Prostate Cancer Blog

Posts Tagged ‘early’

Yes,I don’t know if I really have colon cancer or not.And I am to embaressed to ask my doctor if I do,considering the fact that I would have to tell him that I have blood in my stools.

Though blood in the stool may not necessarily mean colon cancer, it is important to have it checked by a doctor.

As some of the others have mentioned, the color of the blood in your stool is significant. Bright colored blood could mean hemorrhoids and dark colored blood must surely be investigated.

I am familiar with colon cancer because my dad and grandma died from it. Most of the time in the initial stages, there are hardly any symptoms. But once you pass out blood, it could already be stage one. But stage one colon cancer means that the survival rate is more than 90% and the patient need not go through chemotherapy.

So, even if it is colon cancer, early detection can help you survive to a ripe old age. So I would suggest that you go see a doctor immediately. There is nothing to fear. In fact it will give you peace of mind.

A friend of mine had blood in his stools and he thought he has hemorrhoids. He delayed seeing a doctor for 6 months. In the end, his whole rectum had to be removed and a colostomy has to be constructed to allow feces to flow out from his stomach into a bag. He no longer has control over his bowel movements.

I hope you see a doctor immediately because too many people have ignored the early warning signs.

BTW, no one here can tell from your symptoms whether you have or do not have colon cancer. Even the doctors cannot tell unless you go through a colonoscopy and have a fecal occult blood test.

You make your own decisions. We are not qualified doctors here. So, take what others say with a pinch of salt. That includes me!

Cheers!

how much does it cost to treat dog’s testicular cancer? please list all the ranges from early point of cancer and on.

This would be something to discuss with your Vet or the Oncologist Specialist. Price would vary greatly and it would also depend it the cancer has spread to other organs, glands or bones. Once again, another reason to neuter pet quality animals. I’m sorry for you, though.

I’d like to discuss with someone, preferably a doctor, about testicular cancer in general. I feel I may be being lied to by a family member about this subject, and I need to know more about the cancer itself and treatments. If there’s anyone out there, whether a doctor or someone who’s had testicular cancer, please help!

Testicular cancer is a type of cancer that develops in the testicles (singular testis), a part of the male reproductive system. In the United States, about 8,000 to 9,000 diagnoses of testicular cancer are made each year. Over his lifetime, a man’s chance of getting testicular cancer is roughly 1 in 250 (four tenths of one percent, or 0.4%). It is most common among males aged 15?40 years. Testicular cancer has one of the highest cure rates of all cancers: in excess of 90%; essentially 100% if it has not spread. Even for the relatively few cases in which the cancer has spread widely, chemotherapy offers a cure rate of at least 50%.

Symptoms and early detection
Because testicular cancer is curable (stage I can have a success rate of >95%) when detected early, experts recommend regular monthly testicular self-examination after a hot shower or bath, when the scrotum is looser. Men should examine each testicle, feeling for pea-shaped lumps. Symptoms may include one or more of the following:

a lump in one testis or a hardening of one of the testicles
pain and tenderness in the testicles
build-up of fluid in the scrotum
a dull ache in the lower abdomen or groin
an increase, or significant decrease, in the size of one testis
Men should report any of these to a doctor as soon as possible.

The extent of testicular cancer and whether the cancer is present are ascertained by ultrasound (of the testicles), X-rays, and/or CT scans, which are used to locate tumors. Blood tests are also used to identify and measure tumor markers that are specific to testicular cancer. A biopsy should not be performed, as it raises the risk of migrating cancer cells into the scrotum.

[edit] Differential Diagnosis
An incorrect diagnosis is made at the initial examination in up to 25% of patients with testicular tumors and may result in delay in treatment or a suboptimal surgical approach (scrotal incision) for exploration.

Epididymitis or epididymoorchitis
Hydrocele
Spermatocele
Granulomatous orchitis

Prevalence and distribution
Testicular cancer is most common among white males and rare among African Americans. Worldwide incidence has doubled since the 1960s, with the highest rates of prevalence in Scandinavia, Germany, and New Zealand. Testicular cancer is uncommon in Asia and Africa.

Incidence among African Americans doubled from 1988 to 2001 with a bias towards seminoma. The lack of any significant increase in the incidence of early-stage testicular cancer during this timeframe suggests that the overall increase was not due to heightened awareness of the disease.

Although testicular cancer is most common among men aged 15?40 years, it has three peaks: infancy, ages 25?40 years, and age 60 years.

Pathology, staging, and genetics
Testicular cancer can be caused by any type of cell found in the testes, but more than 95% of all testicular cancers originate in germ cells. (Germ cells produce sperm. They are not pathogenic; i.e., they are not to be confused with the "germs" (viruses, bacteria) that cause illness.) In general, the remainder of this article discusses germ-cell testicular cancer.

Germ-cell tumors are classified as either seminomas or nonseminomas (which may be called teratomas in the UK). Seminomas are slow-growing. Seminomas, when found, tend to be localized (i.e., only in the testicles), simply because they spread relatively slowly. Nonseminomas, on the other hand, tend to spread more quickly. Nonseminomas are further classified into four subtypes; embryonal carcinomas, choriocarcinomas, yolk sac tumors, teratomas and mixed tumors. Their appearance under the microscope and also their gene expression is rather distinguished from each other, their rate of spread varies somewhat, but they are nevertheless treated similarly. When seminomas and nonseminomas are both present (which is not unusual), the cancer is classified as nonseminoma
[edit] Tumor markers
Blood markers for testicular tumors include the beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (?hCG), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). Seminomatous tumors never present elevated AFP levels. Placental alkaline phosphatase and other markers are sometimes used by the pathologist to differentiate between seminoma and nonseminomatous tumors.

[edit] Staging
After removal, a testicular tumor is staged by a pathologist according to the TNM Classification of Malignant Tumors as published in the AJCC Cancer Staging Manual. Testicular cancer is categorized as being in one of three stages (which have subclassifications). The size of the tumor in the testis is irrelevant to staging. [1] In broad terms, tesicular cancer is staged as follows:

Stage I: the cancer remains localized to the testis.
Stage II: the cancer involves the testis and metastasis to retroperitoneal and/or Paraaortic lymph nodes (lymph nodes below the diaphragm).
Stage III: the cancer involves the testis and metastasis beyond the retroperitoneal and Paraaortic lymph nodes. Stage III is further subdivided into nonbulky stage III and bulky stage III. [2]
There are alternative therapies favored by some to help fight testicular cancer. Studies have found that epigallocatechin gallate, found in green tea, has beneficial effects. It can bind to a protein on a tumor cell and slow its growth. Other active ingredients, quercetin and gallic acid, have also shown effectiveness, as well as the aqueous solutions of ardisia and yerba mate teas, as chemopreventative agents.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=15450404

The diallyl sulfide component in garlic may be an effective inhibitor in the development of carcinogenic tumors, according to a number of studies which showed some preventative effect.

http://www.krysalis.net/cancer2.htm

Finally the maitake mushroom appears to both inhibit the growth of tumors as well as stimulate immunity. The particular active ingredient is a beta-glucan called D-fraction, which stimulates immune cells. In some cases extracts need to be injected, but the mushroom is effective orally and can be bought as a supplement. It?s also been posited that the maitake might make chemotherapeutic drugs more effective, which means lower does of chemotherapy can be used.

Syptoms of prostate cancer include
increased frequency of urination
difficulty urinating
painful ejaculation
blood in urine or semen
painful urination
raised PSA, prostate specific antigen

there are no set timelines for symptoms to appear, some people may experience many of these sypmtoms while others may not. The risk of prostate cancer increases with age and peaks at around 50. If someone is experiencing any of these symptoms they should contact their GP. obviuosly raised PSA is not something you can tell but if you ask you GP he can takesome blood and perform a PSA test. This is the best indicator for prosate cancer

Dr. Bruce Roth from the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center speaks on testicular cancer for Catch It Early, http://www.catchitearly.org

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There are no early reliable symptoms of prostate cancer. If present, they may mimic an enlarged prostate (aka BPH) or prostatitis.

Remember the definition of symptoms is something the patient complains about, and a sign is something the observer (physician) and identify (prostate nodule or elevated PSA).

My father was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He is in the early stages of it. I don’t know exactly what phase or much about it for that matter. Nonetheless I am worried and scared and so is my mother. He has two options to remove it either chemo or surgery. Does anyone know which option might be better and does anyone have experiences where someone in their life had this and was fine afterward?

I had prostate cancer. It’s a slow growing cancer, so your lucky if you catch it early enough. I had my prostate removed, and am now cancer free. Been so for four years. I recommend the operation. Chemo tends to kill some of the good cells. And who needs the sick feelings from chemo? The results of the operation wear off quickly.

i am 35 years of age and i am very weary about my occasional pain in my testicles. is it detectable even if its on its 1st stage?

Your prostate is nowhere near your testicles.
Do you have any lumps in your testicles (apart from the obvious?)
You should probably see your doctor.
Testicular pain can be a few things such as a UTI or Hernia.
Prostate cancer is usually signified by a weak or interrupted urinary flow.
Chat with your doctor and stop worrying.

Testicular is the most common cancer diagnosed in 25-35 year old men. House Calls TV discusses the signs and symptoms.

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Early diagnosis of colon cancer can save lives and money. Katie Couric reports on the importance of early detection and why many Americans aren’t taking advantage of it. (CBSNews.com)

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