Search Results for: blog calculate your prostate cancer risk

Prostate Cancer May Not Need Treatment

Thanks to advanced screening techniques, millions of men have been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Back in 1986, a prostate-cancer specific antigen (PSA) blood test gave doctors a new way to check for tumors and catch them relatively early. But not all of them may need aggressive treatment. New research from the VA Outcomes Group in Vermont indicates that more than a million men may be getting treatment for tumors that are growing too slowly to do any harm. Prostate cancer kills more than two hundred and fifty thousand men around the world each year — it is one of the … Continue reading →

Statins May Help Fight Prostate Cancer

Posted on by

Several recent studies took a look at how cholesterol-fighting statins could help men with prostate cancer… and the results are encouraging. A study from the University of Toronto found that men who took statins prior to prostate surgery had a thirty percent reduction in the risk of cancer recurrence. The researchers believe that the anti-inflammatory properties of statins may be key. More research is necessary to determine the optimal dose and length of time a person needs to take statins in order to benefit. Would taking statins after prostate removal be as beneficial? They don’t know just yet. A study … Continue reading →

Keep Track of Your Medical Records

Do you carry your health records in your head? I used to. I’d start up with a new doctor and have to wrack my brain trying to fill out the initial paperwork. What year did I have my sinus surgery? Which relatives have what diseases? When did I start taking all my different meds, and what are the dosages? It will make things much easier if you keep track of your health records and medical history. I’m not an organized person unless I work really hard at it. So I’ve found three quick and easy methods for organizing your health … Continue reading →

Veggies Can Help Reduce The Risk of Prostate Problems

A study from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has found that eating lots of vegetables can reduce your risk of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). Benign prostate hyperplasia is a non-cancerous condition. The prostate becomes enlarged, causing problems with urine flow. There are three common causes of prostate problems: BPH, prostate cancer, and prostatitis. The prostate study tracked more than thirty-two thousand male health care workers, and began in 1986. The average age at the start of the study was 51, though participants ranged in age from 46 to 70. The first phase of the study was a … Continue reading →

Talking To Your Doctor About Prostate Cancer

A diagnosis of prostate cancer can be frightening. The shock of the doctor’s words may make you feel unsettled, nervous, or angry. You might not think to ask certain important questions — I know my brain shuts down when I hear the word “cancer”. The following list of questions may help you talk to your doctor about prostate cancer and what happens next. How reliable are the tests that gave you this diagnosis? What tests were used? A digital rectal exam? A prostate specific antigen (PSA) test? What stage is this cancer in? What does that mean — is it … Continue reading →

Treating Mild BHP at Home

Posted on by

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a gradual enlargement of the prostate that can put pressure on the urethra. That pressure leads to increased urination. Often, BPH is treated with medication that relaxes inflamed muscles. Some cases are treated with surgery that removes part of the prostate. If your benign prostatic hyperplasia is mild or moderate — the symptoms do not bother you or interfere with daily activities — you may be able to treat your BPH at home. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t see your doctor regularly to check symptoms and see if your BPH has worsened! But you may … Continue reading →

The Top Five Health Threats For Men

In honor of Men’s Health Week, it’s time to take a look at the top health threats to the men in our lives. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a list of the ten leading killers of American men in 2003 (the most recent data available to the public). The top five were responsible for more than sixty percent of all male deaths that year. Heart disease. The number one killer, responsible for approximately twenty-eight percent of all male deaths in 2003. Choosing a healthy lifestyle — including regular exercise and a balanced diet — is a … Continue reading →

At-Home Blood Tests–Good or Bad?

My head hurts. My side aches. Is my liver functioning properly? Do I have kidney problems? Sound familiar? If it does you aren’t alone. There are many people (myself included) who may feel under the weather, but would rather skip the expensive trip to the doctor. Now there is a new way you can skip the trip to the doctor’s office, yet still get tested for an illness. New diagnostic tests let you order your own blood work, without ever seeing a doctor. You can check everything from your red blood cell count to your cholesterol levels through a medical … Continue reading →