What are the symptoms of prostate cancer, bladder cancer and kidney cancer?
What are the risk factors for infection?
And what did a new study find about a type of vegetable and its role in preventing cancer?
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is cancer that originates in the prostate gland, which is part of the male reproductive system.
It usually affects older men.
If the disease is detected early, the patient may suffer from limited and temporary side effects, according to the King Hussein Cancer Center in Jordan.
Prostate cancer risk factors
Old age, as men after the age of 60 years are more susceptible to infection.
Genetic predisposition, as the chances of developing prostate cancer increase if the father or brother has prostate cancer.
A diet rich in fats, especially animals.
Drinking alcohol a lot.
Having one or more of these factors does not necessarily mean that a person will develop prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer symptoms
Many patients do not feel any symptoms and are diagnosed only if they do a blood test called the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test.
Therefore, it is recommended to do early detection tests.
Patients who notice some symptoms are:
Frequent urination or problems urinating.
Presence of blood in the urine.
Back or leg pain.
Loss of appetite and pain in the bones (if the disease spreads).
Prostate cancer treatment
Prostate cancer treatment depends on the stage of the disease and the age of the patient in addition to his general health condition, according to the King Hussein Cancer Center, and includes:
1- surgery
Removing the entire prostate (radical prostatectomy) is the most common treatment for prostate cancer.
Most prostate cancer surgeries are done in an attempt to preserve the nerves that control erections.
These nerve-saving surgeries reduce incontinence and impotence, but they remain potentially dangerous.
2- Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy is the use of X-rays, focused electron beams, or high-powered radioisotopes to kill cancer cells and shrink the size of a tumor.
Radiation therapy turns chromosomes in cells into ions or damages them, so that they are unable to reproduce.
The rays can be produced from a device located outside the body (external rays).
3- Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells.
Chemotherapy can be taken orally or as an injection into a vein.
Chemotherapy is considered a systemic treatment, meaning that the drugs enter the bloodstream and travel through the body and can kill cancer cells anywhere in the body, including the prostate.
Chemotherapy is given in cycles of treatment followed by a recovery period.
The full duration of chemical treatment usually lasts between 3 to 6 months, depending on the type of medication given.
4- hormonal therapy
It is known that prostate cancer cells grow with the help of the male hormone, and there are multiple ways to control the spread of cancerous cells in the body by giving hormones that reduce the male hormone in the body, and thus reduce the rate of growth of the spread cells.
Bladder Cancer
Bladder cancer is cancer that originates in the lining of the bladder and often affects the elderly, and men are more likely than women to develop it, according to the King Hussein Cancer Center in Jordan.
Risk factors that increase the chances of developing bladder cancer
smoking.
Exposure to chemicals that are used in some industries, such as dyes and paints.
Chronic bladder infections such as frequent bladder infections and urinary problems.
Having one or more of these factors does not necessarily mean that a person will develop bladder cancer.
Bladder cancer symptoms
Presence of blood in the urine.
Feeling of burning or pain when urinating.
Urinating frequently.
Bladder cancer treatment
One of the following types of surgeries may be done, according to the King Hussein Cancer Center:
1- “Transurethral curettage” (TURBT):
Surgery where a cystoscope (thin lighted tube) is inserted into the bladder through the urethra, where an instrument with a small loop of wire on its end is used to remove the cancer or to burn the tumor away with high-energy electricity.
This is known as stun (electrical cautery).
It is the usual treatment for superficial bladder cancer.
The size of the tumor and the aggressiveness of its resection affect the duration of postoperative care and the risk of complications after TURBT.
2- Radical Cystectomy:
Surgery to remove the bladder, any lymph nodes, and nearby organs that contain cancer.
This surgery may be done when bladder cancer extends into the muscular wall, or when superficial cancer involves a large portion of the bladder.
In men, the nearby organs that are removed are the prostate and seminal vesicles.
In women, the uterus, ovaries, and part of the vagina are removed.
3- Urethral diversion:
A new innovative surgery to divert the urethra after radical cystectomy in which an opening is created through the abdominal wall for urine to pass through, or an artificial bladder is made from the small intestine.
A cystectomy usually requires a stay in the hospital for about a week.
A full recovery usually takes 6-8 weeks.
Further treatment may be needed after a radical cystectomy and may include radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
4- “Partial Cystectomy”:
Surgery to remove part of the bladder.
And this surgery can be done for patients who have a low-grade tumor that has extended to the bladder wall but is limited to one area of the bladder only because part of the bladder can be removed, and it is only done in specific cases and under conditions that do not apply to most patients, and the patient remains able to urinate Normally after recovering from this surgery.
This is also called segmental cystectomy.
kidney cancer
It is a tumor that arises in the kidney. Renal cell carcinoma is the most common type of kidney cancer, and it forms in very small tubes in the lining of the kidney that filter the blood.
If the disease is diagnosed at an early stage, the chance of recovery is high.
Among its types is renal pelvis cancer that grows in the center of the kidney, where urine collects, and it is a rare type of kidney cancer, according to the King Hussein Cancer Center in Jordan.
Risk factors that increase the chances of developing kidney cancer
smoking.
Exposure to certain chemicals, such as those used in the steel, coal or engineering industries.
Kidney disease, especially those requiring dialysis.
Genetic predisposition. There are rare cases when certain genes that increase the chances of developing kidney cancer are inherited.
If two or more members of the same family have had kidney cancer, the rest of the family may have a higher chance of developing kidney cancer.
The presence of one or more of these factors does not necessarily mean that a person will develop kidney cancer.
Kidney cancer symptoms
Presence of blood in the urine.
Pain in the flank.
A palpable lump in the loin or abdomen.
Unexplained weight loss.
fever.
Hypertension.
Hypercalcemia.
Night sweats.
Kidney cancer treatment
The cure rate for kidney cancer in the early stages of the disease is large, as the therapeutic approach for these patients is often curative, that is, the tumor is eliminated and prevented from returning.
In the advanced stages of the disease, treatment depends on the extent of the disease, according to the King Hussein Cancer Center.
1- surgery
Surgery is the process of removing or repairing a part of the body, and surgery is the main treatment that works for most kidney cancers.
The goal of the surgery is to remove the entire tumor from the body;
Therefore, during the operation, the surgeon may need to remove part or all of the kidney and parts of nearby tissues and clean the surrounding lymph nodes, all of this depends on the size of the tumor, its location, its spread and the possibility of eradication.
Surgery is the only agreed and effective method, so there is more than one form of kidney surgery.
2- Targeted therapy
It is a type of treatment that uses drugs and other elements such as antibodies to identify and attack specific cancer cells.
3- biological therapy
Also known as immunotherapy, it boosts or restores the immune system's ability to fight cancer cells using antibodies, vaccines, and growth factors.
This type of vegetable is very useful in preventing cancer
We turn to cancer prevention in general, as in a report published by the Spanish newspaper "Espanyol", writer Silvia says that many people do not like eating cauliflower and broccoli because of their bitter taste, but these vegetables have great nutritional and health benefits.
The author said that one of the compounds of the cabbage family is linked to the prevention of breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men, which are the two most common types of cancer.
health benefits
According to the Spanish Nutrition Foundation, broccoli has many health benefits, as it contains a high percentage of dietary fiber, minerals and vitamins, and helps fight obesity and diabetes and eliminate harmful cholesterol.
Broccoli contains significant amounts of vitamin C, and it has antioxidant properties.
Cauliflower provides similar benefits, as it is mainly composed of water, and has a low calorie content per 100 grams.
Cauliflower contains a large amount of fiber that we need to feed the beneficial bacteria in the large intestine, which prevent infections, improve digestion and reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
Vegetables from the cabbage family also provide folic acid, which helps form blood cells and boosts the immune system.
These vegetables are also an important source of potassium, which contributes to strengthening the functions of the nervous system and muscles, and maintaining the level of blood pressure.
They also contain ascorbic acid, which helps fight infections and maintain tissue health.
Cabbage to fight cancer
A study conducted by researchers from the University of "Santiago de Compostela" in Spain confirmed that cauliflower and broccoli help in the prevention of prostate and breast cancer, through the compounds "isothiocyanates" found in the cabbage family.
The team of Spanish researchers studied these compounds, which can be used as an additional ingredient in some highly toxic drugs used in the treatment of cancerous tumors.
The researchers concluded that isothiocyanates can enhance the effectiveness of drugs in the treatment of cancer, which contributes to reducing the dose provided to patients in order to protect them from side effects.
Cancer..a new application for remote patient monitoring
And we conclude from France, where Fabrice Denis - a specialist in oncology - revealed that a new application for monitoring cancer patients will be available soon after meeting the quality and safety standards, considering that it constitutes a real revolution in the treatment of cancer.
In an interview with the French magazine Le Point, Professor Denis - a specialist in radio-oncology at the Jean Bernard Center in Le Mans, a research associate at the French National Center for Scientific Research and an assistant professor of electronic health at the Faculty of Medicine in Paris - confirmed that this project 16 world experts participated in it.
Dr. Dennis says that the work on designing an application for cancer patients began 9 years ago. “Initially, we applied chaos theory to oncology in order to find out the reasons behind the unpredictability of disease development. This can be explained that any small variable in a given data "The disease, or the patient, affects the entire course of the disease. So, follow-up of the patient is as important as monitoring the tumor itself. That's why we focused on the symptoms, and we designed applications to track them with the help of our patients, in an attempt to detect any relapse early."
How does the app work?
Explaining how the app works, Dennis continues, "Patients provide weekly information related to weight, appetite, fatigue level, any swelling, and even a cough. Based on this information, algorithms assess the development of symptoms and send an alert if the situation is abnormal. The specialist receives this data via e-mail, and suggests based on The state of health, modifying treatment or performing a CT scan without waiting for the next consultation.
Regarding the effectiveness of this type of application, Professor Dennis confirms that "the first randomized clinical study that addressed this issue, demonstrated that this type of application extends life expectancy by several months. Seven previous studies have also confirmed the benefits of remote monitoring in terms of survival rate, quality of life and control." in symptoms and treatment doses, regardless of the type of cancer.
Dennis explains that "if the application meets the quality and safety standards", it will be available to all patients, and believes that "oncology will be the first to benefit from remote monitoring, and many other disciplines will follow in its footsteps."