Prostate Cancer That Spreads to the Brain

Cancer of prostate develops in the prostate gland and typically develops slowly. Advanced prostate cancer could extend to the brain or other body parts. The brain is one of the most common sites of metastasis from solid tumors.

When symptoms of metastatic cancer take place, the type and frequency of the symptoms will rely on the size and location of the metastasis. For instance, cancer that extends to the bones is probable to lead to pain and can cause bone fractures. Cancer that extends to the brain can lead to various symptoms including headaches, seizures and unsteadiness. Shortness of breath might be a sign of lung involvement.

Prostate cancer typically causes no symptoms until it achieves an advanced stage. Sometimes, symptoms close to those of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) develop, including difficulty urinating and a necessity to urinate recurrently or urgently. However, these symptoms do not enlarge until after the cancer develops large enough to compress the urethra and partly block the flow of urine. Afterward, the cancer might lead to bloody urine or a sudden incapability to urinate.

In a number of men, symptoms of prostate cancer develop simply after it spreads (metastasizes). The areas most frequently affected by cancer spread are bone and the kidneys. Bone cancer has a tendency to be painful and might deteriorate the bone enough for it to easily fracture. Cancer of prostate could also spread to the brain, which ultimately leads to seizures, confusion, weakness, headaches, or other neurologic symptoms. After the cancer spreads, anemia is common.

If suspected that prostate cancer spread to the brain or spinal cord, CT or MRI of those organs is done. Brain tumors could directly damage brain cells, or they might indirectly destroy cells by producing inflammation, compressing other parts of the brain because the tumor grows, inducing brain swelling, and causing increased pressure in the skull.

Metastatic brain tumors are classified relying on the precise site of the tumor in the brain, kind of tissue involved, original site of the tumor, and other factors. Rarely, a tumor could extend to the brain, yet the original location or site of the tumor is unknown. This is named cancer of unknown primary (CUP) origin.

Prostate Problems and Alternative Treatments

Many men suffer from several prostate disorders and one of the most common prostate problems is prostatitis. Prostatitis occurs when there is inflammation of the prostate gland. The inflammation can be secondary to a lot of factors which includes infections by bacteria, viruses, and other microbial pathogens. It may also be caused by impaired immunity, irritation or other pathologic conditions affecting other systems.

Prostate conditions are one of the most common illnesses men experience as they grow older, and prostatitis, the inflammation of the prostate, is a very prolific condition! Doctors cannot just order any drug for the client with this disease, instead, they need to determine the cause first through a series of diagnostic tests.

The treatment for prostatitis will depend on the cause of the condition since it can be produced by a host of predisposing factors! A series of test may be done on the client to assess the cause, on whether it bacterial, viral, fungal, or chemicals, drugs, or irritants. Some of the drugs which may be ordered will include antimicrobials to destroy the pathogen causing the infection, anti- inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) to decrease the swelling and pain, and analgesic such as Tramadol for the pain, although the physician may prescribe may another pain reliever which is more appropriate for the client. Some men may choose to seek more alternative options such as acupuncture, reflexology, herbal medications and acupuncture.

Men who are health conscious are also seeking ways of maintaining their over- all health, and this will include their prostate health. Some may opt to take vitamins and other supplements, others seek more alternative solutions by seeking an acupuncturist or asking for her herbal supplements and drinks.

Over the century, the number of men suffering from prostate conditions have dramatically increased and with this rising number, the demand for more supplements had manufacturers running to their laboratories to make the perfect supplement. The best prostate supplements are those that combine contemporary medicine and traditional. Nowadays, supplements make use of both herbal plants and are incorporated with vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.

Why Prostate Care Is Important

The prostate is an important part of our body. Sometimes we overlook it because we do not understand what it's for or what benefits it brings to us. The prostate is a gland that produces fluid that will aid in proper reproduction. Without it, the sperm cells may not be able to survive. Taking care of your prostate is a must. As with any part of our body it is also important. Prostate supplement tablets are available in the market. And it will provide proper nourishment that the prostate needs. Enough nourishment can also come from the diet. Fresh fruits and vegetables should be eaten. Fatty foods and those that have been processes should also be avoided.

Improper care of your prostate will lead to damage and disease. As we age, our prostate also deteriorates. To add to that, drinking and smoking also adds to the deterioration of our prostate. As a result prostate related diseases may occur. Prostate cancer is one of the most feared diseases that could occur. So if you want to prevent this from happening, start caring for your prostate today. It is never too late. Minimize, if not stop, drinking and smoking. Visit your doctor regularly and schedule check-ups, especially when you feel that something is wrong. Prevention is always better than cure. So starting today would really help your tomorrow.

In our world today, health has become a very important issue. Fitness seems to be a must. But being physically fit should not be the basis. Being fit inside also counts. In men, the prostate may enlarge as they come to an age. But before this happens, prevention can be done. Having a healthy diet will help you protect your prostate from diseases. Additionally, there are health supplements made specifically to ensure the health and wellness of your prostate. A healthy prostate would also mean a healthy reproductive system. This will ensure proper functioning of your body. Additionally exercise, like the Kegel's exercise will also help in improving the circulation to the tissues in that area. Adequate circulation will provide support to the tissues and make them healthier.

With aging, disease comes too. And having a large prostate when you're over 40 is common. But even if it is common doesn't mean that it is normal. This is the age where you should have your doctor do a prostate exam. A prostate exam is done by the doctor by inserting his fingers in the anus and palpating your prostate. This is the only way to tell whether your prostate has become enlarged. To prevent enlarged prostates you should fill your diets with healthy foods like fruits and vegetables. Unsaturated fats, sugars and processed foods should also be avoided. An exercise called the Kegel exercise is suggested to be done to improve the blood circulation in these tissues.

Taking care of your prostate can be done in varied ways. A very simple ways such as changing into a healthy diet is the very first thing to do. Eating vegetables and fruits. Also avoid fatty foods, sugars and those that have been processed. Nettle and Pygeum are herbs that are effective in relieving symptoms of enlarged prostate. In addition to this saw palmetto may also be used. Taking in of supplement such as vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E and selenium will aid in the prevention of the oxidation of the tissues. This will lead to a healthier prostate. Starting today is the best thing to do, do not wait till it's too late.

The market is filled with products that may or may not be useful to us. Among them are the supplements for the prostate. As men age, the probability of them having a large prostate also increases. This is the perfect time for them to let doctors check their prostate. Large prostate or not, you have to take care of it. As an addition to taking in dietary supplements, eating healthy foods will ensure not only a healthier prostate but a healthier whole body as well. Refraining from smoking and drinking will also decrease the probability of having prostate disease. Take care of prostate to live a better and fuller life.

Commercially prepared dietary supplements targeted to prevent prostate disease are available in the market. Most of these are made from herbs proven to promote a healthier prostate. Examples of these herbs are damiana, nettle and Pygeum. Additionally, antioxidants, specifically vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E and selenium are also added to prevent tissue oxidation. Oxidative damage may occur in the sensitive tissues if not enough antioxidants are available. This is just one way of taking care of your prostate. Other ways like eating fruits and vegetables is also suggested by most doctors. Additionally doing the Kegels exercise will help the blood circulation to flow in the tissues. A good circulation will help the proper functioning of the gland.

Prostate Health Guide

The prostate is a gland that surrounds the urinary passage at the end of the bladder of males. Typically small among babies, this gland grows as the child goes through the process of puberty as a response to the production of more testosterone, the male hormone. This said gland functions primarily to produce secretions that add up to the total amount of seminal fluid, promoting healthier sperm cells by protecting them from the acidic environment of the vagina. Additionally, the prostate gland also secretes an enzyme called prostatic specific antigen (PSA), where an elevation in the said enzyme might indicate some prostatic problems such as benign enlargement of the prostate and prostate cancer.

As more males indulge into unhealthy lifestyles and vices such as cigarette smoking and excessive alcohol drinking, the homeostasis of the body gets compromised, and that certain disorders involving the various parts of the body becomes more prevalent. Prostatitis, the inflammation of the prostate gland and the most common disorder among young males, would be one of the prevailing disorders of the prostate these days, and this said disease is often associated to bacterial infections and other underlying health conditions. Benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer, on the other hand, are often related to the inevitable process of aging, as a result of free radical accumulation from food and cell destruction from the wear-and-tear process of the body.

As the male ages, his prostate gland, goes through an unavoidable degenerative process. As such, the gland loses its integrity; thus the start of some prostatic disorders, which are often classified into three common types. First in line would be prostatitis. As the term suggests, this problem is often associated to bacterial infection or sometimes, to an underlying or pre-existing health condition. On the contrary, benign prostatic hyperplasia and the dreaded prostate cancer are age-related by nature. Alongside with unhealthy lifestyle and vices like cigarette smoking, these disorders are basically attributed to the long-term effects of aging and cellular damage. On this note, it is therefore advised that males, especially for those whose ages would be from 40 and above, to go through a diagnostic procedure called digital rectal examination (DRE) to assess impending abnormal tissue growth that might indicate prostate problems.

Since diet, along with stress, participates as one of the chief reasons for prostate problems like prostate cancer, it is crucial that males become aware of the foods that are encouraged to be taken and advised to be avoided. Among the various recommended foods that should be taken would include natural food sources like fruits and vegetables. Additionally, fresh fish that are enriched with fatty acids are also very helpful. On the other hand, meat products that are rich in fats and salty foods are two of the foods that you should eliminate in your diet. The foods rich in hydrogenated oils such as donuts, cakes, cookies and margarine, and other processed foods are among the additional things you should also consider removing from your diet list to help promote a healthy prostate gland.

The treatment of prostate cancer will basically be based on certain factors such as age, the total health status of the person and the extent of tumor. For tumors that are found inside the prostate gland, radiation therapy and the use of radical prostatectomy are two of the most common alternative treatments. Additionally, a treatment called "watchful waiting", where no treatment is introduced until the tumor enlarges, is another option. This said approach is considered by many as the best choice especially for older men, since they have a greater risk of dying from something else other than the cancer of the prostate itself. Hormone therapy is a yet another option for treating prostate cancer.

Radical Prostatectomy Versus Observation for Localized Prostate Cancer

Is surgery superior to watchful waiting for patients with localized prostate cancer? To answer this question, the investigators performed a randomized trial in men associated with the Veterans Affairs hospital system. They compared 364 men who received radical prostatectomy with 367 men who were observed. Patients who were included in the trial had prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels < 50 ng/mL, were younger than 75 years of age, and were free of metastatic disease. During a median follow-up of 10 years, mortality rate was 47% in operated patients and 49.9% in nonoperated patients (P = .22).

Similar outcomes were observed in analysis of several subgroups of patients. About 20% of operated patients had an adverse event within the first month.

Viewpoint

 

The results of this trial support observation as a valid alternative to radical surgery for men with localized prostate cancer and PSA levels in the lower range. Overall, 7% of all patients died of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer deaths were responsible for only 15% of total deaths in the observation group. This study provides much needed information to help physicians, as well as patients with early prostate cancer, decide about treatment options.

Walnuts Appear to Improve Semen Quality in Healthy Men

The daily addition of 75 g of whole-shelled walnuts to a typical Western-style diet appears to have positive effects on the vitality, morphology, and motility of sperm in healthy men, according to the findings of a randomized, parallel, 2-group, dietary intervention trial.

Wendie A. Robbins, PhD, and colleagues from the University of California, Los Angeles, published their findings in Biology of Reproduction.

The authors note that despite the connection between food and reproduction throughout history, the evidence of the effects of diet on male fertility is lacking. "Dietary habits and essential nutrients to promote successful reproductive outcomes have been identified for the maternal peri-conceptional and peri-natal period, but healthy dietary habits and essential nutrients for paternal reproductive fitness are less clear," the authors write.

"Evidence is particularly limited for men who routinely consume Western-style diets that may lack optimal nutrients and [polyunsaturated fatty acid] profiles needed for healthy sperm and fertility," they continue.

Via flyers posted on campus, the authors recruited 120 healthy men between the ages of 21 and 35 years who routinely consumed a Western diet, 3 of whom only participated in a pilot trial. After randomly assigning the remaining 117 participants to the control (no dietary supplementation, n = 58) and walnut supplementation (n = 59) groups for a 12-week trial, the authors revealed that sperm vitality (difference after 12 weeks, 5.5% ± 10.0% vs 0.51% ± 7.4% in walnut vs control groups, respectively; P = .003), motility (difference after 12 weeks, 5.7% ± 13.4% vs 0.53% ± 10.4, respectively; P = .009), and morphology (normal forms: difference at 12 weeks, 1.1% ± 2.7% vs 0.1 ± 2.3, respectively; P = .03) were significantly improved in the walnut group compared with the control group.

The authors excluded men with known food allergies, histories of reproductive disorders or vasectomies, current smoking habits, or current usage of antioxidant supplements, medications for chronic illnesses, or illicit drugs.

In addition, serum omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid levels were significantly improved in the walnut group after 12 weeks (P = .0007 and .0004, respectively), although no differences were observed in sperm fatty acid levels after 12 weeks of walnut supplementation.

The prevalence of sex chromosome disomy and sperm missing a sex chromosome were significantly lower in the walnut group after 12 weeks of supplementation (P = .002 and .01, respectively). Sperm α-linolenic acid levels were inversely correlated with the proportion of sperm missing a sex chromosome (Spearman correlation coefficient, −0.41; P = .002)

No differences were observed between the baseline characteristics of the control and walnut groups, excluding lower follicle-stimulating hormone levels in the walnut group (P = .04). The limitations of the study included the collection of blood samples only during daytime, preventing evaluation of the effects of diurnal variations in sex hormone levels.

Would Sperm Improvements From Walnuts Persist for Infertile Men?
 
The authors noted that this study could not clarify whether the effects observed in healthy adults will be applicable to those with fertility issues. "Whether adding walnuts to the diet will go beyond the shifts in sperm parameters as seen in this study to improving birth outcomes for men within fertility clinic populations or in the general population is not yet known and will require further research," the authors write.

Dolores Lamb, PhD, director of the Center for Reproductive Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, and current president of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, noted that walnut supplementation may represent a useful strategy for some men with fertility problems.
"Importantly, if indeed subsequent studies show improvement in fertility potential, this is a simple dietary intervention that could be easily recommended for men with sperm deficiencies caused by poor viability, poor morphology (for some specific defects), and lowered motility," Dr. Lamb told Medscape Medical News by email.

"While there is no doubt that many men with abnormal morphology, vitality, or motility would not be helped by this intervention because of the clearly multifactorial basis of male infertility, nevertheless, if a subset of infertile men can be helped, this would be a positive advance," she concluded.

This study was funded through a grant from the California Walnut Commission. Dr. Lamb has received grant support from the National Institutes of Health and from the William and Ella Owens Medical Research Foundation.

Final Results in 'Definitive' Prostate Cancer Trial

BOSTON, Massachusetts — Two treatments are better than 1 for men with locally advanced prostate cancer, according to the final results of a landmark cooperative-group trial.

Radiation therapy plus androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) improved survival in these men, said senior investigator Padraig Warde, MBChB, from the Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He reported the results here at the American Society for Radiation Oncology 54th Annual Meeting.

Compared with ADT alone, the combination significantly improved overall survival by 30% and significantly reduced the risk of dying from the disease by 54%.

Of the 603 men randomized to the combination, 205 have died, as have 260 of the 602 men randomized to ADT alone. Median follow-up was 8.0 years.

The combination caused only a minimal increase in late treatment toxicity, Dr. Warde reported. For late gastrointestinal toxicity (above grade 2 proctitis), the combination had a small detrimental effect, compared with ADT alone (1.0% vs 0.3%).

"This is the definitive trial in patients who are suitable for radical treatment," Dr. Warde told Medscape Medical News, referring to men with locally advanced disease who are in good health and have a "reasonable life expectancy."

 

This is practice-changing. Dr. Padraig Warde

 

"This is practice-changing," he added. The change that is needed is a shift away from treating locally advanced disease with ADT alone, he added.

Dr. Warde hopes the message reaches urologists. They are the "gatekeepers" of prostate cancer treatment and the primary prescribers of ADT alone for locally advanced disease, he said. There is a mistaken belief among urologists that locally advanced disease is not curable, he added.

In his presentation, Dr. Warde quoted an anonymous urologist's wrongheaded justification for prescribing ADT by itself: "These men all have metastatic disease; adding radiotherapy to hormones is unnecessary and unkind."

An estimated 15% to 25% of all newly diagnosed prostate cancer is locally advanced, and therefore high risk, said Dr. Warde. Currently, a "huge" percentage of these cases in the United States — up to 45% — continue to be treated with ADT alone, he added.

ADT is easy to prescribe, which partially explains its widespread use in this setting, said Jeff Michalski, MD, from the Siteman Cancer Center and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, who was not involved with the study. "With ADT, there's an initial favorable response, but there is also an inevitable progression and decline in quality of life," he told Medscape Medical News.

 

Now data show that you compromise survival. Dr. Jeff Michalski

 

"Now data show that you compromise survival, too," with ADT alone, said Dr. Michalski.
Dr. Warde noted that his team's results are supported by a Scandinavian study, in which combination therapy provided better survival than ADT alone (Lancet. 2009;373:301-308).

Benefit May Be Underestimated
 
All of the men in the study by Dr. Warde and colleagues had T3/T4 disease or T2 prostate adenocarcinoma with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level above 40 μg/L, or had T2 prostate adenocarcinoma with a PSA level above 20 μg/L and a Gleason score of 8 or higher.

The patients were randomized from 1995 to 2005 to lifelong ADT (bilateral orchiectomy or luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist) with or without radiation therapy.

The radiation therapy consisted of 65 to 69 Gy to the prostate, with or without radiation to seminal vesicles. If needed, 45 Gy was delivered to the pelvic nodes. "It was the standard dose at the time," said Dr. Warde.

The combination of radiation therapy plus ADT significantly improved overall survival (hazard ratio [HR], 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.57 to 0.85; P = .0003) and disease-specific survival (HR, 0.46, 95% CI, 0.34 to 0.61; P <.0001), compared with ADT alone.

In the study, 199 patients (43%) died of disease and/or treatment (134 receiving ADT alone and 65 receiving the combination).

The results of this study are "exciting," but they might "underestimate" the effect of combination therapy, he added.

Radiation oncologists now use 76 to 80 Gy to the prostate, Dr. Warde pointed out. "We now have the technology to do better," he said.

Not all men with locally advanced disease should receive radiation, Dr. Warde noted. The general rule is that the combination of radiation and hormone therapy should be used in men with a life expectancy of 5 to 10 years. In older men with fewer years of life remaining and in men with considerable comorbidities, especially cardiovascular comorbidities, radiation should be avoided, he said.

Very Important Results
 
The interim results of this study were presented by Dr. Warde at the 2010 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and were reported at that time by Medscape Medical News.
At that meeting, an expert placed the study in the context of earlier research.

Previous studies have established the value of combining hormone therapy and radiation therapy, said Timothy Gilligan, MD, from the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. "Multiple randomized controlled trials have shown that men with high-risk locally advanced prostate cancer live longer if they receive hormone therapy at the same time as radiation therapy," he explained.

However, Dr. Gilligan said it was unclear whether it was the hormone therapy or the radiation therapy that was responsible for the improved survival in the previous studies.

This study provides clarity, he added. It "shows that radiation therapy makes a difference," he said.
The study was supported the National Cancer Institute, the Medical Research Council in the United Kingdom, and the National Cancer Research Network in the United Kingdom. Dr. Warde, Dr. Michalski, and Dr. Gilligan have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
 
American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) 54th Annual Meeting: Abstract 8. Presented October 28, 2012.