Sex -

From my short- time experience and from what I have heard already from other sufferers – this is one of those topics that men most want to know about- but few medics are specific about. All too often, the individual reality remains hidden behind terms and statistics like 30% impotence- but what does that mean exactly to the individual?

“Impotence” can be a very general term - to some it means an inability to sire children – yet to others it means the ability to have an erection and satisfy a partner. What does it really mean on a Saturday night when you are alone with a partner, you’ve had a nice meal, the mood is right- and you wish to indulge in some sexual activity?

In discussing this issue honestly and openly, it is necessary for me to ask you to first take the element of “love” right out of the equation. I’m primarily talking about sex and not love or lovemaking. We will put it in back later, but first in raw terms it is necessary to discuss the most basic drive (and function) in all males- the ability to have an erection and please or satisfy a partner.

Having an erection or being able to have one, is at the base of everything we hold dear as being the men that we are. Little wonder, problems with being able to achieve that, can strike at the very core of our sense of wellbeing and confidence.

Physically, each prostate case is different, and how the individual is affected long term entirely depends what is removed by whichever procedure. Given that there are two main “tubes” on either side of the prostate that supply the penis with the “wherewithal” to function properly, in most surgery’s one or even both tubes may have to be removed depending on the spread. Nowadays Surgeons are very careful to try to save as much as possible- but it’s not always possible. If a man’s cancer is on one side of the prostate, as it usually is, it’s almost a certainty that he will lose one of the two tubes. In such a case, his capability may be affected (although not necessarily) if prior to the procedure he had no difficulties in achieving full, firm erections etc. If on the other hand he was experiencing difficulties before one tube was removed, it is highly likely that his capabilities will be even further reduced.

From what I have been able to find out so far- most men with one tube intact may be able to function satisfactorily with or without assistance from such modern day marvels as Viagra or Cialus. This is a fantastic thing because it is not so long ago that there were fewer medical alternatives available, but now many men and their partners are benefiting from these recent medical advances.

If a man loses both “tubes” in radical surgeries, there is another alternative that is still viable in many cases . He can inject himself - (usually alprostadil) into the base of his penis. This is perhaps, not as radical as it sounds and I have two friends who, due to other medical conditions, have happily relied on these injections for several years and have reported few difficulties. They also stress it is nowhere near as bad as it sounds. These options have opened up the way over recent years for men to still indulge in ordinary sexual activity. If a guy is still experiencing difficulties- further adjustments with medications may help correct any imbalances.

One of the reasons why Brachytherapy is enjoying such a positive reputation, is because the procedure leaves the tubes intact, (although atrophied) which in turn, reportedly leaves men functioning better afterwards. In time, emissions will dry up and in cases of surgery where there has been removal, ejaculation will simply end up in the bladder. There will be the sense of cumming as well as an orgasm, but nothing will come out.

Again, all cases are individual and no information here can be relied upon as gospel – but there is cause for optimism because from what I have been told and from what I have been able to find out- in most cases a reasonable form of sex life has been possible post procedure or surgery.

One man I know had his prostate removed thirty years ago and he reports to have had a very active sex life up until very recently (he’s now 85). Although following the procedure he has been unable to produce any ejaculate, he said that he always believed his orgasms were even more intense and no less satisfying.

I mentioned in the beginning of this article that I was mainly speaking of only the ability to perform penetration with a weapon that functioned, but it would be remiss of me not to mention the special assistance that can be provided by a loving understanding partner within the confines of a relationship. While I’m not going to address that issue here simply because my research so far has been limited in that area, it is worth noting that in most cases a satisfying sex life encompasses much more than just penetration- and even though a man may be robbed of some aspect of his sexuality- the door is still open to explore and enjoy many other techniques of sensuality. It is seldom a case of coming to the end of the world!

Certainly, in these times, impotence is not the big bogeyman that it once was and in future times I look forward to exploring this topic more and posting information. If you have some experience in this area and would like to share it with me under a blanket of anonymity to share it with others, please feel free to contact me via the “contact me box” and your experience could be invaluable in assisting other men.

Dan Jarrett - one man’s journey battling prostate cancer includes a diary, resources and blog. We look at things in layman’s terms and discuss matters such as sex openly covering things that the medics don’t tell you.
http://www.dansprostate.com

Every year there are about one million prostate biopsies carried out in the United States alone, of which about 25 percent show the presence of prostate cancer. However, another 25 percent of these biopsies also produce false negative results, which means that a quarter of those men undergoing a prostate biopsy are being cleared by their biopsy, despite the fact that they do in fact have prostate cancer.

These results do not means that there is anything wrong with the prostate biopsy procedure as a tool for identifying prostate cancer, but it does mean that there is a need to identify those patients who, despite returning a negative result, are at high risk from prostate cancer and should therefore undergo a second follow-up biopsy.

Until now there has been no simple way of identifying patients at risk, however, a recent study of more than 500 patients being investigated for prostate cancer may provide a solution.

All of the men in the study group had previously received a negative biopsy result and researchers found that when they looked at both a patient’s prostate specific antigen (PSA) test results and adjusted this for the size of the prostate gland they were able to identify those patients who were more likely to receive a positive result on a follow-up biopsy.

The researchers also discovered that a Gleeson score of 7 or higher suggested the presence of a life-threatening prostate cancer and the need for a further biopsy. The Gleeson score, which runs on a scale between 2 and 10, is derived from a microscopic investigation of biopsy tissue, with a low score indicating a cancer with a low risk of spread and a high score indicating a cancer which is more likely to spread.

A prostate biopsy is an expensive procedure and one which can also be very worrying for the patient. It can also be a painful procedure which can be accompanied by bleeding and patients run the risk of infection following the biopsy. For these reasons it is in everyone’s interest to identify those patients for whom a second biopsy is advisable and to reduce as far as possible the number of unnecessary follow-up biopsies being performed each year.

ProstateCancerExplained.com provides information on a wide range of topics including the prostate gland, an enlarged prostate, prostatitis, prostate surgery and finding a prostate cancer cure.

Prostrate cancer treatments can be categorized into two categories, based on the stage in which the cancer is. First category is called the Early Stage Prostrate Cancer Treatments and these treatments are administered in Stage I and Stage II. The second category is referred to as the Advanced Stage Prostrate Cancer Treatments and these are administered in Stage III and Stage IV.

Early Stage Prostrate Cancer Treatments

Surgery- Prostatectomy refers to the surgical removal of the prostrate gland. Patients can go for the traditional open surgery or the new, less invasive laparoscopic approach.

Robotic surgery – It is the latest development in prostrate cancer treatment and is very effective. It is based on the da Vinci System and preserves nerves, muscles, and other structures in the prostrate area.

Radiation Therapy- It is administered to kill the cancerous cells in the prostrate. The treatment is usually administered over a period of several weeks. There are certain side effects related to radiation therapy for prostrate cancer treatment and you should discuss them with your physician.

Cryosurgery- It is a new technique which is still under evaluation. Cryosurgery is done under anesthesia. Cooling probes are guided into the prostrate with the help of ultrasound. Once there these cooling probes freeze the cancerous cells, thereby killing them.

High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU)- This is also carried out under anesthesia. During HIFU a probe is placed into the prostrate gland through the rectum. Then a high intensity focused ultrasound beam is used to raise the temperature in the concerned area, thereby killing the cancerous cells.

Late Stage Prostrate Cancer Treatments

In the late stages doctors usually recommend Orchiectomy, surgical removal of the testicles. This is done to remove the main source of testosterone, which are said to help the cancerous cells. Doctors also recommend radiation and chemotherapy when hormone therapy proves to be ineffective.

Whatever is the stage of cancer, it is important to discuss all the treatment options with your physician. Learn about the disadvantages and advantages associated with all the treatments so that you can make a sound decision regarding your health.

Before taking any treatment, you have to make sure that you know all the procedures and do one that is most appropriate for your condition. Any and all concerns must be spoken out. Remember that you are dealing with your life here, so it is certainly not the time to be shy. By all means, consult with your doctor, and ask questions whenever necessary.

Click here to understand more about prostate cancer treatments. Read useful facts on prostate cancer online here. Also learn how to find a help for prostate cancer from the Internet community.

Detected in its early stages, prostate cancer can be effectively treated and cured. In most men, prostate cancer grows very slowly; most men will never know they have the condition. Prostate cancer is a malignant tumor of the prostate gland.

The main job of the prostate gland is to make seminal fluid, the milky substance that transports sperm. It’s estimated that approximately 234,460 men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year, and approximately 27,350 will die of the disease. If you have prostate cancer, are concerned about getting it, or if you’re looking out for the health of someone you love, this article can help.

One symptom is difficulty starting urination or holding back urine. One symptom is a need to urinate frequently, especially at night. Blood in the urine or semen and frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs are often symptoms of cancer.

Most symptoms, although associated with prostate cancer, are more likely to be connected to non-cancerous conditions. Because symptoms can mimic other diseases or disorders, men who experience any of these symptoms should undergo a thorough work-up to determine the underlying cause of the symptoms. Having one or more cancer symptoms does not necessarily mean that you have prostate cancer.

One downside to PSA testing is that health care providers are detecting and treating some very early-stage prostate cancers that may never have caused the patient any harm. A number of tests may be done to confirm a diagnosis. A PSA test with a high level can also be from a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland.

A urinalysis may indicate if there is blood in the urine. Another test usually used when prostate cancer symptoms are present is the digital rectal exam (DRE) performed by the doctor. A chest x-ray may be done to see if there’s a spread of cancer.

The conventional treatment of prostate cancer is often controversial. Surgery, radiation therapy, and hormonal therapy can interfere with libido on a temporary or permanent basis. Medications can have many side effects, including hot flashes and loss of sexual desire.

Be aware that some men choose natural treatment options and forgo any surgery, radiation or chemotherapy. Anyone considering surgery should be aware of the benefits, risks and the extent of the procedure. In patients whose health makes the risk of surgery unacceptably high, radiation therapy is often the chosen conventional alternative.

Surgery, called a radical prostatectomy, removes the entire prostate gland and some of the surrounding tissues. Surgery is usually only recommended after thorough evaluation and discussion of all available treatment options. Other medications used for hormonal therapy, with side effects, include androgen-blocking agents, which prevent testosterone from attaching to prostate cells.

Chemotherapy medications are often used to treat prostate cancers that are resistant to hormonal treatments. Whether radiation is as good as removing the prostate is debatable and the decision about which to choose, if any, can be difficult. Treatment options can vary based on the stage of the tumor.

If chemotherapy is decided upon after the first round of chemotherapy, most men receive further doses on an outpatient basis at a clinic or physician’s office. Besides hormonal drugs, hormone manipulation may also be done by surgically removing the testes.

If you haven’t been diagnosed but are concerned about symptoms you should call for an appointment to see your doctor; and if you’re a man older than 50 who has never been screened for prostate cancer (by rectal exam and/or PSA level determination) or not had a regular annual exam, or have had a family history of prostate cancer, make an appointment soon. It’s important to get as informed as possible and read all the newest books, ebooks and research available. Consider sites, such as this one, just a starting point where you can begin to learn about prostate cancer.

For more information on prostate cancer treatments and prostate cancer symptoms go to http://www.BestProstateHealthTips.com Helen Hecker R.N.’s website specializing in prostate and prostate cancer tips, advice and resources, including information on prostate tests and natural prostate cancer treatments

Although we are beginning, largely as a result of education, to detect more cases of prostate cancer in their early stages, unfortunately all too many cases are still not being detected until they are quite advanced.

Advanced prostate cancer refers to a cancer which has spread outside of the prostate gland itself and is divided into stage 3 cancer, in which the disease has spread into the pelvic tissue surrounding the prostate gland, and stage 4 cancer, in which the disease has spread, or metastasized, into other areas of the body, typically being carried by the lymphatic system.

Although not easy, stage 3 prostate cancer can often be treated quite effectively and it is possible to cure prostate cancer in stage 3. Once the disease has reached stage 4 however it becomes very difficult to cure and, while a cure is sometimes possible, treatment (typically the removal of the testes, to starve the cancer of testosterone, and chemotherapy) is generally aimed at managing the condition by slowing the progression of the disease and providing the patient with the best possible quality of life.

To this end, recent clinical trials have been examining the use of a drug called Pertuzumab and initial results suggest that this drug may well be effective in extending the life of many men suffering from advanced prostate cancer.

Amongst a small study group of men with advanced prostate cancer the use of Pertuzumab was shown to stabilize the disease for varying periods of time and, overall, extended the 12 month survival rate of the group as a whole to nearly 75%, which compared favorably to the expected survival rate without treatment of less than 50%.

Pertuzumab is a form of monoclonal antibody which is produced in a laboratory and is designed to seek out and bind with specific cells. In the case of prostate cancer Pertuzumab is designed to seek out a protein known as epidermal growth factor, which plays a significant role in the growth of prostate cancer cells.

Monoclonal antibodies are not new and can be used alone or to carry drugs, toxins or radioactive material directly to the site of a tumor. Each antibody is designed to seek out specific cells and a number of monoclonal antibodies are already in use treating cancers, while others are in development or undergoing clinical trials.

The use of this form of targeted therapy is evolving rapidly in the management of cancer patients in general and it is hoped that with further development this will become a significant form of treatment for advanced prostate cancer patients.

ProstateCancerExplained.com provides information and advice on a wide range of prostate problems including the symptoms and treatment of an enlarged prostate and the continuing search for an effective advanced prostate cancer cure.

The problems of both an enlarged prostate gland (benign prostatic hyperplasia) and prostate cancer typically begin to appear in men in their forties and fifties, with instances increasing with age, and one common method of detecting the presence of a prostate problem is the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test.

The prostate gland produces a specific protein, the presence of which can be detected in the blood through the PSA test, and with a normal and healthy prostate the level of this protein found in the blood is quite low. However, both an enlarged prostate gland and prostate cancer result in raised levels of PSA alerting doctors to the presence of a developing problem and signaling the need for further investigation and possibly treatment.

In the case of an enlarged prostate gland one commonly used treatment is that of the administration of the drug finasteride which targets an enzyme within the prostate gland which, together with testosterone, is key to the growth of the gland.

Although prostate problems are common in men in their forties, fifties and beyond they are not the only problems that men of this age suffer and another very common problem is that of hair loss. Many years ago men simply accepted this as part of the ageing process but today a rapidly growing number of men are choosing to attack the problem of hair loss, either through the use of various hair restorers or tonics, drug therapy or surgery.

One frequently used hair loss drug is Propecia, which it is currently estimated is being used by well over one million American men, and unfortunately the use of this hair loss treatment may well be masking the fact that some of these men may also be developing either an enlarged prostate or prostate cancer. The problem here lies simply in the fact that Propecia contains finasteride.

In a recent study a group of men between the ages of forty and sixty who were suffering from male pattern baldness were given either Propecia or a placebo and their PSA levels were then monitored. The study found that PSA levels dropped by as much as 40 percent for men in their forties and 50 percent for men in their fifties when they were given Propecia, while levels in those men receiving the placebo rose by an average of 13 percent.

With prostate cancer killing many thousands of men every year and representing the second most common form of cancer in the Unites States today (second only to skin cancer), the importance of regular prostate screening for men in their forties and fifties in undoubted. However, if you are taking any form of medication including simple over-the-counter medicines, dietary supplements or indeed anything else, then you must tell your doctor.

It might seem insignificant and irrelevant to tell your doctor that you are taking Propecia to stave off baldness but, without this knowledge, your doctor could well give you the all clear for prostate cancer when in fact the signs are there but are simply being masked by your hair loss treatment.

ProstateCancerExplained.com provides information on a variety of different prostate gland problems including an enlarged prostate gland, prostate symptoms, prostate surgery and finding a prostate cancer cure.

Here’s the one fact that all men need to understand:
Early prostate cancer detection is the difference between living and dying as far as prostate cancer is concerned.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that cancer is one of the leading causes of death. What you may not have realized is that cancer is the second leading cause of death for men and prostate cancer is a very major contributor.

The reason for this is that prostate cancer can expand beyond the prostate gland and travel to other parts of the body. So a highly treatable cancer in the prostate is ignored and kill it grows into other parts of the body and becomes much more deadly.

The sad part is that doctors are able to detect prostate cancer in its very early stages. To complicate matters however, there are a few symptoms that are directly associated with prostate cancer alone. This in turn causes many men to simply ignore common symptoms until prostate cancer grows beyond the gland and becomes a seriously life threatening cancer.

The good news is that this disease is a slow progressive type of cancer while still localized in the prostate. A person can have prostate cancer for years and not know it if they don’t undergo several very simple diagnostic tests. These tests become even more important, as you age. Men with no family history of prostate cancer should be tested yearly. Black men and those with a family member who has had prostate cancer should consider annual testing at age 40.

Prostate cancer screening tests are simple and inexpensive.

+ Digital Rectal Examination

+ PSA Blood test. Measures levels of Prostate-Specific Antigen a key prostate cancer marker.

Your chance of survival and cure is directly related to early detection, diagnosis and treatment. Consistent testing will dramatically increase the chances of early detection before it becomes serious.

Another benefit of early detection is that the treatment options are much less radical. Earlier treatment methods are much more successful in not only curing prostate cancer but also limiting the complications and side effects of more aggressive treatment options.

If you haven’t been insisting on a prostate exam and blood test for prostate cancer indicators, you owe it to yourself and your family to start now. Don’t make the mistake of assuming symptoms may be simply due to your age. Prostate cancer is a serious illness that needs to be identified as soon as possible.

So at your next annual physical, make certain that basic prostate cancer screening tests are done. This is one of the key ways that you can make certain you life cancer free as long as possible.

Abigail Franks has written many articles on the subject of prostate cancer. On her site you can find valuable information about href="http://www.prostate-cancer-treatment-expert.com/">Prostate Cancer and more about early detection with href="http://www.prostate-cancer-treatment-expert.com/prostate-cancer-tests/prostate-cancer-tests-index.html"> Prostate Cancer Tests

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men in the U.S. Men younger than 40 are rarely ever diagnosed with prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is deadly but can be cured if it’s caught early enough. In most men, prostate cancer grows very slowly: most men will never know they have it.

The prostate is a small, walnut-sized structure that makes up part of a man’s reproductive system; it wraps around the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body. The prostate gland is located directly beneath the bladder and in front of the rectum.

There may be other symptoms not mentioned here. Other symptoms might include unintentional weight loss and lethargy. There are several symptoms to be aware of.

Weak or interrupted flow of urine and painful or burning urination can be symptoms to watch out for. If cancer is caught at its earliest stages, most men will not experience any symptoms. One of the most common symptoms is the inability to urinate at all.
A chest x-ray may be done to see if there’s a spread of cancer. One downside to PSA testing is that health care providers are detecting and treating some very early-stage prostate cancers that may never have caused the patient any harm. Another test usually used when prostate cancer symptoms are present is the digital rectal exam (DRE) performed by the doctor.

A PSA test with a high level can also be from a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland. The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test measures the PSA enzyme in your blood for abnormalities. A urinalysis may indicate if there is blood in the urine.

The approaches to treatment include: ever watchful waiting to see whether the cancer is growing slowly and not causing any symptoms. In the early stages, surgery and radiation may be used to remove or attempt to kill the cancer cells or shrink the tumor. Hormone manipulation is mainly used as a treatment to relieve symptoms in men whose cancer has spread.

Treatment options can vary based on the stage of the tumor. What you can do now is begin to understand what exactly your treatment options are and where you’re going to begin. Chemotherapy medications are often used to treat prostate cancers that are resistant to hormonal treatments.

Surgery, radiation therapy, and hormonal therapy can interfere with libido on a temporary or permanent basis. Be aware that some men chose natural treatment options and forgo any surgery, radiation or chemotherapy. Medicines can be used to adjust the levels of testosterone; called hormonal manipulation.

Prostate cancer that has spread (metastasized) may be treated conventionally with drugs to reduce testosterone levels, surgery to remove the testes, chemotherapy or nothing at all. Many men simply want the best treatment they can get but what’s important is picking the best treatment for you. In patients whose health makes the risk of surgery unacceptably high, radiation therapy is often the chosen conventional alternative.

Radiation therapy is used primarily to treat prostate cancers classified as stages A, B, or C. If chemotherapy is decided upon, after the first round of chemotherapy, most men receive further doses on an outpatient basis at a clinic or physician’s office. Being treated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy is something to think through carefully and know that you have the option to refuse them.

If you’ve already been diagnosed with prostate cancer, pick the option that’s best suited to you and your continuing good health. As new research comes out you can adjust your treatment options accordingly. Just about all men with prostate cancer survive at least five years after their diagnosis, 93% survive at least 10 years, and 67% survive more than 15 years.

For more information on href="http://www.BestProstateHealthTips.com">prostate cancer treatments and prostate cancer symptoms go to http://www.BestProstateHealthTips.com Helen Hecker R.N.’s website specializing in prostate and prostate cancer tips, advice and resources, including information on prostate tests and href="http://www.BestProstateHealthTips.com">natural prostate cancer treatments

In most men, prostate cancer grows very slowly and most men will never know they have the condition. Prostate cancer can be deadly but can be cured if it’s caught early enough or it may take a lifetime to run its course. The prostate gland is located directly beneath the bladder and in front of the rectum.

At an advanced age, the risks of surgery for prostate cancer or other more radical treatments may actually be worse than the disease. Men have traditionally been less likely to seek medical attention than women, especially for minor problems which often serve as warning signs for more serious underlying illness. Prostate cancer is characterized by ‘grade’ and ’stage’; grade is given to indicate how quickly a cancer is growing - the higher the grade, the more likely it is that the cancer will grow and spread rapidly and the size and extent of the tumor will determine its stage.

Most prostate cancer symptoms, although associated with prostate cancer, are more likely to be connected to non-cancerous conditions. There may be other symptoms not mentioned here. There are several symptoms you should be aware of.

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease are bone pain or tenderness, and abdominal pain. Some men will experience symptoms that might indicate the presence of prostate cancer. Blood in the urine or semen and frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs are often symptoms of cancer.

A chest x-ray may be done to see if there’s a spread of cancer. Urine or prostatic fluid cytology may reveal unusual cells. Your doctor may use either one or two of the most common tests for prostate cancer detection.

A urinalysis may indicate if there is blood in the urine. A PSA test with a high level can also be from a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland. A bone scan can indicate whether the cancer has spread or not.

Side effects of chemotherapy drugs depend on which ones you’re taking and how often and how long they’re taken. Radiation therapy to the prostate gland is either external or internal, both of which use high-energy rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Medicines can be used to adjust the levels of testosterone; called hormonal manipulation.

The conventional treatment of prostate cancer is often controversial. Impotence is a potential complication after the prostatectomy or after radiation therapy. Surgery is usually only recommended after thorough evaluation and discussion of all available treatment options.

Recent improvements in surgical procedures have made complications occur less often. Anyone considering surgery should be aware of the benefits, risks and the extent of the procedure. Chemotherapy medications are often used to treat prostate cancers that are resistant to hormonal treatments.

Radiation therapy is used primarily to treat prostate cancers classified as stages A, B, or C. If chemotherapy is decided upon after the first round of chemotherapy, most men receive further doses on an outpatient basis at a clinic or physician’s office. The approaches to treatment include: ever watchful waiting to see whether the cancer is growing slowly and not causing any symptoms.

Treatment options can vary based on the stage of the tumor. An oncology specialist will usually recommend treating with a single drug or a combination of drugs.

The outcome of prostate cancer varies greatly; mostly because the disease is found in older men who may have a variety of other complicating diseases or conditions, such as cardiac or respiratory disease, or disabilities that immobilize or greatly decrease their activities. Because prostate cancer is a slow-growing disease, many men with this disease will die from other causes before they die from prostate cancer. It’s important to get as informed as possible and read all the newest books, ebooks and research available.

For more information on href="http://www.BestProstateHealthTips.com">prostate cancer treatments and prostate cancer symptoms go to http://www.BestProstateHealthTips.com Helen Hecker R.N.’s website specializing in prostate and prostate cancer tips, advice and resources, including information on prostate tests and href="http://www.BestProstateHealthTips.com">natural prostate cancer treatments

Thousands of American men are treated for early prostate cancer each year with the majority either undergoing surgery or radiation treatment. But it is now being suggested that perhaps as many as half of those treated would have fared just as well if their cancer had simply been monitored.

Prostate cancer tends to develop late in life and although many men in their forties succumb to the disease, it often does not appear until the sixties or even seventies. In addition, many prostate cancers are very slow growing and a substantial number of men die from other causes before their prostate cancer becomes a real problem. For this reason, it is often felt that even when cancer is diagnosed it is advisable to simply watch and wait and to only intervene when it becomes necessary.

This policy however gives rise to two particular problems.

The first is that when prostate cancer is diagnosed at an early age many men are not happy with a policy of watchful waiting. In some cases this is simply a matter of finding it unacceptable to live with the knowledge that they have cancer and in others it is a case of feeling that, since the cancer has been detected at an early age, it is likely that treatment will be necessary at some point and so it is probably better to sort the problem out now while they’re still young and otherwise fit.

The second problem is that there is currently no real way of knowing just when treatment should be undertaken. The currently available tests such as the Gleason score (which examines cancer cells under the microscope), the prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test, ultrasound examination and biopsy all provide doctors with valuable information, but none give any concrete indication of how the cancer is likely to develop and at what point a relatively small and slow growing cancer may turn aggressive.

At present it is often a case of monitoring prostate cancer until symptoms begin to appear and then, rather than managing the symptoms, to treat the cancer directly at that point. In many cases however it could be argued that the symptoms could be treated relatively easily and that cancer treatment, frequently accompanied by a number of unpleasant side-effects, is not necessary at this point. In some cases treatment would of course be unavoidable at a later date, but in a significant number of men the development of the disease would continue at a sufficiently slow pace that they would die from other causes before treatment became necessary.

The answer to this problem lies in devising a method for assessing the growth potential of prostate cancer so that doctors can decide far more accurately whether the cancer presents a significant risk in individual patients. To this end studies are currently underway and it is hoped that an answer will be found before too long.

In the meantime, if you are facing a diagnosis of prostate cancer then, if your cancer is detected at an early stage, it would be advisable to seek your doctor’s advice and think carefully about the best course of action before simply rushing into what might prove to be unnecessary treatment, with all its accompanying side-effects.

ProstateCancerExplained.com provides information on a wide range of topics including the prostate gland, an enlarged prostate, prostatitis, prostate surgery and finding a prostate cancer cure.