Harmonious Healing: The Prostate: General Health & Cancer

Due to the propensity of the prostate cancer epidemic, we wish to bring the reader a very in-depth article to assist men and their families who are navigating their way through the language, diagnosis and treatments used for prostate issues and prostate cancer by the modern medical system. We know that due to the political and economic strength of the modern medical system, it is the most widely used and relied upon medical system in the modern world. We also tend to present an alternative understanding to prostate health as well as treatments and preventative measures from the traditional natural medical field. This information will be presented in a series of articles over the next three months.

The prostate cancer epidemic has itself metastasized at an alarming rate across the "developed world". This health crisis has led to widespread anxiety, fear and panic. This panic or fear, has led many in the scientific and medical fields as well as the general public toward investing in beliefs and superstitions that seem to bring forth some temporary, illusory comfort. The most interesting of these new claims that is being perpetuated is the idea that prostate cancer is a natural sequence in a man's progression into old age. We must remember when facing a health epidemic as large and pressing as this one it is important that individuals use as much critical thinking as possible. In order to preserve human genius and human life we must be able to employ a cold logical thought process. For we can always attribute our mistakes to those times of high emotions. Every human being whether they hold the title of professional, PhD, healer, layman, etc. is vulnerable to such emotions. We will have to investigate as many sources as possible and see what has proven itself worthy of our admiration before we allow the men of our societies to be condemned to a ride toward prostate extraction.

Male Physiology

The male reproductive system comprises of the testes, accessory ducts, accessory glands and the penis. The accessory ducts store secretions from the testes and accessory glands and deliver the secretions to the penis. The accessory ducts are as follows: 

The prostate gland is one of these accessory glands as well as the reproductive ducts and urinary ducts. It is a walnut-sized organ consisting of both glandular and muscular tissue. Scientists admit to not knowing all of the prostate's functions. Besides encircling the urethra and ejaculatory duct, the prostate also secretes a thin, milky, alkaline fluid into the urethra. This alkaline fluid helps provide a better chance for the survival of the sperm that are injected into the acidic environment of the female reproductive system. This fluid also contains a hormone known as prostaglandins which softens the woman's cervix in intercourse. Prostaglandins are even used to induce labor because of their cervix-softening capabilities. 

During urination or ejaculation, the prostate gland also closes off the alternate duct (whether ejaculatory or urethra, respectively) to ensure that only one process and liquid is expelled at one time. The nerves which control the erection of the penis lie on the sides of the prostate gland. 

Illnesses 

Prostatitis - In the US, it is estimated that 50% of all males will suffer from Prostatitis sometime during their lifetime. Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate gland. Men with prostatitis usually suffer from pain, swelling, urination problems, sexual dysfunction, fatigue, depression, and general health problems. Prostatitis has been subdivided into a number of categories, but today the most common variations of the disease include nonbacterial, acute and chronic. 

Nonbacterial prostatitis is the most common form of prostatitis. Symptoms of nonbacterial prostatitis include frequent urination and pain in the lower abdomen or lower back area. Doctors believe that n.b. prostatitis is caused by stress and irregular sexual activity. Treatments may include anti-inflammatory medications, muscle relaxants, taking hot baths, drinking extra fluids, learning to relax while urinating and frequent ejaculation. Some more nutrition-focused doctors may also recommend dietary changes such as: 

Acute bacterial prostatitis is thought to be the result of bacteria, a virus or a sexually transmitted disease. Symptoms include fever and chills, low back pain, frequent and painful urination, weak stream when urinating and infrequent urination. Acute prostatitis is treated with antibiotics, bed rest, stool softener and increased fluid intake. 

Chronic prostatitis may be bacterial or an inflammation of the prostate. Symptoms include frequent bladder infections, frequent urination, and persistent pain in the lower abdomen or back. Chronic prostatitis is also treated with antibiotics and dietary changes. 

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) - BPH is the doctor's term for the enlargement of the prostate gland. The prostate goes through different stages of growth and due to many factors affecting it can often become enlarged. This enlargement is rarely expressed with any symptoms until age 40, but more than half of men in their sixties and as many as 90 percent in their seventies and eighties have some symptoms of BPH. By the time a man in Canada reaches 70 years of age, more than 60% will have BPH and at age 80 this number goes up to 85 percent. 

An enlarged prostate quickly runs out of room to expand due to the surrounding layers of tissue. The enlarged prostate then begins to push against the urethra, constricting the space of the urethra for the fluid to flow through. One can observe next, the bladder walls becoming thicker and more irritable. In this irritated state, the bladder contractions will be triggered even by small amounts of urine. Men suffering from this condition will then notice frequent urination. In time, the bladder could become so weak that it loses the ability to empty itself and urine will remain in the bladder. This can present an individual with many problems. 

Prostate Cancer - The name prostate cancer is a little misleading. Cancer is known to be more of an immunity deficiency than a local disease, even within the circles of modern medicine and science. No matter where the cancer may be localized in the body it is a full-body issue that affects cell reproduction. In the body, cell reproduction is important, not only for the body's evolution from a fetus to an adult but also to compensate/? the rate of cell destruction either through the natural cell's life cycle (aging), illness or injury. The reproduction of cells happens at a rate that is in balance with the destruction of cells. With cancer, this cell reproduction happens at an accelerated rate and threatens the entire body's delicate balance. This cell reproduction could happen locally in a specific area, such as the prostate gland, however, the environment that allows for cells to reproduce at a cancerous rate is a deficiency of the whole body. 

In a study done, doctors injected cancer cells into a healthy host and those cells could not live or reproduce as they had in their original cancerous host. In a healthy body, the immune system identifies any cancerous cells and contains them not allowing them to reproduce. 

Understanding cancer is important. Cancer and malignancy are the same thing. In the body, the formation of tumors and cell growth is a common thing. Some tumors are benign which means that they are contained by the body and do not continue to reproduce its cells or increase in size. Others are malignant and these tumors or masses become very dangerous. There are two forms of malignancy: 

Invasion: Where malignant cells begin to invade the body past the initial territory or tumor. Malignant cells can invade not only blood vessels but also (particularly in prostate cancer) the channels of the nerves. This allows them to transcend the borders of the prostate to nearby areas, this process is known as local advancement and can be the difference between a normal prostate cancer case and a serious one. 

Metastasis: In the process known as metastasis the malignant cells which have left outside their normal position set up colonies in more remote areas of the body. These "secondary sites" continue to grow in size and number, damaging normal cells wherever they are located. 

Prostate Cancer is a relatively slow-reproducing cancer in most people. Many people will live long lives with prostate cancer and will end up dying of some other disease. However, if the prostate cancer metastasizes the malignant cells usually spread to lymph nodes, and have a peculiar propensity to settle in the bone. This tendency perplexes doctors but leads researchers to investigate the implied complex relationship between prostate cells and bone cells. 

The increasing number of prostate cancer incidents has spurred large-scale research and studies. The American Cancer Society reported prostate cancer to be the second leading cause of cancer deaths among Kemetic descendants in America. The prostate cancer incidence rate for African American men is 50% higher than that of European American men. On average, Black men are diagnosed with prostate cancer ten years younger than White men are respectively. In 2006 Canadian researchers projected that there would be an increase of 1,600 prostate cases in 2007. Prostate cancer incidence rates have increased throughout the "developed" world since 1990. Medical researchers assume that this is predominantly due to more refined testing methods, however, the trends show a gradual rate of increase even after 1996 when the PSA test and other tests were already in widespread use. 

Symptoms include frequency, urgency, hesitation in or weak urination, incomplete emptying of the bladder, low back pain, weight loss, loss of energy, loss of appetite, and sexual dysfunction impotence, fewer erections, weaker erections, lower semen volume and bloody semen). 

Statistics show that 50 percent of men in their forties experience prostate problems. Some of the other symptoms of prostate inflammation and irritation issues that are more widely experienced are dribbling, frequent or difficult urination, decrease in the urine stream and chronic discomfort in the pelvic area.

Table text: 

SYMPTOMS OF BPH

Common symptoms affecting urination:

- a weak, interrupted urine stream

- urination urgency

- urination leaking and dribbling

- frequent urination, especially at night

- acute urinary retention or a total inability to urinate

Effects and symptoms of Severe BPH

- Urine retention

- Strain on bladder leading to urinary tract infections

- Bladder and/or kidney damage

- Bladder stones

- incontinence - lack of urine control

If the bladder is permanently damaged, treatment for BPH may

end up ineffective. When BPH is found in its earlier stages,

there is a lower risk of developing such complications.

Risk Factors & Causes of Prostate Cancer

The cause of Prostate Cancer is not known in the Western World. Doctors and researchers have many theories concerning the risk factors involved. One of these risk factors is aging. To support this claim they say that the longer one lives the more chance his prostate cells will go awry. 

Prostate Cancer is seen as a hereditary issue. One can inherit mutated genes from their father and this raises their risk. However medical researchers admit that proof of hereditary prostate cancer is only visible in a few of the overall prostate cancer patients. In the majority of cases of prostate cancer DNA mutations are developed during a man's lifetime rather than inherited from their family. 

In the ongoing process of cell reproduction when a cell splits apart into two cells the DNA must be reproduced so that both cells carry it and this process is imperfect. The more imperfections the more accessible one becomes to form cancer cells. The more need the prostate gland has for cell growth the more risk there is for imperfect cell reproduction. This need can come from many influences such as: 

• Environmental Pollution 

• Injury 

• Production of certain hormones that promote cell reproduction 

• Exposure to radiation or chemical-causing agents 

• Infection 

• Inflammation 

• Vasectomy 

• Obesity 

• Ethnicity - Black men are twice as likely as white men to develop prostate cancer and are also more likely to develop it at an earlier age. 

• Nationality - Prostate Cancer is much more prevalent in America, Northwestern Europe, Australia and the Caribbean Islands. 

• Diet - Another theory regarding prostate cancer revolves around dietary sugars. Many foods that we eat are transformed into sugars in the body, this process raises the blood sugar levels. The body lowers these sugar levels by burning the sugar as energy or storing the sugar. As one’s sugar consumption exceeds tolerable levels their cells stop receiving insulin. The hormone known as insulin is responsible for carrying the sugars to the cells to be used as energy and storing the rest, primarily in the liver but also in fat cells. The pancreas which manages fat cells determines when there is enough energy stored as fat cells and at that point, insulin production is slowed or stopped. At this point, the healthy individual will no longer have the urge to eat. The more carbohydrates and sugars one eats the more insulin will be needed to lower the blood sugar levels. The body is only equipped to store a certain amount of sugar. Once that level has been exceeded the insulin will convert some sugars into fat. As this process continues over long periods of time the fat cells that reach their storage level of sugars cannot accept any more sugar and in self-preservation will start to resist the insulin. As this continues the high level of fat cells throughout the body are telling the pancreas that no more energy is needed and to stop sending fat cells but as the individual continues to eat the communication between the pancreas and fat cells of the body becomes dysfunctional and the pancreas continues, with no choice to send fat cells throughout the body. Fat will accumulate around the prostate gland decreasing circulation to the area. Low blood circulation means a low integrity of the gland because nutrients are not being brought by the blood and waste is not being carried away by the blood. This creates a favorable environment for infection. 

• Obstruction - Obstruction of the prostate may be one of the earliest things to go wrong with men. This occurs in the acini that are within the prostate gland. The duct leading to an acinus may become obstructed causing the acinus to blow up like a balloon. This inflammation can become so big that it distorts the gland. The immune system then sends white blood cells to the area so that the obstruction can be dissolved, resulting in pus in the prostate gland. This pus could remain in the prostate gland for decades. Obstruction can become chronic and due to the association seen between chronic inflammation and cancer, this can be very concerning. 

• Refluxes - As one ages, there are also more possibilities in the reflux of the urine and semen which pass through the prostate gland. In autopsied men, traces of urine and semen have been found in the prostate gland. Crystallized urine can be the cause of obstruction. Semen suppresses the immune system and therefore weakens the prostate gland’s defenses, setting up an environment for prostatitis and BPH. In a 1978 study rats who had semen injected into their prostate glands developed prostate cancer shortly thereafter. 

• Viruses/Bacteria - Bacteria inside the prostate gland have been linked to prostate cancer. Viruses like HPV (a well-known virus affecting women, and associated with cervical cancer) have been linked to prostate cancer. 

• Lifestyle - Some theories also suggest that the modern lifestyle plays a large part in poor prostate health. Many links have been made between bras and breast cancer due to the constant pressure that bras put on the breasts. Similarly, modern men also wear constricting undergarments. More importantly the modern lifestyle places men sitting at a desk closing their testicles and reproductive organs between their legs and the chair for the majority of the day. This is drastically different from a rural lifestyle where men are active into old age, working and spending most of their time in the sun and fresh air and going for long walks in nature.