For information about my husband's prostate cancer, click here, or see below.

General Information/ Men's Health:

Research indicates that men are usually less attentive to health issues than women, and are less likely to visit a doctor when not feeling well.

The diseases men die from most often are heart disease and cancer – the most common types of cancer are skin, lung, prostate and colorectal. Other common causes are accidental injury, stroke, chronic pulmonary disease and diabetes. The good news is that many of these diseases can be prevented through improved health habits.

Health experts recommend men have regular annual check-ups. As part of this exam they should begin having a PSA blood test and digital rectal exam when over the age of 50 to screen for prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer generally occurs in the later years – 60’s and 70’s, but can occur at any age. Because it is often a slow growing cancer, there are many alternative treatments to consider. If you have been diagnosed with prostate cancer and are looking for alternatives a great book to read is Prostate Health in 90 Days by Larry Clapp, PhD, JD. My husband has had great success with Dr. Clapp’s program, which recommends among other things, ways to build up the body through supplements and nutrients, a detoxification program, as well as general health advice. Another great source of information about Dr. Clapp’s program, as well as where you can buy nutritional supplements specifically created for men, is Beachwood Canyon Naturally, www.bcn4life.com, as well as find them listed on this site under My Favorites, in the Supplements section.

According to an article in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Tufts University found that men who consume large amounts of milk and dairy have a slightly higher risk of prostate cancer compared to those who consume less dairy. It appears that dairy has health benefits such as reducing heart disease, blood pressure and colon cancer and it is recommended that we have 3 servings per day. But for any man worried about prostate cancer you may want to limit the amount of dairy and calcium you have each day. Visit www.healthcastle.com for more information.

My Husband's Prostate Cancer Story June 2008
Approximately 7 years ago my husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Because of his relatively young age (50) he decided to forgo surgery and radiation due to potential side-effects and decided to do "watchful waiting", seeing his urologist frequently for blood tests and exams. He also read Prostate Health in 90 Days and followed Dr. Clapp's detox and health program (see info above) which he felt helped him tremendously.

A few years ago he met with an alternative practitioner, Dr. Bob Christiano (see his article in the Guest Speaker archives) who felt that his main problem was not cancer, but rather for some reason his prostate was a place in which his body stored toxins, causing irritation and inflaming the prostate. Dr. Bob prescribed some herbs and within two months my husband was feeling great and his test results and exam were perfect.

Approximately two months ago during a routine exam his PSA levels jumped up to 6.4. They had never been higher than 2, even when his biopsy showed there was the beginning signs of cancer, so we were obviously concerned. He went back to see Dr. Bob who after thorough testing felt that it was not cancer, but once again a build of toxins that needed to be eliminated. My husband began another round of herbs, which he finished two weeks ago. The urologist then repeated the PSA test, as he and my husband had agreed that if it was still high he would have to undergo another biopsy. Well I am extremely happy to tell you that his PSA level dropped to 1.4 - the doctor was amazed and advised him to continue to do whatever is is he has been doing.

My husband wanted me to share this story as he felt that the results he achieved using the herbs were so amazing that others might want to consult with Dr. Bob if they are dealing with a similar situation. For more information visit Dr. Bob's website: www.newwavewellness.com.

So What Steps Can You DoTo Prevent Disease?

• Exercise – yes, you are busy, but make time for at least 30 minutes, 3 times per week, and get moving: swim, walk, ride a bike, work out at the gym
• Eat Right – low-fat meats, lots of fruits and veges, whole grains - you know the drill…for more ideas see Eat Right For Your Body and Eat Organic
• Moderation – don’t overeat or drink too much, moderation is the key to good health!
• Don’t Smoke – statistics show that men are more likely to smoke than women, but the bottom line – it’s a definite NO!
• Reduce Stress – this may be a challenge, but once you learn to relax and de-stress you will love the way you feel and the positive impact this will have on all areas of your life… for more ideas check Visualization and Meditation
• Pay Attention - your body has a way of letting you know when you are pushing too hard or something is wrong…heed the warning signs, and listen to your inner voice!

You can find more information on men’s health issues on the following websites:

• http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/menshealthissues.html
• http://www.health.harvard.edu/Mens_Health/