Women know more about men's health than men do themselves and that's a fact.
Why is that? Is it because we find it hard to discuss these things? Is it
because it's not macho! From the time that we are young, we are taught that
boys have to act tough and shouldn't cry. You must have heard the saying
"Big Boys don't cry!"
Most of us
carry this thought process into adulthood and feel by showing concern for
our health, it will be seen as a male weakness. I am guilty of that myself.
I know when
my prostate troubles began, I knew absolutely nothing about the prostate. I
was one of the 96%. Mainly because it didn't cross my mind that I'd ever
have any problems.
In addition,
the prostate is in a "private" area, and it wasn't something I wanted to
examine. Many people, including myself, feel uncomfortable talking about the
prostate, since the gland plays a role in both sex and urination.
I have had
prostate troubles, survived a cancer scare and watched my sister die from
Cancer. Believe me, when I say that when you think you are going to die, it
concentrates your mind on what is really important. Suddenly your priorities
get focused.
Due to my
prostate troubles, I became interested in learning about the prostate and
how it affected my health.
I cried the
day they took a biopsy and I cried with relief the day I was told it was
benign. I cried many times as I watched my sister die.
I got so
frustrated having to get up every night 3-4 times due to my prostate
troubles and then finding I couldn't get back to sleep.
What is
prostate cancer?
Prostate
Cancer develops by the growth of cancerous cells within the prostate gland.
Prostate cancer occurs when some of the cells that make up the prostate
gland escape from the normal controls on their growth and start to divide,
grow and spread in an uncontrolled manner. In its advanced form, it can
produce the same symptoms as BPH. (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia)
Warning Signs
Early
prostate cancer often does not cause symptoms. When symptoms of prostate
cancer do occur, they may include some of the following problems:
A need to
urinate frequently, especially at night; Difficulty starting urination or
holding back urine; Inability to urinate; Weak or interrupted flow of urine;
Painful or burning urination; Painful ejaculation; Blood in urine or semen;
and/or Frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs.
Any of these
symptoms may be caused by cancer or by other, less serious health problems,
such as BPH or an infection (Prostatitis). Only a doctor can tell the cause.
A man who has symptoms like these should see his family doctor . Do not wait
to feel pain; early prostate cancer does not cause pain.
These are two
other main prostate problems
1) BPH -
(Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia) is the abnormal growth of benign prostate
cells. In an enlarged prostate , the prostate grows larger and pushes
against the urethra and bladder, blocking the normal flow of urine. BPH is
often the result of prostatitis.
2)
Prostatitis refers to prostate inflammation and infection, which can be
brief or long-lasting, mild or severe symptoms can include frequent, urgent
and painful urination, erectile problems or pain >during ejaculation.
Prostatitis
is rampant in the US, affecting at least 80% of American men. Most is
without major symptoms. Prostate enlargement, called Benign Prostatic
Hypertrophy (BPH) is often the result of prostatitis.
Treatment for
Prostate Cancer
The treatment
given for prostate cancer depends on how advanced or widespread the disease
is. If the cancer is small and only present within the prostate gland, it is
possible to treat it with
surgery
(radical prostatectomy) radiotherapy (either external beam radiotherapy or
brachytherapy) hormone therapy
I sincerely
hope that this article can be of use to you, your partner, someone in your
family or indeed a close friend.
Health to me
is both physical and mental. The two cannot be separated. May I leave you
with what I regard the finest bits of advice for life
**************************************************************
If I were asked to give what I consider the single most useful bit of advice
for all humanity it would be this: Expect trouble as an inevitable part of
life and when it comes, hold your head high, look it squarely in the eye and
say, "I will be bigger than you. You cannot defeat me." Ann Landers
***************************************************************
I wish you perfect health and piece of mind in all that you
do.
Jeff Cuckson
webmaster@backtobetterhealth.com
*****************************************
Discover Real People With Stories Of Success
In Getting Back To Good Health. Go Visit NOW at!
http://www.backtobetterhealth.com
********************************************
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