Monday, January 31, 2011

Men's Health - Revealing early Symptoms of Prostate Cancer

By Kiran Sood

Cancer of prostate, also known as "adenocarcinoma", is a cancerous tumor situated on the prostate gland. It is 1 of the most widespread well being difficulties among men and could be the 2nd top cause of cancer-related fatalities in males. Detecting the early symptoms of prostate cancer can be tricky given that this condition normally does not trigger visible symptoms for several many years.

Nevertheless, it is possible to decide if you're at threat of prostate cancer by way of your family members background, dietary applications and environmental issues. Most males who find out their early symptoms of prostate cancer are aged 55 many years old and older. Much more threat factors of cancer of the prostate apart from age consist of hefty smoking and drinking, sedentary way of life, exposure to heavy metals, diets high in fatty foods and race.

The way to Spot the Early Symptoms of Cancer Of Prostate

Most folks who're identified as having prostate cancer spot the illness through prostate examinations. Prostate cancer does not usually cause signs and symptoms. As an alternative, the illness present signs and symptoms when the cancer has spread past the prostate gland. Nevertheless, early signs and symptoms of cancer of the prostate occasionally occur.

These signs and symptoms include problems to urinate or regular urination (specially at evening), painful urination and ejaculation, trouble of holding back or starting urination, interrupted or weak movement of urine and blood within the semen or urine.

Sufferers may also expertise regular pain or stiffness inside the pelvis, hips, and legs and lower back. When these early signs and symptoms of cancer of prostate do occur, they normally indicate a non-cancerous condition. Because of this cause, it really is crucial that you seek advice from having a doctor and take required prostate exams.

Prostate Exams to Identify Early Symptoms of Cancer Of Prostate

Contemporary medicine has produced two ways to detect cancer of prostate early - Digital Rectal Examination (DRE) and Prostate-specific Antigen (PSA). Whenever you undergo a DRE, the physician inserts a finger into the rectum because the prostate gland is located just in front of the rectum.

Since with this, the physician can quickly look for bumps, lumps or other achievable challenging areas around the prostate gland. If there are, additional exams are needed to decide in the event the lumps are cancerous or otherwise.

Yet another approach to detect early symptoms of prostate cancer is via testing amounts of prostate-specific antigen inside the patient's blood. Specialists suggest having a yearly exam of both DRE and PSA when a man reaches 50 many years old. Nevertheless, in case you have higher dangers of prostate cancer, it really is very best to start taking yearly exams in the day of 40.

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Friday, January 28, 2011

Asbestosis: History and Treatment

By Seomul Evans

Knowing the exact extent of each patient's asbestosis is necessary so to plan the appropriate management strategy.

Although a histopathologic examination of lung tissue is not necessary in diagnosing asbestosis, this serves a great role in determining the extent of the patient's disease. The American College of Pathologists have put out a grading scheme for these histopathological abnormalities, which runs from Grade 1 through 4. Grade 1 embodies fibrotic changes that are confined to the walls of the respiratory bronchiole without affecting the distal alveoli. Both Grades 2 and 3 label changes that identify a more advanced stage of asbestosis. Finally, Grade 4 represent fibrosis in the alveoli and septum. Honeycombing is also evident in the Grade 4 level of changes.

Asbestos bodies or ferruginous bodies can also be seen in histopathological specimens of lung tissues afflicted with Asbestosis. Ferruginous bodies are simply asbestos fibers that have come to develop a coat. This coating is made up of protein and ferritin (storage form of iron). These asbestos bodies have a characteristic appearance of long beads. Asbestos or ferruginous bodies however are not pathognomonic for asbestosis. Incidental findings of these are found in people who have no history of exposure to asbestos.

Management of asbestosis mainly revolves around the prompt cessation of exposure to asbestos once a diagnosis is reached, and a proper treatment and follow-up plan. Continued exposure to asbestos will enhance the progression of the disease. Although even when cessation of exposure has been established, asbestosis will still progress albeit at a much slower phase. Controlling asbestos exposure in places of work still remains as the most effective prevention. The wearing of respiratory protective gear as mandated by federal law should be done.

Physicians should advise patients who are smokers to quit smoking. These patients should also be referred to smoking cessation clinic to facilitate their quitting the habit. Careful search for any concurrent respiratory infections should be done. Prompt and proper anti-microbial treatment should be given if any are detected. Immunizations against seasonal Influenza virus and Pneumococcal bacteria should also be given. Particular attention must be paid to each individual patient's oxygenation status, both at rest and during exercise. If hypoxemia is detected, supplemental oxygen should be prescribed.

Treatments and follow-up plans should be tailored to each individual patient according to the severity of each patient's asbestosis and the level of functional impairments documented. The frequency of clinic visits, as well as the frequency of imaging studies and pulmonary function tests to be done should also complement the prepared treatment plan. This goes to show that an accurate and precise assessment of each individual patient's disease severity as well as level of functioning must be accomplished.

Provisions for hospice referral and palliative care should also be given appropriately once the disease reaches its terminal stages.

Medical therapy with corticosteroids and immunosuppressant drugs has not been found to alter the course of asbestosis. Although such is the case, these drugs may still be use for symptomatic relief from aggravating symptoms brought about by the various inflammatory, vasculitic and fibrosing processes that are at play.

Treatment of asbestosis revolves around basic symptomatic relief methods and a sound referral plan. Prompt recognition and diagnosis still is absolutely necessary for the apt execution of these plans.

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Monday, January 24, 2011

Prostate Cancer Diagnosis and Staging

By Ash Tewari

Prostate cancer is principally recognized through any one of three techniques: 1) Digital Rectal Exam (DRE); 2) PSA (prostate specific antigen) testing; 3) Biopsy testing. The DRE and PSA are looked upon as "screening" tests; that is, tests used to identify patients who might have prostate cancer. The biopsy test is generally conducted only if a patient has unnatural results from a DRE or PSA test.

A DRE is basically a test of an individual's lower rectum in which the doctor will search for any enlargement or irregularities (nodules) of the prostate. The DRE is commonly executed at an annual physical.

The PSA test measures the level of PSA (prostate specific antigen - a protein that is produced in the prostate gland) in the blood. The exam is taken via a small blood sample from the patient. One can not usually figure out whether cancer is present simply through the results of the PSA; that is, if results are found to be irregular, additional tests might be taken (such as the DRE or biopsy) to validate the results.

Lastly, a prostate biopsy includes using a tiny needle to gather tissue samples from the prostate gland and study them for potential evidence of cell abnormalities. Prostate biopsy is regarded as the conclusive test in putting together whether an individual has prostate cancer.

The Three Stages of Prostate Cancer

There are three various stages of prostate cancer: 1) early stage localized disease; 2) local advanced disease; 3) metastatic. In the first-stage of local disease, the cancer is constrained to the prostate alone. As the cancer grows, it spreads to nearby tissues bordering the prostate such as the seminal vesicles. Lastly, the cancer may spread (or "metastasize") throughout other areas of the system into the bones, lungs, or liver.

The major risk factors for getting prostate cancer are:

Age - An individual's likelihood of obtaining prostate cancer increases with age; the chance of getting prostate cancer increases rapidly after age 50 and persists on until death.

Race/Ethnicity- African-American males have a higher risk profile for prostate cancer than males of other backrounds. Overall, African American males are more likely to die of prostate cancer than Caucasians, Asian-Americans, or Latino-Americans. Male Descendents of Afro-Caribbean parents are regarded as being particularly at risk.

Family History - Research implies that individuals who have a genealogy and family history of prostate cancer may have a greater risk of obtaining prostate cancer.

Who should get screened?

- Guys aged 50 years and above whose life expectancy could very well extend further than a decade.

- High-risk individuals including African American men and those who have a biological dad, sibling, or son clinically determined to have prostate cancer before the age of sixty-five.

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