| The prostate gland is located directly beneath the | | | | which ones you're taking and how often and how |
| bladder and in front of the rectum. Like other | | | | long they're taken. The approaches to treatment |
| cancers, the cause of prostate cancer is not known; | | | | include: just ever watchful waiting to see whether |
| it appears to be more common in African American | | | | the cancer is growing slowly and not causing any |
| men and men with a family history of the disease. At | | | | symptoms. Medicines can be used to adjust the |
| an advanced age, the risks of surgery for prostate | | | | levels of testosterone; called hormonal manipulation. |
| cancer or other more radical treatments may actually | | | | Chemotherapy medications are often used to treat |
| be worse than the disease. | | | | prostate cancers that are resistant to hormonal |
| The main job of the prostate gland is to make | | | | treatments. Surgery, radiation therapy, and hormonal |
| seminal fluid, the milky substance that transports | | | | therapy can interfere with libido on a temporary or |
| sperm. Prostate cancer is normally a slow growth | | | | permanent basis. Surgery is usually only |
| cancer that can take years before it becomes | | | | recommended after thorough evaluation and |
| deadly. About 80 percent of men who reach the age | | | | discussion of all available treatment options. |
| of 80 have prostate cancer. | | | | In the early stages, surgery and radiation may be |
| Weak or interrupted flow of urine and painful or | | | | used to remove or attempt to kill the cancer cells or |
| burning urination can be symptoms to watch out for. | | | | shrink the tumor. Medications can have many side |
| Additional symptoms that may be associated with | | | | effects, including hot flashes and loss of sexual desire. |
| this disease are bone pain or tenderness, and | | | | Besides hormonal drugs, hormone manipulation may |
| abdominal pain. Because prostate cancer symptoms | | | | also be done by surgically removing the testes. |
| can mimic other diseases or disorders, men who | | | | Studies done on antioxidant vitamins question their |
| experience any of these symptoms should undergo a | | | | value when not contained in food; it's clearly better |
| thorough work-up to determine the underlying cause | | | | to consume these antioxidants in living foods because |
| of the symptoms. | | | | they may also need to work with other nutrients |
| The need to urinate frequently, especially at night is | | | | present in the foods to work properly. A good |
| another symptom. Blood in the urine or semen and | | | | dietary, natural treatment approach is to avoid all |
| frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or | | | | acidic inflammatory foods; those are foods that |
| upper thighs can be symptoms of cancer. Other | | | | aren't alive. Use flaxseed oil or walnut oil in your daily |
| symptoms might include unintentional weight loss and | | | | dark green salad. |
| lethargy. | | | | The first step in managing your prostate health is to |
| A PSA test with a high level can also be from a | | | | change your diet; I think all experts would agree on |
| non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland. A | | | | this. Buy lacinato kale and juice it in your juicer with |
| bone scan can indicate whether the cancer has | | | | sweet carrots. For natural treatment for the prostate |
| spread or not. CT scans may be done to see if the | | | | make an appointment with a naturopathic doctor, |
| cancer has metastasized (spread). | | | | called a naturopath; ask around for referrals. |
| When a digital rectal exam is performed it often | | | | Making a ginger tea, by adding a thin slice or two of |
| reveals an enlarged prostate with a hard, irregular | | | | fresh gingerroot to hot water, is helpful to many |
| surface. A prostate gland biopsy usually confirms the | | | | people I know. Drink freshly made carrot juice every |
| diagnosis. Another test usually used when prostate | | | | day that you make in a juicer or juice extractor. Put |
| cancer symptoms are present is a digital rectal exam | | | | two tablespoons of unbleached, unrefined and |
| (DRE) performed by the doctor, proctologist or | | | | undeodorized coconut oil in your smoothies; coconut |
| oncologist. | | | | oil is plant-based, not animal-based and is actually |
| Some drugs with numerous side effects are being | | | | good for us. |
| used to treat advanced prostate cancer, blocking the | | | | If you've already been diagnosed with prostate |
| production of testosterone, called chemical castration; | | | | cancer, pick the option that's best suited to you and |
| it has the same result as surgical removal of the | | | | your continuing good health. The outcome of |
| testes. Thoroughly discuss all your treatment options | | | | prostate cancer varies greatly; mostly because the |
| and concerns with your doctor and other health | | | | disease is found in older men who may have a |
| professionals; it never hurts to get a second or even | | | | variety of other complicating diseases or conditions, |
| third opinion or more if necessary - don't be afraid to | | | | such as cardiac or respiratory disease, or disabilities |
| ask. Be aware that some men chose natural | | | | that immobilize or greatly decrease their activities. |
| treatment options and forgo any surgery, radiation or | | | | Just about all men with prostate cancer survive at |
| chemotherapy. | | | | least five years after their diagnosis, 93% survive at |
| Side effects of chemotherapy drugs depend on | | | | least 10 years, and 67% survive more than 15 years. |