Unfortunately there are no early signs or symptoms of prostate cancer. The general advice is that if one is 50 or older, one should undergo prostate cancer screening.

A blood test is also recommended to check for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) beginning at age 50, or earlier if one has risk factors for cancer. A digital rectal exam as early as age 40 is also advised in individuals with risk factors.

Since prostate cancer does not cause symptoms in the early stage, the following screening tests are recommended and include:

Digital rectal exam (DRE): A digital rectal exam is not fun but essential in examining the prostate. The digital exam can discover the presence of any abnormalities in the texture, shape or size of your gland.
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test: This blood test analyzes the levels of a chemical released from the prostate. Higher levels are not always specific for prostate cancer because infection, inflammation or prostate enlargement may also cause an increase in this chemical.
Transrectal ultrasound: If the above tests raise any suspicion of prostate cancer, a small probe is placed through the rectum and the gland is analyzed. The images can reveal the presence of any abnormal growth or deformity of the gland.

Current research has shown that nutrition may also have a preventative effect on cancer. Daily intake of fruits, vegetables, and cereal grains may interfere with the process of developing many cancers.

There is also evidence that decreasing total fat intake can help prevent many cancers. This is especially true when total fat intake includes saturated fat and possibly polyunsaturated fat.

Although research studies are inconclusive at this time, preliminary evidence suggests that some components of food may play a role in decreasing the risk of developing cancer, including phytochemicals, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids.

Antioxidants are substances that inhibit the oxidation process and act as protective agents. They protect the body from the damaging effects of free radicals. Free radicals can attack healthy cells, alter the DNA and making defective cells that grow out of control.

The classic anti oxidant is vitamin C (ascorbic acid). According to the National Cancer Institute, vitamin C may protect against cancers of the head and neck, stomach and esophagus. Some data even suggest that Vitamin C may also reduce the risk of developing cancers of the rectum, pancreas and cervix.

More Nutritional Cancer Therapies

Saw palmetto is one herb that has been tested many times, with some promising results. It is, however, recommended for treating the symptoms of benign prostate hypertrophy, not for curing prostate cancer.

The theory surrounding the use of saw palmetto is that it works by preventing testosterone from breaking down into a different form of the hormone associated with the growth of prostate tissue. Saw palmetto has shown in studies to be as effective for reducing the size of an enlarged prostate as the medication Finasteride (marketed as Propecia, Procar, Finpecia, Finast, Fincar, among other names), with fewer side effects.

The majority of men who use saw palmetto start to see an improvement in their urinary symptoms after one to three months. Some show no improvement at all. While it seems to be safe to take this herb indefinitely, potential side effects from long term use are not known.

Other herbal remedies have been reported to be effective for treating prostate cancer, but there is no scientific data to support the claims, just anecdotal reports. Chaparral is one such herbal remedy. There have been reports, however, that using this herb can lead to irreversible liver failure.

A herbal mixture known as PC-SPES has been marketed for treating prostate cancer. It contains a mixture of eight different herbs: licorice, da ging ye, reishi mushroom, san qi, baikal skullcap, dong ling cao, chrysanthemum, and saw palmetto. It has since been taken off the market, because some batches were found to contain prescription medications.

Studies revealed that PC SPES worked by lowering PSA and testosterone levels.

Reported side effects from the use of PC SPES include breast tenderness and impotence. It can also be toxic when taken in large amounts, and it can cause blood clots in the leg veins. Another concern is that PC SPES can mask the progression of prostate cancer, because it reduces PSA levels, even when the cancer is advancing.

Another herbal remedy known as PC HOPE has since replaced PC SPES. It contains the same eight herbs, plus two additional ingredients – quercetin and and sterolin.

Keep in mind, you should always consult with a professional herbalist before using any herbal remedies.

Prostacet Natural Prostate Supplement

This vitamin may also help in the scavenging of free radicals, and thus prevent injury to normal healthy tissue. Good sources of beta carotene are dark green leafy and brightly colored fruits and vegetables.

Vitamin E is essential for our bodies to work properly. Vitamin E helps to build normal tissues and red blood cells, and it is also an antioxidant. Research data indicates that vitamin E may protect against prostate and colorectal cancer. The recommended dietary allowance for vitamin E is 15 milligrams per day.

Phytochemicals are plant compounds with the ability to protect against bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Eating large amounts of fruits, vegetables and cereals may decrease the risk of developing certain cancers as well as diabetes and heart disease.

The action of phytochemicals varies by color and the type of the food. They may act as antioxidants and prevent carcinogens (cancer causing agents) from damaging the body.

Researchers are studying the effects omega-3 fatty acids and their effects on cancer. Some data indicate that these fatty acids may delay or reduce tumor development in breast and prostate cancer. Since our bodies cannot make omega-3 fatty acids, we must get them from food or supplements. These fatty acids are generally found in sea foods.

Virtually all of the anticancer drugs are toxic at the applied dosages and they destroy a patient's natural resistance to many diseases, including cancer. Because these drugs cannot distinguish between cancerous and normal cells, they disrupt or kill normal, healthy cells throughout the body, besides attacking the tumor. Chemotherapy has only a limited effectiveness against any tumor that is large or has spread; its successes are generally with small, very early tumors.

Targeted therapy, which first became available in the late 1990s, has had a significant impact in the treatment of some types of cancer, and is currently a very active research area. Targeted therapy usually involves the use of some molecules as homing devices which bind to some part of the cancer cell and eventually destroy it. Monoclonal antibodies are classic examples of targeted therapy.

Most individuals think that when it comes to cancer, the treatment is limited to the cancer. However, the majority of individuals with cancer also develop other symptoms like pain, nausea, vomiting, bleeding, weight loss, depression and anxiety. To improve the quality of life, most individuals need medications, herbal or nutritional therapy to help cope with these serious side effects. Some individuals may have agonizing pain and require narcotics like morphine.

Despite billions of dollars invested in research, cancer treatments with conventional medicine has not had a great deal of success. For this reason, many individuals have been turning to alternative medicine.

You may either receive direct radiation therapy to the prostate or the surgeon may place small radioactive implants in the prostate. They both work by killing the cancer cells. Today, radiation therapy is applied in a very sophisticated way to prevent toxicity.

With precise focusing of radiation beams, greater doses of radiation can be without increasing the frequency of complications. During the radiation therapy, all individuals are protected by custom-designed shields.

Radiation treatments are generally given over a 6-8 week period. The treatment is not painful and does not require anesthesia. The side effects of radiation therapy are not instant, and so one may gradually develop the following:

-frequent urination
-impotence (more common in elderly men)
-loose stools
-rectal bleeding
-urgency to defecate
-rectal ulcers
-rectal pain upon defecation

Once the radiation treatment course is complete, the majority of these side effects gradually disappear. However, a few unlucky men may continue to experience rectal pain, bleeding or ulcers. If these do not resolve with medical therapy, surgery may be required.

Because testosterone is known to stimulate growth of prostate cancer cells, anti-testosterone therapy (called hormonal therapy) is frequently used to treat prostate cancer. This therapy either uses drugs to stop the production of the male sex hormones or the entire source of the hormone is surgically stopped by removing the testicle (orchidectomy).

Hormonal therapy is most effective in men with advanced prostate cancer. The treatment does help to slow the growth and frequently shrinks the tumor. Because this therapy is effective in shrinking tumors, hormonal therapy can be used in the early stage of prostate cancer — often in combination with radiation and surgery. Once the tumor size is reduced, surgery or radiation therapy can be used to destroy whatever tumor is left behind.

Most men develop side effects from these hormonal-based drug therapies. These include nausea, diarrhea, breast enlargement, decreased libido, impotence, hot flashes, weight gain and loss of muscle and bone mass. Liver function has to be regularly monitored because all these drugs have the potential to cause liver damage.

A few men elect to undergo an orchidectomy. The testes are a major source of testosterone and surgical removal of the testes eliminates the hormone. This mode of therapy is usually for individuals with advanced prostate cancer and is quite effective. The procedure is actually not as painful as it sounds.

Surgical removal of the prostate gland is another option for patients with prostate cancer. This is a major surgical procedure which removes the entire prostate and adjacent lymph nodes. The surgeon tries to preserve the nerves and muscles which control urination and sexual function.

Two surgical approaches are available to remove the prostate: retropubic and perineal. Both have been designed to prevent the complications to the adjacent organs, however, a fair number of individuals continue to have complications.

Chemotherapy drugs are frequently used to treat prostate cancer. These toxic drugs kill the rapidly growing cancer cells. This form of therapy is not curative but can help control the spread. However, chemotherapy is associated with more side effects and is generally given to men who have prostate cancer that did not respond to hormonal therapy.

Today, various combinations of chemotherapeutic drugs are used and may even be combined with hormones. Early results are positive but long term resulting are not available.

Prostate cancer is generally a slow growing tumor and typically starts off in the periphery of the gland. In the early stages, prostate cancer causes no symptoms. However, if left untreated, it can grow, invade adjacent organs and spread to other parts of the body.

It is not know what causes prostate cancer and why some subtypes behave differently. It is believed that a multitude of factors such as heredity, ethnicity, hormones, diet and environment may play a role in the cause of prostate cancer.

Knowing the risk factors may help to prevent or delay the onset of prostate cancer. The risk factors identified to cause prostate cancer include:
- Age. As men get older, the chances of having prostate cancer increase. It is recommended that after age 50, men should have regular prostate exams.
- Ethnicity. Of all ethnic groups, blacks have the highest risk of prostate cancer.
- Hereditary. If anyone in the family has prostate cancer, the chance of a family member developing the cancer is greatly increased.
- Nutrition. A high-fat diet and obesity have been associated with an increase in prostate cancer. It is believed that fat stores are important for production of testosterone, and thus a low fat diet may reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer.
- Vasectomy. Although it has been suggested that vasectomy may be a risk factor for prostate cancer, there is no conclusive evidence to substantiate this fact.
- High levels of testosterone. Men who have high levels of testosterone are at a higher risk for prostate cancer. Long term testosterone treatments for other medical conditions have been linked to prostate cancer, so these individuals should undergo regular screening for prostate cancer.

Unfortunately, it has been banned in the US by the FDA since the company selling it was claiming that it cures HIV, and in the US anything labeled saying it cures a disease is considered a drug by the FDA and follows the FDA drug laws, not the herbal supplement rules.

Green tea is today reported to be the cure for many diseases and medical conditions. So many myths are associated with it, and scientific research is still ongoing to determine all of its benefits.

It has been reported to prevent certain cancers and slow the growth of many cancers. The National Cancer Institute is continuing to study what effect, if any, green tea has on cancer. In the meantime, drinking a few cups of the antioxidant-rich brew each day certainly is not harmful.

Iscador is an extract from European mistletoe and contains compounds called lectins, which are believed to destroy cancer cells. Data on its efficacy as a cancer killer are conflicting. But, there is no doubt that when taken in high doses, the drug has serious toxicity including severe nausea, vomiting, bleeding and weight loss.

Although herbs are clearly of value, the herbal industry has been unregulated and there are a lot of companies selling ineffective herbs claiming that they can cure cancer. So as a last word of advice, be knowledgeable, and seek advice from a licensed herbalist or natural therapist, and if in doubt, always seek a second opinion.

Conventional medical therapy is not only expensive, but also associated with serious side effects, and in many cases is still considered experimental.

The one reason why herbal therapy is criticized is because it sometimes lacks scientific data to demonstrate effectiveness. But, that does not mean that herbs are not effective. In fact, numerous cancer drugs that are actively used in the treatment of numerous cancers have been derived from plants. The most popular herbs used in cancer treatment are mentioned below.

Astragalus may help improve the immune system and fight off blood cancers. But, it has also side effects like lowering of blood pressure, dizziness and fatigue. Cat’s claw is also known as Uncaria tomentosa. This South American vine is an ancient treatment for arthritis and numerous other ailments.

Cat's Claw remains popular among cancer patients. The herb is generally safe but it has been known to cause gastric ulcers and fatigue. Phytoestrogens are naturally occurring compounds that lower circulating estrogens in the body. Flaxseed is particularly high in one phytoestrogen called lignan, which appears to decrease estrogen production and may inhibit the growth of some breast cancers.

More Herbal Cancer Remedies

Surgery is the ideal treatment if the cancer can be removed completely, but this is not always possible. In many cases, the tumor has spread and thus surgery is only possible for the small localized lesions. Surgery is also required to see the stage of the cancer and to determine if it has spread. The predicted outcome of any cancer depends on what stage it is at.

Surgery is not a small undertaking and it is also associated with a fair number of complications. However, the treatment of lung, stomach, colon and many other solid cancers is surgery, when they are found early. Surgery has a minimal role in cancers which have spread. Other associated complications of surgery include pain, large incisions, and restriction of function which may last a long time.

In most cancers, radiation therapy is used to kill the cancer cells or shrink the cancer. Radiation therapy can be applied either via an external beam machine or small “rice sized” implants can be placed in the body where the tumors is (brachytherapy).

Although radiation damages both cancer cells and normal cells, most normal cells can recover from the effects of radiation and function properly. The goal of radiation therapy is to damage as many cancer cells as possible, while limiting harm to nearby healthy tissue. Hence, it is given in many fractions, allowing healthy tissue to recover between fractions.

Radiation therapy may be used to treat almost every type of solid tumor, and the dose to each site depends on a number of factors, including the radiosensitivity of each cancer type and whether there are tissues and organs nearby that may be damaged by radiation.

As with every form of treatment, radiation therapy is not without side effects. The side effects of radiation therapy include nausea, vomiting, hair loss, a depressed immune system and sterility.

Common Cancer Treatments: Part 2