Posts under ‘Health’

This blog is continued from the blog series on Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Having a medical condition such as prostate cancer can put a tremendous emotional strain on someone. Several studies showed elevated risk of depression in prostate cancer patients due to loss of functional capacity and somatic symptoms. These are some of the depressive symptoms a cancer patient may have:

• Sleep disturbances-This can mean too much sleep (hypersomnia) or too little sleep (insomnia).

• Lack of energy or feeling tired

• Difficulty concentrating

• Suicidal thoughts

• Feeling guilty, helpless, or worthlessness

This blog is continued from yesterday’s blog on risk factors for prostate cancer.

Symptoms:

• Urinary Problems (difficulty urinating, needing to urinate often, weak flow, pain or burning sensation).

• Difficulty having an erection.

• Blood in Urine or semen.

• Frequent pain in lower back, hips, or upper thighs.

General Medical Treatment: Please consult your MD to develop a treatment plan that is right for you.

• Active surveillance-regular PSA blood tests, DREs and biopsies of the prostate.

• Prostatectomy-surgical approach to prostate cancer treatment involves removal of all or part of the prostate.

September is prostate cancer awareness month. Other than skin cancer, prostate cancer, is the most common cancer in American men. About 1 in 6 men will be diagnosed during his life time. American Cancer Society estimates that in the United States for 2009 about 192,280 new cases will be diagnosed and 27,360 men will die of cancer.

Prostate cancer forms in tissues of the prostate (a gland in the male reproductive system found below the bladder and in front of the rectum).

There are different risk factors:

I am a huge fan of golf and in particular professional golfer Phil Mickelson. 1 1/2 weeks ago, Phil Mickelson announced that he would suspend the PGA tour schedule after finding out that his wife Amy was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Support was seen everywhere. John Daly wore pink pants in the final round of the European tour, while Rory Sabbatini wore a pink shirt when he won the Byron Nelson Championship. The PGA Tour Wives Association asked the players and their wives to wear pink on Saturday’s Colonial Tournament for a “Pink out” to show support. Golfers such as Ian Poulter and Rocco Mediate, and virtually everyone associated with the Colonial wore pink to raise awareness of breast cancer.