Prostate Cancer and Men's Health
Dr. Mercola on prostate surgery: - "While many doctors think
immediately of eliminating the problem, they think very little of the treatment's devastating
side effects that seriously diminish the patient's quality of life.
And, for the 40,000 American men who have their prostates removed each year,
35 percent of the men afflicted find themselves dealing with the return of the
disease within just five years."
Tens of thousands of men each year undergo the surgery, called prostatectomy,
and may suffer long-term consequences to their quality of life, in particular sexual function.
Half of men feel worse after prostate removal. About one in six American men get prostate cancer
at some point in their life, according to the American Cancer Society. But they don't necessarily have
to have their prostate removed because of it.
By arming yourself with information on the latest breakthroughs, treatments, and prevention methods you can make
your fight against this deadly disease a winning one. This book goes beyond
conventional treatments, telling you what doctors often don't: that for many
men, nature offers far better alternatives than surgery for prostate problems.
For those who are quietly suffering with prostate problems and cancer, the goal
is to find ways to relieve the pain, reverse the disease and restore the body
to vibrant natural health.
The prostate is a walnut-sized gland that surrounds
the urethra, the tube that drains the bladder through the penis.
It is responsible for the production of fluid that carries the sperm when
ejaculating. Other prostate problems include infection—both acute and chronic
prostatitis. The majority of men will have some sort of prostate problem in their lifetimes.
Not all prostate enlargement is cancerous. In fact most enlarged prostates are benign. Hypertrophy of the
prostate is caused by an enlargement of the cells in the gland, unlike cancer,
which is enlargement caused by an increase in the number of cells. This condition
is age related and increases from an incidence of 8% in 30 to 40 year olds,
to over 80% in men over 80. Enlargement of the gland often leads to impaired
flow from the bladder. Symptoms are frequent and difficult urination, a weak
urinary stream, straining, dribbling, incomplete emptying and recurrent urine infections.
Glutathione Level In The Human Male
Researchers have found that abnormal growth in these tissues often corresponds to deficiencies in
glutathione enzymes (GSH) . One is glutathione-S-transferase,
which has several sub-types. The balance of these sub-types varies from normal
prostate tissue to hypertrophic prostates to cancerous prostates. Several researchers
propose that deficiencies in this GSH enzyme system increase the likelihood
of developing both an enlarged prostate and prostate cancer. One of the more
significant series of papers to be published on glutathione and prostate cancer
comes from the University of Wisconsin. Researchers there describe male hormones
(androgens) as a source of oxidative stress, particularly in cancerous prostate
cells. An article in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute claims that
androgens stimulate free radical damage and also deplete glutathione. Given
the natural decline of glutathione levels in males as they age, the article
suggests that "unopposed androgen pro-oxidant stress" contributes to prostate cancer.
Dr. Bounous M.D- "Every day our bodies are exposed to factors that drain our levels
of glutathione: Stress, pollution, radiation, infection, drugs, poor diet, aging, injury and fatigue. These all contribute to
glutathione depletion which, in turn, leads to cellular aging, disease and death."
Natural defense against oxidative stress is weakened by the decline of GSH enzymes. This is an interesting model
for the development of prostate cancer. Another finding links the loss of glutathione
activity to prostate cancer. The function of a particular glutathione enzyme
glutathione-S-transferase-pi-i (GSTP1) is almost universally lost in both cancerous
and pre-cancerous prostate cells. The inactivation of this glutathione enzyme
is an early event in the development of prostate cancer. Many studies have linked
the loss of GSTP 1 to malignant transformation of prostatic tissues.
CASE STUDY
Franklin was a semi-retired general practitioner who at age 68 scored a PSA reading of over 8 micrograms/liter
on a routine screening exam, suggesting a high possibility of prostate cancer.
In continued tests, a urologist took a cystoscopic biopsy and confirmed the
diagnosis. Four out of Franklin's six biopsy sites tested positive for high-grade
tumor. For personal and practical reasons, Franklin delayed aggressive treatment
and opted to take 30 grams/day of
Immunocal, a protein isolate that raises glutathione levels. Bimonthly
PSA levels showed a gradual decline, his latest reading being 3.8 u/L. He is
still being closely followed by his urologist, and his decision to undergo chemotherapy,
radiotherapy or surgery will be deferred unless his PSA levels rise again.
Patricia A.L. Kongshavn,
Ph.D - "It has been proposed that deficiency in this glutathione enzyme
system increases the likelihood of developing both an enlarged prostate and
prostate cancer. Studies are in progress to investigate the benefit of using
Immunocal as a complementary treatment for prostate cancer
since this dietary supplement is already proven to raise intracellular glutathione
in normal adults (5). A number of case reports describing the beneficial effects
of this treatment in prostate cancer patients have recently been published by
Bounous (6). In these patients PSA (prostate specific antigen) values fell,
indicating reduction of the tumor mass. Immunocal is also indicated for use
as a prophylaxis against benign hypertrophy as well as cancer since both conditions
appear to be related to deficiency in the glutathione enzyme system. In summary,
there is increasing evidence that the glutathione
system provides a vitally important defense against prostate problems. Therefore,
dietary treatments to support or enhance this system, in particular Immunocal
and selenium, could be very important in maintaining a healthy gland as well
as providing protection against the development of prostate cancer"
Patricia A.L. Kongshavn, Ph.D Former Professor: Department of Medicine, McGill
University, Montreal, Canada
Prostate Cancer Cured With Omega 3
"In January 1991 I was diagnosed with Advanced Prostate Cancer. Bone scans and other tests indicated no spread
so it was decided to operate. During the operation it was discovered that the
cancer had spread to the Lymph glands making it stage four. The operation was
not completed as that would not be the answer."
"From physicals done in 1994 the doctor said that my blood work was excellent and Mary Anna's was the best
he'd seen so far in her case. As I record this in October 1996 all physicals
since then have shown the same result. Though as of July, 2001 I still have
some cancer activity, I am in no danger. A body scan and other tests done in
November were all normal. I quit the Lupron and Eulexin in October of 1995.
For a man diagnosed with advanced, semi aggressive, prostate cancer to be alive
in ten years with all tests normal is not common."
Prostate Health with Marine Phytoplankton
"In June 2006 I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. I was introduced to Marine Phytoplankton
at about the same time so I started taking three caps per day. A week later
blood tests confirmed that I had the fastest growing cancer, with a 10 out of
10 for bad rating. I was sent for a physical test that confirmed the cancer
was outside the prostate; that was not a good sign. I continued taking the Phytoplankton at triple doses
and finally last Friday we had the scan results. We were very worried, but the
doctor said that the cancer had not gone any further and that it was confined.
I have felt very well since starting Marine Phytoplankton and now look forward
to even better results over the coming weeks." J. G.
Testicular Cancer - Alternative to Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy given to testicular cancer patients causes long-term neurological damage
including hearing loss and Raynaud-like phenomena Long-term survivors of testicular cancer who were treated with cisplatin-based
chemotherapy had more severe side effects, including neurological side effects
and Raynaud-like phenomena, than men who were not treated with chemotherapy,
according to a new study published online November 25, 2009 in the Journal of
the National Cancer Institute.
Marianne Brydøy, M.D., of the Department of Oncology,
Haukeland University Hospital, in Bergen, Norway, and colleagues conducted a
cross-sectional study to assess the prevalence of these known side effects among
long-term testicular cancer survivors in Norway according to the treatment they
had received. Side effects include sensory neuropathy, tinnitus, hearing impairment,
and Raynaud-like phenomena (discoloration of the hands or feet on exposure to cold).
Researchers invited 1,814 men who were treated for unilateral testicular cancer during 1980-1994 to participate
in a national multicenter follow-up survey conducted during 1998-2002. A total
of 1,409 participants, who were allocated to three groups based on cisplatin
administration, were assessable in this study.
The researchers found that at
4-21 years after the initiation of treatment for testicular cancer, men who
had received any chemotherapy had statistically significantly higher odds for
increasing severity of all assessed symptoms compared with men not treated with
chemotherapy. Treated men also had more hearing impairment, as measured by audiometry,
particularly those who had received dose-intensive chemotherapy. "A major aim
in the treatment of testicular cancer is to minimize toxic effects without compromising
the high cure rate," the authors write. "Our data favor the use of chemotherapy
regimens that contain 20 mg/m2 cisplatin per day to limit toxicity."
Alternative treatment for prostate cancer with Saw palmetto extract
Larry Clapp, Ph.D.,
was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1990 and rejected the commonly held notion
in the medical community that benign prostate enlargement and cancer is an inevitable
part of male aging. Instead, Dr. Clapp was determined not to become another
statistic. Refusing to have surgery, radiation or chemotherapy, he embarked
on a personal mission to investigate alternative treatments. The results of
Larry Clapp's extraordinary journey became the basis of the healing program
that ultimately cured his cancer. He hows how to stop prostate trouble in its
tracks, using nutrition, massage, herbs, homeopathy and other alternative healing
approaches . The commonly-held belief in the medical community is that benign
prostate enlargement and cancer is a normal part of male aging, a fact of life
to which we should unquestioningly resign ourselves. But attorney Larry Clapp
didn't buy it when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1991. He refused
to have surgery, radiation or chemotherapy, and opted instead to investigate
alternatives, finding that prostate problems don't exist in other cultures,
and concluding that prostate illness was neither inevitable nor incurable. Clapp
propelled himself into an intensive research effort to evaluate both traditional
and alternative healing methods, and the results became the basis of the healing
program that ultimately cured his cancer. Saw palmetto extract continues to
be used as a primary treatment for both short-term and long-term treatment of
benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH).
Joe and Andrew's Cesium Chloride Cancer Survival Story
"I worked closely with Joe for several years in the television industry. In year 2000
at age 56, an ultrasound during a routine physical at the VA revealed a prostate
tumor. Based on a subsequent needle biopsy, they diagnosed him with moderate
to aggressive prostate cancer with a Gleason score of 4+3 = 7. The first doctor
he saw recommended surgery to remove the prostate. Not satisfied with that,
he saw another doctor who recommended radiation “seeding”, whereby they insert
radiation pellets into specific areas of the prostate and tumor. Since he didn't
like that option, either, he started looking into alternative cancer treatment
and settled in on cesium chloride, considered to be a big-gun natural cancer cure."
Andrew: "I was diagnosed with prostate cancer July 21, 2006 with a PSA of about 7.0 and a Gleason
score of 3+3 = 6. I turned down surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy in favor
of cesium chloride, an easy and safe high pH alternative cancer treatment you
can do at home. Three and a half months after I started taking cesium chloride,
my PSA plummeted to 3.35---well
Holistic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostrate cancer holistic treatments
Julian Whitaker MD - "I'm in my mid-50s, the age when
prostate problems become more likely. From the annoying symptoms of an enlarged
prostate to the threat of prostate cancer, disorders affecting the prostate
gland become increasingly common -- as does the possibility of being urged to
undergo increasingly invasive procedures to diagnose and treat these disorders.
However, I have no measurable problems with my prostate gland, and like the
cowboy who demands to be buried with his boots on, I plan to be buried with
an intact prostate gland. If you're one of the 75 percent of men 50 years and
older with enlargement of the prostate gland, a condition called benign prostatic
hyperplasia (BPH), you know the routine: Increasingly frequent nighttime visits
to the bathroom, a sense of urgency, trouble getting started, and a urinary
flow that's more of a dribble than a steady stream."
Beginning for most men between the ages of 40 and 60, and affecting virtually all of us by the time we are
80, the prostate gland undergoes a second growth spurt. It is triggered by an
increase in the activity of an enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase, which is concentrated
in the prostate, testicles, and scalp and converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
Increased levels of DHT are responsible for two of the least pleasant aspects of male aging: male-pattern baldness (receding
hairline) and prostate growth. The prostate gland, which produces semen, sits
like a doughnut around the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder
to the penis. The gland's accelerated growth chokes off the urethra and interferes
with normal urinary flow. Unlike prostate cancer, BPH is not a life-threatening
disease, yet it definitely reduces quality of life.
At its worst, BPH can lead to urinary
tract infections or sometimes even complete blockage of the urethra. However,
there are natural remedies available to help you maintain prostate health and
relieve the symptoms of BPH.
Prostate cancer and Men's health
Julian Whitaker MD - "The fact is that the overwhelming majority of prostate cancers are
buried, untouched, with their hosts. Doctors discover cancerous changes in almost
30 percent of the prostates they check during routine autopsies of men over
age 60 — even when the men neither died from prostate cancer nor knew there
was a tumor. In autopsies of men over 90 who die from other causes, prostate
cancer is found in virtually all of them. According to the National Cancer Institute,
your risk of getting prostate cancer takes a giant leap if it runs in your family.
If you have a father or brother who had prostate cancer before age 65, your
chances of getting it are doubled. If you have more than one relative who's
had prostate cancer,your chance of getting it may jump up to six times the average.
That said, researchers estimate that 80 to 90 percent of all cancers can be
prevented by lifestyle choices. The things you do every day — what you eat and
drink, how active you are, how much sleep you get, your stress level — all of
these affect your health and your risk of prostate cancer. But let's look at
prostate cancer for what it is — a mostly slow-growing cancer that becomes more
common with increasing age, but which is rarely deadly. A Diagnosis of Prostate
Cancer Is NOT a Death Sentence!"
Fish oils help prevent prostate cancer
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN. Several studies
have shown an inverse relationship between blood levels of fish oils, and
the risk of prostate cancer. A study just completed by medical researchers at
the Karolinska Institute confirms this association. The Swedish study involved
3136 pairs of male twins born between 1886 and 1925. The participants completed
food frequency questionnaires in 1961 and 1967 and were then followed up for
30 years. By December 31, 1997 the researchers had recorded 466 diagnoses of
prostate cancer (340 fatal ones). The average age of diagnosis was 76.7 years.
After adjusting for other known risk factors the researchers conclude that men
who never eat fish have a two- to three-fold higher risk of prostate cancer
than do men who eat moderate to high amounts. The researchers emphasize that
only fatty fish such as salmon, herring and mackerel, which contain high amounts
of omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA),
would be expected to be beneficial. Terry, Paul, et al. Fatty fish consumption
and risk of prostate cancer. The Lancet, Vol. 357, June 2, 2001, pp. 1764-66
(research letter)
Impotence and Erectile Dysfunction
It is estimated that 30 million American men suffer from ED and the problem
is solvable for the majority of them. A man is considered impotent if he does
not have the ability to achieve or maintain an erection adequate for normal
sexual intercourse. Erections occur from a combination of brain stimuli, blood
vessel and nerve function and hormonal action. Impotence may include certain
factors, which prevent the male sperm from impregnating the female ovum, the
inability to achieve or maintain erection, premature ejaculation, or the inability
to ejaculate the sperm.
There are numerous causes of impotence,
which may include the following: certain medications and drugs, such as alcohol,
cigarettes, antidepressants, antihistamines, anti-hypertentives, blood pressure
medication, chemotherapy, diuretics, narcotics, nicotine, sedatives, steroids
if abused, stomach acid inhibiters, and ulcer medications. Certain ailments
may contribute to ED such as, atherosclerosis, clogged arteries, peripheral
vascular disease, psychological stress, low sperm count, diabetes, depression,
or lack of desire.
According to a Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) study reported on in February 1999
approximately 43 percent of women and 31 percent of men suffer sexual inadequacy for one reason or another.
The reasons cited included low desire, frigidity, performance anxiety, premature
ejaculation and/or pain during intercourse. This is thought to actually be an
underestimation of the real level of sexual dysfunction in the U.S. Research
indicated that many of the sexual concerns were likely treatable, as they are
due to physical or emotional health issues.
Many women in particular still
complain of a lack of sexual desire for two years after childbirth due to the
hormonal and personal changes that occur. Low libido, lack of sexual desire,
and lack of sexual fulfillment are a few of the potential symptoms that are
not resolved for many people.
Impotence: A Cultural History
Men have been complaining about
failed erections ever since Ovid, but as University of Victoria historian McLaren
(Sexual Blackmail: A Modern History) shows, their significance, and with it
our conceptions of masculinity, have changed over the centuries. In the medieval
world, for example, the primary concern was with whether a man was capable of
consummating his marriage; it would take centuries for the physical and psychological
causes to take center stage. And though everything from excessive masturbation
to coitus interruptus was put forth as an explanation, just about every era,
from the ancient Greeks to modern anti-feminists, has found some way to put the
blame on women. (In the 19th century, doctors claimed men could be put off not
just by women who were reluctant but those who were too eager.) After considering
the early 20th-century "quack" remedies of gland injections and vacuum pumps,
McLaren devotes his final chapter to the cultural changes wrought by Viagra
and other drugs created to treat "erectile dysfunction." Far from eliminating
the fear of impotence, he suggests such medications may actually lead to more
anxiety, as pharmaceutical companies attempt to convince men that sexual activity
is vital to their well-being. Perhaps one day McLaren will write about those
problems with the wide-ranging verve of this lively history.
Western medicine relies on aggressive
prescription drugs and surgery to deal with many problems related to sexual
dysfunction. Unfortunately, these methods often result in unwanted and even
dangerous side effects. Non-medical methods of penis enhancement through exercise
using weights, straps, rings, and pumps have proven destructive to muscle tissue.
And natural pills provide fleeting, inconsistent results. India Herbs' Vajikarana
scientists combine a proprietary herbal formula based on centuries old wisdom
with advice on diet, exercise, mental training, and relaxation to help men reach
their peak and overcome sexual concerns through safe, natural means.
The Viagra Alternative
Marc, M.D. Bonnard
The most comprehensive guide to natural, safe, and permanent cures for impotence.
* One of Europe's leading sex therapists introduces psychological and sexual
techniques that can help the more than 30 million men who suffer from impotence.
* Emphasizes holistic cures that treat body, mind, and spirit, including herbal
remedies, homeopathy, yoga, aromatherapy, and diet changes.
When Viagra burst on the scene
in 1998 it became the best-selling drug of all time, surpassing even Prozac.
More than 30 million men suffer from impotence, and the introduction of a pill
that could solve their problems revolutionized the treatment of erectile dysfunction.
Or did it? Viagra has now been implicated in more than 69 deaths, as well as
heart attacks, hypertension, color blindness, and other health problems, and
more and more evidence shows that impotence can rarely be cured by a "magic
pill." In fact, taking Viagra may end up accentuating the greater underlying
problem of which the impotence is a symptom, whether it be lack of physical
well-being, poor psychological health, or relationship difficulties. For those
men who wish to avoid the risks of Viagra, The Viagra Alternative offers the
most up-to-date information on natural, safe, and long-term cures for impotence.
"I was one of the first people
in line when Viagra, the acclaimed wonder drug, first came out. Unfortunately,
my problems could not be overcome by a mere blue pill. The wonderful techniques
employed by this book, including the numerous nonpharmaceutical organic natural
remedies were a great help to me. The writing was brilliant, and recipes were
as easy as one, two, three."
Safe Asian Medicine - Revive Your Sex Drive
Your libido (sex drive) is regulated by the hormone testosterone. Although classified
as a male hormone, testosterone is produced by both men and women. As you age,
your body produces less testosterone. The result? Your interest in sex may diminish
significantly. The noted herbalist Ron Teeguarden reports that in Chinese studies,
Goji (lycium) berry was shown to markedly increase testosterone levels in the
blood, thereby increasing libido in both men and women. The Goji (lycium) berry
is revered as one of the premier sexual tonic herbs in all of Asian medicine,
and is legendary for helping to spark the passions. In fact, an old Chinese
proverb cautions men who are traveling far from their wives and families: "He
who travels one thousand kilometers from home should not eat Goji!”
Male Menopause: Andropause
The state of menopause is not excluded to aging women, but also to middle-aged
and elderly men. Many of the symptoms accompanying the male menopause and the
aging process in men are similar to those of hypogonadism. They include a decrease
in such things as libido and sexual activity, less signs of virilism such as
a thinning of male hair or beard growth, a decrease in muscle mass and strength,
lack of energy, ostopenia (weakened or soft bones), a decrease in cognitive
functions, irritability, excessive sweating with occasional hot flushes, and
a lowering of the feeling of general well-being. We can attribute at least some
of these symptoms to an age associated decrease in testosterone levels.
A man often begins to experience
changes in his body somewhere between ages 40 and 55. These bodily changes may
be accompanied by changes in attitudes and moods. During this time a man frequently
begins to question his values, accomplishments and the direction of his life.
The entire gestalt of these changes has led to the notion of the mid-life crisis.
Why Vasectomy Is Risky?
Some men suffer some pretty severe side effects after undergoing the operation. How does vasectomy affect a man’s
body? This is a reasonable question, which unfortunately is rarely answered,
even after significant effects occur. Let’s use an analogy of a 40-year-old
fire hose. You hook this fire hose up to a hydrant and turn on the water. Let
the hose represent the epididymis portion of the testicles and the vas deferens,
which would measure some 20 feet in length if stretched out, and let the water
represent the 50,000 sperm cells a minute that a man’s body manufactures, even
after vasectomy. Now, tie a knot in the fire hose. What happens? Something is
going to rupture, right? That’s why fire departments don’t use 40-year-old fire
hoses, and why men develop ruptures in their testicles after their vas is tied
off during the vasectomy procedure
Actually, the technical term for this phenomena is a “blowout.” According to Campbell’s Urology (a textbook for
urology students and doctors) “The brunt of pressure-induced damage after vasectomy
falls on the epididymis and efferent ductules…. It is likely that, in time,
all vasectomized men develop ‘blowouts’ in either the epididymis or efferent
ducts.” I wish I had known this before I had my vasectomy and started experiencing
some of the negative effects of that rupturing process.
But that’s not all. When the rupturing occurs, sperm cells enter the blood stream, where they were not naturally intended
to be. As a matter of fact, nature makes a very specific point of keeping sperm
cells out of the blood stream, because sperm cells have very strong enzymes
on their surfaces and only half a DNA strand. What does the body think is happening?
The immune system is sent on full alert to fight off a perceived
infection, and the body becomes “autoimmune”,
i.e. the body goes to war on itself. Again from Campbell’s Urology: “Vasectomy
results in violation of the blood-testis barrier producing detectable levels
of serum antisperm antibodies in 60 to 80 per cent of men….” Once this reaction
starts, it is difficult to stop, even with a vasectomy reversal. It would have
been good to know this also before it began happening in me.