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Study shines light on vitamin E's ability to fight cancer
Date: 2013-03-14 00:00:00

Over the past few decades, studies have suggested that vitamin E may help fight cancer. However, this research was conducted on animals, and when similar trials were done with humans, results of the lab tests were not the same. Still, scientists have not given up hope that vitamin E may have some cancer-fighting properties. Recently, researchers from Ohio State University have discovered that there may indeed be some benefits to consuming this nutrient when it comes to keeping cancer at bay.

The scientists found that one form of vitamin E prevented the activation of an enzyme that is essential for prostate cancer cells to survive. With this enzyme gone, the cancer cells died and the healthy cells were left unaffected.

"This is the first demonstration of a unique mechanism of how vitamin E can have some benefit in terms of cancer prevention and treatment," said lead author Ching-Shih Chen, professor of medicinal chemistry and pharmacognosy at Ohio State University and an investigator in Ohio State's Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Not your average vitamin E ... Full Story

Older men may need digital rectal exams to diagnose prostate cancer
Date: 2013-03-20 00:00:00

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer found in men, which is why men should regularly get PSA tests to detect abnormal levels of a certain protein. However, older men may want to consider supplementing this screening. According to a recent study conducted by researchers from Penn State University, while there have been many advancements made in testing services for prostate cancer, the digital rectal exam remains a valuable resource.

This exam is when a doctor examines the surface of the prostate with a gloved finger so he can detect any hard areas or lumps that do not belong there. A PSA test involves drawing blood and having levels of prostate-specific antigen measured. High PSA levels may signify cancer. While men should be regularly getting PSA tests, they should also schedule digital rectal exams as well.

"Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, accounting for over 28,000 deaths yearly," said Jay Raman, M.D., associate professor of surgery at Penn State. "Improvements in screening methodology and refinements in cancer care have contributed, in part, to a reduction in recent mortality rates."

An important test... Full Story

Tomatoes and soy may be a recipe to help beat prostate cancer
Date: 2013-05-08 00:00:00

People need to order regular blood tests to make sure that they do not miss any of the signs of conditions ranging from heart disease to cancer. This is particularly important for people who have a history of disease in their family, who should not only be getting regular lab tests, but should also be trying to live a lifestyle that will help reduce their risk of developing a health problem. For example, men with a history of prostate cancer in their family should be sure to eat a healthy diet, since this has been shown to lower the chance of this disease.

Recently, researchers from the University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences found that one thing that men who are concerned about prostate cancer may want to do is consume a meal that consists of tomato and soy products. According to the scientists, eating these two foods together may more effectively help prevent prostate cancer than eating them separately.

Better when eaten together... Full Story

Men with prostate cancer may want to say 'yes' to vegetable fat
Date: 2013-06-11 00:00:00

Nearly 30,000 men die of prostate cancer in the U.S. each year, according to the National Cancer Institute. This is one of the many reasons why men - especially those who are middle-aged - should get regular blood tests to make sure that they are healthy. Obesity is one of the main risk factors for developing this disease, so men need to make sure they eat healthy foods if they want to reduce their chances of having prostate cancer.

Recently, researchers the University of California, San Francisco, found that one change men who are either concerned about prostate cancer or already have the disease may want to make to their diets is to replace carbohydrates and animal fat with vegetable fat. The scientists found that doing this may help reduce the risk of death in men with non​-metastatic prostate cancer.

Vegetable fat is superior ... Full Story

Expensive treatments for prostate cancer may be overused
Date: 2013-06-28 00:00:00

Lab tests online that screen for a range of medical conditions can benefit people of all ages, particularly those who are concerned that they may have developed a serious ailment that will impact their long-term wellness.

For men, the risks of developing prostate cancer - a condition which, according to the U.S. National Cancer Institute results in 238,590 new cases and 29,720 deaths annually - can be immense. However, by taking a lab test, men may be able to gain a better idea of their overarching wellness.

When it comes to treating prostate cancer, a recent study of new technologies has revealed that men affected by the disease in its advanced stages may be less likely to benefit from the use of these devices.

Intensity-modulated radiotherapy and robotic prostatectomy are used to treat low-risk cases of prostate cancer, and the use of this technology has increased exponentially. In 2004, 32 percent of individuals accessed IMRT and robotic prostatectomy, while in 2009 - the most recent year statistics were taken - this grew to 44 percent.

For men with advanced cases of prostate cancer, the utilization of this technology went from 36 percent in 2004 to 57 percent in 2009, NBC News reported.

"The implementation of these technologies occurred in populations at a time when there was an increase in awareness that some prostate cancers might not warrant treatment," said study co-author Brent Hollenbeck, M.D., an associate professor of urology and director of the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Division of Health Services Research at the University of Michigan.

Yet according to researchers in the study, which was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, these technologies have not been as effective in helping men as previously believed.

Rather, treatments using these devices may be costly and overused, without resulting in major changes in the health of men.

According to some experts, because many forms of prostate cancer develop slowly over time, medical ways of alleviating it like IMRT or robotic prostatectomy may actually do little but interfere with a man's quality of life, and could lead to problems like impotence.

... Full Story

Coffee may help fight prostate cancer
Date: 2013-09-03 00:00:00

Data from a new study shows evidence that drinking several cups of coffee a day may help to fight the recurrence and spread of prostate cancer. While the results of the study are not conclusive, the evidence still encourages further study into the subject and may offer hope to those with this type of cancer.

Coffee drinking... Full Story