March 10th, 2010 
admin
I had heard of prostate diseases for years but never thought much about it till a friend developed prostate problems.
His situation was enough to get me curious about prostate diseases.
First I learned that the prostate is a doughnut-shaped cluster of glands at the bottom of the bladder between the rectum and the base of the penis. It produces most of the fluid in semen.
I then learned that there are three main diseases of the prostrate: cancer, prostatitis and prostrate enlargement.
First let’s talk about the ‘big one’, cancer.
In the USA, prostate cancer is the second leading cause of death for men after lung cancer.
African-American men are more than twice as likely to get the disease as any other ethnic group in the world. No one knows why this is so.
Prostate cancer is primarily a disease of aging. About 80 percent of all cases occur in men over sixty-five.
However, the rate of prostate cancer is rapidly rising in all men, even those under fifty. Generally, the younger a man is when he is diagnosed with prostate cancer, the worse his prognosis. Its increase among younger men points to the role of diet and exposure to environmental toxins in the development of the disease.
Prostatitis (prostate inflammation) is common in men of all ages. The usual cause is infectious bacteria that invade the prostate from another area of the body.
These can be either acute or chronic infections. Acute infections come on suddenly and may include fever and chills, pain and burning on urination and ejaculation, frequent urge to urinate while passing only small amounts of urine and blood in the urine. Symptoms of chronic prostatitis are similar but usually milder than the acute infection.
Prostatitis usually responds well to home care and antibiotic treatment.
Prostate enlargement seems to be a natural process, often associated with aging, and not necessarily a disease, but the gradual enlargement of the prostate. In the USA it occurs in about half of all men over fifty.
The major symptom is the need to pass urine frequently, perhaps with pain or burning feelings.
As prostate enlargement is often not a serious problem (though it depends on the case), let’s talk about the other two prostate diseases.
Prostate cancer is usually a slow growing cancer, often with no symptoms until its advanced stages. Symptoms include: pain or a burning sensation during urination, frequent urination, a decrease in the size and force of urine flow, an inability to urinate, blood in the urine, and lower back discomfort. However, these symptoms may be caused by benign enlargement or prostatitis. To get an accurate reading of the condition professional evaluation is of course recommended.
For treatment, testing is important. This may include a rectal exam (which can be rather painful) and/or a blood test. Ultrasound scanning is one of a number of other tests.
Unfortunately, prostate cancer can be difficult to diagnose in its early stages. Many cases are diagnosed only after the cancer has spread outside the gland.
Some of the treatment options for prostate cancer include:
? Experimental therapies such as cryoablation (freezing of cancer cells) and laser surgery are sometimes used.
? If the cancer has spread into the capsule of the gland, the standard approach is some form of radiation therapy. Try to avoid this, as it leaves men impotent 50 percent of the time.
? Removal of the gland may be recommended but consider that about 50 percent of men who have this done, even with the new “nerve sparing” techniques, become impotent. Watchful waiting, with nutritional support and lifestyle change, is becoming the preferred approach if the cancer is in the early stages.
? Many consider prostate cancer to be one of the most over treated diseases in America. Physicians in Europe have long used a conservative nutritional approach with good results.
? Research has shown that soybeans and soy products, such as tofu, soy flour and soymilk, have cancer-fighting powers due to the presence of a protein called genistein. It appears to be particularly effective against prostate cancer, but also works against breast cancer in women and colon cancer in both sexes.
Prostrate cancer prevention often includes a whole-foods diet, which was intriguing to me. Some suggestions include:
? Eat whole grains, raw nuts and seeds, and brown rice. Also broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower and carrots, pumpkin, squash and yams. This type of diet is important for both prevention and healing.
? Also include apples, fresh cantaloupe, all kinds of berries, Brazil nuts, cherries, grapes, legumes (including chickpeas, lentils and red beans) and plums.
? Try drinking freshly made vegetable and fruit juices daily.
? Include foods high in zinc, such as whole grain cereals or brewer’s yeast.
? Use cold-pressed organic oils such as sesame, safflower or olive oil for essential fatty acids.
? Eliminate red meat, alcohol and caffeine.
? Strictly avoid: junk foods and refined foods. Instead of salt, use a kelp or potassium substitute. A little blackstrap molasses or pure maple syrup is a good, natural sweetener. Use whole wheat or rye instead of white flour.
These are good suggestions, but always seek counsel and alternative opinions before deciding which treatments or diets to use.
For prostatitis treatment, I found two general categories, one being home treatment, and then other treatments, generally.
For home treatment some recommendations are:
? Drink 8 to 12 glasses of fluid daily. Extra fluids help flush the urinary tract clean.
? Eliminate all alcohol and caffeine from your diet.
? Keep stress under control.
? Hot baths help soothe pain and reduce stress Aspirin or ibuprofen may help ease painful urinary symptoms
? Certain herbal teas may help.
? There are various types of hydrotherapy that a professional can advise you about.
? Eat 1 to 4 ounces of raw pumpkin seeds every day. They are rich in zinc. Alternatively, take pumpkinseed oil in capsule form.
? Get regular exercise. Do not ride a bicycle which may put pressure on the prostate.
Other treatment options include:
? Treatment with antibiotics and analgesics may be necessary.
? However, long-term use of antibiotics can lead to bacterial resistance, which necessitates more potent drugs, more expense, and more medical complications.
So “do it yourself” seems promising here, but of course one should always seek professional medical advice.
I would summarise what I researched that, as with any major disease an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Try to keep a healthy lifestyle, do things that seem useful and rewarding to you and don’t be slow about getting medical checkups if you have any sense that something in your body may not be up to par.
Bruce Brightman
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-prostate-and-its-diseases-131707.html
Related posts:
Posted in 
My 6 yr old male cat has never left the house, he's purely an indoor cat, doesn't spray. Why neuter him?
I feel that everyone’s post out there is to prevent cats from reproducing. My cat doesn’t even like the outdoors much (we have to put him out in the garden and he likes to run back indoors), and has always been indoors. I’ve stopped giving him flea drops etc. I think vets don’t understand me properly (maybe to them it’s a business and they try to sell things, I mean I’m not going to take malleria tablets unless I travel, right?). Is there anyone out there who agrees? I want my cat to have a natural unaltered life because I believe it’s not my decision to change something of his or deprive him in any way. In the wild, I know big cats or wild cats etc don’t require this type of attention, it’s the decision humans have imposed to control the number of cats. But as someone’s already said, cats don’t need to be put down, they can be re-homed. And I also see the points raised by others about how cat shelters cannot cope with growing numbers. I feed terrible to hear things about cats being put down.
He’s receiving his regular vaccinations, money’s not an issue, his behaviour around the house has always been playful, he shows aggression against one his toys but that’s the instinct of a cat. I’ve never seen him attack me or my family, he’s loved by all of us so much, and I can’t see how I should follow the general opinion of all cat lovers to neuter the little man… I do however hope that you can give me something to base my decision on.
I want some guidance, even from those who are PRO-Neuter supporters, that if I let him continue to grow old, he doesn’t spray, he’s figured out that the whole home (he does scratch around) is his entire territory, then what risks do I have to bear, that there is a chance of the following two diseases that could naturally get any of us or any living thing naturally:
1) Prostate cancer
2) Testicular cancer
I hope I’ve given a clear enough picture of my concern, and before I decide, I just want people’s recommendations. It’s not easy for me to decide because I’m an animal lover, against any cruelty towards animals and would be grateful to read each and everyone’s thoughts before deciding on a way forward.
You see I might already sound ANTI-Neutering, but unless someone can really justify the need for this procedure, I think I can say he’ll get on fine? Please please please correct me if i’m wrong in any way.
Many thanks in advance.
Neilz
then dont do it
References :
Call your vet and they’ll let you know the dangers of not neutering. But, the male cat will spray and spray everything in your house, he’ll be very vocal, it’s cruel because the mating urge is so great. Imagine being horny out of your mind and can never do anything about it. The great part is that you don’t let him go outdoors.
Please get him neutered. It’s the kind thing to do for his health and well being.
References :
Mom of 4 male cats.
personally it is up to you. If your cat is an indoor car and he never goes outside then there is no problem.
References :
I guess if he doesn’t spray and isn’t annoyingly trying to get out, you have a conundrum. Why neuter him? He will have a chance to get testicular cancer. I find the research shows that neutered Toms are healthier…the less bits you have, the less bits that can develop problems. It’s up to you, however.
References :
If you prefer NOT to neuter him, then don’t. You’ve said he is strictly an indoor cat & by the sound of your message, an only cat. If he wasn’t an only cat or an outdoor cat I would say differently. The flea drops however are a different issue because you can pick fleas from your own yard on your clothes as you walk through it. I don’t think however you need to treat for fleas every 30 days. I’ve found my flea treatment meds keep fleas away a lot longer than 30 days. If 6-8 weeks is a better option for you, use that guideline. Personally, I prefer to treat for fleas, over tapeworms.
References :
I need to add I have had cats since I was a small child & currently house 17. As long as they can find my home, they have a home for life. My cats come as abandoned & strays. IF their parents had been spayed & neutered they wouldnt have been wandering homeless & unprotected. All of mine get spayed & neutered for just this reason. Irresponsible pet owners who dont treat their animals with more dignity & respect really get my goat. Most of us( I say most because lord knows people suck) wouldnt allow our young children to wander unprotected so why should our animals be any different. It breaks my heart to see domestic house pets who are uncared for & not treated well & this DOES include those who think their dog is to be tied to a doghouse for their lives, or pets left outside in frigid weather & not allowed to be where its warm.
It’s a rare unneutered cat that doesn’t spray – eventually. And it’s much easier to prevent the habit than it is to stop it once it’s started. While he isn’t spraying now, you can’t control the outdoor environment. What if you end up with a stray cat outdoors, and he suddenly decides to spray as he can see the other cat out there? Or something "clicks’ with his hormones, and he decides to mark territory even though he hasn’t done it for 6 years. What if those hormones cause him to suddenly bolt out the door in search of a female? It’s a risk that only you can decide if you want to take or not. Again, not every cat becomes territorial but the vast majority of them do, sooner or later. And yes, there is always the risk of male cancers from not being neutered, but they aren’t nearly as bad as the risks to a female from not being spayed.
Please not that surplus cats are not re-homed, they are put to death in shelters. Some statistics site the number of cats that die in shelters each year to be 4 million, others say 12. Regardless, keep in mind that there are way more cats and kittens (and dogs and puppies) in the world than there are homes for them all. These are all caused by *not* spaying and neutering. Yes, you’re keeping your cat indoors, but most people who don’t spay/neuter allow them out to breed, and breed, and breed.
References :
many years of cat rescue
IF he’s not spraying, IF he’s not dashing out the door to get to cats in heat, IF he’s not aggressive, and you have him 100% indoors. Then let him be. Discuss with your vet about the incidence they see of reproductive cancers in male cats in your area (there are regional problems due to water and environmental issues with cat health). If there’s been low incidence of that, then just continue as you are.
But be aware that if he does get out, he’s a full tomcat and going to be attacked as such by other toms who are maintaining territory against other intact males–exposing him to FeLV and FIV if they are carriers of that.
References :