Cancer

Living and loving with prostate cancer
Prostate cancer on the rise as baby boomer generation grows older
Taking care of post-prostate cancer issues

Living and loving with prostate cancer

(ARA) - A man is supposed to be physically healthy and emotionally strong. So where does he turn to when a disease such as prostate cancer comes along, which threatens this? An international call to action has been launched which draws attention to the impact that prostate cancer has on a man's love life, and calls for much better information to help couples through this difficult time.

More than 230,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year. "It is reaching epidemic proportions and is possibly one of the biggest challenges to men's health in the world today," says Tom Kirk of Us TOO International Prostate Cancer Education and Support Network.

The international call to action asks men and their families to confront the disease and assemble the best team of doctors and researchers around them for advice on treatment options, and draw strength from the loving support of their family to help them manage the impact the disease can have on how they feel emotionally.

Marriage and family therapists, Douglas and Sandy Jardine have firsthand experience living with prostate cancer, following Douglas' diagnosis in 2006. "We knew that after his surgery for prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction would be inevitable at least for a few months" says Sandy. "We planned a romantic weekend away just before surgery day. We joked about having sex all weekend, but it was bittersweet and somewhat sad."

"As a couple, we needed to know much earlier, and before the surgery, about the near certainty of some level of permanent sexual dysfunction after removal of the cancer. We needed clearer and more realistic predictions of how long it could take before things improved. Our hope is that health professionals will increasingly provide this education before surgery. This will empower the man and his partner, and could be of help in keeping the partners connected," she says.

Prostate cancer survivor Jim Kiefert was diagnosed with prostate cancer 20 years ago at age 50. Kiefert, who is chairman of the board of directors of Us TOO International, was told that he had between one and three years to live. "I was told that I had failed the treatments and there was no known cure," Kiefert says. "I felt very depressed. But my wife Maureen and I learned everything we could about prostate cancer and made changes in our diet and exercise, and practiced stress reduction. We've been real fighters."

Although prostate cancer strikes only men, it can have a profound impact on the man, the couple and the family. "Keep talking to each other, reach out to family and friends, and learn all that you can about the disease. Join a prostate cancer support group, and put your relationship first. Listen to your partner's feelings, and be a safe haven for each other," says Sandy.

For additional information, visit Us TOO International Prostate Cancer Education and Support Network at www.ustoo.org or ZERO - The Project to End Prostate Cancer at www.zerocancer.org.

Courtesy of ARA Content

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Prostate cancer on the rise as baby boomer generation grows older

Some prostate cancer patients still have few options

(ARA) - With the men of the "baby boomers" generation in the United States approaching target age for prostate cancer screening, the incidence of prostate cancer is expected to increase to 300,000 a year in the next decade. While treatable in earlier stages of the disease, prostate cancer can be much harder to treat in more advanced stages and can be fatal. In fact, prostate cancer is the number two cancer killer in men. This year, an estimated 30,000 will die from the disease.

Treatment options for prostate cancer are dictated largely by the stage of the disease, the patient's age and health, whether the cancer has just been diagnosed or has recurred, and other factors. Of particular concern is the plight of advanced prostate cancer patients.

"This is an underserved patient population. We often don't highlight the story of the advanced prostate cancer patient and we need to," says Thomas Kirk, president and CEO of Us TOO International Prostate Cancer Education and Support Network. "These patients are faced with fewer treatment options."

Every year, 70,000 men require additional treatment due to a recurrence of prostate cancer. If the cancerous cells are not detected during initial treatment or if tumors go undetected, the cancer may spread beyond the prostate. Over time, many patients no longer respond to hormone therapy, meaning they have hormone-refractory prostate cancer.

Advanced prostate cancer patients face the development of painful bone metastases at which point they generally have two to three years to live. Quality of life during this stage of treatment can be greatly diminished. Recently though, a new class of compounds known as selective endothelin-A receptor antagonists (SERA) has emerged and clinical trials are underway to evaluate their potential in treating advanced prostate cancer.

With more than 230,000 men being diagnosed with prostate cancer in the United States, and an estimated 2 million American men currently living with prostate cancer, new treatment options are needed.

The American Cancer Society recommends men begin annual screening at age 50. African-American men or men with a family history of prostate cancer should begin screening at age 45 and in some cases, it may be advisable to begin screenings at age 40. Prostate cancer screening can involve a combination of two tests: the digital rectal exam (DRE) and the prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test. If the DRE or PSA tests are abnormal, a biopsy is typically recommended.

For more information on Us TOO, please visit www.ustoo.com.

Courtesy ARA Content

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Taking control of post-prostate cancer issues

(ARA) - Prostate cancer affects more than 185,000 men in the United States each year, according to the American Cancer Society. About one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime, making it the most common cancer, other than skin cancers, in American men.

The good news is that, if detected early, prostate cancer is often treatable. Today, men who are affected by the disease have a wider selection of effective treatment options and very high survival rates.

As men finish treatment and move into the recovery phase, they are often faced with an additional mental and physical toll as they face common but intrusive treatment side effects, such as urinary incontinence.

"Dealing with the post-treatment side effects of prostate cancer is tough," says Scott Williams, vice president of the Men's Health Network, a leading men's health advocacy and education organization. "Men can regain a sense of control during their recovery period by learning more about conditions like urinary incontinence—one of the most common treatment side effects—so they know what to expect and how they can manage it."

There are a number of helpful online resources available for men dealing with the after-effects of prostate cancer treatment. Men's Health Network, together with TENA, a leading provider of incontinence management products, has created LockerTalk, an educational Web site and virtual "locker room" that provides men, including those suffering or recovering from prostate cancer, with straight-talking educational resources about urinary incontinence.

"Men are far less likely than women to talk about their health, and when it comes to sensitive issues like urinary incontinence and bladder control, the bathroom door is firmly closed on the discussion," adds Williams. "Online resources are a great way for men and their loved ones to get the facts they need in a discreet, non-threatening environment."

Following are tips from TENA and Men's Health Network to help men deal with side effects of prostate cancer treatment:

Talk to your doctor

Your physician can help you understand the side effects you may experience after treatment, and also discuss your best options to manage and improve these conditions.

Do your homework

Turn to free, online resources like LockerTalk.com to learn more about the side effects you are experiencing. Knowing what is happening to your body, why it is happening and how to prevent or manage it will give you more control over the situation.

Join the club

There are thousands of other men who are dealing with the side effects of prostate cancer treatment. Join a local prostate cancer support group to exchange valuable tips, advice and experiences.

Give it time

Certain side effects of prostate cancer treatment are often only temporary. As your body heals, post-treatment conditions like urinary incontinence will improve, so be patient.

For more information about male urinary incontinence, and to identify other helpful online resources about men's health, visit www.lockertalk.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content