La quimioterapia, radioterapia y algunas intervenciones quirúrgicas pueden reducir o detener la producción de espermatozoides, lo que disminuye la posibilidad de tener hijos. La extirpación de uno o ambos testículos, radioterapia, quimioterapia y terapia hormonal para el cáncer de próstata también pueden reducir el nivel de testosterona. Entre los efectos a corto plazo de tener un bajo nivel de testosterona están menor apetito sexual, problemas de erección, bajo número de espermatozoides y poca energía. A largo plazo, un bajo nivel de testosterona puede causar graves problemas de salud como pérdida de masa muscular, osteoporosis, depresión y aumento de grasa corporal.

Es posible que algunos hombres no se sientan cómodos de hablar sobre sus problemas de fertilidad con su médico, y otros desconocen las opciones a su disposición. Muchos hombres se arrepienten de no haber tomado en cuenta la posibilidad de problemas de fertilidad antes de iniciar su tratamiento para el cáncer.

A pesar de los peligros relacionados con algunos tratamientos para el cáncer, hay ayuda para los hombres que desean seguir siendo fértiles. ◊Entre los tratamientos para la fertilidad del hombre [www.savemyfertility.org]◊ se encuentran reservar semen antes del tratamiento, extraer espermatozoides de los testículos o proteger estos durante la radioterapia. Aunque la tasa de éxito varía entre ellos, los tratamientos avanzados para la fertilidad son prometedores, y muchos hombres que han recibido tratamiento para el cáncer pueden tener hijos.

Para conmemorar el Mes de la Salud del Hombre en junio, The Hormone Foundation y Oncofertility Consortium están generando consciencia sobre las opciones que tienen los hombres con cáncer para conservar la fertilidad, además de informar al público sobre los efectos del tratamiento para el cáncer en la salud hormonal. ◊SaveMyFertility.org◊, ofrece a todos los pacientes del cáncer, incluidos padres de hijos afectados, la información que necesitan para tener un diálogo más cabal y positivo con sus médicos sobre formas de conservar la fertilidad y el bienestar a largo plazo.

Visítenos en ◊www.SaveMyFertility.org◊ para mayor información sobre los tratamientos de fertilidad, los médicos que los ofrecen y recursos para pacientes con cáncer.

Conozca sus opciones con respecto al cáncer y la fertilidad masculina was posted at Copyright Free Content. | http://www.copyrightfreecontent.com

Chemotherapy, radiation therapy and some surgeries can reduce or stop sperm production, diminishing the ability to father a child. Removal of one or both testicles, radiation, chemotherapy and hormone therapy for prostate cancer can also cause low testosterone. Short-term effects of low testosterone include a reduced sex drive, poor erections, low sperm count and low energy. Over the long term, low testosterone can cause serious health problems, such as a loss of muscle mass, osteoporosis, depression and increased body fat.

Some men may not feel comfortable bringing up fertility issues with their doctor, while others may not be aware of their options. Many men later regret not considering fertility issues prior to starting cancer treatment.

Despite the risks associated with some cancer treatments, there is help available to men who wish to preserve their fertility. Male fertility-sparing treatments include sperm banking before treatment, testicular sperm extraction, or shielding the testicles during radiation therapy. While success rates vary by treatment, advanced fertility treatments are promising, and many men who’ve had cancer treatment go on to have children.

In honor of Men’s Health Month this June, The Hormone Foundation and the Oncofertility Consortium are raising awareness about fertility preservation options for male cancer patients and educating them about the effects of cancer treatment on hormonal health. SaveMyFertility.org, provides all cancer patients, including the parents of diagnosed children,  the information they need to have a better, more comprehensive dialogue with their physicians about fertility preservation and long-term well-being.

Visit www.SaveMyFertility.org to learn more about fertility treatments, doctors who provide them, and resources available to cancer patients.

Cancer and Male Fertility: Know Your Options was posted at Copyright Free Content. | http://www.copyrightfreecontent.com

Most heart disease is coronary heart disease, in which arterial plaque build-up narrows blood vessels, lessening the amount of blood and oxygen that reaches the heart. While most men don’t have heart attacks until later in life – the average man gets his first heart attack at age 65 – plaque has been found in the hearts of 20-year-olds. That means that arterial plaque can build up for decades before men develop major problems.

There are, however, certain symptoms that indicate coronary heart disease. For example, daytime fatigue and lethargy are common in men with heart disease. If routine activities suddenly become exhausting, or if men find themselves easily winded, they should speak to a doctor.

Likewise, the male organ serves as the barometer of a man’s overall health, with dysfunction often acting as a precursor for other existing or potential health issues. In a study of 1,500 men, which was published in “Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association,” found that men with both erectile dysfunction (ED) and cardiovascular disease were twice as likely to have a heart attack than men with cardiovascular disease, but no ED.

What’s the connection? The male organ contains arteries like the ones in the heart, only much smaller in scale, so it takes less arterial plaque to create a blockage. ED, then, can function as an early warning sign –  men may still have time before the arterial plaque in the heart builds up enough to cause a serious blockage or heart attack.

Because ED may be linked to heart disease, men should consult specialists before trying over-the-counter treatments. Doctors who specifically deal with sexual dysfunction issues, such as physicians with Boston Medical Group, can identify underlying issues, such as heart disease, that may be causing ED.

Finally, men experiencing a squeezing pain or pressure in the chest, or angina, should see a doctor for a cardiac exam. Chest pain may radiate to other areas of the body, such as the jaw, arms or back. Angina usually occurs with exercise, during times of emotional stress or after eating, when the heart demands more oxygen than clogged blood vessels can provide. The most common cause of angina is coronary heart disease.

Men: Heed Warning Signs of Heart Attack was posted at Copyright Free Content. | http://www.copyrightfreecontent.com

According to the Mayo Clinic, up to 30 million men in the U.S. suffer from erectile dysfunction. What many men do not realize is that erectile dysfunction is a systemic problem and can be an early sign of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high cholesterol levels and other physical ailments. The penis serves as the barometer of a man’s overall health, with dysfunction often acting as a precursor for other existing or potential health issues. Even mild symptoms of ED can mean that there are issues in other parts of a man’s body.

For many men, oral medications are a viable treatment option, but in others they may not be effective or can pose dangerous health risks. Men with health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, cancer, and kidney or liver problems often find erectile dysfunction to be an upsetting symptom. Yet, for many of these same men, oral medications are often less effective and more likely to cause intolerable side effects. Many men who cannot take oral medications have found success with intracavernous pharmacotherapy (ICP) – a small and minimally invasive injection of a combination of FDA-approved medications that can produce an erection within minutes.

Other alternatives include intraurethral suppository, prepared in the form of a pellet that is inserted into the urethra via an applicator; and vacuum suction devices (a battery or manually operated cylindrical pump that fully encloses the penis). Doctors who specifically deal with sexual dysfunction issues, such as physicians with Boston Medical Group, can identify underlying issues that may be causing your ED, as well as provide you with an effective treatment option.

Just because you are dealing with erectile dysfunction, doesn’t mean you can’t have a fulfilling sex life. After all, sex is an important part of your overall physical, psychological and emotional health. What’s more, maintaining sexual health goes beyond managing other health problems – it supports overall health well into old age.

What Does Erectile Dysfunction Mean for Your Health? was posted at Copyright Free Content. | http://www.copyrightfreecontent.com

The study of 1,500 men, which was published in “Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association,” found that men with both ED and cardiovascular disease were twice as likely to have a heart attack than men with cardiovascular disease, but no ED. And the worse the ED, the greater the risk.

This research only confirms what doctors have known for years — men need to take ED seriously.

The male organ serves as the barometer of a man’s overall health, with dysfunction often acting as a precursor for other existing or potential health issues. Studies have established that men with ED are more likely to develop heart problems like heart attack, cardiac death, stroke and angina, or chest pain. ED can also be an early sign of diabetes, high cholesterol levels and other physical ailments. Even mild symptoms of ED can mean that there are issues in other parts of a man’s body.

Before addressing ED, men should make sure that they are otherwise healthy. Doctors who specifically deal with sexual dysfunction issues, such as physicians with Boston Medical Group (www.bostonmedicalgroup.com), can identify underlying issues that may be causing ED.

Treatment is available even for men with diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, cancer and kidney or liver problems, who often have trouble taking oral medications for ED, due to potentially serious systemic side effects. Intracavernous pharmocotherapy (ICP) — a small and minimally invasive injection of a combination of FDA-approved medications — may be a better option. Other alternatives include intraurethral suppository and vacuum suction devices.

Sex is an important part of physical, psychological and emotional health. Men experiencing ED should ask their doctor about treatment options — but only after looking for underlying health issues that may be causing the problem.

Study Links ED to Heart Attack was posted at Copyright Free Content. | http://www.copyrightfreecontent.com

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So, what can dad do to stay healthy? Getting active can help men maintain a healthy weight. Couch potatoes should start with a level of activity that feels doable and then gradually increase frequency, duration and intensity of their workouts. For example, a person could start out walking 10 minutes a day the first week, then move up to 15 minutes the next week, until he meets his goal.

Moderate-intensity activities include brisk walking, weight training and swimming for fun. Chores, walking up stairs and playing with the kids count as healthy physical activities, too.

Of course, even with exercise, men need to watch what they eat. A healthy diet includes whole grains, vegetables, fruits, lean meats and seafood, and low-fat or fat-free dairy products. And even healthy foods need to be eaten in sensible amounts.

Consider the following information about portion sizes from WIN:

- Cereal. One cup, or the size of a fist.

- Fruit. One medium fruit equals a baseball in size. One-half cup of fresh fruit looks like half a baseball.

- Ice cream. Aim for half a cup, about the size of half of a baseball.

- Lean meats and seafood. Three ounces of lean meat are about the size of a deck of cards

- Low-fat or fat-free cheese. Picture four stacked dice -; that’s about the size of one and a half ounces cheese.

- Rice, pasta or potatoes. One-half cup, about the size of half a baseball.

Men whose waists measure more than 40 inches face an increased risk of serious health problems, including high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, coronary heart disease and some types of cancer. Men are more likely than women to carry extra weight around their stomach, where it may cause more problems than fat located elsewhere in the body.

For more information, see the WIN brochure “Getting on Track.” For a free copy, visit www.win.niddk.nih.gov or call 1-877-946-4627.

Dads, WIN Back Your Health for Father’s Day was posted at Copyright Free Content. | http://www.copyrightfreecontent.com

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men. The American Cancer Society reports that, in 2008, one-quarter of all cancer diagnosed in men was prostate cancer.

But dramatic advances in treatments are allowing more men to beat the disease. Nearly 99 percent of men with prostate cancer now live five years or more after diagnosis.

Since there are several options, it’s important to discuss all the treatment methods with a radiation oncologist, a physician who specializes in treating diseases with radiation therapy, and a urologist, a surgeon who specializes in the urinary tract. They’ll help you decide which treatment plan is best for you. Possibilities include surgery, external beam radiation therapy, hormone therapy, chemotherapy or prostate brachytherapy.

Sometimes, a combination of treatments proves to be the best way to fight prostate cancer. For instance, some men choose surgery followed by external beam radiation therapy, also known as radiotherapy.

External beam radiation therapy involves a series of daily treatments that accurately deliver radiation to the prostate. This method often succeeds in treating cancer. Types of external beam radiation therapy include three dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT), intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and proton beam therapy.

Brachytherapy involves treating the cancer by inserting radioactive sources into the gland itself. Seed implants are given by inserting small metal seeds of radioactive iodine or palladium directly into the prostate while the patient is under anesthesia.

In discussing treatment plans with your cancer specialists, be sure to keep your lifestyle in mind. Remember, every man’s cancer and lifestyle are unique. Discussions with several specialists can help you decide on the most effective and suitable treatment for your lifestyle and condition.

The American Society for Radiation Oncology has a brochure to help men and their families better understand their treatment options. Visit www.rtanswers.org or call 1-800-962-7876 for a free copy.

New Treatments Help Cancer Patients was posted at Copyright Free Content. | http://www.copyrightfreecontent.com

“I went on a radiation vacation,” stated NBC’s Lewis.” If you’re a guy worried about your male components, limiting collateral damage is an important consideration and a major selling point for the advocates of proton therapy.”

Dr. Jerry Slater, head of radiation medicine at Loma Linda University in Southern California, is fond of putting it this way: “Unlike conventional radiation, proton radiation has a well-defined high dose area which can be manipulated to precisely surround an irregularly shaped target.” The result? Protons destroy cancerous cells without damaging healthy cells.

Prostate cancer patients like Lewis, who did his homework, decided proton treatment at Loma Linda was his best option to avoid the side effects he was concerned about.

Another good example is children with cancer, who frequently experience devastating side effects from conventional radiation, such as growth inhabitation, can develop normally after receiving proton therapy treatment. It’s no wonder the nation’s five proton centers cannot keep up with patient demand. As Lewis reported, some patients with limited health care coverage, or patients from abroad, have been willing to personally supplement reimbursement to gain the advantages of proton therapy.

Medicare and most private health insurers cover the costs of proton therapy procedures. A vast majority of cancer patients agree on one thing -; technologies that promote faster healing with fewer side effects prove priceless.

From a physician’s perspective, the aim is to “do no harm” -; however, radiation therapists know that traditional radiation can destroy healthy cells and tissue. In most cases, radiation oncologists cannot deliver enough radiation to destroy tumors without compromising patient health.

In contrast, proton therapy can help patients not only survive cancer, but offer hope for a cure in addition to returning to a normal life afterwards. Lewis said he sailed through nine weeks of proton therapy. “Today, I feel great, and my 40 inch waistline is shrinking as I work on eating less and exercising more.”

For more information, call 800-protons (776-8667) or visit www.proton-therapy.org or www.protons.com.

Proton Therapy: A Success Story Made Known on the Today Show was posted at Copyright Free Content. | http://www.copyrightfreecontent.com

As a cancer that almost always develops from abnormal growths, called polyps, in the colon or rectum, screening through a method known as a colonoscopy saves lives by detecting and removing the polyps before they become cancerous.

In celebration of National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy is dispelling the myths so you have the facts about colon cancer.

Myth: Colon cancer only affects men. According to Dr. Grace Elta, president of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, colon cancer affects both men and women. More than 26,000 women die every year from colon cancer. A more reliable indicator is actually age. In fact, your age is the single most important risk factor. As a result, both men and women should undergo testing for the disease starting at age 50. For individuals 65 and older, Medicare will cover the cost of colonoscopy screening. Still not convinced? A 2007 study showed a 5 percent drop in colon cancer deaths per year, and prevention was among the key factors credited for the decline. So, talk to your doctor about your screening options.

Myth: You don’t need to be screened for colon cancer if you feel fine. Usually there are no symptoms to rely on. When there are symptoms, the cancer may be at an advanced stage. When colon cancer is caught early, most people can be cured. If, however, warning signs are present, they may include: blood in stools, a change in the pattern or frequency of bowel movements, abdominal pain or unexplained weight loss. While these symptoms may be caused by other benign conditions, you should consult your doctor.

Myth: You don’t need to get screened if there is no family history of colon cancer. Most people with colon cancer do not have a family member with the disease. In fact, only 10 to 20 percent of people who have colon cancer have a family member who has also had it.

To learn more about the disease or to find a qualified physician in your area, visit www.screen4coloncancer.org.

Know the Facts About Colon Cancer – It Could Save Your Life was posted at Copyright Free Content. | http://www.copyrightfreecontent.com