Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer cases are likely to double in the future and Black Men are the group, which are most at risk. At present there is no scientific evidence to prove why some men are at greater risk than others. However researchers indicate that men from ethnic communities, a high fat diet, family members who have had prostate cancer, smoking, inadequate access to healthcare and poor socio-economic conditions are some of the factors. If this situation continues some families will lose their fathers, husbands, brothers, uncles, grandfathers.

Difficulty in passing water
Delays in urinating
Stopping and starting urinating
A weak stream of urine
Urinating more often than usual
Pain while urinatingBlood in the urine
Pain or stiffness in the lower back and hips

These symptoms can also be caused by other conditions that are less serious than prostate cancer; such as a non-cancerous enlarged prostate gland or a kidney infection. Men in general know little or nothing about prostate and testicular cancer. Self-examination and the above tell tale symptoms are imperative for early detection. Support the scrotum (testicle bag) in the palm of your hand and feel for any lumps in either testicle any enlargement of the testicle a feeling of heaviness, a dull ache growth of the upper chest, a sudden collection of fluid in the scrotum.

Black Men are twice as likely to die within five years of being diagnosis with the disease as White Men. Researchers recommend testing begins at 55 for white men and 45 or earlier for black men. Be adamant with your doctor that you want to be tested even if he thinks it is too early. Black Men and ethnic communities are more likely to be unemployed, live in overcrowded housing, be at the bottom of the social class, have more stresses in their lives. These poor socio-economic conditions along with inadequate screening are some of the causes.

Although there is little scientific evidence a poor diet and lack of exercise has been being linked to increasing the risk of prostate cancer, most scientist agree that a high fat diet along with red meat should be minimized. Scientists and researchers suggest a diet low in animal fat and high in vegetables, fruits, and grains these guidelines provide an overall healthful approach to eating that also helps lower the risk for some other types of cancer. Tomatoes, grapefruit and watermelon are rich in a substance (lycopenes) that helps prevent damage to DNA and may help lower prostate cancer risk. Evidence suggests that men who have close family members with prostate cancer are more likely to get prostate cancer themselves. Find out if anyone of your relatives has this disease if so start screening at 40 and have yearly checks. Black Men and ethnic communities in the western culture are more at risk.

Diagnosis & Screening

Rectal examination is the most accurate way to test for prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is an abnormal growth of cells most grow slowly but some grow quicklyPSA blood test measures the level of prostate specific Antigen in the blood a high reading may suggest prostate cancer but could be caused by other conditions.

Watchful waiting (also called expectant therapy) is employed if the prostate cancer is slow growing and is not spreading to other parts of the body

Biopsy; A tiny sample of tissue from the prostate is taken using a probe and the tissue analyzed

Ultrasound; a small probe is inserted into the back passage and a scan taken to show the exact size of the prostate

A Bone Scan can be taken to determine whether there is any cancer that has spread to the bones near the prostate

Be aware that none of these tests individually are conclusive indicators of prostate cancer.

Further tests are needed for a conclusive diagnosis and best treatment.

TREATMENTS:

Surgery; the entire prostate is removed in an operation called a ‘prostatectomy’

Radiotherapy; high energy rays are used to destroy the cancer cells.

Hormone treatment; drugs can be used to lower the level of testosterone in the blood which has the effect of slowing down or stopping the growth of the cancerous tumor. However, some prostate tumors develop the ability to grow without testosterone.

Brachytherapy; a treatment where radioactive ‘seeds’ are implanted directly into the tumor.

Conformal radiotherapy, a new prostate cancer treatment developed at the institute of cancer research, leads to radical reduction in side effects, and therefore the possibility of much higher doses leading to an increased cure rate.

The method most commonly used to treat prostate cancer varies in different countries. In the US prostatectomy, removal of the prostate, is common. In the UK both radiotherapy and prostatectomy are widely used, although radiotherapy is sometimes the preferred option as it has fewer side effects. All treatments can cause side effects and carry the long-term risk of impotence.

High profile Black Men who currently have the disease include:

Nelson Mandela (Former south African president)

Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Louis Farrakhan (Leader of the Nation of Islam)

Richard Williams (Father & coach to US Tennis players Venus and Serena)

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

Men are known for leaving health issues to the last moment when the list of options is reduced and the illness is at critical stage. It is imperative that diagnosis is caught in the early stages. Be aware that Black Men have approximately a 1 in 10 chance of developing this disease and are twice as likely to die as White Men.

Contact your doctor or Everyman Action Against Male Cancer should you want to take a test or require further information.

A note for the women… Please pass this information on to any men you know, you could be saving their life.

Source of information Everyman 123 Brompton road London SW7 3RP

Tel: 0207 878 3810 National prostate cancer coalition http://www.pcacoalition.org/

Other links:

Cancer resource center http://www.cancer.org/

Thomas Farrington is a nationally recognized CEO of a Boston- based technology company. These days however, he is widely hailed for his best-selling book about prostate cancer, "Battling The Killer Within." Farrington, a prostate cancer survivor, has kicked off a campaign to educate men about this devastating disease. He is acutely aware that knowledge of prostate cancer and its treatments can save men's lives, especially those at high risk. Farrington's own father and both grandfathers were stricken by prostate cancer. Yet, he did not realize his high risk for this disease until after a diagnosis was made. www.battlingthekillerwithin.com