It's been said that more men will die with prostate cancer
than from prostate cancer. That's because men are more likely to develop prostate cancer
as they grow older. However, prostate cancer is one of the slowest growing cancers, and
"watching and waiting" may be a valid approach in men with a limited life
expectancy. In younger men, early detection of prostate cancer is important as treatment
may be curative. Once prostate cancer spreads, treatment becomes more difficult.
- Overview
- The materials in this section have been chosen to provide a
solid introduction to your health condition. They explain anatomy and physiology, give
descriptive overviews of the disease, and include a glossary of the medical terms you will
come across in the rest of your report.
Articles of General Interest
What
Is Prostate Cancer and Who Gets It?
From: Well-Connected
Read here for general information about what prostate cancer is and what can cause it.
Prostate
Cancer: Stage Information
From: PDQ
This article explains the different classifications applied to prostate cancer tumors -
classifications which determine disease prognosis and treatment. Written for physicians,
but interesting for the layperson as well.
Prostate
Cancer
From: FDA Consumer
This excellent article summarizes current information about the testing for and treatment
of prostate cancer.
Prostate
Alert
From: Health Pages
Here's a good article about two of the most common prostate problems: prostate cancer and
benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH).
Symptoms
What
Are the Symptoms of Prostate Cancer?
From: Well-Connected
Here's a brief summary of the symptoms associated with prostate cancer -- and the other,
benign conditions which might mimic those symptoms.
Screening and Early Detection
Screening
for Prostate Cancer
From: PDQ
Recommendations for health care professionals about the value of screening for prostate
cancer.
Prognosis
How
Serious Is Prostate Cancer?
From: Well-Connected
Read here to find out how the seriousness of a case of prostate cancer is determined.
Prevention
How
Can Prostate Cancer Be Prevented?
From: Well-Connected
Information on how lifestyle factors like diet and exercise can reduce your risk of
prostate cancer.
Can
Prostate Cancer Be Prevented?
From: Making the Prostate Therapy Decision
Diet, exercise, and new drug therapies are all being studies as possible measures to
prevent prostate cancer. Read here for more information.
Personal Stories
Patient's
Corner
From: Health Pages
A personal story about dealing with a diagnosis of prostate cancer and the treatment
experience that follows.
Glossary of Terms
Cancer
Definitions
From: The National Cancer Institute
An extensive glossary of cancer terms.
A
Basic Prostate Glossary
From: The Prostate Sourcebook
Consult this glossary if you need to clear up any terms associated with your prostate
condition.
- Treatment and
Diagnosis
- The materials in this section are more technical in nature.
They go into detail about examinations and diagnosis, standard allopathic (medical)
approaches and treatments, and the role that risk factors and prevention can play.
Articles of General Interest
What
Are the Treatments for Localized Prostate Cancer?
From: Well-Connected
Early-stage prostate cancer can be treated right away using surgery or radiation, or it
can be monitored over time ("watchful waiting"). This article describes all
three of these options.
What
Are the Treatments for Recurring, Advanced, and Metastasized Prostate Cancer?
From: Well-Connected
This article summarizes the possible treatments for late-stage and recurring prostate
cancer: hormonal therapy, surgery, and some newer, experimental approaches.
Prostate
Cancer: General Information
From: PDQ
Written for physicians, this article may be a bit tough to wade through, but worth the
effort for the valuable information it contains
Prostate
Cancer: Treatment Option Overview and Complications
From: PDQ
An overview of the treatment options for stage 1-3 (equivalent to stages A-C) prostate
cancer, written for physicians.
Prostate
Cancer: All Stages
From: PDQ
Written for physicians, this article discusses which treatment options are appropriate for
each stage of prostate cancer.
When
Should You or Should You Not Intervene?
From: Making the Prostate Therapy Decision
Here's an article about "watchful waiting" - when it's appropriate to treat
prostate cancer right away and when it's appropriate to wait.
Diagnosis
Prostate
Cancer: Cellular Classification
From: PDQ
A brief discussion of biopsy for prostate cancer, and subsequent Gleason scale grading.
Stages
of Prostate Cancer
From: FDA Consumer
A great graphical depiction of the stages of prostate cancer.
Drug Therapy
Angiogenesis
Inhibitors in Cancer Research
From: The National Cancer Institute
Angiogenesis inhibitors - drugs which prevent new blood vessel development - may be the
cancer treatment of the future. Here's a discussion of the clinical trials in place to
study these exciting new drugs.
Giving
Thalidomide a Second Chance
From: FDA Consumer
Read about thalidomide for treating inflammation common to a host of diseases, and
combatting weight loss and aphthous ulcers in AIDS patients.
Non-Surgical Treatments
Questions
and Answers about Cryosurgery in Cancer Treatment
From: PDQ
An article in question-and-answer, dealing with cryosurgery in general, with references to
several specific cancers.
Radiation Therapy
The
Basics of Radiation Therapy
From: Coping with Radiation Therapy
The basics of radiation therapy: how and why it works, and what to expect when you receive
it.
Complications
Prostate
Cancer: Hormone Therapy Complications
From: PDQ
A brief discussion of the complications that can be associated with prostate
cancer-related hormone therapy. Written for health care professionals.
Side Effects of Treatment
Side
Effects of Radiation Therapy
From: Coping with Radiation Therapy
A good, albeit general, discussion on side effects commonly seen with radiation therapy.
All
About Impotence
From: The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
An up-to-date review of impotence, its causes, and its treatments. Everything from the
relevant male anatomy to erectile dysfunction solutions are examined. A list of resources
at the end are included as well as diagrams throughout to supplement the information you
read.
Practical
Tips for People with Cancer Who Are Experiencing Nausea or Have Lost Their Appetite
From: Cancer Care, Inc.
How to deal with your cancer therapy's effect on your appetite.
Impotence:
Causes and Solutions
From: Health Pages
Read here for a discussion of the possible causes of and treatments for impotence.
Clinical Trials
Clinical
Trials Information for Patients
From: The National Cancer Institute
Entering into a clinical trial is an option taken by many cancer patients. Read this
important article if you're at all interested in new and cutting-edge treatments for your
cancer.
What
Are Experimental Treatments for People with Cancer? Are They Safe? Are They Effective? Are
They Covered by Insurance?
From: Cancer Care, Inc.
Some suggestions on how you can evaluate experimental and complementary cancer therapies.
Experimental
Treatments? Unapproved But Not Always Unavailable
From: FDA Consumer
Access to experimental treatments through participation in clinical trials can make a
diffence for patients with life-threatening conditions.
Communicating With Your Doctor
"Doctor,
Can We Talk?"
From: Cancer Care, Inc.
Read here for advice about dealing with your health care team when you've been diagnosed
with cancer.
Diagnostic Tests and Procedures
What
Tests Will Confirm a Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer?
From: Well-Connected
Learn about the various medical tests -- including the digital rectal exam and the PSA
test -- which can be used to diagnose prostate cancer.
- Complementary
Therapies
- The materials in this section offer information on
nontraditional therapies such as herbs and acupuncture, as well as other treatments that
might complement, but do not replace standard medical diagnosis and treatment. These
approaches are generally not well-researched, and often have explanatory systems that do
not follow conventional biomedical explanations. Many of these areas are the focus of
growing interest on the part of mainstream medicine. This information is intended for your
information only, and these therapies should be pursued only after full consultation with
your physician, under the supervision of a licensed practitioner.
How to Evaluate and Use Complementary
Therapies
What
You Need to Know About Choosing an Alternative Cancer Therapy
From: The Complete Guide to Alternative Cancer Therapies
If you're considering using complementary therapies in addition to more traditional
treatments for cancer, read this article for help on how to choose an appropriate therapy
and practitioner.
How
to Use Alternative and Complementary Medicine
From: WebMD
Vivekan Flint writes an excellent overview article on alternative therapies. It answers
common questions such as steps to choosing a therapy, how to choose a practitioner, and
where to go for help. A must read.
- Self-Care
- This section covers a variety of things you can do for
yourself to increase your health, speed your recovery, ease pain, or aid rehabilitation.
Included are materials on lifestyle and behavior changes, diet, exercise, body-mind
approaches, and similar self-care measures. We selected these materials because they are
accepted by both traditional and alternative medical establishments and have proven
helpful to many people. These approaches can be adopted or modified to whatever extent you
feel comfortable.
Articles of General Interest
Diet
and Lifestyle During Radiation Therapy
From: Coping with Radiation Therapy
The side effects of radiation therapy may include loss of appetite, fatigue, and changes
in sleep patterns. This article gives coping tips for all of these problems.
Coping with Pain
It
Doesn't Have to Hurt!
From: Cancer Care, Inc.
Read this article for tips on how you can manage cancer pain.
Support Groups
How
to Start a Cancer Support Group
From: Cancer Care, Inc.
Advice from Cancer Care about setting up a cancer support group.
Vitamins and Minerals
Selenium
Lowers Incidence of Lung, Colorectal, and Prostate Cancers
From: PDQ
According to the research outlined here, the dietary supplement selenium may significantly
lower the incidence of prostate, colorectal, and lung cancers in people with a history of
skin cancer.
Sexuality
Consumer
Information about Viagra
From: The Food and Drug Administration
Here's some general information from the Food and Drug Administration about Viagra,
presented in question-and-answer format.
Economic Issues
Medical
Insurance
From: Cancer Care, Inc.
The last thing that cancer patients should have to worry about when they're undergoing
treatment is whether or not their medical insurance will cover it. This article outlines
the cancer insurance crisis.
- Web Links
and Support Resources
- After reading the previous sections of your report, we
encourage you to take this knowledge and use it as a springboard to enter the research and
support networks out there focused on your health concern. The following resources may
include suggested reading, newsletters and support groups, research and advocacy
organizations, agencies, and government bureaus.
Organizations and Internet Sites
Web
Links and Support Resources:
Prostate Cancer
From: WebMD
An annotated list of organizations and websites to go to for more help and information.
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