoking can greatly decrease the chances of prostate cancer.  Increased exercise, specifically aerobic exercise, may also play a role in reducing risk and promoting greater prostate health.
In recent years there has be contradictory evidence for connecting exercise with the risk of prostate cancer.  However, recent clinical research studies indicate that regular aerobic exercise may, indeed, play a role in prostate health and decrease a man’s chances of developing prostate cancer.  In fact, increased exercise can possibly lower that chance by as much as 65%.

Importance of Aerobics

It is important to note that aerobic exercise alone is indicated to potentially prevent to occurrence of prostate cancer.  Simply exercising more may not be enough to reap the benefits of a healthier prostate.  Those who statistically demonstrated a significantly lower risk for prostate cancer were those who engaged in vigorous aerobic exercise on a regular basis.  In fact, even moderate aerobic exercise was indicated to reduce the risk of the high-grade tumors that spread most aggressively.
Everyone understands the importance of aerobic exercise in maintaining energy levels and promoting overall good health.  However, now more than ever, it is important for men to become more physically active.  Not only can regular aerobic exercise boost a man’s stamina, energy,  heart health and overall wellbeing, but it can lead to a healthier prostate and may well save his life.

Frequency of Exercise

Sporadic exercise has very little benefit in any capacity, much less in the potential to maintain a healthy prostate.  The full impact of exercise can only be seen through regularity, intensity and the length of time that the exercise is engaged in.  All men should, if at all possible, engage in 30 minutes of high impact aerobic exercise each day.  It may be surprising to think that the racket ball game you pick up once or twice a week might be saving your prostate, but it absolutely could.  Even engaging in longer periods of moderate aerobics like jogging could impact your prostate health.

Prostate enlargement is an issue that affects the life of 9 out of every 10 men at some point in their lives.  As you get older the chances of prostate issues gets higher.  For the most part, prostate enlargement is not life threatening.  However, prostate cancer is always a serious risk.
Prostate cancer remains the number two in the statistical data relating to cancer fatalities in men.  In fact, it is estimated that in 2009 there were just short of 200,000 prostate cancer related deaths.  That a staggering number and one that should raise a warning flag for all men regarding prostate health.  Because prostate cancer is a serious problem for men, it is important that all men talk to their physicians about their risk, get regular exams and be aware of the signs of prostate cancer.

Regular Exams

Not all prostate enlargement is due to cancer.  Most prostate enlargement is not life threatening.  However, almost half of men over the age of 60 show signs of prostate enlargement, many of whom started having problems much younger.  If you are over the age of 40 it is important to talk to your doctor about your risk for prostate cancer and to get regular digital rectal exams.

Prostate cancer can be treated successfully in many cases, but the chances of surviving prostate cancer are much better if it is caught early.  Getting regular digital rectal exams allows your doctor to check for nodules that could indicate malignant tumors on the prostate gland.  Catching those cancerous growths on your prostate early can significantly improve  your prognosis.
Being open with your doctor about prostate health and educating yourself about the risks of prostate cancer is the best way to decrease you chances of being a number in next year’s prostate cancer-related death statistics.  Many men put off getting prostate exams because they feel awkward about the procedure.  However, this is one instance where shyness and hesitancy can be fatal.

When to Talk to Your Doctor

Prostate cancer is not age discriminate.  True, the chances of cancer increase with age, but prostate cancer has been diagnosed in some men as early as in their 20s.  So just because you are under the age 50 don’t assume you are exempt and risk free.
Symptoms of prostate enlargement include an increase frequency in the number of times you need to urinate, including waking up to urinate during the night.  An increased urgency in the need to urinate can also signal prostate changes, as can leaking or continued dripping after urination.  Prostate enlargement can also lead to a feeling of not being able to full empty your bladder.
Though age and race are both risk factors, the single greatest risk factor for getting prostate cancer is simply having a prostate.  In other words, all men are at risk.  However, there are signs that you can watch for that indicate prostate issues.  Not all prostate issues are cancer-related, but it is important to understand changes in your prostate and to notify your doctor immediately if you begin seeing the signs of prostate enlargement.

Prostate enlargement is something that almost every man will have to deal with at some point in his life.  Some men may never experience any symptoms at all from prostate enlargement well into old age.  Others may experience severe effects from a much younger age.  Regardless of where you may fall in that spectrum, chances are you will have to face prostate issues at some point.

BPH

Studies indicate that, by the age of 70, almost 90% of men display at least some signs of an enlarged prostate.  Many men begin to experience problems with their prostate as early as their 50s.  Most will only ever develop benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) which is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate.
Even though BPH is not life threatening, it can still be a source of discomfort and inconvenience.  Men suffering from BPH can have a wide range of symptoms ranging from simply embarrassing to physically painful.  An enlarged prostate can cause difficulty in urination, an increased in frequency of urination, the inability to completely empty your bladder and other unpleasant symptoms.

Prostate Cancer

The symptoms of an enlarged prostate don’t always mean BPH, though.  The same symptoms can also be an indication of something much more serious.  When prostate enlargement is not benign, it can quickly become a life-threatening issue – prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer diagnosed in men.  It also ranks as the second highest cancer-related cause of death for men.  Sadly, many of these deaths happen because the cancer was not caught at an early stage and began to spread.  This is why it is extremely important for all men to get regular prostate examinations starting in your 40s.

Protecting Your Prostate

Getting regular prostate exams is the best way to improve your chances of catching cancer early, before it is too late.  However, maintaining a healthy lifestyle between exams is the best way to reduce your chances of developing prostate cancer.  Being proactive about prostate health can also potentially help you avoid some of the uncomfortable symptoms associated with BPH as well.
Probably one of the most important changes a man can make to protect his prostate is to change how he eats.  We all love our junk food, but making some small changes now can pay off later.  Upping your intake of anti-oxidants is crucial.  Anti-oxidants bind to the free radicals that can cause cancer and help remove them from the body.
Reducing your intake of greasy fast-foods and caffeine help improve your chances as well.  If you drink or smoke, consider quitting or at least cut back.  If you don’t already exercise at least 20-30 minutes a day, start getting into the habit.  Taking time to increase your frequency of aerobic exercise not only improves your overall health, but recent studies show it may reduce your chances of developing prostate cancer as well.  Making healthy choices now may not just save you from embarrassing problems with bladder control, it could save your life.