Prostate Cancer - Causes and Symptoms

 Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is a disease which only affects men. Cancer begins to grow in the prostate - gland in the male reproductive system. The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system. It makes most of the semen that carries sperm. The walnut - sized gland is located beneath the bladder and surrounds the upper part of the urethar, the tube that carries urine from the bladder.

Prostate cancer is a major health concern for American men. Prostate cancer is rare before age 50, and experts believe that most elderly men have traces of it.

In 2013, about 238,500 new cases will be diagnose diagnosed in the U.S.A and about 29,700 will die for it.  African - American men are more likely to get prostate cancer and have the highest death rate. In other parts of the world -- notably Asia, Africa, and Latin America -- prostate cancer is rare.

Prostate cancer , it is usually a very slow growing cancer, often causing no symptoms until it is in an advanced stage. Most men with prostate cancer die of other causes, and many never know that they have the disease. But once prostate cancer begins to grow quickly or spread outside the prostate, it is dangerous. Developing prostate in its early stages [ when it is only found in the prostate gland] can be treated with very good chances for survival. Fortunately, about 85 percent of American men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in an early stage of the disease.

Cancer that has spread beyond the prostate such as lymph nodes, bones, and lungs is not curable, but it may be controlled for many years. Because of the many advances in available treatments, most men whose prostate cancer becomes widespread can expect to live five years or more. Some men with advanced prostate cancer live a normal life and die of another cause like heart disease.

Causes of Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer, the cause of this cancer is unknown, but the cancer is not thought to be related to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The risk (predisposing) factors for prostate cancer include advancing age, genetics (heredity), hormonal influences, and such environmental factors as toxins, chemicals, and industrial products. The chances of prostate cancer increase with age. Thus, prostate cancer under age 40 is extremely rare, while it is common in men older than 80 years of age. Some studies have suggested that among men over 80 years of age, 50 percent to 80 percent of them may have developing prostate cancer. More than 80 percent of prostate cancers are diagnosed in men older than 65 years of age.

African-American men are 1.6 times more likely than white men to develop prostate cancer. They are also 2.4 times more likely to die from their disease as compared to white men of a similar age. These differences in diagnosis and death rates are, however, more likely to reflect a difference in factors like environmental exposure, lifestyle, diet, and health-seeking behavior rather than any racial susceptibility to prostate cancer. Recent studies indicate that this disparity is progressively decreasing with chances of complete cure in men undergoing treatment for organ-confined prostate cancer [cancer that is limited to within prostate without spread outside the confines of the prostate gland], irrespective of race.

Genetics, as just mentioned, plays a role in risk of a prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is more common among family members of individuals with prostate cancer. This risk may be 2 to 3 times greater than the risk for men without a family history of the disease. Earlier age at diagnosis (<60 years) in a first-degree relative more than one relative also increases the risk for prostate cancer.

Sexual transmitted infections can be the risk factor for developing prostate cancer. Men with a history of sexually transmitted infections have a 1.4 time greater chance of developing prostate cancer as compared men without this history.

Testosterone, the male hormone produced by the testicles, directly stimulates  growth of both normal prostate tissue and prostate cancer cells.  Not surprisingly, therefore, this hormone is thought to be involved in the development and growth of prostate cancer. The important implication of the role of this hormone is that decreasing the level of testosterone should be effective in inhibiting the growth of prostate cancer.


Signs and symptoms 

Prostate cancer frequently does not produce any symptoms until the condition is quite advanced. Often it is diagnosed after treatment is sought for problems with urinary function. Symptoms of prostate cancer are often similar to those of benign(non-cancerous) prostate conditions.

Below are some more common symptoms:

• Pain or difficulty when passing urine
• Decreased force of the urine stream 
• Passing urine more frequently[ especially at night ]
• Blood in the urine 
• Inability to pass urine [ this can occur as the cancer enlarges, blocking the urethra).

It is possible for the cancer cells to spread from the prostate gland to other areas of the body where further tumours  can develop. The most common places for prostate cancer to spread to are the lymph nodes of the pelvis and bones of spine. Spread of the cancer can produce symptoms like lower back pain. 

Diagnosis and Prevention of Lung Cancer

Diagnosis of Lung Cancer 

Physicians use information revealed by symptoms and several other procedures in order to diagnose lung cancer. Common imaging include chest X-rays, bronchoscopy [ a thin tube with a camera on one end], CT scans, PET scans, and MRI scans. Physician will also conduct a physical examination, a chest examination, and  an analysis of blood in the sputum. All of these procedures are designed to detect where the tumor is located and what additional organs may be affected by it. Although the above diagnostic techniques provided important information, extracting cancer cells and looking at them under a microscope is the only absolute way to diagnose lung cancer. This procedure is called a biopsy. If biopsy confirms developing lung cancer, a pathologist will determine whether it is small cell lung cancer or  non small cell lung cancer.

After a diagnosis is made, an oncologist will determine the stage of cancer by finding out how far the cancer has been spread. The stage determines which choices will be available for treatment and informs prognosis. The common cancer staging method is called the TNM system. T(1-4) indicates the size and direct extent of the primary tumar, N(0-3() indicates whether the cancer has metastasized to other organs in the body. A small tumor that has not spread to lymph modes or distant can be staged as ( T1, N0, M0), for example.

For the non small cell lung cancer, TNM description lead to a simpler categorization of stages. These stages are labeled from I to IV, where lower numbers indicate earlier stages where the cancer has spread less. More specifically-

Stage I is when the tumor is found only is one lung and in no lymph nodes.
Stage II is when the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes surrounding the infected lung.
Stage IIIa is when cancer has spread to lymph nodes around the trachea, chest wall, and diaphragm, on the same side as the infected lung.
Stage IIIb is when cancer has spread to lymph nodes on the other lung or in the neck.
Stage IV is when the cancer has spread throughout the rest of the body and other parts of the lungs.

Small cell lung cancer, it has two stages: limited of extensive. In the limited stage, tumor exists in one lung and other organs in the body.

Prevention of Lung cancer

There is no sure way to prevent lung cancer. But you can reduce the risk of lung cancer if you maintain these  tips are below:


1. Do not smoke: If you have never smoked, then do not start. Talk to your children about not smoking so that they can understand how to avoid this one of the most important risk factor for lung cancer. Begin conversations about the dangers of smoking with your children early so that they can know how to react to peer pressure.

2. Stop smoking: Stop smoking now. Quitting reduce of the lung cancer, even if you have smoked for years. Discuss a  doctor about strategies and stop-smoking aids that can help you quit. Options include nicotine replacement products, medications and support groups.

3.Try to  eat a diet full of vegetables and fruits: You have to choose a healthy diet with a variety of fruits and vegetables. Food sources of vitamins in pill form, as that may be harmful. For instance, researchers hoping to reduce the risk of lung cancer in heavy smokers gave them beta carotene supplements. Results showed the supplements actually increased the risk of cancer in smokers.

4. Try to avoid carcinogens at work: Take precautions to protect yourself from exposure to toxic chemicals at work. Follow your employer's precautions. For instance, if you are given a face mask for protection, a;ways were it. Ask your doctor what more you can do to protect your self at work. Your risk of lung damage from workplace carcinogens increases if you smoke.

5. Exercise: Aim for at least 150 a week of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity. Check with your doctor first if you are not already exercising regularly. Start out slowly and continue adding more activities. Swimming and walking are good choices. Try to add exercise throughout your day - park farther away from work and walk and walk the rest of the way or take the stairs rather than the elevator. Strength training is also important. Try to do strength training exercise at least twice a week.

6. Avoid secondhand smoke: If you live or work with a smoker, urge him or her to quit. At the very least, ask them to smoke outside. Avoid areas where people smoke, such as bars and restaurants, and seek out smoke free option.

Lung Cancer - causes and sympotoms

Lung cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells that may start off one or both lungs; usually in the cells that line the air passages. The abnormal cells don't develop into healthy lung tissue, they divide rapidly and form tumors. As tumors become larger and more numerous, they undermine the lung's ability to provide the bloodstream with oxygen. Tumors remain in one place and don't appear to spread are known as "benign tumors". Malignant tumors, the more dangerous ones, spread to other parts of the body either through the bloodstream or the lymphatic system. Metastasis refers to cancer spreading beyond its site of origin to other parts of the body. When cancer spreads it's too much harder to treat successfully.

The primary lung cancer originates in the lungs, while secondary lung cancer starts somewhere else in the body, metastasizes, and reaches the lungs. They are considered as different types of cancers and are not treated in  a same way. According to WHO( World Health Organization), 7.6 million deaths globally each year are caused by cancer, cancer represents 13 percent of all global deaths. According to the National Cancer Institute, by the end of 2012 there will have been 226,160 new lung cancer diagnoses and 160,340 lung cancer related deaths in U.S.A.

Lung Cancer Facts 

• Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer deaths in both men and women in U.S.A and worldwide. 
• Passive exposure to tobacco smoke can cause lung cancer.
• Cigarette smoking is the principal risk factor for development of lung cancer. 

• The two types of lung cancer, which grow and spread differently, are the small cell lung cancers(SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). 

• The stage of lung cancer refers to the extent to which the cancer has spread in the body.

• Treatment of lung cancer can involve a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy and newer experimental methods. 
• The general prognosis of lung cancer is poor, with overall survival rates of about 16 percent at five years.
• Smoking cessation is the most important measure that can prevent the development of lung cancer. 

Causes of lung cancer

Smoking is the main risk factor for developing long cancer and is responsible for more than 80 percent of lung cancers. The longer you have smoked and the more you smoke, the more likely you are to get lung cancer. If you stop smoking before cancer cells develop, lung tissue that has been damaged by smoking will start to repair. An ex-smoker's risk will not be as low as that of a person who never smoked, but over time, their risk will go down. Cigar smoking and pipe smoking are almost as likely  to cause lung cancer  as cigarette smoking. 


Even secondhand smoke, the kind inhaled from nearby smokers, can cause developing lung cancer. Non-smokers who are married to smokers have a 30 percent greater risk of  lung cancer than spouses of non-smokers.

Living in an environment with high air pollution or working with radioactive minerals or asbestos can also increase the risk of cancer.  Research helped us to understand how these risk factors produce certain changes in the DNA of lung cells. These changes cause the cells to grow abnormally and form cancers.

DNA is the genetic material that carries the instructions for nearly everything our cells do. Some genes (parts of our DNA) contain instruction for controlling when cells grow and divide. The risk factors discussed earlier can trigger changes, also called mutations, in these genes that result in cancer. A risk for some types of cancer (e.g. ovarian, colorectal, breast, and several others) can be inherited from parents. Inherited gene mutations are not though to be a cause of very many lung cancers.

Symptoms of Lung Cancer

It is important to report any unusual physical feeling to your doctor. Often, these unusual feelings can be attributed to other causes like bronchitis. But a doctor should check anything that is unusual or worrisome. The signs ans symptoms of lungs cancer can take years to develop and they  may not appear until the disease is advanced.

Symptoms of lung cancer that are in chest:

• Pain in the chest, shoulder, or back unrelated to pain from coughing
• Coughing, especially if it persists or becomes intense 
• A change in color or volume of sputum 
• Shortness of breath 
• Changes in voice 
• Harsh sounds with each breath (stridor)
• Recurrent lung problems, such as pneumonia  or bronchitis 
• Coughing up phlegm or mucus, especially if it is tinged with blood 
• Coughing up blood 

When the original lung cancer has spread, a person may feel symptoms in other places in the body. Common places for lung cancer to spread include other parts of the lungs, lymph nodes, bones, brain, liver, and adrenal glands.

Symptoms of lung cancer that may occur elsewhere in the body:

• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite 
• Muscle wasting 
• Bone or joint pain, headaches
• Neck or facial swelling 
• Bleeding 
• Blood clots 

Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is one kind of cancer that develops from breast cells. Breast cancer usually starts off in the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply them with milk. A malignant tumor can spread to other parts of the body. Breast cancer that started off in the lobules is known as lobular carcinoma, while one that developed from the ducts is called ductal carcinoma. Breast cancer is the most common in female worldwide. It accounts for 16 percent of all female and 22.9 percent of invasive cancers in women. 18.2 percent of all cancer deaths worldwide, including both males and females, are from breast cancer. Although breast cancer is primarily a disease of women, about 1 percent of breast cancers occur in men.

Breast cancer rates are much higher in developed country compared to developing ones. Actually  there are many reasons for this, with possibly life-expectancy being one of the key factors - breast cancer is more common in elderly women, women in the richest countries live much longer than those in the poorest countries. The different eating habits of females in rich and poor countries are contributory factors, experts believe.

The chance of developing breast cancer for a woman in the United States  over the course of her lifetime is about 1  in 8. The death rates from this much-publicized disease continue to drop with better early detection and constant advancements in treatment. More than 261,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, according to the American Cancer Society, making it the second most common malignancy in women after skin cancer. While all cancers arise from an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells, each patient's treatment and prognosis can differ radically depending on her type of breast cancer, how advanced it is and a variety of other factors.

Causes of Breast Cancer:

Many women who develop breast cancer have no risk factors other than age and gender. Gender is the biggest risk because this cancer occur mostly in women. Age is the another critical factor. Breast cancer may occur at any age, though the risk of breast cancer increases with age. The average woman at 30 years of age has one chance in 280 of developing breast cancer in the next 10 years. This chance increases  to one in 70 for a woman 40 years of age, and to one in 40 at 50 years of age. A 60 year old woman has a one in 30 chance of developing breast cancer in the nest 10 years. White women are slightly more likely to develop breast cancer than African-Anerican in the U.S.A.

Hormonal causes of breast cancer

Hormonal influences play a role in the development of breast cancer.

Women who start their periods at an early age [12 or younger] or experience a late menopause [55 or more] have a slightly higher risk of breast cancer. Conversely, being older at the time of the first menstrual period and early menopause tend to protect one from breast cancer.

Using oral contraceptive pill means that a woman has a slightly increased risk of breast cancer than woman who has never used them. This risk appears to decrease and return to normal with time once the pills are stopped.

Having a child before 30 years of age may provide some protection, and having no children may increase the risk of breast cancer.

A large study conducted by the Women's Health Initiative  showed an increased risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women who were on a combination of estrogen and progesterone for many years. Therefore, women who are considering hormone therapy for menopausal symptoms need to discuss the risk versus the benefits with their health care provider.

Genetic causes of breast cancer

Family history is known to be a risk factor for breast cancer. Both maternal and paternal relatives are important. The risk will be highest if the effective relative developed breast cancer at a young age, had cancer in both breasts, or if she is a close relative. First-degree relatives [mother, daughter, sister] are most important in estimating risk. Several second-degree relatives[grandmother, aunt] with breast cancer may also increase risk. In men breast cancer increases the risk for all his close female relatives. Having relatives with both breast and ovarian cancer also increases a woman's risk of developing breast cancer.

There is great interest in genes linked to breast cancer. About 5 percent to 10 percent of breast cancer are believed to be hereditary, as a result of mutations, changes, in certain genes that are passed along in families.

• BRCA1 and BRCA2 are abnormal genes that,  when inherited, markedly increase risk of beast cancer to a lifetime risk estimated between 40 percent to 85 percent. Woman with these abnormal genes also have an increased likelihood of developing ovarian cancer. Women who have BRCA1gene tend to develop breast cancer at an early age.
• Testing for these genes is expensive and may not be covered by insurance. 
• The issues around testing are complicated. Women who are interested in testing should discuss their risk factors with their health care providers.

Drink more water

Water is essential for human health, over 60 percent of human body consists of water. We know that water is good for us, but often the reasons are a little fuzzy. And even if we know why we should drink water, it is not a habit that many people form. But there are some powerful reasons to drink lots of water every day, and forming the habit is not hard, with a little focus. Thing about it is, we do not often focus on this habit. We end up drinking coffee, and lots of soda, alcohol, not to mention fruit juices and teas and milk and a bunch of other possibilities. Or just as often, we do not drink enough fluids, and we become dehydrated--and that is not good for your health.

Below have been discussed about some health benefits of drinking more water.

weight loss: People who have over weight, they have tension with this over weight, because it me be the causes of heart diseases, diabetes,or other disease. But good news is that water is one of best tools for weight loss, first of all because it often replaces high-calorie drinks like soda and juice and alcohol with a drink that does not have any calories. But It is also great appetite suppressant, and often when we think we are actually just thirsty. Water has no fat, no carbs, no sugar. Drinking plenty to help your weight-loss regimen.

Skin care: Drinking water is good for our skin, that can clean up our skin and people often report a healthy glow after drinking water. It will not happen overnight, of course, but just a week of drinking a healthy amount of water can have good effects on your skin.

Good for your heart: Drinking a good amount of water could lower your risks of a heart attack. A six-year study published in may 1, 2002 American journal of Epidemiology found that those who drink more than 5 glasses of water a day were 41 percent less likely to die from a heart attack during the study period than those who drank less than two glasses.

Reduce the risk of cancer: Drinking a healthy amount of water has been found to reduce the risk of colon cancer by 45 percent. Drinking lots of water can also reduce the risk of bladder cancer by 50 percent and potentially reduce the risk of breast cancer.

Prevention of Diarrhea

Diarrhea is the frequent passage of loose, watery, soft stools with or without abdominal bloating, pressure, and cramps commonly referred to as gas. Diarrhea can come on suddenly, run its course, and be helped with home care to prevent complications like dehydration.


Prevention of Diarrhea:

Many cases of diarrhea are spread from person to person. The following precautions can help an individual avoid diarrhea and other viral or bacterial infection:

• Wash your hands before and after preparing food. In addition, wash your hands after handling uncooked meat, using toilet, changing diapers, sneezing, coughing and blowing your nose. 

• After putting soap on your hands, rub your hands together for at least 20 seconds. 

• Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when you can not get to a sink.  Apply the hand sanitizer as you would hand lotion, making sure to completely cover  the fronts and backs of both hands. Use a product that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.

Practice safe food-handling. Always wash hands before and after handling food.

• Use care when preparing raw poultry or meat. Food should be cooked to the recommended temperatures. Avoid raw or rare meat and poultry. Utensils coming in contact with raw food should be cleaned in soap and hot water. 
• Fruits and vegetables consumed raw should be thoroughly rinsed in clean water. 
• Unpasteurized(raw) milk may be contaminated with bacteria and should be avoided. Unpasteurized fruit juice or cider should generally be avoided even if the source is not known because the fruit may have come in contact with contaminated animal feces in the orchard.

Diarrhea commonly affects people who travel to countries where inadequate sanitation and contaminated food and water encountered. To reduce your risk:

• Eat hot, well-cooked foods. Avoid raw fruits and vegetables unless you can peel them yourself. 
• If you are traveling to a developing country for an extend period of time, ask your doctor about starting antibiotics before you leave on your trip. In certain cases, this may reduce the risk that you will develop traveler's diarrhea.

If we are conscious about diarrhea and know how to prevent diarrhea, then we must be away from diarrhea.

Prevention of Dysentery

Dysentery is an intestinal inflammation, especially in the colon, that can lead to sever diarrhea with mucus or blood in the feces. Patients typically experience mild to severe abdominal pain or stomach cramps. In some cases, untreated dysentery can be life-treating, especially if the infected person can not replace lost fluids fast enough.

Tips for how to prevent dysentery:

Below are some very important tips that will make you conscious about dysentery and you can learn how to prevent dysentery.

1. Maintain good personal hygiene: Washing your hands regularly is a vital habits that will help you avoid many diseases and infections. Please, wash your hand before eating, and preparing food. Wash you hand after using toilets, looking after a dysentery patient, changing diapers for children, handing pet animals, gardening or touching soil.

2. Be careful of safe sex: Sexual in intercourse that involves oral or anal contact can cause amoebic dysentery. You have to wash your hand with soap and warm water, as this will help you to prevent an infection to some extent. It is ideal that you refrain from sexual activities that involve anal contact, as this will make dysentery prevention easier.

3. Try to drink sterilized water: You have to sure that the water you use while drinking, brushing your teeth, and washing vegetables and fruits is free from any dysentery causing germs. This can be achieved through proper water treatment, which is an important dysentery prevention technique.

• Never drink untreated tap water before cleansing it.
• Boil water 10-15 minutes.
• Use water purifying tablets 15 minutes before drinking untreated water. 
• Use water filters that have been specially designed for 'Cyst Removal' 

Once the water have been treated to remove any kind of dysentery causing germs, store it in a clean place and keep it well covered.

4. Try to practice proper sewage disposal:  Dysentery causing organisms are spread through the faces of individual who are infected. This microorganisms are excreted along with the faces and contaminate the soil and water, making them potential sources of infection. For this reason, it is important to properly dispose the faces without letting it mingle with other elements. Care should be taken to ensure that the sewage does not contaminate surface or ground water, or any other water body that people use for consumption.  Untreated sewage should not be used as fertilizers as this too can contaminate crops, fruits, and vegetables that reach humans and trigger an  infection.

5. Try to eat safe food: Your food habits can also cause amoebic dysentery . Following the below measures can help you avoid contracting the infection.

• Avoid eating raw or undercooked food items 
• Wash vegetables and fruits with safe and clean water, before eating 
• Choose ice creams or drinking made of safe water
• Never use unpasteurized milk or dairy products 
• Avoid eating food from street vendors for the prevention of dysentery.

6. Take precautions when you travel: When you travel to tropical counties with poor sanitary conditions, take extra care and follow these simple measures to keep dysentery symptoms at bay.

• Don't eat or drink food items sold by street vendors 
• Drink only boiled water or bottled water 
• Do not have salads if you are not sure about their quality. 
• Do not drink from public water because it may be made from local water, you do not know about that. 
• Don't drink milk or eat cheese or dairy products that have not been pasteurised  ( a process that involves heating to destroy unwanted micro-organisms. 
• Don't eat fresh fruit or vegetables that can not be peeled before eating. 
• Do not have ice in your drinks because it may be made from the local water, that may not be pure.

It is equally important to take responsibility for the good health of others around you too. You can do this by following some simple dysentery prevention measures.

• If you are a healthcare worker taking caring care of a dysentery patient, ensure that you wash your hand thoroughly with soap after tending to a patient.
• Child care employees should use gloves when changing diapers for children and should wash their hands after tending to every child
• Never defecate near water bodies and ensure that your sewage system is well established 
• Don't attend any public gathering or report at work if you have dysentery, in order to minimize the chances of spreading infection.

As there is no immunization that can protect patient against amoebic dysentery, it is important that you adopt dysentery prevention measures for preventing the disease - within your house and in your community. On occasion, dysentery causes manage to get past the prevention measures taken. In such cases, opting for timely amoebic dysentery treatment is recommended.