According to the National Institutes of Health (para, 1) the male reproductive system is composed of numerous organs. One of these organs is the prostate gland situated just below the neck of the bladder. This gland is small in size and is composed of glandular and muscular tissues. National Comprehensive Cancer Network states that the work of the prostate gland is to produce milky alkaline fluid that is secreted during the emission of semen into the urethra (p, 5).
The purpose of this fluid is to provide a medium through which the sperms life and motility is enhanced. Testosterone hormone enables the prostate gland to function properly in the regulation of bladder control and the functioning of the normal sexual activities. According to Mamas Health, uncontrolled cell division and growth may occur in the prostate glands leading to the development of prostate cancer. The hormone testosterone is believed to play a certain role in the development of prostate cancer (para, 1).
Symptoms
According to Shiel and Lee (para, 2), prostrate cancer affects the prostate glands. Women do not develop prostate cancer simply because they do not have the prostate gland. The cancer may not spread for many years as it grows slowly. There are various symptoms displayed by a patient suffering from prostate cancer. According to Macmillan Cancer Support (para 1), these symptoms are experienced when the cancer is large enough to exert pressure on the urethra. These may include difficult in starting to urinate, excessive loss of weight, painful ejaculation, presence of blood in urine though not very common and loss of appetite. The other symptoms include frequent urination, pain during the process of urination, interruption during urine flow, erection difficulties and frequent pain on the lower back, hips or upper thighs. Low red blood cell count and tiredness are also symptoms of prostate cancer (Prostate Cancer foundation, para 1).
Incidences
According to University of Maryland Medical Center (para, 1) benign prostatic hypertrophy or enlargement of the prostate gland is common in men over the age of fifty years. More than 65 of all prostrate cancer cases are diagnosed in men who are above the age of sixty. It rarely affects young men (Prostate Cancer foundation, para 1). As a leading malignancy among men in the United States, prostrate cancer rates second to lung cancer as the leading cause of death in men. It mainly occurs in older men. Black men have a higher incidence of developing prostrate cancer than Caucasians. Statistics has it that around 32,000 men in the United Kingdom are diagnosed with the disease each year (Schrder et al., p 1325). Over the age of fifty, about one in every three men has got some cancer cells in their prostrate. On reaching age eighty, all men have got small cancer areas in their prostrate glands. In the US, one in six men are diagnosed with prostrate cancer in their lifetime whereas in the UK, one in twelve men are diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime (University of Maryland Medical Center, para 5).
Risk factors
Environmental factors
Prostrate Cancer foundation states that though the cause may be unknown, the incidence noticeably varies by geographic region. This highly indicates that there are environmental factors that may trigger the development of the disease (para, 3).
Ethnicity
National Institutes of Health (para, 5) states that researchers have devoted a considerable effort to try and figure out some of the risk factors that lead to the development of the cancer. They have dictated that some ethnic groups are more prone to developing the disease than others. African Americans are more likely to develop the disease than Caucasians. Asian men in the United States have a lower risk of developing the disease than African-Americans.
Genetic factors
According to Prostate Cancer foundation (para, 2), genetic factors have also been associated with the development of the disease. People who are close relatives to a person, maybe a father or a brother, who develops prostate cancer have a slightly higher chance of also developing the disease than those who are not related. Men who have two or more close relatives who are diagnosed with the disease have a very high chance of developing the disease. The chances even increase if the relatives were diagnosed at an early age. This may indicate presence of a faulty gene in the family (para 1). However, specific genetic linkage has not been identified as a predisposing factor to prostrate cancer development (Prostrate Cancer foundation, para 2).
Poor nutrition
Poor nutrition is another predisposing risk to the development of prostrate cancer. High fat intake accompanied by low intake of fresh fruits and high fiber foods increases the risk of developing prostrate cancer. Fruits such as tomatoes contain chemicals called lycopene that help in eradicating radicals that lead to development of prostrate cancer. High calcium intake also increases the risk of developing prostrate cancer. Age is the other risk factor associated with prostrate cancer. The risk of developing the disease increases with increase in age. The disease rarely affects young men (Macmillan Cancer Support, para 1). Lack of exercise may also increase the risk of developing prostate cancer.
Treatment
There is no one major treatment for prostrate cancer. Treatment mainly rests on the clinical and psychological factors adopted by the patient. Thorough consultation with all prostrate cancer specialists that is an urologist, a radiation oncologist, and a medical oncologist is the first major step in deciding the best treatment for a prostrate cancer patient. Some of the treatment modalities being used today include
Active surveillance
In Active surveillance, patients opt to wait instead of undergoing immediate surgery or radiation therapy. During this period, cancer signs of progression are carefully monitored. This is a good option for men who have very early or very slow growing cancers (Prostate Cancer foundation, para 1).
Radiation therapy
In this technique, radioactive rays are exposed to the cancerous cells of the prostate glands in order to kill them. It is the initial treatment procedure for prostrate cancer. Radiation beam radiotherapy is the best employed radiotherapy technique in the treatment of prostrate cancer. Proton therapy whereby protons of energetic particles are directed towards a prostrate cancer tumor without causing adverse effects to the nearby tissues is currently gaining momentum in the western countries (Prostate Cancer foundation, para 6).
Brachytherapy
This technique is also employed in the treatment of prostrate cancer whereby radioactive iodine in minute metal pellets is inserted using needles into the prostrate. These pellets give off radiation materials after sometime killing the cancerous prostrate cells.
Prostatectomy
This is the surgical removal of part or whole of prostrate gland (Prostate Cancer foundation, Para 1). Radical prostatectomy or surgical removal of the complete prostrate gland together with some nearby tissue is done to men who are diagnosed with early stage of prostrate cancer. This is done through radical retropubic prostatectomy whereby an incision is made in the stomach and the prostrate is cut at the rear of the pubic bone (Prostate Cancer foundation, para 2).
Hormone therapy
Prostate Cancer foundation states that in this technique, the hormone testosterone is targeted as it is the main hormone involved in the development of prostrate cancer. It is designed in such a way as to prevent the testosterone hormone from acting on the cancerous cells (para, 2). Though this technique is not the best in the treatment of prostrate cancer as some cancerous cells may be non-responsive to testosterone deprivation and still continue growing uncontrolled, it is an important strategy in managing the advancement of prostrate cancer (Prostrate Cancer foundation, para 3).
Chemotherapy
This is the use of drugs to kill or prevent the growth of cancer cells. These drugs are aimed at stopping cell division growth and spread of the cancerous cells.
Orchiectomy
This is the surgical removal of the testicles as they are the main producers of testosterone. This is a permanent surgical solution and more hormone therapy is not required after it has been done (Prostate Cancer foundation, para 5).
Cryosurgery
This is the technique employed in the treatment of prostrate cancer whereby tubes are inserted into the prostrate and then liquid nitrogen or argon gas is delivered in order to freeze the cancerous and prostrate cells to death (Babaian, et al, p 1994).
High-intensity focused ultrasound,
This is the technique whereby the prostrate cells are heated to death. This technique is still under experiment in the United States though some European countries have used it (Prostate Cancer foundation, para 4).
Implications for massage and body work
According to DSilva, after undergoing surgery for prostate cancer, the body feels traumatized by the medical procedures. This feeling requires desensitization. Massage is making a slow but steady advancement as a complementary therapy (para, 1). Massage is a non penetrative and effective way that helps to reduce pain, stress and anxiety linked to having prostrate cancer. DSilva notes that a very good way of draining prostrate is through prostrate massage (para 2). Physicians recommend that prostrate massage should be performed once every month to prevent problems from arising. They say that it is a healthy option for the prostrate and that it also reduces pain. They also say that it can greatly improve the sex life of an individual. Daily massage is very essential in reducing the pain and swelling associated with prostrate cancer for those whose cases are advanced. Possible risk of infection restricts self massage (DSilva, para 4).
DSilva states that prostate massage can be done through two ways. One of them is self massage using a hand massage technique or it can be done by a professional. A medical massager uses his finger to perform prostrate massage (para, 5). He should have well trimmed fingers and wear protective latex gloves to prevent cross infection. The practitioner inserts his finger into the anus of a patient and slowly pushes it forward until he feels the prostrate gland. The doctor massages it avoiding the central part which contains several sensitive nerves. Care should be taken during prostrate massaging. Vigorous massaging can cause septicemia, acute prostatitis or even lead to the spread of cancerous cells to other body parts (DSilva, para 8).
Contraindications
According to Batavia, prostrate massage is not recommended for men who have a prostrate condition. It should not be done to those who have inflamed prostrate glands. Rigorous Massaging should not be done as it may increase the risk of spreading a prostrate infection to other body regions (p, 49). After locating the prostrate gland, the central part should be avoided as it contains very sensitive nerves. Diets that are rich in saturated fats should be eliminated in the daily food intake of a person who is at risk of developing prostrate cancer. Rigorous Prostrate massage should be avoided as it damages the sensitive nerves located on the head of the prostrate gland. In case where the prostrate cancer has spread to other areas of the body, removal of the prostate gland surgically is of no value. Prostrate massage is also of little help in cases where the cancer has metastasized. Surgical biopsies should be done with utmost care as they may lead to introduction of cancer cells into the blood stream (Batavia, p 55).
Indications
Alternative treatment including prostrate massage is a very good option in case of localized prostrate cancer. These treatment methods are also very helpful for those who have their cancer condition diagnosed at an early stage.
Prostrate cancer has been shown as one of the incurable diseases that affect men. It has got a wide range of symptoms starting from urination problems, pain in the reproductive system to loss of weight and appetite. However, there are various forms of treatment which range from surgical removal of the prostrate gland, hormonal therapy to alternative methods of treatment. It is highly recommended that prostrate cancer patients use alternative cancer therapies. The same should also be given a first priority before conventional forms of treatment. They should be incorporated in the conventional treatments so as to reduce unwanted side effects. Prostrate massage has been considered a good way of reducing pain and swelling in the prostrate gland.
The purpose of this fluid is to provide a medium through which the sperms life and motility is enhanced. Testosterone hormone enables the prostate gland to function properly in the regulation of bladder control and the functioning of the normal sexual activities. According to Mamas Health, uncontrolled cell division and growth may occur in the prostate glands leading to the development of prostate cancer. The hormone testosterone is believed to play a certain role in the development of prostate cancer (para, 1).
Symptoms
According to Shiel and Lee (para, 2), prostrate cancer affects the prostate glands. Women do not develop prostate cancer simply because they do not have the prostate gland. The cancer may not spread for many years as it grows slowly. There are various symptoms displayed by a patient suffering from prostate cancer. According to Macmillan Cancer Support (para 1), these symptoms are experienced when the cancer is large enough to exert pressure on the urethra. These may include difficult in starting to urinate, excessive loss of weight, painful ejaculation, presence of blood in urine though not very common and loss of appetite. The other symptoms include frequent urination, pain during the process of urination, interruption during urine flow, erection difficulties and frequent pain on the lower back, hips or upper thighs. Low red blood cell count and tiredness are also symptoms of prostate cancer (Prostate Cancer foundation, para 1).
Incidences
According to University of Maryland Medical Center (para, 1) benign prostatic hypertrophy or enlargement of the prostate gland is common in men over the age of fifty years. More than 65 of all prostrate cancer cases are diagnosed in men who are above the age of sixty. It rarely affects young men (Prostate Cancer foundation, para 1). As a leading malignancy among men in the United States, prostrate cancer rates second to lung cancer as the leading cause of death in men. It mainly occurs in older men. Black men have a higher incidence of developing prostrate cancer than Caucasians. Statistics has it that around 32,000 men in the United Kingdom are diagnosed with the disease each year (Schrder et al., p 1325). Over the age of fifty, about one in every three men has got some cancer cells in their prostrate. On reaching age eighty, all men have got small cancer areas in their prostrate glands. In the US, one in six men are diagnosed with prostrate cancer in their lifetime whereas in the UK, one in twelve men are diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime (University of Maryland Medical Center, para 5).
Risk factors
Environmental factors
Prostrate Cancer foundation states that though the cause may be unknown, the incidence noticeably varies by geographic region. This highly indicates that there are environmental factors that may trigger the development of the disease (para, 3).
Ethnicity
National Institutes of Health (para, 5) states that researchers have devoted a considerable effort to try and figure out some of the risk factors that lead to the development of the cancer. They have dictated that some ethnic groups are more prone to developing the disease than others. African Americans are more likely to develop the disease than Caucasians. Asian men in the United States have a lower risk of developing the disease than African-Americans.
Genetic factors
According to Prostate Cancer foundation (para, 2), genetic factors have also been associated with the development of the disease. People who are close relatives to a person, maybe a father or a brother, who develops prostate cancer have a slightly higher chance of also developing the disease than those who are not related. Men who have two or more close relatives who are diagnosed with the disease have a very high chance of developing the disease. The chances even increase if the relatives were diagnosed at an early age. This may indicate presence of a faulty gene in the family (para 1). However, specific genetic linkage has not been identified as a predisposing factor to prostrate cancer development (Prostrate Cancer foundation, para 2).
Poor nutrition
Poor nutrition is another predisposing risk to the development of prostrate cancer. High fat intake accompanied by low intake of fresh fruits and high fiber foods increases the risk of developing prostrate cancer. Fruits such as tomatoes contain chemicals called lycopene that help in eradicating radicals that lead to development of prostrate cancer. High calcium intake also increases the risk of developing prostrate cancer. Age is the other risk factor associated with prostrate cancer. The risk of developing the disease increases with increase in age. The disease rarely affects young men (Macmillan Cancer Support, para 1). Lack of exercise may also increase the risk of developing prostate cancer.
Treatment
There is no one major treatment for prostrate cancer. Treatment mainly rests on the clinical and psychological factors adopted by the patient. Thorough consultation with all prostrate cancer specialists that is an urologist, a radiation oncologist, and a medical oncologist is the first major step in deciding the best treatment for a prostrate cancer patient. Some of the treatment modalities being used today include
Active surveillance
In Active surveillance, patients opt to wait instead of undergoing immediate surgery or radiation therapy. During this period, cancer signs of progression are carefully monitored. This is a good option for men who have very early or very slow growing cancers (Prostate Cancer foundation, para 1).
Radiation therapy
In this technique, radioactive rays are exposed to the cancerous cells of the prostate glands in order to kill them. It is the initial treatment procedure for prostrate cancer. Radiation beam radiotherapy is the best employed radiotherapy technique in the treatment of prostrate cancer. Proton therapy whereby protons of energetic particles are directed towards a prostrate cancer tumor without causing adverse effects to the nearby tissues is currently gaining momentum in the western countries (Prostate Cancer foundation, para 6).
Brachytherapy
This technique is also employed in the treatment of prostrate cancer whereby radioactive iodine in minute metal pellets is inserted using needles into the prostrate. These pellets give off radiation materials after sometime killing the cancerous prostrate cells.
Prostatectomy
This is the surgical removal of part or whole of prostrate gland (Prostate Cancer foundation, Para 1). Radical prostatectomy or surgical removal of the complete prostrate gland together with some nearby tissue is done to men who are diagnosed with early stage of prostrate cancer. This is done through radical retropubic prostatectomy whereby an incision is made in the stomach and the prostrate is cut at the rear of the pubic bone (Prostate Cancer foundation, para 2).
Hormone therapy
Prostate Cancer foundation states that in this technique, the hormone testosterone is targeted as it is the main hormone involved in the development of prostrate cancer. It is designed in such a way as to prevent the testosterone hormone from acting on the cancerous cells (para, 2). Though this technique is not the best in the treatment of prostrate cancer as some cancerous cells may be non-responsive to testosterone deprivation and still continue growing uncontrolled, it is an important strategy in managing the advancement of prostrate cancer (Prostrate Cancer foundation, para 3).
Chemotherapy
This is the use of drugs to kill or prevent the growth of cancer cells. These drugs are aimed at stopping cell division growth and spread of the cancerous cells.
Orchiectomy
This is the surgical removal of the testicles as they are the main producers of testosterone. This is a permanent surgical solution and more hormone therapy is not required after it has been done (Prostate Cancer foundation, para 5).
Cryosurgery
This is the technique employed in the treatment of prostrate cancer whereby tubes are inserted into the prostrate and then liquid nitrogen or argon gas is delivered in order to freeze the cancerous and prostrate cells to death (Babaian, et al, p 1994).
High-intensity focused ultrasound,
This is the technique whereby the prostrate cells are heated to death. This technique is still under experiment in the United States though some European countries have used it (Prostate Cancer foundation, para 4).
Implications for massage and body work
According to DSilva, after undergoing surgery for prostate cancer, the body feels traumatized by the medical procedures. This feeling requires desensitization. Massage is making a slow but steady advancement as a complementary therapy (para, 1). Massage is a non penetrative and effective way that helps to reduce pain, stress and anxiety linked to having prostrate cancer. DSilva notes that a very good way of draining prostrate is through prostrate massage (para 2). Physicians recommend that prostrate massage should be performed once every month to prevent problems from arising. They say that it is a healthy option for the prostrate and that it also reduces pain. They also say that it can greatly improve the sex life of an individual. Daily massage is very essential in reducing the pain and swelling associated with prostrate cancer for those whose cases are advanced. Possible risk of infection restricts self massage (DSilva, para 4).
DSilva states that prostate massage can be done through two ways. One of them is self massage using a hand massage technique or it can be done by a professional. A medical massager uses his finger to perform prostrate massage (para, 5). He should have well trimmed fingers and wear protective latex gloves to prevent cross infection. The practitioner inserts his finger into the anus of a patient and slowly pushes it forward until he feels the prostrate gland. The doctor massages it avoiding the central part which contains several sensitive nerves. Care should be taken during prostrate massaging. Vigorous massaging can cause septicemia, acute prostatitis or even lead to the spread of cancerous cells to other body parts (DSilva, para 8).
Contraindications
According to Batavia, prostrate massage is not recommended for men who have a prostrate condition. It should not be done to those who have inflamed prostrate glands. Rigorous Massaging should not be done as it may increase the risk of spreading a prostrate infection to other body regions (p, 49). After locating the prostrate gland, the central part should be avoided as it contains very sensitive nerves. Diets that are rich in saturated fats should be eliminated in the daily food intake of a person who is at risk of developing prostrate cancer. Rigorous Prostrate massage should be avoided as it damages the sensitive nerves located on the head of the prostrate gland. In case where the prostrate cancer has spread to other areas of the body, removal of the prostate gland surgically is of no value. Prostrate massage is also of little help in cases where the cancer has metastasized. Surgical biopsies should be done with utmost care as they may lead to introduction of cancer cells into the blood stream (Batavia, p 55).
Indications
Alternative treatment including prostrate massage is a very good option in case of localized prostrate cancer. These treatment methods are also very helpful for those who have their cancer condition diagnosed at an early stage.
Prostrate cancer has been shown as one of the incurable diseases that affect men. It has got a wide range of symptoms starting from urination problems, pain in the reproductive system to loss of weight and appetite. However, there are various forms of treatment which range from surgical removal of the prostrate gland, hormonal therapy to alternative methods of treatment. It is highly recommended that prostrate cancer patients use alternative cancer therapies. The same should also be given a first priority before conventional forms of treatment. They should be incorporated in the conventional treatments so as to reduce unwanted side effects. Prostrate massage has been considered a good way of reducing pain and swelling in the prostrate gland.
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