Cancer Treatment Information and Resources

Once diagnosed with any type of cancer, most people do tend to initially go into a depression mode till the extent of the cancer is diagnosed and they get some reassurances. Somehow the Big C still has a strange sense of doom that comes along with it, no matter what doctors might tell you about it. The same holds true for patients diagnosed with cancer of the colon. But what they must keep in mind is that they have the support of their family and friends and the future's not as bleak as it may appear.

An illness in the family, seeing loved ones suffer and go through this diagnosis, causes anxiety and emotional pain in a close family circle whether it is colon cancer or any other disease. Friends are then the main positive support that the family has apart from one another. But if the patient finds that the family is not enough support and he needs more, then a good idea would be to find local support groups and get involved with activities with them. Sharing experiences, hearing success stories have a very positive effect on the sufferer. Include rest in your daily activities as this is a key factor in getting better.

Once diagnosed, get to the library or get on to the Internet and find out all you can about the disease. The more you know about it, the more you help yourself as understanding well very often brings peace of mind. It is the fear of the unknown in cancer that brings the element of fear with it. Information of what is happening to the body during treatment and how it will affect the future is very important for the patient. Mental preparation can turn the worst case scenario into a scenario where there is hope.

Treatment options are dependent on the severity of the case and how advanced the cancer is at the time of diagnosis. A second opinion may be considered if the patient plans to go ahead with the recommended treatment. One would be very happy if the cancer is totally eliminated but patients will be happy with just having the cancer stopped from spreading and relief from the associated discomfort.

For colon cancer the main line of treatment is surgery. Removal of the whole colon or part of it is dependent on the size and location of the cancer. If it is only a polyp then removal of just that little bit should suffice but if it is the whole colon due to the fact that the cancer is advanced then the patient may have to wear a colostomy for the rest of his life.

Chemotherapy is another option for the treatment of this type of cancer. Intake of medicines is done either orally or through the veins and this works well after surgery to get rid of residual cancer cells as well as control further growth, gives relief from symptoms and increases longevity. Radiation therapy which would normally be used together with chemotherapy, is not used for colon cancer.

Prostate cancer is the third most common cause of death from cancer in men of all ages and is the most common cause of death from cancer in men over 75 years old. At an advanced age, the risks of surgery for prostate cancer or other more radical treatments may actually be worse than the disease. The main job of the prostate gland is to make seminal fluid, the milky substance that transports sperm.

The prostate gland is located directly beneath the bladder and in front of the rectum. In most men, prostate cancer grows very slowly: most men will never know they have the condition. Detected in its early stages, prostate cancer can be effectively treated and cured.

Most prostate cancer symptoms, although associated with prostate cancer, are more likely to be connected to non-cancerous conditions. If you have one or more prostate cancer symptoms, you should see a qualified doctor as soon as possible. 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. Other symptoms might include unintentional weight loss and lethargy. One of the most common symptoms is the inability to urinate at all.

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

A prostate biopsy usually confirms the diagnosis. What is called a free PSA may help tell the difference between BPH (benign prostatic hypertrophy), an enlargement of the prostate gland, and prostate cancer. The decision about whether to pursue a PSA test should be based on a discussion between you and your doctor.

Other medications used for hormonal therapy, with side effects, include androgen-blocking agents, which prevent testosterone from attaching to prostate cells. Whether radiation is as good as prostate removal is debatable and the decision about which to choose, if any, can be difficult. Anyone considering surgery should be aware of the benefits, risks and the extent of the procedure.

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. Chemotherapy medications are often used to treat prostate cancers that are resistant to hormonal treatments. Surgery is usually only recommended after thorough evaluation and discussion of all available treatment options.

Side effects of chemotherapy drugs depend on which ones you're taking and how often and how long they're taken. 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.

Treatment options can vary based on the stage of the tumor. Recent improvements in surgical procedures have made complications occur less often. Hormone manipulation is mainly used as a treatment to relieve symptoms in men whose cancer has spread.

Urinary incontinence can be a possible complication of surgery. Surgery, radiation therapy, and hormonal therapy can interfere with libido on a temporary or permanent basis.

As new research comes out 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. The one thing that you should not do however is rely on any information obtained from the Internet to make your final decision.

Chronic prostatitis is a condition affecting the prostate gland, which means that it can only affect men. It could manifest itself as pain in regions that could include the urethra, the area between the rectum and the testicles, the tip of the penis, below the waist, the bladder or pubic area and the testicles. Other possible signs are pain or burning during urination, pain or discomfort during ejaculation, pain in the lower back and upper legs, a lowering of sexual libido or desire and a feeling of not emptying the bladder after urination.

Men who suffer from prostatitis can also experience symptoms such as fatigue, discoloration in the semen, impaired memory, pain in the lymph nodes and susceptibility to colds. Prostatitis is generally categorized as either acute, chronic bacterial, chronic prostatitis (CP)/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) or asymptomatic inflammatory.

Throughout the years, treatment methods and strategies have been developed for prostatitis. The first option for any urologist in terms of prostatitis treatment is to recommend antibiotics. The most common type used, particularly for men who suffer from the chronic bacterial type, is Ciprofloxacin. This drug is taken to eliminate or eradicate infection. For CP/CPPS, the treatment strategy called the Stanford Protocol is often used. This method combines several medications including tricyclic antidepressants, benzodiazepines, paradoxical relaxation and physical therapy.

CP/CPPS accounts for majority of diagnosed prostatitis. Because of this, more therapeutic options have been designed to target this category. This type of prostatitis is said to be triggered, more often than not, by anxiety. Treatment protocols for CPPS often focus on stretches to relax muscles in the pelvic or anal area, physical therapy and progressive relaxation therapy. An immunomodulator called suplatast tosilate has also been found to be effective in managing CPPS.

Aside from antibiotics, alpha blockers like tamsulosin and alfuzosin also help in managing the condition. The mast cell blocker, Quercetin, is also effective in treating CP. Several studies have shown that this formulation reduces inflammation and oxidative stress in the prostate gland. Bee pollen or Cernilton is also considered an effective therapeutic for the condition.

In addition to these treatment protocols, men can also narrow their chances of developing CP/CPPS by strengthening their immune system and by subduing inflammation. Some materials that can help include chondroitin sulfate, calcium with vitamin D, Ester C, vitamin E with selenium, zinc cellmins and flax seed oil. In terms of trigger factors, men should avoid the excessive intake of certain foods like spices, vinegar, chocolate and other sugary foods, caffeine, alcohol, milk products, acidic foods and sodium benzoate.

Other things that need to be minimized or eradicated totally include the use of marijuana, psychological stress, strenuous exercise, too much use of antihistamines and decongestants, sitting for prolonged periods of time and Tantric sexual practices. Tantric sex involves the grasping of the penis tightly to control ejaculation and some men have reported that their prostate troubles started after engaging in Tantric sex.

Numerous treatment protocols and management strategies for chronic prostatitis have been developed by scientists during the last century and they are hopeful that eventually, methods for the eradication of the condition will be developed.