Life Enhancement Resource

Side Effects of Prostate Treatments

Improvements in treatment over the years have significantly reduced the severity of side effects of prostate cancer treatments. It’s still important to understand how and why these side effects occur, and to how to minimize how they will affect daily life. There are six major categories of side effects that are normally associated with prostate cancer treatments: urinary dysfunction, bowel dysfunction, erectile dysfunction, loss of fertility, effects due to the loss of testosterone, and side effects of chemotherapy. Depending on the treatment strategy pursued some or all of these side effects might be present. It’s also important to realize that not all these symptoms are normal, and that some require immediate care.

Urinary Dysfunction encompasses both urinary incontinence, which can range from some leaking to complete loss of bladder control, and irritative voiding  symptoms,including increased urinary frequency, increased urinary urgency, and pain upon urination. For men undergoing prostatectomy, incontinence is the main urinary side effect. Bowel Dysfunction includes diarrhea, rectal bleeding, and the inability to control bowel movements. All of these side effects are more common following external beam radiotherapy. During prostatectomy, damage to the rectum is unusually rare, and the bowel changes noticed in the first few weeks following surgery are likely the result of the body adjusting to the increased abdominal space due to the loss of the prostate. Radiation therapy can cause significant damage to the rectum, resulting in some or all of the symptoms listed above.

Erectile Dysfunction is experienced by nearly all men for the first few months after treatment. The reason for this is simple: the nerves and blood vessels that control the physical aspect of an erection are incredibly delicate, and any trauma to the area will unfortunately result in changes to the natural order. Fertility is always a problem after prostate cancer treatment. It is nearly impossible for a man to retain his ability to father children through sexual intercourse after the initial treatment. The loss of semen following surgery makes ejaculation impossible, so the sperm cannot physically leave the body to reach the woman’s egg for fertilization.

Hormone Therapy side effects: Testosterone is the primary male hormone. Side effects of testosterone loss is lengthy and includes hot flashes, decreased sexual desire, fatigue, erectile dysfunction, osteoporosis, weight gain, decreased muscle mass, anemia, and memory loss. Chemotherapy drugs available today work in a slightly different fashion, and it’s hard to predict what sorts of side effects any one person will experience. Check with your doctor for reported side effects for your treatment.

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Natural Prostate Health Supplements

Scientific studies are challenging some of what has been traditionally considered nutritionally wholesome foods in Western countries. There is growing evidence suggests that milk may be bad for the prostate. Countries that consume the most milk have the highest levels of prostate cancer. The problem appears to be calcium in milk. Excessive calcium consumption apparently uppresses the synthesis of a form of vitamin D that helps inhibit prostate cancer. Men who consume tomatoes, tomato-based foods, watermelon, and pink grapefruit are reportedly less likely to get prostate cancer. These foods contain lycopene, a powerful antioxidant agent that gives them their red color. Lycopene is available as a nutritional supplement, and not only helps to prevent prostate cancer but also help actually reduce existing tumor size. Another prostate-protecting food is fructose, a nature sugar in fruit that is used to sweeten many foods. It’s consumption is associated with reducing prostate cancer risk. Fructose stimulates the production of a vitamin D form that inhibits tumors.

Several trace nutrients that are often deficient in our diet also enhance prostate health. A lack of zinc especially affects the prostate because this gland uses it much more than any other organ, so a zinc supplementation can reduce prostate enlargement. Selenium is another trace nutrient that is essential for prostate health. Increasing selenium intake has been shown to reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Additional nutritional factors that may inhibit prostate cancer include vitamin E, vitamin D, soy-based foods, and garlic.

Herbal remedies are widely used to treat prostate disorders in Europe. In the US, these remedies are available as dietary supplements. Since there is an extensive scientific base that often supports their use, these are more than mere folk remedies. Foremost among these herbs is saw palmetto, derived from the berries of a small palm tree common to the American southeastern coastal region. Saw palmetto reduces prostate enlargement by inhibiting the synthesis of growth-stimulating DHT and promoting DHT elimination. The herb that has demonstrated in clinical studies that saw palmetto works better in treating prostate enlargement than the frequently prescribed drug Proscar. Saw palmetto was shown to be effective in early 90% of patients after four to six weeks, while Proscar works in fewer than a half the patients in a year. Since the drug is less effective and much more expensive, the use of saw palmetto seems a better choice.

Often used with saw palmetto, another heavyweight herb is pygeum. An African remedy obtained from tree bark, pygeum can treat BPH and prostatitis. Pygeum also contains chemicals that can inhibit DHT-associated prostate enlargement. Another herbal remedy is Cernilton, used to treat BPH and prostatitis , is a European product prepared from the extract of mostly rye pollen. Lastly, stinging nettle is a traditional herbal folk remedy for many problems including prostate disorders.

Check Here for information on a new Prostate Health Supplement

A healthy Prostate is essential for success with any male enhancement product or program. Keeping your Prostate healthy, by eating the right foods and taking the right supplements, is the best way to prevent Prostate problems when you get older. It’s a good idea to start getting regular Prostate exams at or near the age of 40.  If you have pain when urinating, or other pain in the prostate area, you should see your Doctor right away. It’s better to find out sooner than later, and it can save your life.

Thanks for visiting!

Steve

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