Prostate Cancer Warning Signs

Prostate health is of primary importance for every man.  Men who do not keep careful watch on the condition of their prostate often die from prostate cancer, which is the second leading cancer related cause of death for American males.  It is among the leading causes of cancer deaths in Canada also.  With tens of thousands of new diagnoses each year, prostate cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer in America.

Family history is only one of many risk factors.  Your choices in life can help to reduce your risk of getting this deadly disease.  Taking good vitamin and mineral supplements which support prostate health, and choosing the foods you eat wisely, can all work towards maintaining a strong and healthy prostate.

Prognosis of Prostate Cancer

There are few warning signs for prostate cancer.  If caught early enough, prostate cancer can be treated.  There are a variety of treatments which have a very good success rate, and the chances of survival can be quite high.

This is why in addition to following a proper nutritional regimen and taking dietary supplements, it is essential for every man to have a PSA test each year.  PSA, or prostate specific antigen, tests are not painful, and only last a short time, so there is no good reason to procrastinate.  The only downside is that PSA tests are not always completely accurate.

Prostate cancer can take you by surprise, as there are very few signs or symptoms.  Moreover, to add to the confusion, most of the primary indicators, if they even occur, are identical to the symptoms of other prostate conditions which are not at all cancerous in nature.  One example is BPH, which is usually referred to as an enlarged prostate.

The following are the signs of prostate cancer.  But keep in mind that they do not always occur, and are not necessarily indicators of cancer, but could indicate another condition.

• Blood appearing in the urine stream.
• Smaller or weaker urine stream.
• The urge to urinate frequently, but producing only small amounts.
• Painful urination.
• Inability to fully empty the bladder.
• The uncontrolled dribbling of urine.
• Difficulty beginning to urinate.
• Pain with ejaculation.

There are certain guidelines for choosing supplements and refining your diet.  Many people believe that Saw Palmetto is the most beneficial herb for prostate health, but this is not the case.  Beta Sitosterol is a less known, but much more effective choice.

Saw Palmetto is a combination of 99% fatty acids and only 1% sterols.  The effective part of Saw Palmetto is the 1%.  Beta Sitosterol, note the “sterol” in the last part of the name, provides only the essential part of Saw Palmetto.  It is much more concentrated, and thousands of times stronger.  Among the other nutrients and supplements to be considered are lycopene, cornsilk, stinging nettle, and pygeum.

Diet is the other important factor for maintaining good prostate health.  The US National Cancer Institute reports that males who include greater than one third an ounce of chives, garlic, onions and scallions have a greatly reduced risk of developing prostate cancer.

The important thing is not to wait for signs or symptoms.  Act now to help prevent prstate cancer, and attend your yearly screenings.  If you think you may be experiencing some of the symptoms already, remember that early treatment is often very successful.  Speak with your doctor immediately and take action.