Researchers are still trying to figure out which men benefit the most from PSA (prostate specific antigen) testing and the latest finding is leaning towards the idea that certain men who are between 75 and 80 years old don’t really need it.
According to a press release issued by Johns Hopkins Medical Institute, "researchers found that men in this age group with PSA levels less than 3 nanograms per milliliter are unlikely to die of or experience aggressive prostate cancer during their remaining life, suggesting that the use of PSA testing in many older men may no longer be needed."
This finding is from a study published in the latest issue of Journal of Urology. The data showed that while men with PSA levels higher than three had higher risks of developing and dying of prost…

Original post by Cancer Commentary and software by Elliott Back

Here is an informative quizz about the prostate cancer by the National Cancer Institute of America:

http://understandingrisk.cancer.gov/a_prostate/00.cfm

Do the quizz to reduce your prostate cancer risk

Adenocarcinoma of the prostate is the clinical term for a cancerous tumor on the prostate gland. As prostate cancer grows, it may spread to the interior of the gland, to tissues near the prostate, to sac-like structures attached to the prostate (seminal vesicles), and to distant parts of the body (e.g., bones, liver, lungs). Prostate cancer confined to the gland often is treated successfully.

Anatomy
The prostate gland is located in the pelvis, below the bladder, above the urethral sphincter and the penis, and in front of the rectum in men. It is made up of glandular tissue and muscle fibers that surround a portion of the urethra. The gland is covered by a membrane (called the prostate capsule) that produces prostate-specific antigen.

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Prostate cancer was for so long a neglected health issue – neither understood by the public nor prioritised by politicians. By any dimension, prostate cancer simply didn’t register on the radar screen.

It was against this background that The Prostate Cancer Charity was set up in 1996. In its relatively short life, the Charity has played a key role in raising both public awareness of the disease and political debate about services and support… and there is now a real sense that for the cause of prostate cancer, the time has come.

We are the largest and most comprehensive of the charities focused specifically on prostate cancer. We aim to provide hope for tomorrow through the research that we fund – and practical support for today through our extensive – and growing – information services.

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the primary Federal agency for conducting and supporting public health activities in the United States.

CDC?s focus is not only on scientific excellence but also on the essential spirit that is CDC – to protect the health of all people. CDC keeps humanity at the forefront of its mission to ensure health protection through promotion, prevention, and preparedness.

Composed of the Office of the Director, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and six Coordinating Centers/ Offices, including environmental health and injury prevention, health information services, health promotion, infectious diseases, global health and terrorism preparedness and emergency response, CDC employs more than 14,000 employees in 54 countries and in 170 occupations.

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The immune system is a complex network of cells and organs that work together to defend the body against attacks by “foreign” or “non-self” invaders. This network is one of the body’s main defenses against infection and disease. The immune system works against diseases, including cancer, in a variety of ways.

For example, the immune system may recognize the difference between healthy cells and cancer cells in the body and works to eliminate cancerous cells. However, the immune system does not always recognize cancer cells as “foreign.” Also, cancer may develop when the immune system breaks down or does not function adequately. Biological therapies are designed to repair, stimulate, or enhance the immune system’s responses.

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Cancer that forms in tissues of the bladder (the organ that stores urine). Most bladder cancers are transitional cell carcinomas (cancer that begins in cells that normally make up the inner lining of the bladder). Other types include squamous cell carcinoma (cancer that begins in thin, flat cells) and adenocarcinoma (cancer that begins in cells that make and release mucus and other fluids). The cells that form squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma develop in the inner lining of the bladder as a result of chronic irritation and inflammation.

Estimated new cases and deaths from bladder cancer in the United States in 2008:

New cases: 68,810
Deaths: 14,100

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