The Pomegranate

We can subtitle this one:  Top 10 Health Benefits of Pomegranates and Pomegranate Juice!

This list is only a short one of all of the health benefits of pomegranates and pomegranate juice, but our fondness for all things “Prostate Cancer Awareness” drew our attention because a couple of notables on our efforts make the top ten list.

It used to be that pomegranates were viewed as one of those “exotic fruits” that some weren’t inclined to try outside of their comfort zone of apples, oranges, and bananas.  My, how times have changed.  Pomegranates find themselves perched high atop the super health food charts and is surprisingly devoid of any of the questions surrounding a  lot of the far-away nuts, beans, roots, and other natural supplements that purport to have great health impacts on the human body.  Pomegranates are one of those super anti-oxidants with many beneficial qualities.

Born of a shrub/tree that is of Middle Eastern and Asian origin, this “bushy tree” produces the highly regarded pomegranate fruit.  Pomegranates contain nutrient-rich pulp and seeds, but offers consumers the challenge of breaking through the hard outer covering protecting the wonderful fruit and seed within.  For those of you who are put-off by work offered from the fresh pomegranate, relax!  You have alternatives available including pomegranate supplements and  pomegranate juice such as the POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice.

So, here’s our Top 10 List of potential health benefits that come with the consumption of pomegranates as part of your diet.

#1. Prostate Cancer Benefits!  Studies indicate that pomegranate extracts can assist prostate cells to die  via apoptosis, which is a form of cellular suicide. It can also slow the reproduction of prostate cancer cells.  Further, other pomegranate components, called ellagitannins, may interfere with the growth of new blood vessels necessary to feed prostate tumors.  Other compounds, specifically punicic acid, kaempferol, and delphinidin chloride may inhibit prostate cell growth often stimulated by dihydrotestosterone (DHT).  And finally – scientists have also noted that pomegranate can inhibit gene expression in androgen-independent prostate cancer.

#2. PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) Benefits!  In studies, men with prostate cancer and who had surgery or radiation but whose PSA levels had climbed were given 8 ounces of pomegranate juice daily. While the average PSA level had doubled every 15 months before drinking the juice, it was taking nearly 60 months by the end of the study!  Pomegranate juice also was associated with a 17 percent increase in cancer cell apoptosis and a 12 percent decline in the spread of cancer cells.   Winner!  #3. Alzheimer’s Disease Benefits!  A Loma Linda University animal study where researchers utilized pomegranate juice to one group of mice and sugar water placebo to another group of mice offered promising results.  Those given  pomegranate juice learned tasks more quickly than those given the sugar water placebo. Further, pomegranate juice drinking mice had significantly less accumulation of beta-amyloid in the brain. Beta-amyloid protein is believed to play a major role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease and was found to be reduced by approximately 50% in the mice tested.

#4. Healthy Heart Benefits!  In patients with coronary heart disease, daily pomegranate juice drinking over the course of three months improved stress-induced myocardial ischemia. Yet another study indicates pomegranate juice may reduce cholesterol accumulation along with formation of foam cells which contribute to lesion growth.   An analysis of both pomegranate juice and extract revealed that both have the ability to inhibit platelet activity, which helps to reduce cardiovascular disease risk.

#5. Cholesterol and Blood Vessel Benefits!  Pomegranate juice has been associated with lowering bad cholesterol levels (LDL).  Also, by preventing plaque buildup in the arteries and lesions, it helps to protect blood vessels by preventing the buildup of plaque in the arteries and the development of atherosclerotic lesions.  Other studies indicate that 100% pomegranate juice and 100% black currant juice were superior to other juices tested in inhibiting the formation of atherosclerotic lesions.

#6. Breast and Lung Cancer Benefits!  Israeli studies indicate pomegranate juice kills breast cancer cells without damaging healthy cells.  Further, it may also prevent breast cancer cells from developing in the first place.  Still other research shows that pomegranate juice may inhibit the lung cancer development.

#7. Supports Healthy Immune System!  Pomegranate extracts and pomegranate juice are both rich in polyphenols. Daily consumption of the super anti-oxidant properties in pomegranate juice serves to support the immune system’s antioxidant, antimalarial, and antimicrobial ability.

#8. Blood Pressure Benefits!  Research shows that adults with high blood pressure who drank 1.7 ounces of pomegranate juice daily lowered their systolic blood pressure by as much as 5 percent.

#9. Type 2 Diabetes Benefits!  Pomegranate seed oil, rich in CLA (conjugate linolenic acid), was connected with improved insulin sensitivity in one animal study.  That study suggests a potential reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Two other studies found that pomegranate juice and extract had a positive impact on diabetic patients.  It suggests that a daily intake of these pomegranate products may reduce their risk of atherosclerosis.

#10. Erectile Dysfunction Benefits!  Several studies provide evidence that pomegranate may have a role in erectile dysfunction.  Investigators compared pomegranate juice, red wine, green tea, and several berry juices.  Their findings indicate that pomegranate juice offered the most anti-oxidant benefits. It is reported that long-term intake of pomegranate juice improved erectile function and reduced erectile tissue fibrosis.

There you go, folks.  One thing is for certain, you can’t go wrong by adding pomegranate juice to your regular diet.  In addition to prostate cancer related benefits, there are a whole host of other areas of health improvement that we could all stand to gain from the once “exotic” pomegranate.

For more information, visit the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center’s Pomegranate Page.

The PSA blood test requires a normal blood draw that we’ve probably all experienced at one time or another in our lives.  Within a few days, your results come back from the laboratory, and you’re discussing results with your doctor.

However, it is at least as important to speak with your doctor before proceeding with the testing.  In keeping with recommendations from the American Cancer Society (ACS), pre-test discussions are important because the PSA blood test, in and of itself, is not foolproof.  There are many factors that may affect your PSA number.  A figure of  4 ng/ml or higher may not necessarily be a guarantee of the presence of prostate cancer.  Conversely, a figure of less than 4 ng/ml does not mean that you are cancer free.  There are limitations associated with the results of the PSA blood test and it’s important to keep in mind that it is one screening method along a path of several that are done to gain a complete insight as to the nature of your condition – if you have a condition at all.   ACS guidelines explicitly recommend that pre-testing discussions on these matters take place between you and your physician.  Elevated PSA levels may also indicate noncancerous conditions including prostatitis or an enlarged prostate gland.

The only way to confirm the presence of prostate cancer is through a biopsy.  A biopsy is going to be recommended if preliminary screening methods (the prostate exam and PSA blood testing) give your medical team cause for concern and further investigation.  A biopsy involves the removal of a small sampling of tissue from the prostate gland which is sent to a medical laboratory for analysis.

Factors that may affected your Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Level include:

• Age is a factor.  This is because your PSA levels normally will go up with age, sometimes even when prostate cancer isn’t present.
• Medications are a factor.  Medications including Propecia, Proscar, and Avodart (finasteride and dutasteride) can falsely reduce PSA levels.  If you’re taking such medications, it’s very important that you disclose this to your medical team.
• Recent sexual activity is a factor.  Doctors often recommend that you abstain from sexual activity in the days leading up to a PSA blood test as it can increase PSA levels in the blood.
• A prostate infection can be a factor by causing PSA levels to rise.

In addition to the PSA blood test, there are other PSA tests that are helpful to guide both the determination of prostate cancer and guide the treatment thereof if a formal diagnosis is made.

Percent-free PSA Test: Prostate-specific antigen takes two major forms in the bloodstream.  One binds to blood proteins.  The other freely circulates in the bloodstream.  A percent-free PSA test indicates how much PSA circulates free in comparison to the total PSA level.  For men who have prostate cancer, the percentage of free PSA is lower.  Studies show that if your PSA results are in the 4 ng/ml to 10 ng/ml range, a percent-free PSA of under 10% means that your likelihood of having prostate cancer is about 50%.  In such cases, a biopsy is likely to be highly recommended. Doctors often recommend prostate gland biopsies when the percent-free PSA results indicate 20% or less.

PSA Velocity Test: While not actually a separate test, it is the monitoring of PSA bloos tests to track the change in your PSA levels over a period of time.   Even when the total PSA value isn’t greater than 4 ng/ml, when your PSA velocity is high (an change greater than .75 ng/ml in a year), it may be indicative of prostate cancer presence and further testing, usually a biopsy, is likely.

So, here’s the deal – re-tweeting on Twitter, changing your Twitter profile pics, liking our Facebook Fan Page (which we don’t even have yet) would all be well and good, but none of that really helps cure Prostate Cancer.  That’s what we are here to do!

So, what we really want to do is give more money to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, and we want to encourage others to do it as well. Now, you all have a man in your life that you love.  It may be your father, your grandfather, your boyfriend, your husband, your life partner, or just that cute guy that gives you your coffee every morning.  What we want you to do is this — we want you to tweet the message below naming the man you love so we can spread the joy that comes from loving our men!

One person that tweets our message will be chosen and a $50 donation will be made in your name to the Prostate Cancer Foundation.

You’ll be sent the email with the donation and get a HUGE shout out from us for helping men, raising awareness, and helping the fight against Prostate Cancer. If you really want to give Prostate Cancer the finger, learn how you can help the men in your life do a prostate self exam to check for abnormalities in their prostate.  (You get extra love if you offer your finger!)

Rules:

Follow Us on Twitter and Tweet to Donate:

The man I love is: [NAME HERE]. RT to win! Give the finger to Prostate Cancer #ilovemen @blueforlove_com http://www.blueforlove.com/vday

• Eligible tweets shall occur between 12:01AM EST on February 12th, 2011 and 11:59PM EST on February 15th, 2011.
• A random tweet will be chosen as the winner on Feb 16, 2011.
• Tweet as many times as you want, show every man in your life that you love them!

There are a wide array of prostate cancer treatment options available to men suffering from prostate cancer.  Each of them come with a host of potential prostate cancer treatment side-effects ranging from inconvenient to those which will alter the course of your daily life with some significance.  It is vitally important that you educate yourself about all available prostate cancer treatment option and to discuss them with your medical team.  Doing so gives you all of the information that you need to make the best decision for yourself and your family as you move through the treatment process.

Though the list below is not all-inclusive and more treatment options are on the horizon, we will summarize the following:

• Active Surveillance
• Prostatectomy (Surgery)
• Radiation Therapy
• Hormone Therapy
• Chemotherapy

Active Surveillance

Active surveillance, also referred to as “watchful waiting”, has recently become a realistic and appropriate option for men deciding against a surgical option or radiation treatments.

Through careful monitoring of the prostate gland area, your prostate cancer is closely monitored for any signs that the cancer is progressing.  This is “active surveillance.”  The front line tests; the PSA blood test and digital rectal exams – will be undertaken at regular, prescribed intervals.  Following those, a repeat biopsy is scheduled at the one year mark and future prostate biopsies scheduled for continuing monitoring.  Should additional symptoms develop, or if these tests indicate the cancer is spreading, consideration for more intensive prostate cancer treatments may be recommended.  For more details, please see our source links at the bottom of the blog post.

Surgical Prostatectomy

In the event that the name isn’t clear, a prostatectomy involves the removal of part or all of the prostate gland.  Generally, men suffering from early-stage cancer which is relegated to the prostate may undergo a radical prostatectomy.  This this entails the removal of the entire prostate gland and some surrounding tissue. If you have advanced prostate cancer or a recurrence of it, further operations may be required.

The most common form of this surgery is called a radical retropubic prostatectomy. During the procedure, an incision is made in the abdomen and the prostate is removed from behind the pubic bone. The urethra is surgically attached to the bladder directly to allow for urine to eventually flow from the body post-op.  For more details, please see our source links at the bottom of the blog post.

Radiation Therapy

The objective of radiation therapy is to kill cancer cells and the surrounding tissues with directed radioactive exposure. Some forms of radiation therapy may also be used in men with advanced stage prostate cancer or if the cancer recurs.  The three most common types of prostate cancer radiation therapy are: external beam radiation therapy, proton therapy, and brachytherapy.

With external beam radiation therapy, the most common form of radiation therapy for prostate cancer, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and commuted tomography (CT Scan) are undertaken to map the location of the tumor cell.  Radiation in the form of x-rays are subsequently targeted against those cancerous areas.  3-D conformal radiotherapy determines the precise location of the prostate tumors enabling a maximum dose of radiation against the cancerous cells within the prostate gland.

With proton therapy, there exists some advantages over the previously described radiation therapy.  The most significant of those advantage is precision.  The protons of energetic particles can be directed toward a tumorous target without destroying surrounding tissue, causing the death of the cancer cells as they are vulnerable to destruction due to their accelerated division.  This directed approach is particularly helpful when treating localized prostate cancer that has not yet spread to other parts of the body.  For more details, please see our source links at the bottom of the blog post.

Less frequently used, brachytherapy requires the use of tiny metal pellets containing radioactive iodine or palladium.  These radioactive pellets are inserted into the prostate through injections administered through the skin behind the testicles. Precise cancer cell mapping is used to ensure proper insertion of the radioactive pellets to the specified location(s).  These pellets will provide radiation to the affected area in order to kill the prostate cancer cells.  Over the course of about one year’s time, the radioactive material degrades and the remaining pellets are harmless to the patient.  For more details, please see our source links at the bottom of the blog post.

Hormone Therapy

The testosterone hormone is the main nourishment for the growth of prostate cancer cells.  Therefore, testosterone is a main target for therapeutic intervention in men suffering from prostate cancer.

The purpose of hormone therapy is to stop the release of testosterone.  At a minimum, the goal is to prevent testosterone from feeding the prostate cancer cells and allowing it to continue to grow and spread unabated.   The main role of hormone therapy is usually in men with advancing prostate cancer.  However, it is becoming used with greater frequency in men before, during, and/or after localized treatment, too.  There are a number of different hormone therapy approaches available and for more detailed information about those, please see our source links at the bottom of the blog post.

Chemotherapy

Any type of therapy using chemicals to kill cancerous tumors or otherwise halt growth of cancer cells is termed “chemotherapy”. Chemotherapy drugs (cocktails) work in many different ways.  Each is based on the same basic goal and that is to stop the cancer cells from dividing.  Stop cancer cells from dividing and the growth or spread of the prostate cancer tumor(s) ceases, too.

Historically, chemotherapy was used only to relieve symptoms associated with very advanced cancers or metastatic disease. However, the publication of two studies in 2004 showing that the use of docetaxel (Taxotere) can prolong the lives of men with prostate cancer not responding to hormone therapy, it’s being increasingly used due to the potential benefits to men being treated for advanced prostate cancer.

For all of these prostate cancer treatment options and to read more about additional and emerging prostate cancer therapies – please visit the websites listed below.   Help us increase awareness for men and prostate cancer by sharing this with friends, family, and anyone you know who can benefit from our efforts.

Sources:

• Prostate Cancer Foundation – Prostate Cancer Treatment Options
• American Cancer Society – Prostate Cancer Treatment Tool
• National Cancer Institute – Treatment Option Overview

From WebMD comes the following statistical information about erectile dysfunction in the aftermath of prostate cancer treatments:

One study shows erectile dysfunction rates of 66% for nerve-sparing prostatectomy versus 75% for non-nerve sparing surgery at one year after the surgery. The use of vacuum devices or erectile dysfunction drugs after surgery once the body has healed may improve the quality of erections and speed the return of normal sexual function.

There are other studies which place the erectile dysfunction rates after prostate cancer treatments even higher and this doesn’t bode well for a man’s sexual life after prostate cancer treatments.  Having a child through conventional sexual intercourse is impossible once the prostate gland and seminal vesicles have been removed as a part of any prostatectomy.  Without the semen necessary to nourish and protect the sperm en route to a woman’s egg, a man can no longer ejaculate sperm from his body.  Once the nerves and surrounding muscle tissue are impacted by prostate cancer treatment, the mechanics of sexual activity are permanently affected. 

Surgical prostate cancer treatments will typically cause erectile dysfunction (ED) right after surgery due to the aforementioned loss of the prostate gland, seminal vesicles, and trauma to surrounding tissue.

Radiation prostate cancer treatments will generally cause erectile dysfunction (ED) in a gradual manner.  Patients can expect to see this begin to occur somewhere in the neighborhood of five- to seven months after radiation therapy has been undertaken.

In addition to an overall loss of desire for sexual activity, hormone therapy prostate cancer treatments will cause erectile dysfunction to occur within four- to six weeks after treatment begins.

Similarly, chemotherapy prostate cancer treatments will result in a loss of sexual desire and infertility in men.

It’s very important for all people, most especially men, to understand that sex and sexual function are a critical component to a man’s self-esteem and identity.  It’s normal.  It’s natural.  Sexual intimacy with your loving partner is the strongest tie that binds you together.  The loss of sexual desire, sexual function, and fertility can cast a pall of depression over a patient who is already facing difficult times just dealing with the prostate cancer.  Findings was to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) and restore any level of sexual activity in men with prostate cancer is viewed by many psychologists as an exceedingly helpful component of treatment.

Men very often struggle with depression, shame, embarrassment, and a fear of speaking openly about erectile dysfunction regardless of the cause.  These are issues that must be overcome in order to restore a very important part of your life and your relationship – sexual activity.  Regardless of where you are in prostate cancer treatment, make it a priority to discuss the prospects of erectile dysfunction as likely prostate cancer treatment side-effect.  Even if you have been diagnosed with prostate cancer and not yet begun treatments, the best time to put this issue high atop your priority list is “right now.  Recognize that there is no benefit to you and/or your partner to suffer in silence and not address what can be done to restore some semblance of an active sex life post-treatment.

How can erectile dysfunction be addressed in the wake of prostate cancer treatments?  There are several options available.  Don’t hesitate to discuss them all with your medical team.

PDE-5 Inibitors:   When Viagra® was released in 1998, it was the first effective oral medication to show efficacy in the treatment of ED. Subsequently, Levitra® and Cialis® were approved by the FDA. All three of these medications work in a similar fashion by blocking the breakdown of the enzyme, cyclic GMP, which is responsible for the smooth muscle relaxation and trapping blood in the penile tissue when a man is sexually stimulated.

There are other medications under development for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) that will only expand a patient’s treament options.

Vaccuum erection devices have been show to work well, too.  A cylinder is placed over the penis, using a lubricant to create a seal. Vacuum pressure provided by a pump draws blood into the penis. A rubber band traps the blood in the penis. These devices can be helpful also, in maintaining penile length after prostate cancer surgery. Many men have found these devices to be successful, while others find them cumbersome to use.

There is also a Medical Urethral System for Erection or MUSE.

This is Prostaglandin-E medicine that is applied into the urethra. The man then rubs the penis causing the medicine to dissolve and be absorbed into the glans and erectile bodies of the penis. The erection occurs usually within 10-15 minutes if this medicine is going to work for the patient.

As scary as the name sounds, there is Penile Injection Therapy.  It’s incredibly effective for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED).

There is a small plastic device that automatically performs the injection on the side of the penis. It feels like a pinch on the shaft of the penis. There are a number of medications that can be directly applied into the erectile chambers.

An inflatable penile prosthesis is still another option available to men suffering from erectile dysfunction (ED).

Most men prefer the inflatable penile implant as it gives the most natural erection. The erection is immediate and simulates a natural erection.  The procedure, which is covered by most insurance companies and Medicare, is performed as an outpatient and is about as invasive as a hernia operation.

For much more detailed information about the treatments for erectile dysfunction from the source, visit the Prostate Cancer Institute website.  Educate yourselves and never be afraid to broach the subject of erectile dysfunction (ED) and available treatment options for you no matter where you are in your prostate cancer treatments.

• Erectile Dysfunction
• Urinary Dysfunction
• Bowel Dysfunction
• Reduced Fertility or Loss of Fertility
• Hormone Therapy Side-Effects
• Chemotherapy Side-Effects

Before we continue, this is as good a time as any to remind people to review the common risk factors associated with prostate cancer.  There are simple things that any man can do without too much in the way of lifestyle changes to maintain good prostate health.  Your lifestyle adjustments along with getting regular, annual physicals that include a digital prostate exam in accordance with experts’ recommendations are vitally important to prevent prostate cancer or detect it at its earliest stage.  Early detection allows for more localized treatment which affords patients the greatest chance to minimize side-effects.

Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is probably at or near the top concern that men have when prostate cancer treatments become inevitable.  It’s easy to understand why.  A healthy sex-life is key to a great relationship.  A healthy sex life is a good part of what makes a man feel like a man.  It’s absolutely understandable that a high level of fear and anxiety over sexual function exists when a man is facing prostate cancer treatments.

Oftentimes, the seriousness of the impact on sexual function post-treatment are not well communicated to the patient.  In order for the penis to function properly for sexual activity, all of your nerves and blood vessels work in unison to make everything work as it should.  Since they are quite delicate, even minimally invasive treatments will have a negative impact on sexual function.

Urinary Dysfunction

When the prostate cancer treatment side-effect is urinary impairment, the urinary dysfunction can range from something that is a minor inconvenience to something that will impact your daily routine.  It can range from occasional urine leakage to a total loss of control over your urinary process.  It may include more frequent urination and painful urination.   Similar to the causes of erectile dysfunction, urinary dysfunction is typically due to nerve and muscle damage that results from prostate cancer treatments.

Bowel Dysfunction

Post-treatment bowel dysfunction can include diarrhea or an increased frequency of bowel movements.  In more severe cases, loss of control of bowel movements (fecal incontinence) and sometimes bleeding from the rectum. According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, all of these side effects are commonly associated with the use of external beam radiotherapy.  Improved techniques and careful dose planning strategies help to reduce the number of patients impacted by these prostate cancer treatment side-effects.

Reduced Fertility or Loss of Fertility

A man’s fertility is virtually always going to be lost with prostate cancer treatment. To be clear, the ability to father children through normal sexual intercourse is virtually impossible.  When your prostate is removed, you lose your seminal vesicles in addition to the prostate gland.  These parts are two critical components for creating sperm-nourishing semen.  The loss of semen after a prostatectomy destroys a man’s ability to ejaculate.   As a result, sperm can’t leave the man’s body to make the journey to fertilize a woman’s egg.

Hormone Therapy Side-Effects

Testosterone loss offers a wide range of impacts on the patient and is a prostate-cancer treatment side-effect.  As the primary hormone in males, it is necessary for the creation of all the usual male characteristics.   Sexual desire, erectile functionality, muscle mass, body hair,  and a myriad of other male bodily operations are provided in part or in whole by a man’s testosterone production.  Though unpredictable in terms of the significance of impact, the list of negative effects on the male body due to testosterone loss is long, starting with the aforementioned male characteristics.  Throw in hot flashes, loss bone density, fatigue and an increased risk of a host of other diseases, and that’s quite a lot potential consequences over which to have concerns.

Chemotherapy Side-Effects

With different chemotherapy drugs comes a list of possible side-effects that are hard to predict in any patient.  Most commonly – fatigue, nausea, numbness or weakness in fingers and toes – may occur.  However, as with any drug, it’s impossible to know how they may affect any individual and in what way.

We will share more detail on each individual category (and more) in future blog posts and update the headers above with links to each.

They’ve taken the “universal language of beer” well beyond deep, resonating, belches and clanking of mugs in toast before a big swallow to a issue of critical importance – prostate cancer awareness!  In keeping with that wonderful theme, Pints for Prostates has rolled out their early schedule of attendance at events throughout 2011 in order to continue encouraging men to educate themselves about prostate cancer and to make their own health a higher priority.

During the last two years, Pints for Prostates has been a part of roughly 100 events.  These events are most often organized by volunteers and on a local scale at restaurants or brewpubs.

2011 Preliminary Schedule of Events (more added throughout the year)

• March 11: Pints for Prostates Presented by the Downtown Macon Rotary, Armory Ball Room, 484 1st St., Macon, Ga., 7-10 p.m. Tickets are $25 and include beer samples, music from the Grapevine band, and the opportunity for men to receive a free PSA (prostate specific antigen) blood test to screen for prostate cancer.
• March 12: Pedal for a Pint, Tattnall Square Park, Macon, Ga. Presented by the Downtown Macon Rotary and Bike Tech, tickets are $25 and include the leisurely bike around the park, a t-shirt, a post ride pint and a free PSA blood test.
• March 12: Grapevine’s Third Annual Beertopia to Benefit Pints for Prostates, Baxter Village, Fort Mill, S.C., 2-6 p.m. Tickets are $25 and include samples of more than 100 beers from 40 breweries and music.
• March 15: The Jay Butler Beaudacious Beer Gustation to benefit Pints for Prostates, Flying Saucer Draught Emporium, 328 W. Morgan St., Raleigh, N.C., 6-9 p.m. Tickets are $25 and include beer samples, food and entertainment.
• April 9: World Beer Festival, Raleigh, N.C. Two sessions, Noon to 4 p.m. and 6-10 p.m.
• June 11: World Beer Festival, Richmond, Va. Two sessions, Noon to 4 p.m. and 6-10 p.m.
• June 16: Pints for Prostates at Pike Brewing, Seattle, Wash., 6-9 p.m. Event includes silent auction and raffle.
• July 28-31: Oregon Brewers Festival, Tom McCall Waterfront Park, Portland, Ore. Noon to 9 p.m. first three days and Noon to 7 p.m. on Sunday.
• September 9-19: Pints for Prostates European Beer Tour. Nine nights in Prague, Bamberg and Munich, including Oktoberfest. Details at www.beertrips.com.
• September 30: Denver Rare Beer Tasting III, Denver, Colo., 1-4 p.m. Tickets will go on sale during June.
• October 8: World Beer Festival, Durham, N.C. Two sessions, Noon to 4 p.m. and 6-10 p.m.

Those with a desire to organize an event to help continue to raise awareness about prostate cancer or for more information about Rick Lyke’s organization simply need to visit: Pints for Prostates

Tell them BlueForLove.com sent you!

Annually, more than 200,000 men are diagnosed and approximately 30,000 men die as a result of prostate cancer according to recent available data from 2007 and prior years show similar results (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).  Prostate cancer actually kills men at a greater rate (approximately 32-in-100,000) than breast cancer kills women (approximately 27-in-100,000).  These statistics are alarming.  Despite these numbers, you’ll be hard-pressed to find the same level of extensive prostate cancer awareness in the media and in the general public as you do for breast cancer.  Consequently, the research money and donations for prostate cancer awareness and treatment are significantly less than for breast cancer.  This needs to change.

Prostate cancer usually develops without any significant outward signs and over a long period of time.  Early prostate cancer detection is critical as it is easily treatable and patients can live a very long and productive life when it’s caught early.  The two most common ways prostate cancer is identified are through the digital prostate examination and/or a PSA blood test.

What can be done to promote a healthy prostate gland?

graphic courtesy of www.drdelany.com

There are many simple and often inexpensive ways that a person can promote a healthy prostate.  Preparing a healthy living environment devoid of the most obvious risk factors for prostate cancer is paramount.  Eliminating the use of tobacco products, healthy diet, and exercise are on the forefront of prostate health.  The earlier in life you move away from prostate cancer risk factors and towards a lifestyle that promotes a healthy prostate, the sooner you minimize your risks of acquiring this common form of cancer in men.  Further – no matter your age – it’s never too late.

ELIMINATE TOBACCO!

Your preventive measures must start with eliminating the use of tobacco from your life.  Stop smoking cigarettes, stop smoking cigars, and stop chewing tobacco.  The myriad of carcinogens in tobacco products dramatically increase your risk of all cancers, and that includes prostate cancer.

MAKE DIETARY CHANGES!

Your next best defense against prostate cancer rest with certain specific dietary changes.  Research indicates that a diet high in fat is one dietary risk factor for developing prostate cancer.  Countries whose primary dietary sources include lots of rice, vegetables, and soybean based products have lower prostate cancer diagnoses in the overall population.

Food with high lycopene content, such as tomatoes, carrots, baked beans, specific soups, even pizza can contain high amounts of lycopene.  If you check out the table at Dietbites.com – you’ll see that there are a wealth of excellent foods rich in lycopene.  You simply don’t have to sacrifice flavor or a lot of foods you more than likely will enjoy to help to prevent prostate cancer.

Incorporating more fish into your diet, fatty fish such as salmon, sardines, and mackeral (preferrably wild caught according to my doctor, but farm-raise is still okay) will provide you with critical omega-3 fatty acids EPA & DHA).

Get your fiber!  You can make things like oats, wheat, bran, whole grains, carrots, beans and the like into tasty meals and sides.

Drink green tea every single day.

Avoid bad fats which will include saturated fats and trans fats.

ADD MULTI-VITAMINS AND OTHER SUPPLEMENTS!

From the website of Richard M. Delany M.D. F.A.C.C come the following recommendations:

(a) A Mixed Vitamin E (tocopherols) Supplement. Choose a vitamin E supplement that is made up of predominantly gamma tocopherol with lesser amounts of alpha, beta and delta tocopherol Two good sources include: Vitamin E Factor: MaxiGamma: www.yasoo.com or Cardi-E: www.tyler.com.

(b) An Omega-3 Fish Oil Supplement . Choose a fish oil supplement containing 500-1000 mg of combined EPA + DHA. Two good sources include: # 2 PRO EPA capsules daily www.nordicnaturals.com or Mighty Bites Liquid Fish Oil: 1-2 teaspoonfuls daily www.kidsneedusnow.com.

(c) A Selenium Supplement. Choose a small amount (less than 200 mcg) of selenium daily. The best source is yeast-derived selenium in Lycomato Plus www.healthyorigins.com.

(d) Lycopene . Choose foods rich in lycopene such as tomatoes and/or choose a supplement with lycopene. The best source is a tomato-based lycopene. www.healthyorigins.com

(e) Beta-Sitosterol. Choose a small amount (300 mg ) of a specific plant phytosterol, beta sitostero. One of the best sources is Beta Prostate. www.betaprostate.com.

3. Drink Green Tea Daily. Consider consuming 2 to 4 cups of green tea daily.

4 . Obtain Adequate Vitamin D via sunlight or by food ( milk ) or via a daily multiple vitamin which contains 700 IU of Vitamin D.

These suggestions and recommendations will not leave you suffering with bland foods that lack the taste and enjoyment you’re probably accustomed to having regularly. The upside in terms of helping to prevent prostate cancer are significant and cannot be overstated.

Remember, you are responsible for your own overall health and well-being, men.  For you women out there with with male loved-ones in your life, direct them here to learn more about how they can help to reduce their risk of prostate cancer.

When you see just how simple changes in your life and can help keep the #2 killer cancer among men at bay, it’s hard not to share this news with everyone.  Help us help everyone raise the awareness about prostate cancer and start working harder to save the men we all know and love.

Detection and confirmation of the existence of prostate cancer comes through several different examinations, blood tests, and ultimately – a biopsy of the prostate gland.  The digital rectal exam is a surprisingly accurate 1st-step in defending against and ultimately treating prostate cancer if confirmed through subsequent tests.  This is true even though the digital rectal exam doesn’t allow a physician (or you) to check the entire surface of the prostate gland.

In terms of the frequency with which you should have a prostate exam, most recommendations are annually at the age of 40 and beyond.  This is easily accommodated at your annual physical.  However, even at younger ages – your 20s and 30s – consideration should be given to having your prostate gland checked with some regularity.  Every two or three years should do and more frequently if you have certain other risk factors for prostate cancer.

There are several types of cancers that both men and women can check for through self-examination.  Testicular cancer and breast cancer come to mind.  Despite your reservations about the process by which a prostate self-examination is done, you must be aware that this option is also available to men.  It can be a prostate self-exam that is done by you or a trusted partner.  If you educate yourself on the methodology and what you’re looking for, you become an ever earlier line of defense against prostate cancer – yes, even before your own physician.

One caveat: A prostate self-exam is not intended to be a replacement for your annual prostate examination by a qualified physician. You’re not the expert, but you are going to be knowledgeable enough about the process and what to look for so you can make an appointment right away if you detect any unusual pain or other anomalies.

Now to the part that will likely make most readers groan… How do I do a prostate self-exam?

Step 1: While probably easier said than done, it is very important that you relax as much as possible before performing a prostate self-exam. In reaching your prostate, it’s necessary to insert your finger past the sphincter muscles in the anus. The more relaxed you can be when you do this, the easier it will be to accomplish.  You can lay down on your bed or even do it in the shower.

Step 2: While optional, you can use a latex or latex-free glove.  Apply a small amount lubricant to both your finger and your anus.  The lubricant will make it decidedly easier to insert your finger and reduce any discomfort you may experience.  Please use a personal lubricant and not baby oil or petroleum oil.

Step 3: Gently insert your lubricated finger into your anus, moving slowly and doing your level best to relax your sphincter muscles.  Inserting your finger slowly but deliberately will also help to reduce any discomfort.

Step 4: Your prostate gland is about the size of a walnut.  It is unmistakable when you feel it.  It’s in “the front” as if you were trying to touch the front of your body towards your penis or navel.  Gently move your finger along the surface of the prostate with your fingertip.  Relax your mind and focus just on the feeling on your fingertip.  The surface of your anal wall is a thin membrane between your fingertip and the prostate gland, but you will feel it.

Step 5: Focus on any unusual changes in the texture, if there are any lumps, if it feels noticeably larger than a walnut, and any other feeling that isn’t quite right.  (No, that does not include the fact that you have your finger in your anus.)

Step 6: Slowly withdraw your finger from the anus. Dispose of your glove appropriately, wash your hands, and wash the area of your anus.  You might want to just go ahead and take a full shower to wash away any dirty feeling you might have after the experience, assuming you’re a first-timer!

Done correctly, the entire process should last for a minute or so, if even that long.  Despite our attempts to add a little levity to the experience, please understand that we take this matter seriously.  You are responsible for your own personal health and with the alarming prevalence of prostate cancer cases, this is just another option available to you for early detection.  Early detection means early treatment.  Early treatment means greater success and living a long, healthy life.

Some additional points to consider:

If you do a self-exam half-way between your annual physical examination with your physician and do detect something out of the ordinary, you’ve given yourself several months extra to seek confirmation and treatment.

The texture and firmness of the prostate gland should be similar to that of the flesh between your thumb and the rest of the hand when you make a fist. If you feel anything that is as firm as the knuckle, then that needs to be brought to a physician’s attention.  (Source: http://www.healthcentral.com)

The further you are able to insert your finger into your anus, the more surface area of the prostate gland you will able to check.  Again, the sensation a man gets when the prostate gland is touched is unmistakable, whether doing the self-exam alone or with a trusted partner.

As with a breast cancer self-exam or testicular cancer self-exam, it is important that you or your partner feel as much of the surface of the prostate gland when performing a prostate self-exam.  With regard to each of these cancer types, self-exams are often encouraged by medical professionals.  The trust, concern, and care you show your partner will only strengthen your relationship, too!

See also: How Often Should I Get a Prostate Exam?

So, what is a prostate-specific antigen?  This is an excellent question.  Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a substance that is produced by the prostate gland.  The PSA levels are identified via a PSA blood test.

Elevated levels of prostate-specific antigen are an indicator to the potential existence of prostate cancer.  However, that is not all it may indicate.  It may indicate an enlarged prostate gland or prostatitis. Prostatitis is a disease of the prostate gland often accompanied by groin pain, painful urination, and difficulty urinating among other symptoms.

The majority of men have a PSA level of under four nanograms per milliliter (4 ng/ml). This figure is the baseline or “cut-off” as the red flag indicating the potential existence of prostate cancer. While prostate cancer may exist at any PSA level, those with a PSA level higher than 4 ng/ml are often the most likely to have it.

Recent studies done by the Duke University Cancer Center have demonstrated for scientists how PSA levels may reflect prostate cancer progression.  Additional studies have indicated the following probabilities for prostate cancer in men who have had normal prostate gland results from a digital prostate exam and the following PSA levels (source – WebMD):

• PSA less than 4 ng/ml have a 15% chance of having prostate cancer
• PSA between 4 ng/ml and 10 ng/ml have a 25% chance of having prostate cancer
• PSA  higher than 10 ng/ml have a 67% chance of having prostate cancer

Historically, the less-than 4 ng/ml PSA level has been used by most health officials as being normal.  More recently, it is clear that this is a moving target depending upon certain circumstances, with some researchers suggesting using 2.5 – 3.0 ng/ml as the upper limit for the classification of PSA levels as normal. This is especially true for younger patients as their smaller prostates will produce lower normal value PSA levels.  Therefore, prostate-specific antigen levels that are higher than 2.5 ng/ml but less than 4.0 ng/ml may still be cause for alarm.

Additionally, it is equally important to analyze trend data over time.  How the PSA level rises and/or falls over periods of time should also be considered when making an assessment for one’s prostate cancer risk.

The bottom line is that up until such time as the prostate cancer concerns require a biopsy for a confirmed determination of the presence of prostate cancer, no single test is considered perfect.  The digital prostate exam, the PSA blood test, and all subsequent tests, utilized in conjunction with one another give physicians the best information to draw such a conclusion.   The reality is that many men with elevated prostate-specific antigen levels have noncancerous prostate enlargement.  This prostate enlargement comes over the normal course of aging.  While most cases of prostate cancer can be identified as present by the PSA blood test, keep in mind that low PSA levels are not a guarantee of being cancer free.