Prostate Cancer in African American Men Essay

crabmeat has always been one of the most dreaded ailments of humans. This incurable infirmity has broken the hearts and spirits of many, and has unendingly left an indelible mark in its endurings lives. One of the crab louse types associated with men is prostate gland malignant neoplastic disease. The National malignant neoplastic disease Institute website defined prostate cancer as the type of cancer occurring in the male procreative system, to a greater extent specifically in the prostate tissues. This type of cancer is normally triggered in older men (n.d.). In addition to this, the disease also reiterates that genetically mutated cells, known as cancer cells, argon be in the prostate. The prostatic Disease website also added that tumors are formed, spreading to the different areas in the body. The spread of the tell cells causes permanent damage to the normal functions to the different organs (2006). Aside from the fact that cancer is genetically transmitted, the und erlie causes of prostate cancer are still undecipherable. The profile of an individual candidate 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 another factor affected. The Intercultural cancer Council website stated that Prostate Cancer affects 37% of African American men (Baylor College of Medicine, 2007). It was also stated that the piece rate of men afflicted with prostate cancer is congenericly 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. Eating of intellectual nourishment 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 other types of cancer. In an estimation made by the same website, there were 4,240 prostate cancer deaths in 2007. The chances of genetically acquiring the disease are actually big for African Americans. For a close relative afflicted with the disease, the individual has a one out of three chance of acquiring the cancer. For those who form devil relatives afflicted with prostate cancer, the chances increase, with an 83% possibility. Worse, if there were three or more members afflicted, the possible acquisition of the disease is 97% (NPCC, 2007). Quite disappointing, but true. The early stages of prostate cancer inhibit the enduring from experiencing and seeing the symptoms. This is originally due to the fact that these symptoms may also be caused by the presence of other diseases. Such symptoms may entangle frequent urination, urinary incontinence, presence of blood in the semen and in urine, erection difficulties, and pain ejaculation. Presence of at least two of the above mentioned should be bounteous basis for the patient to pertain an oncologist or urologist at the soonest possible time (Marks, 2003). Biopsy is one of the most reliable tests done in the diagnosis 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 examination that could lead to the possible detection of prostate cancer. several(prenominal) 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 MRI (Strum, Pogliano, 2005). With the rampant upgrades in technology, several manipulation 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 intercession used (2008). The most common treatments used were basis Prostatectomy, actinotherapy Therapy, Cyrotherapy, and Active Surveillance. On e of the used surgeries is Radical Prostatectomy. This process focuses on the extraction of the prostate secretory organ and the nearby tissues from the body. This surgery requires the patient to undergo a general anesthesia, so as to avoid the intolerable 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 certain 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 at first hand information of the results, giving them enough evidence as to whether the cancer will spread or not. Radiation Therapy on the other hand, does not involve any surgery. Instead, the procedure makes use of x-rays whose energy is high enough to kill cancer cells. For this specific disease, two type s can be used. These are the extraneous beam and the Internal. The External beam uses a machine that beams light beam from the outside of the body. The target of the beam is the prostate, making sure that radiation is exposed on the pelvis and in the prostate. The side effects for this treatment include diarrhea, rectal irritation, haemorrhage and painful urination. Sometimes, this therapy may also cause impotence. Internal radiation therapy, as compared to the external beam, emits radiation seeds that were plant 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 the process. The process requires the patient to undergo general anesthesia, and is over in about two hours. The sid e 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 rhythmical 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 thing to avoid such(prenominal) heartbreaks is to try and avoid contacting the disease. According to the WebMD website, the consumption of fodder rich in fiber can be very beneficial in the ginmill of the disease. These include the consumption of tomatoes, vegetables, and soy products. In addition to this, researches are being conducted in finding the correct term of enlistment measures of pr ostate cancer. Some of these researches include the fact that the administration of a Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) helps in the breastplate of men from having prostate cancer. Another is the fact that drinking 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 care of our bodies, and of our lives.References(24 July 2006). Prostate cancer health center Prostate Cancer-Prevention. Retrieved ring 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//familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/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