Myth number 1. Patients with prostate cancer die, but not from him.
In fact, ill with prostate cancer every 6 th man, and die from it only every 35th. With some forms of cancer can really live for years, but we should not forget that prostate cancer - the second most common oncological disease deaths in men.
Myth number 2. Do not be screened because the doctors themselves argue about its effectiveness.
In fact, objective survey - to detect disease at an early stage when treatment is more effective. There are two types of surveys: a blood test for PSA content and finger examination of the rectum. Doctors do not dispute the need for both these surveys.
PSA, prostate specific antigen, normally found in blood in small quantities. The level of PSA usually rises with prostate cancer, as well as prostate or benign prostatic hyperplasia. Like most tests, PSA test does not guarantee 100 percent accuracy of diagnosis. In some cases the survey is conducted using invasive methods (eg, biopsy of the prostate gland).
On the other hand, the results of the PSA test may be normal even in the presence of prostate cancer. Since 1990, when the PSA test was introduced into clinical practice, the death rate from prostate cancer decreased. However, not all doctors are sure that the PSA test is the cause of this decline.
The debate about the need to monitor the health of all men with PSA test conducted so far. Nevertheless, a survey for the presence of prostate cancer is recommended for men older than 50 years. If your close relatives (father, brother, son) had prostate cancer, should begin screened with 45. The question of costs to be screened or not, is decided individually.
Myth number 3. After removal of the prostate men become impotent.
Actually prostatectomy - an operation to remove the prostate cancer stricken. Sometimes this can be affected by the nerves that control erections. In the first months after surgery, most men face in varying degrees of erectile dysfunction. How long will the disorder depends on age, erections before surgery and type of surgical intervention.
Methods of operation, allowing to avoid damage to the nerves, reduces the risk of erectile dysfunction. If necessary, an erection can be sustained with injections into the penis and special adaptations.
Myth number 4. All men are incontinent after prostatectomy incontinence.
Actually incontinence - one of the major side effects of surgery to remove the prostate gland. For most men, it goes through a few weeks or months after the operation. According to statistics, over 5 years after surgery about 1 / 3 men celebrate stress incontinence of urine (leak urine when coughing, exercise, laughing or sneezing). Severe incontinence was observed in only 5% of cases.
The risk of incontinence is reduced if the operation is conducted in large cancer centers under the guidance of experienced professionals.
Rx Kentucky
Friday, September 18, 2009
PSA test
The purpose of PSA test
Normally the blood contains a small amount of prostate-specific antigen (PSA). PSA - is a specific protein that produces prostate gland in adult men. With increasing, inflammation and other diseases of the prostate PSA level in blood increases. He rises and prostate cancer. Determine the level of PSA can be a blood test. As with any analysis, there may be false positive and false negative results. Sometimes patients with prostate cancer analysis gives a negative result, and in men with elevated PSA terrible diagnosis is not confirmed.
Men older than 50 years is recommended once a year to pass finger rectal examination and PSA test. People with bad heredity is better to start with screened 45 years. But on this there is another view. Some people are opposed to mandatory to explore all manner of men. Discuss with your doctor the need for the survey is in the case, if you over 50 or in your family history of prostate cancer. Since the usefulness of the test is challenged, you must first with your doctor to evaluate all of its risks and benefits.
Blood test for PSA can also be used to trace the development of disease or assess the effectiveness of the chosen treatment.
Preparing for the PSA test
Special training for PSA test is not required. To avoid false results, it is better to pass PSA test just before the rectal finger examination or two days or more after him.
Analysis
To study the PSA take blood from a vein. The introduction of a needle, you can feel the pain, but it passes quickly. A small portion of the blood gathering in the tube and sent to the laboratory.
Duration
Blood sampling for PSA takes 3-5 minutes.
Bad Analysis: What to do?
If the content slightly higher than normal PSA and rectal examination for anything suspicious is detected, the doctor may order more tests.
The level of PSA exceeding 4 ng / ml, means 20-25% probability of prostate cancer. If the PSA level above 10 ng / ml, the probability of cancer is more than 50%. The higher the level of PSA in the blood, the higher the risk of cancer.
Nevertheless, the result of PSA test by itself is not grounds for a diagnosis of "cancer". The level of PSA may rise by 2-3 times with benign prostatic hyperplasia (increase) of the prostate gland. In addition, he may increase because of infections, inflammatory processes in the prostate gland, and after biopsy or surgery on the prostate.
If the PSA level above the norm, you need to pass transrectal ultrasound of the prostate (TRUS). To confirm the diagnosis of "cancer" also requires data biopsy.
Risks during the PSA test
Itself PSA test is practically no risk. But false positive results of this analysis makes the patient very worried and go through a number of other surveys, strenuous, and false negative result is difficult to diagnose cancer.
Normal limits
The majority of men older than 40 years, the level of PSA in the blood is less than 4 ng / ml. In men younger than 40 years, he should be no more than 2.7 ng / ml.
Rx Mississippi
Normally the blood contains a small amount of prostate-specific antigen (PSA). PSA - is a specific protein that produces prostate gland in adult men. With increasing, inflammation and other diseases of the prostate PSA level in blood increases. He rises and prostate cancer. Determine the level of PSA can be a blood test. As with any analysis, there may be false positive and false negative results. Sometimes patients with prostate cancer analysis gives a negative result, and in men with elevated PSA terrible diagnosis is not confirmed.
Men older than 50 years is recommended once a year to pass finger rectal examination and PSA test. People with bad heredity is better to start with screened 45 years. But on this there is another view. Some people are opposed to mandatory to explore all manner of men. Discuss with your doctor the need for the survey is in the case, if you over 50 or in your family history of prostate cancer. Since the usefulness of the test is challenged, you must first with your doctor to evaluate all of its risks and benefits.
Blood test for PSA can also be used to trace the development of disease or assess the effectiveness of the chosen treatment.
Preparing for the PSA test
Special training for PSA test is not required. To avoid false results, it is better to pass PSA test just before the rectal finger examination or two days or more after him.
Analysis
To study the PSA take blood from a vein. The introduction of a needle, you can feel the pain, but it passes quickly. A small portion of the blood gathering in the tube and sent to the laboratory.
Duration
Blood sampling for PSA takes 3-5 minutes.
Bad Analysis: What to do?
If the content slightly higher than normal PSA and rectal examination for anything suspicious is detected, the doctor may order more tests.
The level of PSA exceeding 4 ng / ml, means 20-25% probability of prostate cancer. If the PSA level above 10 ng / ml, the probability of cancer is more than 50%. The higher the level of PSA in the blood, the higher the risk of cancer.
Nevertheless, the result of PSA test by itself is not grounds for a diagnosis of "cancer". The level of PSA may rise by 2-3 times with benign prostatic hyperplasia (increase) of the prostate gland. In addition, he may increase because of infections, inflammatory processes in the prostate gland, and after biopsy or surgery on the prostate.
If the PSA level above the norm, you need to pass transrectal ultrasound of the prostate (TRUS). To confirm the diagnosis of "cancer" also requires data biopsy.
Risks during the PSA test
Itself PSA test is practically no risk. But false positive results of this analysis makes the patient very worried and go through a number of other surveys, strenuous, and false negative result is difficult to diagnose cancer.
Normal limits
The majority of men older than 40 years, the level of PSA in the blood is less than 4 ng / ml. In men younger than 40 years, he should be no more than 2.7 ng / ml.
Rx Mississippi
The first examination of the prostate
The doctor mentioned the need to be examined by the prostate gland? You must have the tension of this idea. After all, knowing where this iron, you understand in advance that its inspection would not be the most enjoyable.
Examination of the prostate gland is called a finger examination of the rectum, or rectal examination. The need for such research, sooner or later faces the majority of men. Rectal examination is carried out during a planned medical examination, if you have problems with urination or other unpleasant symptoms. In any case, it is important to know how it is conducted.
Procedure
You have to remove the underwear and wrap paper towel around the waist so that the back was open.
The prostate is located in front of the rectum. To a doctor could examine her, you need to bend down. You can stand, leaning his arms on the table, or lie on your side, bent knees pressed to his chest.
Most likely, the doctor explained what he would do, and help to relax.
To lock the body in position, the doctor may put one hand on your lower abdomen. Then he pushes the buttocks and inspect the anus.
The next stage - an introduction to the anus with a gloved finger in the grease. As the penetration into the rectum, the doctor makes a pause to allow the sphincter to relax.
Voltage at the time of the survey is quite natural, but still will try to calm down. Then, during the inspection, you will experience less discomfort. To help relax the sphincters, the doctor will ask a little tighter (as before defecation). At this point better slowly exhale the air through the mouth.
Physician examines the wall of the rectum and presses on the prostate to estimate its size, the presence of tumors and seals. At this point you may feel the urge to urinate. Some feel nausea and weakness. Do not worry: it's normal. However, feeling dizzy, immediately tell your doctor.
All survey takes a little more than a minute.
After rectal examination the doctor checks the feces left on hand, the presence of blood. It may be a sign of hemorrhoids, polyps or colon cancer.
A digital rectal examination may cause discomfort but not pain. If you're hurt, tell your doctor. Increased sensitivity to touch may be indicative of prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate gland).
Four useful tips:
* If you have hemorrhoids, tell the doctor about this.
* Breathe mouth and slowly. Do not hold your breath.
* Try to relax. Think about something pleasant.
* Tell your doctor if you are hurt.
After examination the doctor will give a napkin and indicate the place where you can put himself in order, and then report the results.
Erectile Dysfunction Rx
Examination of the prostate gland is called a finger examination of the rectum, or rectal examination. The need for such research, sooner or later faces the majority of men. Rectal examination is carried out during a planned medical examination, if you have problems with urination or other unpleasant symptoms. In any case, it is important to know how it is conducted.
Procedure
You have to remove the underwear and wrap paper towel around the waist so that the back was open.
The prostate is located in front of the rectum. To a doctor could examine her, you need to bend down. You can stand, leaning his arms on the table, or lie on your side, bent knees pressed to his chest.
Most likely, the doctor explained what he would do, and help to relax.
To lock the body in position, the doctor may put one hand on your lower abdomen. Then he pushes the buttocks and inspect the anus.
The next stage - an introduction to the anus with a gloved finger in the grease. As the penetration into the rectum, the doctor makes a pause to allow the sphincter to relax.
Voltage at the time of the survey is quite natural, but still will try to calm down. Then, during the inspection, you will experience less discomfort. To help relax the sphincters, the doctor will ask a little tighter (as before defecation). At this point better slowly exhale the air through the mouth.
Physician examines the wall of the rectum and presses on the prostate to estimate its size, the presence of tumors and seals. At this point you may feel the urge to urinate. Some feel nausea and weakness. Do not worry: it's normal. However, feeling dizzy, immediately tell your doctor.
All survey takes a little more than a minute.
After rectal examination the doctor checks the feces left on hand, the presence of blood. It may be a sign of hemorrhoids, polyps or colon cancer.
A digital rectal examination may cause discomfort but not pain. If you're hurt, tell your doctor. Increased sensitivity to touch may be indicative of prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate gland).
Four useful tips:
* If you have hemorrhoids, tell the doctor about this.
* Breathe mouth and slowly. Do not hold your breath.
* Try to relax. Think about something pleasant.
* Tell your doctor if you are hurt.
After examination the doctor will give a napkin and indicate the place where you can put himself in order, and then report the results.
Erectile Dysfunction Rx
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