Bone Health Critical Issue for Men with Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is a serious issue for men, with one in six diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime. However, it is especially important for African-American men, who have a one in five chance of being diagnosed, which is the highest incident rate than any other group in the U.S. A recent survey of 90 men showed that men with prostate cancer aren’t thinking about a potentially serious health concern that nearly all patients with advanced disease will experience – bone problems. Bone Health Critical Issue for Men with Prostate Cancer
“Prostate cancer is a health concern that all men should be aware of, including African-American men who are at higher risk for this disease,” said Dr. Kris Gaston, urologist and clinical assistant professor of surgery/urology at the University of North Carolina. “I treat many of these men who are unaware of their risk of prostate cancer and are often diagnosed at later stages of the disease.”
When an African-American man is diagnosed with prostate cancer, he often has a more advanced level of the disease. In fact, a study looking at how prostate cancer can spread to other parts of the body found that African-American men were more likely than Caucasian men to have widespread disease with pain in their bones and had lower physical activity status. These results may be because African-American men are less likely to get tested for prostate cancer.
However, there are ways for African-American men to protect themselves. It is important for men to look out for prostate cancer early by speaking with their physicians about the signs and symptoms of the disease.
Bone health is a critical, yet often under-recognized facet of prostate cancer.
In early stages of prostate cancer, a man may receive hormone therapy that can cause bone loss and weakening. When prostate cancer advances, the most common place for it to spread is to the bone. This can cause severe pain and lead to bone complications, such as fractures and spinal cord injury, which may require surgery or radiation.
In fact, roughly 75 percent of patients with advanced prostate cancer and approximately 90 percent of patients with castrate-resistant prostate cancer will develop bone metastases. Yet, results from a recent survey showed that only seven percent of men with prostate cancer were familiar with the potential for bone complications from cancer spreading.
“Cancer can have a serious impact on a man’s bones during his prostate cancer journey. The results can be debilitating and greatly impact a man’s life,” said Fred Mills, former chairman of the board, Us TOO International Prostate Cancer Education and Support Network. “It’s important for all men to educate themselves and become aware of risk factors and ways to help protect their bones from the effects of cancer.”
Talk to your doctor for more information. There is also an available resource, the “Bone Health in Focus” report, to help prostate cancer patients and their caregivers learn more about how cancer can affect a man’s bones. The report features valuable information – such as personal stories, tips, and survey results – that can assist men in their cancer journey.
Provided by: Article Resources Archive
 
 
 

Early Detection Means Earlier Treatment for Colon Cancer

Colon cancer is the No. 2 cancer killer in the United States because it frequently catches people unaware, according to the National Cancer Institute. But half of the colon-cancer deaths each year could be avoided if every adult older than 50 is screened, according to the American Cancer Society. Early Detection Means Earlier Treatment for Colon Cancer
Preventative screening is an important first step in detecting colon cancer; however, it is the decisions you need to make if a screening comes back positive that can influence your future health. When caught early, colon cancer is highly treatable.
Treatment for colon cancer ranges from chemotherapy to surgery. Minimally invasive – also called laparoscopic – colon cancer surgery has been made possible thanks to advances in technology. Minimally invasive surgery uses state-of-the-art technology to reduce the damage to human tissue during a procedure. In most procedures, a surgeon makes several small 3/4-inch incisions and inserts thin tubes, or access ports, into the patient’s abdomen. A miniature camera is then placed through one of the port sites so the surgical team can view the procedure as a magnified image on video monitors in the operating room. Then, specialized instruments are placed through the other port sites to perform the procedure. Surgery for colon cancer usually entails removing the cancer, along with a section of colon on either side of the cancer spot. Finally one of the port site incisions is elongated several inches so that the specimen can be removed along with nearby lymph nodes.
Minimally invasive procedures have been proven to be as effective as traditional open surgery. More than 20 million Americans have had a minimally invasive procedure. Not only do these procedures usually provide the same outcomes to open surgery, they may offer significant benefits as well:
* Quicker recovery. Since a minimally invasive procedure requires smaller incisions than conventional surgery (usually about the diameter of a dime), patients may heal much faster (e.g., patients who underwent minimally invasive colectomy for colon cancer returned to work five to 26 days quicker than with a traditional procedure, according to a study conducted by the Advisory Board Company.)
* Decreases the risk of acquiring infections. Laparoscopic surgery for hysterectomy, cholecystectomy (gall bladder) and appendectomy reduced the risk of hospital-acquired infections by 52 percent when compared to open surgery, according to a study published in Surgical Endoscopy.
* Shorter hospital stays. Minimally invasive procedures help get patients out of the hospital (up to seven days) and back to their normal routine (average of 36.4 days) sooner than conventional open surgery, according to studies published in Surgical Innovation and the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.
* Less scarring. Most incisions are so small that it’s hard to even notice them after the incisions have healed.
* Less pain. Because these procedures are less invasive than conventional open surgery, there is typically less pain involved.
* Cost savings. Patients who undergo minimally invasive surgery save between $438 and $8,286 in hospital costs, compared to those who undergo conventional open surgery, according to studies published in Surgical Innovation and the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.
Colon cancer can be a deadly and costly disease, but if caught early, can be treated successfully and with less invasive or costly options. Getting screened when recommended can help a person start treatment early, potentially without having ever experienced a symptom of colon cancer.
If you are over 50 and have never been screened, now is the time. If you have been diagnosed with colon cancer, talk with your doctor about the potential for minimally invasive surgery treatment.

What is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a complicated condition with no clear-cut answers. The word fibromyalgia can be broken down into three words. ‘Fibro’ means fiber or fibrous, ‘my’ is from ‘myo’ and refers to muscle and ‘algia’ represents a state of pain. Therefore, fibromyalgia simply means a condition which is characterized by pain in the muscle and soft tissue fibers of the body. Fibromyalgia is estimated to affect 2% to 4% of the population and 80-90% of those affected are females between the ages of 40-60. It is sometimes called the invisible pain disease, because there are no diagnostic tests to confirm it. What is Fibromyalgia?
 
The specific cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, but there are some prominent theories regarding the onset of the disease including but not limited to: chemical changes in the brain (especially serotonin and substance P), sleep disturbances, injury to the upper spinal region, infection, abnormalities of the sympathetic nervous system, stress, lack of exercise, nutritional deficiencies and toxicity. Symptoms vary by individual and may include widespread pain, fatigue, needlelike tingling of the skin, muscle aches, nerve pain, irritable bowel syndrome and chronic sleep disturbances.
A thorough exam is necessary before undergoing any treatment for fibromyalgia to rule out other health conditions which can manifest as “fibromyalgia-like” symptoms. Fibromyalgia is difficult to diagnose because there are no specific diagnostic tests for it.
Often blood tests and x-rays results are within normal ranges which may rule out other conditions, but do not confirm a diagnosis of fibromyalgia.
Treatment options include but are not limited to: dietary changes, nutritional supplementation, exercise, joint manipulation, bio-feedback, acupuncture, and prescription medications. Dietary changes may include increasing your daily intake of fresh fruits and vegetables, healthy fats and meats and eliminating potential irritants such as: corn, wheat, dairy, citrus, soy and nuts. Studies have shown that fibromyalgia sufferers show improvement in their symptoms by supplementing their diet with malic acid with magnesium in an effort to counteract potential aluminum toxicity. Detoxification can also be an important part of fibromyalgia treatment as it can help rid the body of unwanted toxins related to smoking, alcohol consumption, soft drinks, and prescription and non-prescription medications.
Research has indicated that more than 80% of patients with fibromyalgia are not physically fit. Although it may be difficult for fibromyalgia patients to exercise because of fatigue and pain, cardiovascular exercise will greatly improve their prognosis. Joint manipulation can affect the pain receptors in the joints of the spine and relieve tension in the body, thus helping to reduce pain and encourage exercise. Bio-feedback has shown great promise in fibromyalgia cases where the patient can remember one specific triggering event associated with the abrupt onset of their symptoms.
Acupuncture has shown success in pain reduction, treating depression and reducing fatigue as well as stress reduction.
Pharmaceutical drugs are also used to treat fibromyalgia. Most commonly anti-depressants, pain relievers, anti-inflammatories, and sleeping aids are prescribed for the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Lyrica is the first medication approved by the FDA to treat fibromyalgia, however recent studies showed only about half of the study participants had symptom relief and others suffered side effects such as dizziness, sleepiness, difficulty concentrating, blurred vision, weight gain, dry mouth and swelling in the hands and feet.
Although, none of these treatments is a cure in itself, all can be used to effectively manage the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Check with your healthcare practitioner to develop the best treatment method for you and your loved ones.
Article provided to the La Quinta Chamber of Commerce – GEM Publication March 2009 page 6.

http://www.lqchamber.com/pdf/gem-mar09.pdf