Osteoporosis is the most common type of bone disease.

Researchers estimate that 1 in 5 U.S. women over 50 have osteoporosis. Nearly half of all women over 50 will have a broken hip, wrist or vertebra (bones of the spine).

Osteoporosis occurs when the body is unable to form enough new bone, when too much old bone is reabsorbed by the body or both.

Calcium and phosphorus are two minerals essential for normal bone formation. Throughout youth, your body uses these minerals to produce bones. If you do not get enough calcium or if the body does not absorb enough calcium from the diet, can affect bone formation and bone tissues.

As you age, calcium and phosphate may be reabsorbed back into the body from the bones, which makes the bone tissue weaker. This can lead to brittle bones that are more prone to fractures, even without an injury.

Usually, the loss occurs gradually over a period of years and, often, the person will suffer a fracture before becoming aware of the presence of the disease. When this happens, the disease is in its advanced stages and damage is severe.
Osteoporosis

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Osteoporosis

The main causes of osteoporosis are a drop in estrogen levels in women at the time of the menopausiamenopausia and decreased testosterone in men. Women over age 50 and men over 70 have a higher risk of osteoporosis.

Other causes include:

* Being confined to a bed
* Chronic rheumatoid arthritis reumatoideaArtritis, chronic kidney disease, eating disorders
* Take corticosteroids (prednisone, methylprednisolone) every day for more than three months or take some anti-
* HiperparatiroidismoHiperparatiroidismo

White women, especially those with a family history of osteoporosis, have a higher than average risk of developing the disease. Other risk factors include:

* Absence of menstrual periods (amenorreaamenorrea) long
* Take a large amount of alcohol
* Family history of osteoporosis
* Background Hormone therapy for breast cancer or prostate cancer
* Low body weight
* Smoking
* Too little calcium in the diet

Symptoms
Symptoms

There are no symptoms in the early stages of the disease.

The symptoms that occur in advanced disease are:

* Pain or tenderness or bone tenderness óseaDolor
* FracturasFracturas with little or no trauma
* Loss of height (up to 6 inches) over time
* Low back pain due to fractures of the bones of the spine
* CuelloDolor neck pain due to fractures of the bones of the spine
* Stooped posture or cifosiscifosis, also called “dowager’s hump”

Exams and Tests
Exams and Tests

The examination of bone mineral density (specifically a densitometry or dual energy radioabsorciometría, DEXA, for its acronym in English) measures how much bone you have. The doctor uses this test to predict risk of bone fracture is one in the future. For information on when to have the test, see óseaexamen density test bone density.

On rare occasions, you can use a special type of CT scan vertebraltomografía column of the spine may show loss of bone mineral density, Quantitative computed tomography (CBT).

In severe cases, a radiograph of the spine or caderaradiografía of the spine or hip may show fracture or vertebral collapse. However, plain radiographs of the bones are not very accurate in predicting whether someone is likely to have osteoporosis or not.

You may need other blood and urine tests if your osteoporosis is thought to be due to a medical condition, rather than simply the usual bone loss seen with older age.
Treatment
Treatment

The goals of treatment for osteoporosis are:

* Control pain with the disease
* Slow down or stop bone loss process
* Prevent bone fractures with medicines that strengthen bone
* Minimize the risk of falls that might cause fractures

There are several different treatments for osteoporosis, including change in lifestyle and a variety of medications.

Medications are used to strengthen bones when:

* Has been diagnosed with osteoporosis by a bone density study
* Has been diagnosed with osteopenia (thin bones, but not osteoporosis) through a bone density test, if there has been a bone fracture

Bisphosphonates:

Bisphosphonates main drugs used to both prevent and treat osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

* The bisphosphonates taken by mouth include alendronate (Fosamax), ibandronate (Boniva) and risedronate (Actonel). Most are taken by mouth, usually once a week or once a month.
* Bisphosphonates administered intravenously are taken less frequently.

CALCITONIN

It comes in nasal spray or injection. It is a drug that slows the rate of bone loss and relieves bone pain. The main side effects of calcitonin are nasal irritation from the spray and nausea from the injectable form.

Calcitonin appears to be less effective than bisphosphonates.

Hormone

Estrogen therapy hormonoterapiahormonoterapia or almost not used to prevent osteoporosis and are not approved to treat a woman who has already been diagnosed with the condition.

Sometimes, if estrogen has helped a woman and she can not take other options to prevent or treat osteoporosis, the doctor may recommend that you continue using hormone therapy. If you are considering taking hormone therapy to prevent osteoporosis, discuss the risks with your doctor.

Parathyroid Hormone

Teriparatide (Forteo) is approved for the treatment of postmenopausal women with severe osteoporosis and are considered at high risk of fractures. The drug is administered via daily subcutaneous injections and the same woman might apply at home.

Raloxifene

Raloxifene (Evista) is used for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. It’s like a drug for breast cancer tamoxifen. Raloxifene can reduce the risk of spine fractures by almost 50%, however, does not seem to prevent other fractures, including hip. You may have protective effects against heart disease and breast cancer, although further studies are needed to confirm.

The most serious side effect of raloxifene is a small risk of blood clots in the veins of the legs (deep vein thrombosis) or lungs (pulmonary embolism).

EXERCISE

Regular exercise can reduce the likelihood of bone fractures in people with osteoporosis. Some of the recommended exercises include:

* Weight-bearing exercises such as walking, jogging, tennis, dancing
* Resistance exercises free weights, weight machines, rubber bands for stretching
* Balance Exercises: tai chi, yoga
* Riding a bike
* Using rowing machines

Avoid any exercise that presents a risk of falling or high-impact exercise that can cause fractures.

DIET

Eat at least 1,200 milligrams of calcium daily and 800 to 1,000 international units of vitamin D. This vitamin helps your body absorb calcium. Your doctor may recommend a supplement to provide calcium and vitamin D is needed.

Eat a diet that provides adequate amounts of calcium, vitamin D and proteínaproteína Dvitamina. Although this will not completely stop bone loss, it will guarantee that the supply of materials the body uses to form and maintain bones.

Foods rich in calcium include:

* Cheese
* Ice Cream
* Leafy green vegetables such as spinach and kale
* Low-fat milk
* Salmon
* Sardines (with bones)
* Tofu
* Yogurt

Unhealthy habits SUSPENSION

Stop smoking, if they do. Also limit alcohol consumption. Excessive alcohol can cause damage to bones, as well as put you at risk for falls and broken bones.

FALL PREVENTION

It is critical to prevent falls. Avoid sedating medications and remove household hazards to reduce the risk of fractures. Make sure your vision is good. Other ways to prevent falling include:

* Avoid walking alone on days when snow falls
* Using bars in the bathroom when needed
* Wear shoes that fit well

CONTROL

The response to treatment can be monitored with serial measurements of bone mineral density every two years.

Women taking estrogen should have mammograms, pelvic exams and Pap smears.

RELATED SURGERIES

There are no surgeries to treat osteoporosis such, but can use a procedure called vertebroplasty to treat any small fractures in the spine due to osteoporosis. This procedure may also help prevent weak vertebra from becoming fractured by strengthening the bones in the spine.

The procedure involves injecting a paste that hardens quickly in areas that are fractured or weak. A similar procedure, called kyphoplasty, uses balloons to widen the spaces that need the glue (The balloons are removed during the procedure.)
Prognosis
Prognosis

Medications to treat osteoporosis may help prevent fractures, but vertebral collapse that has already occurred can not be neutralized.

Some people with osteoporosis become severely disabled as a result of weakened bones. Hip fractures leave about half of patients unable to walk independently. This is one of the main reasons why people are admitted to nursing homes.

Although osteoporosis is debilitating, it does not affect life expectancy.
Possible complications
Possible complications

* Crushing vertebral
* Disability caused by severely weakened bones
* Hip and wrist
* Loss of ability to walk due to hip fractures

Call your health care provider
Call your health care provider

Call your doctor if you have symptoms of osteoporosis or to be screened for this disease.
Prevention
Prevention

Calcium is essential for the formation and maintenance of healthy bones. Vitamin D is also needed because it helps your body absorb calcium. The Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet can help you get these and other important nutrients throughout life.

Other tips for prevention:

* Avoid excessive alcohol consumption
* Do not smoke
* Exercise regularly

There are many drugs approved for the prevention of osteoporosis.

If you are trying to lose weight, lower cholesterol in the blood or simply eat healthy. Should limit total fat you eat.

Why most diets focus on reducing fat?

Fats draw little attention for many reasons. Fat increases cholesterol levels in the blood while increasing the risk of coronary heart disease.
In addition, fatty foods (bacon, sausage and fries) always have fewer vitamins and minerals than non-fat foods and as we have said fats are twice as many calories as protein and carbohydrates. One gram of fat has about 9 calories, while carbohydrates and proteins only 4 calories. In other words you can eat as much or twice as carbohydrates and proteins by the same amount of calories than fat.

“Lose weight if you eat foods low in fat?

It is true that if you eat fat your weight increase. We need much more than eating low fat for weight loss. You must also take care of the calories you consume daily. Remember, extra calories even low-fat foods are stored in the body as fat. Sometimes people replace foods high in fats are high calorie foods and still gaining weight.

To lose weight, you need to burn the calories you consume. You can achieve this goal by exercising more and eating less calories and fat.

How much fat should I eat?

The reference of fat in adults is 20% to 35% of calories from fat. That’s about 44 grams of fat or less per day if you eat 2,000 calories a day.

Recently, health experts have started recommending to persons eliminate another type of fat called “TRANS.” These fats are formed through a process of hydrogenation, covered under a healthy unsaturated liquid fat. This process gives long life to food, but this is worse because we cause heart disease and other diseases under study.

Experts recommend us to remove trans fats from our food as possible.

How I can know how much fat I’m eating? ”

Learn about what you’re eating. Fats and calories in foods you can find in books on nutrition or on the packaging of your food.

Read the nutrition levels in your food packages shows you the grams of fat it contains. It also shows the percentage recommended daily to serve the day. In other words

You choose the food that lower in fat. The daily rate is based on the number of calories you eat each day, usually 2000 calories.

Many more meals are including trans fats. if the level of trans fat that includes your food is not on the label can estimate the amount of these fats as follows:
Sum total polyunsaturated fat, monounsaturated and saturated.

If less than the total amount of fat that indicates the package, the remaining difference is trans fats.

Where do I start?

Eat lots of variety of foods low in fat for all the nutrients you need. Watch your calorie input. Remember that all “low fat” does not mean “low calorie.”

You should increase consumption of plant-based foods like fruit, vegetables and legumes. Moderate consumption of animal foods to reduce fat, cholesterol and calories. Activate your life with more physical exercise than you will for heart health and lose excess body fat.

What are the expectations of this diet?

Reduce the total amount of fat you eat to 20% -35% or less of daily calories your income. For a person eating 2000 calories a day, this would be 44-77 grams of fat or less per day.

Income Limit cholesterol to 300 milligrams or less per day.
Decrease saturated fats (animal fats, butter, palm oil or coconut) to less than 10% of total calories per day. For a person consuming 2000 calories a day, this would be 22 grams of fat or less per day.

Tips to reduce fat intake

When you select your food:

Learn about your food when you read the nutritional levels on the labels. Always look for the “low fat”, “fat” or “reduced fat”. When you select your meal high in fat balance those against the low-fat, to organize well your fat intake per day.

Choose lean meats, fish and chicken. Limit these to 200 grams per day.
Another source of protein low in fat are nuts, tofu, low fat yogurt, skim milk, cheese, tuna in water.

When you prepare meals:

Remove all visible fat and remove the skin of the chicken.

Bake, boil or grid to avoid frying meats.

Use lemon juice, herbs and spices. Cooking vegetables instead of cheese, butter and sauces made with cream.

Try to eat low fat yogurt. The sour cream sauce also contains low fat, so you should limit yourself to using it, the same with the mayonnaise.

When you go to eat out:

Choose simple meals prepared as boiled, roasted or baked. Fish or chicken.
Avoid fried foods or foods with lots of gravy and butter.
Warn your food is not prepared with butter, margarine or other sauces.
Eat salad without dressing.

Choose fruit for dessert instead of ice cream, cakes or foot.

If you want to reduce fat in those parts of the body where it accumulates more is necessary to know which is your dominant gland.

The secret to eliminate the fat in localized areas is to know what foods trigger the operation of each gland and reduce consumption.

Pancreas is a gland regulates digestion and blood glucose.

Carbohydrates are being digested sugars enter the blood, but that sugar is dangerous to stay in because it can damage arteries, the pancreas is a protective system that produces insulin to store carbohydrates in the muscle and also in deposits fat around the waist and abdomen.

In this view, you must reduce your intake of coffee, black tea, chocolate, cola drinks, pastries, cookies, potato, carrot, banana and mango.

We should clarify not eliminate carbs completely, but shorten it to one serving per meal, preferably accompanied by protein and fat to reach containing sugars slowly into the blood and do not shoot your insulin production.

Gonads, are your female reproductive sex glands. When are the dominant, produces excess estrogen and increase your fat production, which ends up accumulated on your hips and legs.

Reduce the intake of oils, butter, margarine, butter, chips, flour tortillas, biscuits, sweet bread, avocado, walnuts, almonds, pistachios and peanuts. Increases in iodine-rich foods like mushrooms, asparagus, palm hearts, seaweed, iodized salt.

Adrenal glands are regulators of stress that cause fat to accumulate in the upper body like the chest, back, arms and shoulders.

Reduce consumption of salt, eggs, meat, sausage, ham, sausage, seafood, cheese and Chihuahua cheese. Eat mostly chicken, fish, cottage cheese, brown sugar, ricotta and mozzarella.

Pituitary is the master gland that controls the rest, including to the thyroid. If you as dominant, accumulate fat in all areas of the body.

You should not overdo it in milk, cheese, cream, yogurt, buttermilk, butter, prefer chicken, fish, meat, ham, egg.

Well, regardless of the purpose you have, these are important data as follows:

- Body fat is an energy reserve, as such, must be reduced from the use of this energy within the body cells (mitochondria).
- To be used by the cells, body fat is drawn from all regions of the body, not localized.

- It is important to balance calorie intake with caloric expenditure

- The exercise uses more fat that is the long duration and low intensity, since the consumption of fat in muscle cells increases as reserves are depleted of glycogen in these cells.

- The estimated time of exercise (long term) is about 30 minutes, bearing in mind that after three hours of exercise (walking) fat consumption reaches 90% of the energy used.

- The intensity of exercise should be about 50% of the individual capacity of the subject, calculated with the Karvonen formula, in order to extend the period beyond thirty minutes.

- Since muscle cells consume more fat than fat cells themselves, should have larger muscles, thereby, maintain a high fat intake (fat metabolism), which is achieved with localized muscular work, which at the same time increases the production of catecholamines, which also raise the metabolism of fats, in the hours after exercise.

- It is worth mentioning that the transport and use of fats in exercise, adaptation takes time, so a sedentary, you should wait several weeks before noticing changes.

-Calorie diets without exercise, the body adapted to work with less energy, producing a drop in metabolism, which causes the body to store the slightest additional intake, with an opposite effect with a low metabolism alterations that entails: ( low physical energy, intellectual, sexual, cold, sleep, and others).

In short, if you want to reduce your body fat you must train at least three times a week, exercise aerobic (recommended jogging, swimming, hiking, dancing, any exercise that has a duration about 30 minutes) and localized muscle exercise (with the body weight machines, free weights, elastic bands and other equipment that provide resistance) and accompanied by a reduction in your calorie intake of 300 calories a day.
If the effects are not immediate. The persistence and patience are your best ally. Start now to get in good shape for summer.
In addition to enhancing your beauty, you will make a great contribution to your health.

Reduce consumption of carbohydrates will help you lose weight, but not be so advisable to lower cholesterol, says a new study.

People who followed a diet low in carbohydrates, but relatively high in fat, lost weight in six weeks as much as those who made a diet rich in carbohydrates.

But levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol or “bad” increased significantly in the group with a low-carbohydrate diet, whereas in the other group down.

High levels of LDL are a risk factor for heart disease because they are associated with clogged arteries.

Low-carbohydrate diets are increasingly popular and their advocates say they reduce cholesterol and the risk of developing diabetes, said in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Team Dr. Teri L. Hernandez, of the University of Colorado at Denver, Aurora.

But little is known about what effects, unlike the high-carbohydrate diet.

The team told the obese adults randomly to 32 for six weeks to make a diet low in carbohydrates (20 grams or less per day) or with 55 percent of calories derived from this component.

Both groups lost weight about 6 kilos. But patients who followed a low-carbohydrate diet experienced an increase of about 12 milligrams per deciliter in LDL levels, from 109 milligrams per deciliter (less than 100 is optimal).

In the group treated with high-carbohydrate diet, LDL dropped 7 milligrams per deciliter, from 102 milligrams per deciliter.

In the participants who followed low-carbohydrate diet increased significantly more levels of free fatty acids, which are released into the blood when the body destroys the stored fat.

Having high levels of free fatty acids more difficult work of the liver to store glucose, which raises blood sugar levels. This increase defines diabetes.

“The data suggest that high-fat diet would have adverse metabolic effects during weight loss,” the team concluded.

Risk factors:

Age – over 80% of prostate cancers are diagnosed in men over 65 years
Family history – having a father or brother with prostate cancer increases the risk of double
Race – black men are more likely to develop cancer of the prostate
Geography – prostate cancer is rare in Asia, Africa and South America

Body weight, physical inactivity – the obese and inactive men are affected by higher rates of prostate cancer.

Diet may be a crucial factor in prostate cancer

The fact that black men in Africa are much less frequently affected by prostate cancer than men of black Americans to believe that diet and lifestyle play a role in the etiology of the disease. Research has shown a relationship between diets high in fat and prostate cancer. According to some experts, inadequate consumption of fruits and vegetables is concerned, the men whose diet is rich in fat are more often affected by cancer because they eat fewer vegetables. Besides fat, a high intake of dietary calcium, from milk products, has been linked to prostate cancer.

Symptoms

In general, prostate cancer tumors are small and produce no symptoms. Therefore, most of these tumors are detected only by blood or by surgical motivated by benign prostate, whose symptoms are often marked.

The large tumors, advanced, putting pressure on other organs, the bladder, causing incontinence or making urination difficult or painful. These tumors affect the nerves that cause erection, causing impotence. In the advanced stage tumors may also exert pressure on the spine or pelvis, causing pain. Some people feel pain or burning sensation when urinating or pain when ejaculating. Sometimes the urine or semen contains blood. Some men complain of pain or stiffness in lower back, hips or upper thighs.

Controversy over the usefulness of screening for prostate cancer

Currently, there are two detection techniques: examination of the prostate by digital rectal examination and testing of PSA.

* An examination of the prostate by digital rectal examination by a physician is the easiest, but least effective in detecting cancer of the prostate. Used alone, it can miss almost 50% of cancers.
* The test of PSA requires a blood test. It is to assess the level of presence in the blood of prostate specific antigen (PSA), a glycoprotein secreted by the prostate only with a level higher or lower may indicate a cancerous activity. The PSA test is a screening technique that has its limits. The combination of PSA and digital rectal examination is a screening tool more effective than PSA alone. This combination identifies 87% of prostate cancers. The probability of a man whose PSA and DRE are normal to have a prostate cancer is very low, about 0.5% to 1%.

Currently, there is controversy about the real benefits of using this test to detect prostate cancer in men who have no signs of cancer.
Even if the test shows an abnormally high PSA or a DRE is abnormal, this does not necessarily mean there is cancer. In fact, approximately 80% of those with one of the two tests is abnormal will not have prostate cancer. However, if the PSA level is high or if both tests are abnormal, the probability that found cancer is 50% or more.

To establish the diagnosis with more certainty, we must then take another step and use a third technique: the biopsy. The prostate biopsy involves inserting a needle into the prostate through the anterior wall of the rectum to remove a small piece of prostate tissue to be subjected to microscopic examination. The biopsy is a test that has some discomfort in humans. It is, however, without anesthesia, without hospitalization and with a very low percentage of complications.

The College of Physicians of Quebec and the Urological Association of Quebec do not recommend making the PSA test routinely as part of a health check without prior discussion with the patient the benefits and disadvantages screening using the PSA test in combination with digital rectal examination.

Before undergoing a PSA test for screening, a man should have a life expectancy of ten years and more, be informed of the advantages and disadvantages of the test and be prepared to undergo a prostate biopsy if the PSA or abnormal digital rectal examination proved. It should also be prepared to cope with uncertainties in choosing the best treatment if we discovered a prostate cancer after biopsy, particularly if the tumor was low grade.

Treatment

Compared to most other cancers, prostate tumors develop slowly and not so aggressive. They also tend to appear later in life. Smaller tumors, particularly among older men, are not made, and the strategy is to wait and monitor the tumor. The doctor conducts regular tests to make sure the tumor does not grow faster than expected.

* When the cancer has invaded other structures that the prostate should be administered cancer drugs and analgesics.
* When the cancer is still confined to the prostate, we resorted to surgery. The classic response is radical prostatectomy, ie d. total removal of the prostate.
* Sometimes the cancerous tissue is destroyed using a probe cold (cryosurgery) which freezes the tissue. This technique can also cause impotence. This intervention is relatively recent, and it is unclear if long-term effectiveness is as favorable as that of radical prostatectomy.
* Radiation therapy also aims to destroy the cancerous tissue. This treatment modality leads to a higher risk of impotence and incontinence.
* Hormone therapy aims to reduce levels of male hormones (or androgens), particularly testosterone. Prostate cancer cells require androgens to grow. The hormone also helps to reduce prostate size. This method does not cure cancer but can be used before surgery.

We mentioned the controversy in the medical world about the value and desirability of the practice tests. There is also controversy, much less publicized, when the value and usefulness of treatments available to fight against cancer of the prostate.

Other options

Let the opinion of 2 famous American physicians, Dr. William Campbell Douglas MD and Dr. Julian Whitaker MD

For both physicians, the current conventional treatments against cancer of the prostate will one day be regarded as barbarians. They believe that the risk of side effects to treatment are too high compared to the results obtained. In the vast majority of cases of prostate cancer develops very slowly. They share the view of many doctors, that most men with prostate cancer die with their prostate cancer, but not because of him.

They advocate the use of natural methods of treatment effective in prevention but also treatment:

A change in lifestyle is of course essential. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Reduce consumption of red meat and saturated fats and increase good fats, especially omega-3 found in fish.

The regular light exercise and relaxation technique (fatigue and stress are contributing factors in cancer cases).

They particularly recommend:

* Saw Palmetto (see this plant in our herbarium) “zinc 10 to 50 mg daily) and selenium (200 mcg per day) Brazil nuts
* Pumpkin seeds
* Daily consumption of foods rich in lycopene (cooked tomatoes, watermelon or watermelon, grapefruit)
* Regular consumption of fish such as salmon, herring, sardines, tuna, rich in fatty acids of type
Omega-3
* Vitamin D (from 1000 to 2000 IU per day)
* Pomegranate juice (250 ml daily)
* Linseed freshly ground, ½ cup per day. Several studies in the United States and Germany showed a marked decrease in proliferation of cancer cells in men who add 30 grams of ground flaxseed to their daily diet.

Dr. William Campbell MD also recommends a supplement of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). It refers to an animal study published in Anticancer Research. This study demonstrated that CLA reduced by 90% the progression of prostate cancer induced in one group of mice. The recommended dosage is 3 x 1.000mg daily.

Of course if we are in the presence of prostate cancer advanced etsSi of tumor cells are released into the bloodstream, they can migrate to other parts of the body and begin to divide form new tumors. This migration is called metastasis. The new tumors are called metastases. This advanced stage of prostate cancer need to follow other specific treatments for this condition should be decided with the doctor.

In the presence of a diagnosis of prostate cancer it is very important to analyze all options, their therapeutic potential, as well as any consequences thereof.

The size of a walnut, the prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system located below the bladder, in front of the rectum. The prostate secretes nutrients and semen thinners.

As it surrounds the urethra (the canal from the bladder), a tumor in the prostate can interfere with urination. To function, prostate needs of sex hormones, androgens, which are produced in the testes, especially, and by the adrenal glands. Some prostate cancers are stimulated by these hormones.

In North America, cancer of the prostate is the most common cancer in men. According to autopsy studies, one third of men aged under 80 had traces of cancer prostate39. In the 80 years or more, this proportion rises to two thirds. However, most men in whom it detects prostate cancer die of other causes.

Prognosis

Compared to other cancers, the prognosis of prostate cancer is quite good. Today, only one third of men with prostate cancer will die. Often, the cancer remains localized in the prostate and has little or no effect on the overall health or longevity of the person. Its growth is relatively slow in most cases, after diagnosis, the disease progresses in ten years or more. Thus, many men die with prostate cancer without it is not the case.

The severity of cancer depends on the extent of the tumor (local, metastatic or adjacent to distance) and the type of cancer cells, that is to say, their degree of malignancy.

Diagnosis and Screening

* Digital rectal exam. The doctor inserts a gloved finger into the rectum to feel the prostate and check for irregularities. This method allows only a partial assessment, only half of cancers can be detected as well. This method is inadequate.
* Blood test to measure PSA. The prostate cancer can be detected by determining the increase of a protein, PSA (prostate specific antigen) blood. PSA is a substance produced by the prostate. A high quantity (more than 4 nanograms / ml) of this protein in blood is associated with prostate cancer in approximately 25% of cases and other disorders of the prostate in 75% of cases (benign prostatic , inflammation or infection of the prostate). Thus, a high score on this test does not necessarily mean it is cancer. In addition, the PSA test does not detect all cases of clinically significant cancers. In a study evaluating the effectiveness of PSA testing, 15% of men who tested negative in this test (of a cohort of 2 950 men aged 62 to 91 years) actually had cancer the prostate1. The PSA test is also used to track the evolution of prostate cancer.
* Transrectal ultrasound. With echoes produced by an ultrasound beam and interpreted by a computer, the physician may obtain a representation (ultrasound image) of the prostate. There are also other modes of imaging. This technique is used for diagnostic, not screening.
* Biopsy. Only a biopsy can diagnose for sure cancer of the prostate. The biopsy is usually performed using a needle inserted into the prostate. It is reserved for men with elevated PSA or abnormal DRE. The biopsy is not devoid of side effects. It can cause pain in the prostate.
* Cystoscopy. Examination of the bladder that practice after the introduction of a cystoscope into the urethra.

Symptoms of Prostate Cancer

Initially, prostate cancer causes no symptoms. Moreover, the symptoms described below may be related to another disease of the prostate as the more common of the benign prostate (or benign prostate).

* The need to urinate frequently, especially at night.
* Difficulty starting urination or urine retention.
* The inability to urinate.
* Difficulty obtaining an erection.
* From the pain during ejaculation.
* The frequent pain or stiffness in lower back, hips or upper thighs.

People at Risk

* Age. In North America, the prostate cancer mainly affects men over 55 years. The average age at diagnosis is 70 years.
* Family history. The risks are higher when the father or brother has suffered from this disease. It is unclear whether genetic modification may be responsible for some prostate cancers. It is also possible (but not yet demonstrated) that a high testosterone levels may play a role in triggering the disease.
* Race. The men of African descent are more at risk than Caucasians, who are more likely than Asians.

Risk Factors

It is estimated that over 80% of cases of cancer of the prostate, breast, and colon cancer are related to factors alimentaires2.

* Fat. The scientific literature indicates that a diet richer in lipid (fat) is associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer. However, it is not clear yet what kind of fat or fat source which is particularly responsible for this association3, 4. The animal fat content in red meat have been cited in some studies épidémiologiques5, 6. For example, according to data from the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study, in which 51 529 men participated, consumption of red meat (sausage, bacon, beef, pork or lamb) was associated with an increased risk of cancer metastasis the prostate5.
* Dairy products. Some research supports the hypothesis that a high intake of dairy products (because they contain calcium, and possibly fat) slightly increase the risk of cancer prostate7, 8.

The research discussed several other factors, but for now, the medical community does not consider these data conclusive.
- Obesity
- Lack of exercise
- Smoking
- Vasectomy
- Benign prostatic
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Preventing Prostate Cancer. Can we prevent it?

We still know little about the prevention of prostate cancer. You can put all the odds in his favor by adopting preventive measures described below and those contained in the sheet Cancer.

Screening Measures

Two tests can be used in combination by doctors in order to detect early cancer of the prostate in men who have no symptoms: testing for prostate specific antigen (PSA) and DRE. However, their ability to improve survival and extend life is not demonstrated. For this reason, medical authorities do not recommend physicians to perform routine screening for prostate cancer using these tests10, 38. The Canadian Cancer Society invites men aged over 50 years to discuss with their doctor whether the dépistage11.

Basic Preventive Measures

Consult Cancer sheet to learn about ways to reduce your risk of one day suffering from cancer, including prostate cancer.

Other measures to prevent the onset of the disease

Finasteride. Finasteride (Propecia ®, Proscar ®) is used to treat benign prostate and baldness in men. This medicine reduces the production of testosterone. In June 2003, the results of a double-blind study of high envergure9 (PCPT for Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial) showed that taking finasteride reduces the risk of prostate cancer. Paradoxically, this drug would increase slightly the risk of suffering from prostate cancer serious. These results have sparked controversy and a series of questions, so far unanswered. Experts are still questioning about the relevance of using finasteride to prevent cancer prostate23. The approach in each case is unique.

Medical Treatment of Prostate Cancer

Because prostate cancer usually develops slowly, there are several ways to treat it.
Watchful waiting!

It may be that we choose watchful waiting as a treatment option when the tumor is well circumscribed (cancer cells are confined to the prostate). It does so no medicine and we do not practice surgery, but it is closely monitoring the evolution of the tumor.

Moreover, if the tumor grows very slowly, and that the person affected is elderly, the tumor will not have time to grow before other health problems arise. Indeed, as the more invasive treatments often cause complications (pain, inability to have an erection, urinary incontinence, infection), it is sometimes better to watch without intervening.

Surgery

When cancer cells do not migrate, they can be eliminated from the body by removing the prostate, in whole or in part. The absence of prostate causes some problems, such as temporary or permanent impotence. If the tumor is very large and affects the nerves, it may be that we decide not to proceed with the surgery does not jeopardize the nervous system.

Another type of surgery, orchiectomy (or orchiectomy), involves removing the testicles in order to deprive cancer cells of the testosterone.

Cryosurgery

For some cancers very small size or precancerous lesions, it sometimes uses intense cold (created by liquid nitrogen) to freeze and kill the tissues involved.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is administered by injection or tablet form, toxic chemical agents to eliminate cancer cells. There are many who have different mechanisms of action and different side effects.

Radiotherapy

It is to destroy cancer cells using external electromagnetic radiation (emitted by a radiation therapy machine), trying to spare the surrounding healthy tissue.

Brachytherapy is another form of radiation therapy sometimes used. Radioactive substances, including radiation kill cancer cells are introduced into the patient’s body near the tumor. To do this, we can proceed in various ways (for example, an implant can be inserted into the prostate).

Hormone Therapy

This approach, long term, to administer drugs that will act to deprive cancer cells of male hormones they need to grow.