Cannabis Plant May Help Fight Prostate Cancer

LONDON (Reuters) - Chemicals in cannabis have been found to stop prostate cancer cells from growing in the laboratory, suggesting that cannabis-based medicines could one day help fight the disease, scientists said Wednesday.

After working initially with human cancer cell lines, Ines Diaz-Laviada and colleagues from the University of Alcala in Madrid also tested one compound on mice and discovered it produced a significant reduction in tumor growth.

Their research, published in the British Journal of Cancer, underlines the growing interest in the medical use of active chemicals called cannabinoids, which are found in marijuana.

Experts, however, stressed that the research was still exploratory and many more years of testing would be needed to work out how to apply the findings to the treatment of cancer in humans.

"This is interesting research which opens a new avenue to explore potential drug targets but it is at a very early stage," said Lesley Walker, director of cancer information at Cancer Research UK, which owns the journal.

"It absolutely isn't the case that men might be able to fight prostate cancer by smoking cannabis," she added

The cannabinoids tested by the Spanish team are thought to work against prostate cancer because they block a receptor, or molecular doorway, on the surface of tumour cells. This stops them from dividing.

In effect, the cancer cell receptors can recognize and "talk to" chemicals found in cannabis, said Diaz-Laviada.

"These chemicals can stop the division and growth of prostate cancer cells and could become a target for new research into potential drugs to treat prostate cancer," she said.

Her team's work with two cannabinoids -- called methanandamide and JWH-015 -- is the first demonstration that such cannabis chemicals prevent cancer cells from multiplying.

Some drug companies are already exploring the possibilities of cannabinoids in cancer, including British-based cannabis medicine specialist GW Pharmaceuticals.

It is collaborating with Japan's Otsuka on early-stage research into using cannabis extracts to tackle prostate cancer -- the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men -- as well as breast and brain cancer.

GW has already developed an under-the-tongue spray called Sativex for the relief of some of the symptoms of multiple sclerosis, which it plans to market in Europe with Bayer and Almirall.

Other attempts to exploit the cannibinoid system have met with mixed success. Sanofi-Aventis was forced to withdraw its weight-loss drug Acomplia from the market last year because of links to mental disorders.

I'm not suggesting anyone to use marijuana & don't support it in any way. This is just an article I found that relates to prostate cancer. As a matter of fact, I'm against marijuana usage of all types but medical marijuana has been known to help people with certain health conditions. Thanks!

More Helpful Info About Healthy Eating For The Prostate

(HealthNewsDigest.com) - Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the US. In 2008, 185,000 men were diagnosed and 28,000 died from the disease. During their lifetime 1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, but only 1 in 35 will die from the disease. Why? Prostate cancer is often slow to develop and even slower to progress. Any intervention that interferes with cancer cell growth or the division of cancer cells can have a profound effect on an individual’s prognosis.

Research is yet to determine why a man’s prostate enlarges in a benign manner with age. And, we have yet to define a test to tell the difference between prostate cancers that needs urgent treatment and those that are so slow growing they may never need treatment. Herein lies the dilemma, so prevention may be the key to keeping this cancer in check.

Studies are lacking on a conclusive link between diet and prostate cancer, but there is growing evidence that certain foods can either prevent or slow down the spread of this disease. Men in the US and Sweden are at higher risk, while men in Japan, India and China have a lower risk. When populations adapt a more western diet risk increases.

A new book Eating for Prostate Care (Kyle Books, 2009) shows how foods can be protective? Foods rich in antioxidants prevent cell damage, reducing the overall risk for cancer. Foods that reduce inflammation reduce the risk for cancer. Healthy foods improve the immune system allowing it to destroy cancer cells before they multiply to a dangerous level. Foods can also alter gene expression turning on those that are protective.

The authors list specific foods that are being studied for their potential to lower prostate cancer risk: allium vegetables, cruciferous vegetables, fish, and foods rich in lycopene, phytoestrogens and polyphenols. They take these scientific sounding terms and turn them into actual foods to eat and how much.

Vegetables belonging to the allium family are garlic, onions, scallions, shallots, leeks and chives. The book suggests that you try to eat 3 cloves of garlic and 3 (3 ounce) servings of allium-rich foods a week. This group of foods reduces the growth of cancer cells and increases the death of existing cancer cells. They also reduce inflammation which lowers the risk for cancer, heart disease and stroke.
Cooking will destroy some of this beneficial effect so adding a sliced raw onion to a sandwich or salad is a healthy choice.

Cruciferous vegetables – broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, bok choy, arugula, watercress, kale, radish, turnip, horseradish and wasabi – are rich in sulphur-containing compounds that have anti-cancer properties. Some of these compounds are destroyed in cooking and can be lost in cooking water. The authors suggest at least 3 servings a week.

In places in the world where fish consumption is high, prostate cancer rates are lower. Fish rich in omega-3 fats – mackerel, salmon, trout, herring, sardines, tuna and anchovies -- are the most protective in both reducing the risk and slowing the growth of prostate cancer. Two to 4 servings (3 to 4 ounces each) are recommended weekly.

Beans, nut and seeds are all high in phytoestrogens. Fava beans, peanuts, and soy have the most but all foods in this group are good sources. Testosterone causes prostate cancer cells to grow. Phytoestrogens suppress growth. The authors suggest 3 to 4 servings of beans, nuts or seed a week, in addition to 3 to 4 servings of soy foods. They also suggest substituting some of your regular milk with soy milk.

Plants rich in polyphenols have been shown to slow human cancer growth. Green tea, pomegranate and raspberries are the richest sources but all fruits and vegetables are good sources, especially when eaten regularly. The authors suggest 5 to 6 cups of green tea a day. Those undergoing treatment for prostate cancer need to check with their doctors as this amount of green tea may interfere with certain medications. If that is the case, most can safely drink 2 to 3 cups of green tea a day.

Lycopene gives the rich red color to fruits and vegetables, particularly tomatoes which are also an excellent source of folate (a B vitamin), vitamins A, C, E, and the mineral potassium. Cooking helps to release lycopene from plant tissues so that tomato sauce and all cooked tomato products, even ketchup, are rich sources. A high intake of lycopene (eating any red foods) lowers the risk of developing prostate cancer. Lycopene also reduces inflammation and LDL (bad) cholesterol. Interestingly, lycopene found in foods has stronger anti-cancer properties than lycopene supplements. The authors recommend eating 2 or more servings of lycopene-rich foods weekly. If you are currently undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatment for prostate cancer, lycopene-rich foods are beneficial but supplements may interfere with drug action, so check with your doctor.

Bottom line: Eat more garlic, onions, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, bok choy, wasabi, fish, beans, nuts, seeds, tomatoes, watermelon, and raspberries. And, drink more green tea and pomegranate juice. Eating these foods will improve your overall health and may lower your risk for prostate cancer.

What Are The Actual Causes Of Prostate Cancer?

What Causes Prostate Cancer

Diet, Genetics, and Age are the primary causes of Prostate Cancer. It is one of the most prevalent types of cancer in older males. We constantly hear admonitions made in public service health announcements that all men over age fifty should receive periodic screenings.

One question that is seldom answered in the broadcasts is what causes prostate cancer. It turns out that age is the most important factor, while diet, testosterone levels, and genetics also play important roles.

Before discussing the causes of prostate cancer, it is worthwhile to provide a quick overview of the prostate and prostate cancer. The prostate is a walnut sized gland in the male reproductive system that assists in the production of seminal fluid. While the prostate is useful for complete sexual function, the truth is that males can easily live without a prostate, and removal of the prostate is a common treatment when prostate cancer is detected.

Early symptoms and warning signs of prostate cancer can mimic those of prostatitis, a benign inflammation that causes the prostate to become enlarged and swollen.

By far the most important determining factor in whether a given male will develop prostate cancer is age. While the reasons for this are not well known, the chances are better than fifty-fifty that a male of age seventy five will develop the disease. Fortunately, prostate cancer can run for years or decades before it becomes terminal, so many elderly males die of something else without ever being aware that they had prostate cancer.

In addition to age, diet and genetics are important contributing factors to the development of prostate cancer. As with most other types of cancer, research has shown that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables may help prevent the onset of prostate cancer, whereas a diet devoid of fruits and vegetables can lead to higher rates of prostate problems. Genetics also plays a large role in what causes prostate cancer. If prostate cancer runs in an individual’s family, then that individual is more likely to develop prostate cancer.

Article courtesy of prostatehealthnews.org

PSA(Prostate Specific Antigen) Test Explained Further

Prostate cancer PSA test

- The latest test used in detecting prostate cancer is the PSA test. It stands for prostate specific antigen and is also known as the seminin or P-30 antigen. PSA is actually a protein the body manufacturers in the prostate. It is used during ejaculation. It actually helps liquefy the semen. The whole process using this protein is what helps the sperm swim. In addition, it can also help dissolve the cervical cap on females. So, technically without the PSA protein, reproduction would not be possible in any form.

The PSA test is used frequently when prostate problems are suspected in males. When the levels of the prostrate specific antigen are elevated, it can mean there is the presence of prostate cancer in the body. Since there is not usually a lot of PSA in a normal male body, the elevation shows problems are present.

There are more reasons than just cancer for the PSA test to show elevated levels of the protein however. If there is an infection in the prostate, and irritation, or an enlargement, the PSA can be high. In addition, if the male had recently ejaculated, the test could be inaccurate. So, when you get the test taken and there are signs of elevation, don’t panic. It could really be something much less serious than prostate cancer.

Many doctors will use the PSA each year for the annual checkup for their male patients. However, a false-positive is likely in many men, so many doctors will simply skip the test unless they have a reason to think it is necessary.

If your doctor does recommend the Prostate Cancer PSA test however, you should go ahead and get it done. It is a simple blood test that is much like getting blood taken. The results come back as quick as any other and you will feel good knowing that you are in the clear.

Article courtesy of prostatehealth news.org

Prostate Cancer Treatment Options

Prostate cancer is an unwelcome diagnosis, but thanks to medical science and technology, there are new treatments available for men of every age and health status. One of the latest is cryosurgery, a minimally invasive techniques that involves freezing the cancerous cells in and around the prostate gland.

However, one concern has been that, in some patients, cryosurgery results in nerve damage which can cause anything from a sensation of a full bladder (even after it has been emptied) to complete impotence. Still, the small amount of blood loss is often worth it to prostate cancer patients and their loved ones.

Another treatment is radiation, which is becoming more and more useful because equipment allows surgeons to better target the cancerous cells. Therefore, the radiation is directed at exactly the right spot, leaving behind little damage to the surrounding tissues. Of course, radiation isn’t for every male with prostate cancer; if the cancer has spread too far, radiation may not be effective or may only be useful in conjunction with other treatment methods.

Some patients opt for a complete removal of the prostate gland to stop the spread of cancer. This can cause hormonal and bladder/bowel problems, but may be an ideal choice for those who are concerned about prostate cancer “moving” to other body parts (especially those which are far away from the body.)

In addition to these three treatments, there are alternative therapy methods for dealing with prostate cancer, though they are often met with skepticism from the medical community. One such “natural” remedy is the macrobiotic diet, a very strict food plan that advocates declare can rid the body of cancer and other poisonous toxins. Though no studies have shown that this is a definitively effective way to cure or control prostate cancer, hundreds of patients flock to macrobiotic foods each year in an attempt to treat their cancers without surgery or hormone therapy.

Whatever treatment you choose, make sure you discuss it at length with your physician. And if you feel your doctor isn’t giving you the courtesy you need, never forget that you can always get a second opinion. If nothing else, it will help you decide the best prostrate cancer treatment. And you may hear about new cancer drug trials happening for which you could be a part.

This material was provided by prostatehealthnews.org

Obesity Plays Role In Prostate Cancer Risk

ScienceDaily (Aug. 17, 2009) — A new look at a large database of prostate cancer patients shows that obesity plays no favorites when it comes to increasing the risk of recurrence after surgery: Being way overweight is equally bad for blacks and whites, say researchers at Duke University Medical Center.

Studies have shown that obesity is linked to generally worse outcomes in many cancers, including prostate cancer. Because blacks are more likely than whites to develop and die from prostate cancer – and because there is a higher prevalence of obesity among black men with prostate cancer, compared to whites – some studies have suggested that obesity might be a more ominous risk factor for blacks than whites.

"Not so," says Stephen Freedland, M.D., an associate professor of urology and pathology in the Duke Prostate Center and the senior author of the study appearing in the journal Cancer. "Obesity leads to worse cancer in both groups."

Freedland and Jayakrishnan Jayachandran, M.D. a urologic oncology fellow at Duke and the lead author of the paper, examined the records of 1,415 men enrolled in the Shared Equal Access Regional Cancer Hospital (SEARCH) database who had undergone a radical prostatectomy. Black men comprised almost half (47 percent) of the sample.

After adjusting for various preoperative characteristics, researchers analyzed the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and the aggressiveness of the cancer, as measured by the risk of recurrence. In contrast to other studies, investigators found no association between race and obesity.

Almost a third of the men were obese, regardless of race. "We found that higher BMI was associated with significantly increased risk of cancer recurrence for both blacks and whites," said Jayachandran. "Though prior SEARCH-based studies from our group found that obesity was associated with a higher risk of disease progression as measured by a rising PSA after surgery, it now appears that being obese just means a poorer prognosis, period, regardless of race."

As for why that might be, Jayachandran says he's not sure, but he says it may have something to do with altered hormone levels.

"Obesity is associated with more estrogen and less testosterone, and it may be that lower testosterone promotes more aggressive tumors as recent studies have suggested." In addition, Jayachandran says alteration in the production of other hormones, like insulin, insulin-like growth factor or leptin, which occur in obese men, may also be involved in the development of more aggressive tumors. "This is something we simply do not understand, but we are actively studying all of these factors."

Colleagues who contributed to the study include Lionel Bañez, William Aronson, Martha Terris, Joseph Presti Jr., Christopher Amling, and Christopher J. Kane.

The investigative team was supported by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the National Institutes of Health, The Georgia Cancer Coalition, the Department of Defense Prostate Cancer Research Program, and the American Urological Association Foundation/Astellas Rising Star in Urology Award.

Prostate Ultrasound

by prostate health news

In order to determine the right treatment for a man’s prostate problem, it is essential to undergo prostate ultrasound.

During the stage of diagnosis, the patient will be required to undergo an ultrasound that will allow the physician to estimate how severe the inflammation is. By knowing the size of the prostate gland, a doctor will be able to determine whether or not a biopsy may also be necessary to test the health of the infected gland.

The ultrasound is usually done transrectal, in order to probe the inside of the male’s rectum and get a clearer view of the prostate gland. Once the pictures are taken, the physician can now transfer the images to a treatment planning device.