Prostate Cancer in African American Men Essay

malignant neoplastic disease has always been one of the roughly dreaded diseases of humans. This incurable disease has garbled the hearts and spirits of many, and has continuously left an indelible mark in its patients lives. One of the crabby person lawsuits associated with men is prostate gland gland gland malignant neoplastic disease. The National pubic louse demonst regulate website defined prostate crabmeat as the type of cancer occurring in the male reproductive system, to a greater extent specifically in the prostate tissues. This type of cancer is conventionly triggered in older men (n.d.). In assenting to this, the disease in admittance reiterates that genetically mutated cells, known as cancer cells, ar present in the prostate. The prostate Disease website also added that tumors argon formed, bedcover to the different atomic number 18as in the body. The spread of the said cells ca practices permanent damage to the normal functions to the different organ s (2006). A placement from the fact that cancer is genetically transmitted, the rudimentary causes of prostate cancer are still undecipherable. The profile of an individual medical prognosis for prostate cancer is commonly taken into consideration. Since males are the only ones with prostates, the women are fortunately exempted from acquiring this disease. Race is an different factor affected. The Intercultural Cancer Council website give tongue to that Prostate Cancer affects 37% of African American men (Baylor College of Medicine, 2007). It was also stated that the percentage rate of men afflicted with prostate cancer is relatively higher in Europe and in North America, as compared to Asia, Africa, and South America. Diet is one of the most unrecognizable causes of prostate cancer. take in of victuals rich in carcinogens can increase the cancer rate in the body. According to the National Prostate Coalition website, African American males are afflicted by Prostate Cancer far more than the opposite types of cancer. In an estimation made by the same website, on that point were 4,240 prostate cancer deaths in 2007. The chances of genetically acquiring the disease are very big for African Americans. For a close relative afflicted with the disease, the individual has a one out of trio chance of acquiring the cancer. For those who have deuce relatives afflicted with prostate cancer, the chances increase, with an 83% possibility. Worse, if there were three or more members afflicted, the achievable acquisition of the disease is 97% (NPCC, 2007). sort of disappointing, but true. The early stages of prostate cancer inhibit the patient from experiencing and eyesight the symptoms. This is primarily due to the fact that these symptoms whitethorn also be ca apply by the presence of other diseases. Such symptoms may include frequent urination, urinary incontinence, presence of blood in the semen and in urine, erection difficulties, and anguish ejaculation. P resence of at least deuce of the above mentioned should be generous basis for the patient to consult an oncologist or urologist at the soonest possible time (Marks, 2003). Biopsy is one of the most reliable tests done in the diagnosing of prostate cancer. With the presence of a Urologist, a tissue sample is harvested from the patient using a needle. The sample is then forwarded to the Pathologist for extensive trial that could lead to the possible detection of prostate cancer. Several other tests are also performed after biopsy that act as the other opinions in proving the presence of cancer cells. Some of the tests include a CT scan, bone scan, and an magnetic resonance imaging (Strum, Pogliano, 2005). With the rampant upgrades in technology, several give-and-take methods have been available for prostate cancer. According to the website of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the tumor spread of prostate cancer plays an important role in the type of treatment used (2008). The most common treatments used were Radical Prostatectomy, radiotherapy Therapy, Cyrotherapy, and Active Surveillance. One of the used surgeries is Radical Prostatectomy. This shape focuses on the extraction of the prostate gland and the nigh tissues from the body. This surgery requires the patient to allow a general anesthesia, so as to block the unbearable pain that can be felt during surgery. As replacement, a catheter is placed through the penis so that urination may be facilitated while the wounds are healing (Blasko, Grim, Sylvester, 2003) . Undergoing Prostatectomy is one of the most indisputable treatments for prostate cancer. The removal of the prostate and its nearby tissues inhibits the spread of the cancer cells to the other parts of the body. This also gives the doctor firsthand information of the results, giving them comely evidence as to whether the cancer will spread or not. Radiation Therapy on the other hand, does not involve any surgery. Instead, the proce dure makes use of x-rays whose energy is high enough to kill cancer cells. For this specific disease, two types can be used. These are the External fall and the Internal. The External beam uses a machine that beams ray of light from the outside of the body. The target of the beam is the prostate, fashioning sure that radiation is exposed on the pelvis and in the prostate. The side effects for this treatment include diarrhea, rectal irritation, bleeding and painful urination. Sometimes, this therapy may also cause impotence. Internal radiation therapy, as compared to the external beam, emits radiation seeds that were implanted on the prostate. These seeds are powerful enough to kill cancer cells, but may be very painful. Cryotherapy, according to the Prostate Cancer Institute website, is one of the newest therapies discovered in the 1990s. The treatment utilizes the freezing of the prostate gland, destroying the whole organ, including the cancer cells that may be incorporated in t he sue. The process requires the patient to undergo general anesthesia, and is over in about two hours. The side effects experienced by the patient are usually treated after a few weeks. These may include urinary incontinence, pains in the pelvis, and swelling in the scrotum (2006). Active surveillance, on the other hand, is yet the most simple among all treatments. The patient does not undergo a specific treatment, and instead is in close communication with the physician. This process includes regular tests and exams that monitor the health of the patients (2006). Having to bear the pain of prostate cancer and the thought of actually dealing with the disease is heartbreaking for anyone. The best affair to avoid such heartbreaks is to try and avoid contacting the disease. According to the WebMD website, the consumption of food rich in fiber can be very practiced in the prevention of the disease. These include the consumption of tomatoes, vegetables, and soy products. In addition t o this, researches are being conducted in finding the correct preventive measures of prostate cancer. Some of these researches include the fact that the administration of a Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory do drugs (NSAID) helps in the protection of men from having prostate cancer. Another is the fact that swallow red wine also helps in the prevention of prostate cancer (July 24, 2006). Regardless of what the effects of prostate cancer are, what is important is the fact that people, cannot avoid such disease. May they be Caucasians, Asians, or even African Americans no one is exempted from having such. We all just have to take good fretfulness of our bodies, and of our lives.References(24 July 2006). Prostate cancer health center Prostate Cancer-Prevention. Retrieved March 20, 2008 from http//www.webmd.com/prostate-cancer/tc/prostate-cancer-prevention. American Academy of Family Physicians. (2008). Prostate Cancer Treatment Options. Retrieved March 20, 2008 from http//familydoct or.org/online/famdocen/ crime syndicate/common/cancer/treatment/264.htmlIntercultural Cancer Council. (2007). African Americans & Cancer. Retrieved March 20, 2008 from http//iccnetwork.org/cancerfacts/cfs1.htmStrum, S.B., & Pogliano, D.L. (2005). A primer on prostate cancer The empowered patients guide. Life Extension Media.National Cancer Institute. (n.d.). Prostate Cancer. Retrieved March 20, 2008, from http//www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/prostateMarks, Sheldon. (2003). Prostate and cancer A family guide to diagnosis, treatment and survival. Perseus Books Group.Grimm, P., Blasko, J., Sylvester, J. (2003). The prostate cancer treatment book. Contemporary Books.Prostate Disease. (2006). Prostate Cancer. Retrieved March 20, 2008 from http//www.prostatedisease.org/prostate_cancer/default.aspxProstate Disease. (2006). Prostate Cancer- Causes and Risk Factors. Retrieved March 20, 2008 from http//www.prostatedisease.org/prostate_cancer/risk_factors.aspxProstate Cancer Institute . (2006). Cryotherapy for Prostate Cancer. Retrieved March 20, 2008 from http//www.prostate-cancer-institute.org/prostate-cancer treatment/cryosurgery.html