OUR TIPS TO STAY HEALTHY
Health and Wellness
Dear stress, I think it’s time to break up
Are you one of those who cannot relax and for whom the very idea of relaxation or joining a group generates tension? If so, this article is for you!
Emotional Health
When you learn the news of prostate cancer, in addition to the initial shock, it is not uncommon to experience denial and a combination of sadness, fear, anxiety, shame, guilt and anger.
What can we do today to sleep better at night?
Many people with prostate cancer have trouble sleeping. And with good reason: not only can treatments for the disease create anxiety and uncertainty in the life of the patient, but they can also disrupt sleep patterns and create insomnia.
Learning to breathe is essential!
Breathing is the fundamental element of relaxation. If you have ever taken a deep breath to calm a panic attack, then you know how important this function is for your well-being. By becoming aware of your breathing, you can not only become more aware of your mental and emotional states, but also act on your stress and anxiety.
Psychological flexibility… what is it exactly?
When you first hear the news of prostate cancer, in addition to the initial shock, it is not uncommon to experience denial and a combination of sadness, fear, anxiety, shame, guilt and anger. Statistically, following such a diagnosis, nearly 30% of people suffer from depression and a little over 15% experience severe anxiety.
How to preserve your energy to bounce back better
Fatigue is a real problem for prostate cancer patients. But you can help yourself lose that tired feeling if you follow a few simple tips.
Physical Health and cancer
Nutrition
5 types of foods for a healthy prostate gland
Unfortunately, no convincing studies have established a clear link between diet and prostate cancer directly. However, clinical studies on migrants have suggested a possible association between prostate cancer and diet.
The 10 most stress-relieving foods
Stress, anxiety, anxiety, nervous disorders, irritability, mood swings, temporary depression, nervous fatigue… When our morale is low, there are many words (and aches) to describe the unhappiness that grips us, especially when we are affected by prostate cancer. But what if there was a healthy, natural and effective alternative to lead a more serene life? Like watching what you put on your plate, for example!
What is an anti-inflammatory diet?
According to Dr. Frank Hu, Professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology in the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health, one of the most powerful tools for fighting inflammation comes not from the pharmacy, but from the grocery store. “Numerous experimental studies have shown that components in food or beverages can have anti-inflammatory effects,” he says in his November 7, 2018 article.
Tips and advice when chemo is on your plate
Discovering the ideal diet…
Side effects of prostate cancer treatment can make it difficult to maintain a healthy diet. The various treatments can make you feel nauseous, cause anemia, osteoporosis, inflammation of the intestine (radiation enteritis), affect your taste, reduce your interest in food or lead to weight gain that is difficult to lose. It’s important to remember that most side effects will lessen over time.
Dietary supplements and prostate cancer
Our bodies need certain nutrients such as vitamins and minerals to function properly. Vitamins and minerals are essential to our health and can help counteract the effect of cell damage.
A balanced diet containing fruits and vegetables is the ideal way to get the right amount of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients we need.
Nutrition and cancer
OUR TIPS TO STAY HEALTHY
OUR TIPS TO STAY HEALTHY
OUR TIPS TO STAY HEALTHY
Health and Wellness
Dear stress, I think it’s time to break up
Are you one of those who cannot relax and for whom the very idea of relaxation or joining a group generates tension? If so, this article is for you!
Emotional Health
When you learn the news of prostate cancer, in addition to the initial shock, it is not uncommon to experience denial and a combination of sadness, fear, anxiety, shame, guilt and anger.
What can we do today to sleep better at night?
Many people with prostate cancer have trouble sleeping. And with good reason: not only can treatments for the disease create anxiety and uncertainty in the life of the patient, but they can also disrupt sleep patterns and create insomnia.
Learning to breathe is essential!
Breathing is the fundamental element of relaxation. If you have ever taken a deep breath to calm a panic attack, then you know how important this function is for your well-being. By becoming aware of your breathing, you can not only become more aware of your mental and emotional states, but also act on your stress and anxiety.
Psychological flexibility… what is it exactly?
When you first hear the news of prostate cancer, in addition to the initial shock, it is not uncommon to experience denial and a combination of sadness, fear, anxiety, shame, guilt and anger. Statistically, following such a diagnosis, nearly 30% of people suffer from depression and a little over 15% experience severe anxiety.
How to preserve your energy to bounce back better
Fatigue is a real problem for prostate cancer patients. But you can help yourself lose that tired feeling if you follow a few simple tips.
5 types of foods for a healthy prostate gland
Unfortunately, no convincing studies have established a clear link between diet and prostate cancer directly. However, clinical studies on migrants have suggested a possible association between prostate cancer and diet.
The 10 most stress-relieving foods
Stress, anxiety, anxiety, nervous disorders, irritability, mood swings, temporary depression, nervous fatigue… When our morale is low, there are many words (and aches) to describe the unhappiness that grips us, especially when we are affected by prostate cancer. But what if there was a healthy, natural and effective alternative to lead a more serene life? Like watching what you put on your plate, for example!
What is an anti-inflammatory diet?
According to Dr. Frank Hu, Professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology in the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health, one of the most powerful tools for fighting inflammation comes not from the pharmacy, but from the grocery store. “Numerous experimental studies have shown that components in food or beverages can have anti-inflammatory effects,” he says in his November 7, 2018 article.
Tips and advice when chemo is on your plate
Discovering the ideal diet…
Side effects of prostate cancer treatment can make it difficult to maintain a healthy diet. The various treatments can make you feel nauseous, cause anemia, osteoporosis, inflammation of the intestine (radiation enteritis), affect your taste, reduce your interest in food or lead to weight gain that is difficult to lose. It’s important to remember that most side effects will lessen over time.
Dietary supplements and prostate cancer
Our bodies need certain nutrients such as vitamins and minerals to function properly. Vitamins and minerals are essential to our health and can help counteract the effect of cell damage.
A balanced diet containing fruits and vegetables is the ideal way to get the right amount of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients we need.
Discover our animated video!
Symptoms, risk and screening
Are you over 50 years old, or have you been having urinary problems for some time now? This video is for you! Several diseases can affect your prostate, and it’s important to detect them early. Let’s take a closer look.
Anatomy
What is the prostate
The prostate is a gland:
- Located between the bladder and the penis, just in front of the rectum;
- Formed of 2 lobes which surround the urethra, a canal that runs through the center of the prostate, from the bladder to the penis, letting urine and sperm flow out of the body;
- The size of a walnut, which grows larger in size in your forties;
- That has a soft, spongy texture to the touch like a small, ripe plum.
The prostate is made of:
- Gland cells that secrete liquids for ejaculation;
- Muscle cells that participate in the evacuation of your sperm during ejaculation;
- Fiber cells that maintain the structure of the gland.
Around the prostate, we find:
- The seminal vesicles, glands that produce sperm and that are located on either side of the prostate;
- The vas deferens, the tube that carries sperm from the testicle to the seminal vesicles;
- The nerve bundles that control your bladder and erectile function and that are located on either side of your prostate.
Structure
Three main zones of the prostate
Peripheral zone
- The peripheral zone is the largest area of the prostate. It can easily be felt by the doctor during a digital rectal exam (DRE).
- Most prostate cancers start in the peripheral zone.
Transition zone
- This is the area located in the middle of the prostate, between the peripheral and central areas. It surrounds your urethra that runs through the prostate.
- With age, the transitional area increases in size until it becomes the largest portion of your prostate. This is called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or enlarged prostate.
Central zone
- It is the part of the prostate that is farthest from the rectum. This is why prostate tumors located in this area can not be felt by the doctor during a digital rectal examination.
- If the doctor is in doubt, the following information will help decide if additional investigation is necessary:
- Your PSA level
- Your age and family history
- Your ethnic origin
Fonction
In short
Your fertility and natural fertilization
- It produces … a prostatic fluid rich in enzymes, proteins and minerals that nourishes and protects your spermatozoa.
- It makes … a protein (APS) that is used to liquefy your sperm to facilitate the mobility of your spermatozoa.
- It allows … ejaculation by contracting.
- It promotes … fertility through its enzymes facilitating the penetration of sperm through the cervix.
- It is not related to the mechanism of erection. Therefore, the origin of erectile dysfunction lies elsewhere.
Additional details
Exocrine Function
The prostate is made up of thousands of tiny fluid-producing glands. Specifically, the prostate is an exocrine gland. Exocrine glands are so-called because they secrete through ducts to the outside of the body (or into a cavity that communicates with the outside). Sweat glands are another example of an exocrine gland.
The fluid that the prostate gland produces forms part of semen, the fluid that carries sperm during orgasm. This fluid, produced in the prostate, is stored with sperm in the seminal vesicles. When the male climaxes, muscular contractions cause the prostate to secrete this fluid into the urethra, where it is expelled from the body through the penis.
Urine Flow
The prostate wraps itself around the urethra as it passes from the bladder to the penis. Prostatic changes can affect urine flow. Increasing the size of the prostate or muscle tone may impede the flow of urine due to the close anatomical relationship between the urethra and the prostate.
Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA)
The prostate also produces a protein called prostate-specific antigen (PSA). PSA is released with the ejaculatory fluid and can also be traced in the bloodstream. The testing of PSA levels in the blood is used to detect prostate cancer. The level of PSA in the blood is usually measured in nanograms of PSA per milliliter of blood (ng/mL).
A raised PSA level
Usually, a PSA rate of less than 4 nanograms per milliliter of blood is normal, but age should also be taken into consideration as PSA levels gradually increase with age. A rise in PSA concentration may indicate the presence of:
- An enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia)
- An inflammation or infection of the prostate (prostatitis)
- A prostate cancer
Your doctor will have you undergo other tests to determine the exact cause of the increase in your PSA.
We are here for you
You have questions or concerns? Don’t hesitate. Contact us at 1-855-899-2873 to discuss with one of our nurses specialized in uro-oncology. They are there to listen, support and answer your questions, and those of your family or your loved ones. It’s simple and free, like all of our other services.
Also take the time to visit each of our pages on this website, as well as our YouTube channel, in order to get familiar with the disease, our expert lectures, our section on available resources, the support that is offered to you, our events and ways to get involved to advance the cause..
Staying Informed
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The medical content and editorial team at PROCURE
Our team is composed of urologists, and nurses certified in uro-oncology with a deep knowledge of prostate cancer and other diseases related to the genitourinary system. Meet our staff by clicking here.
Sources and references
- Prostate Cancer – Understand the disease and its treatments; Fred Saad, MD, FRCSC and Michael McCormack, MD, FRCSC, 4th et 5th editions
- Canadian Cancer Society
- Prostate Cancer Foundation-PCF.org
- National Cancer Institute-USA
- American Cancer Society
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
- Prostate Cancer UK
Last medical and editorial review: September 2023
Written by PROCURE. © All rights reserved
