Five Lesser Known Cancers That Every Man Should Be Aware About

The five widely ignored cancers among men are prostate, bladder, kidney, testicular and penis (penile) cancer. It is therefore important to be aware of the causes, symptoms and treatment for each of these for timely detection and treatment.

While prostate cancer is the most commonly spoken about, the others are equally significant.

Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer occurs in the gland cells of the prostate, the gland surrounding the neck of the bladder. According to doctors, prostate cancer is the second leading cancer among males in India with the highest incidence among those who are more than 50 years of age.

Prostate cancer does not have significant symptoms initially but in the advanced stages, it can lead to obstruction in passage of urine and/or show blood in urine.

Common treatment methods include Radical Prostatectomy, Radical Radiotherapy, Hormonal Treatment or Chemotherapy.

Prostate cancer can be prevented by adopting lifestyle changes such as regular exercise, avoiding consumption of red meat, quitting smoking and consumption of alcohol and maintaining a healthy body weight.

Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer occurs due to abnormal growth of the urinary bladder. While bladder cancer is primarily known to affect the elderly, there is a rising incidence among the younger population. Smoking is responsible for up to 66% of bladder cancers.

The most common symptoms are blood in urine, dark coloured urine, frequent urination or pain during urination. Please avoid smoking, drink enough fluids and eat a well-balanced diet.

Renal Cancer

Kidney cancer is a condition in which the kidney cells become malignant and form tumours.

Renal cancer is a condition in which the kidney cells become malignant and form tumours. It appears in the lining of tiny tubes inside the kidney.

While this disease has primarily affected the elderly over decades, there is a growing incidence among younger people.

Initial symptoms are blood in urine, persistent nagging pain or heaviness on the side of the back, unexplained fever, loss of appetite, anaemia, unexplained weight loss and swelling in ankles or legs.

Renal cancer can be prevented by eating a healthy diet, keeping blood pressure levels in control, exercising regularly and quitting smoking and consumption of alcohol.

Testicular Cancer

Testicular cancer is cancer of testicles, which are male reproductive organs. Testicular tumours are most common in young men aged between 15-34 years. The warning signs for this cancer include painless enlargement of the testes, heaviness of the scrotal sac and lumps in the testicles.

Testicular cancer is best treated through a multi-modality therapy including chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy.

Penile Cancer

Penile cancers develop in the penis. This is one of the few cancers, which can be prevented by maintaining good hygiene especially in the glans penis (bell end of the penis).

The incidence of penile cancer is more in developing countries such as India and it is more common in rural areas as compared to the urban population.

The cancer starts spreading from the foreskin or the glans penis. The early signs include red discoloration of the glans or foreskin, presence of painless or painful ulcers or any kind of abnormal growth.

 

 THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                    PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/       
                                                                                                                                                                      FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                  https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/           
                                                                           FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                                  https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com

 

 

Australian researchers discover how a baby's sex is determined

While it is known that the sex of a baby is determined by its chromosome make-up at conception, new research has identified a "regulator" that increases or decreases the activity of genes which decide if we become male or female.

"These regulatory segments of DNA are called enhancers," said lead author of the study.

"If these enhancers that control testis genes are disrupted it may lead to a baby being born with a disorder of sex development," Sinclair said. 

While an embryo with two X chromosomes will become a girl, an embryo with an X-Y combination results in a boy. But the Y chromosome carries a critical gene, called SRY, which acts on another gene called SOX9 to start the development of testes in the embryo, explained a researcher.

"High levels of the SOX9 gene are needed for normal testis development," he added. 

This study,  sought to understand how the SOX9 gene was regulated by enhancers and whether disruption of the enhancers would result in disorders of sex development.

"We discovered three enhancers that, together ensure the SOX9 gene is turned on to a high level in an XY embryo, leading to normal testis and male development," he said.

"Importantly, we identified XX patients who would normally have ovaries and be female but carried extra copies of these enhancers, (high levels of SOX9) and instead developed testes," Sinclair said.
"In addition, we found XY patients who had lost these SOX9 enhancers, (low levels of SOX9) and developed ovaries instead of testes," Sinclair added.

Croft said human sex reversal such as seen in these cases is caused by gain or loss of these vital enhancers that regulate the SOX9 gene.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                                                                 PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/                                                                                                                                                                             FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                               
     https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/                                                                                     
  FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com 

The Testes Are Connected to The Immune System

Some parts of the body – including the tissues of the brain and testes – have long been considered to be completely hidden from our immune system.

Last year scientists made the amazing discovery that a set of previously unseen channels connected the brain to our immune system; now, it appears we might also need to rethink the immune system's relationship with the testes, potentially explaining why some men are infertile and how some cancer vaccines fail to provide immunity.

Researchers from University of Virginia School of Medicine discovered a 'very small door' which allows the testes to expose some of its antigens to the immune system without letting it inside.

For the past four decades the testes have been regarded as having 'immune privilege', meaning they don't mount an immune response when introduced to materials the immune system considers foreign.

Together with the brain, eyes, and placenta, inflammation in these parts of the body would be seriously bad news, which could explain why they are all physically or chemically hidden from the white cells and antibodies which protect us from infection.

This 'immunity from immunity' means any sperm outside of the testes can produce an autoimmune reaction, proving that the body considers its own sperm as foreign.

At least that's the current thinking, which might need to be modified if this new research is verified.

Separating the sperm-producing tissues in the testes from the blood vessels is a layer of tissue called Sertoli cells, serving as a kind of nurse cell to the developing sperm.

Sertoli cells lock together in such a way that they effectively form what's called a 'blood-testes barrier', preventing T-cells in the blood from sniffing out the growing sperm.

The system works well, but isn't foolproof – in up to 12 percent of men with spontaneous infertility, the immune system recognises a chemical on the surface of sperm cells called the meiotic germ cell antigen (MGCA), suggesting they've met previously and don't tolerate it as native to the body.

The immunologists hypothesised this particular autoimmune response might say more about a break-down in tolerance than a break in the blood-testes barrier, suggesting that there were reasons to suspect MGCA wasn't as hidden as previously thought.

By focusing on two types of MGCA in normal and genetically altered mice and analysing the mouse's T-cell tolerance to the antigens, the researchers found the Sertoli cells can 'leak' some types of the antigen into the blood vessels.

"In essence, we believe the testes antigens can be divided into those which are sequestered [behind the barrier] and those that are not," said researcher Kenneth Tung. 

Not only could this discovery provide insight into how infertility can arise in some men, it could also help immunologists understand how cancer cells sequester, or hide, their own antigens, explaining why certain cancer vaccines can fail.

"Antigens which are not sequestered would not be very good cancer vaccine candidates," said Tung.

So far, the research has only been done on mice and is yet to be confirmed in humans, but it lays the groundwork for exciting new research into the subtle interactions across a wall which was previously considered to be impermeable to the immune system.

Just last year, a team of researchers from the same university uncovered a network of channels in the nervous system of mice and humans that crossed a similar barrier between the blood and the brain, prompting excitement at having the "rewrite the textbooks".

Once again, it might seem the guides on immunology might need a new edition.

This research was published in  The Journal of Clinical Investigation.

 this is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   
https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations 
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement   

Molecular `switch` in cancers of testis and ovary discovered

An `on/off` switch in a type of cancer which typically occurs in the testes and ovaries has been identified by  scientists.

Malignant germ cell tumours arise in sperm- or egg-forming cells and usually occur in the reproductive organs, the testes or ovaries. The cancerous tumours are seen in patients of all ages, both in childhood and adulthood.

Although many patients do well after treatment, current chemotherapy treatments can have severe long-term side effects, including hearing loss and damage to the kidneys, lungs and bone marrow.

The scientists found that all malignant germ cell tumours contain large amounts of a protein called LIN28. This results in too little of a family of tiny regulator molecules called let-7. In turn, low levels of let-7 cause too much of numerous cancer-promoting proteins in cells.

Importantly, the cancer-promoting proteins include LIN28 itself, so there is a vicious cycle that acts as an `on` switch to promote malignancy.

The researchers have likened these changes to a `cascade effect`, extending down from the large amounts of LIN28 to affect many properties of the cancer cells.

The researchers also discovered that by reducing amounts of the protein LIN28, or by directly increasing amounts of let-7, it is possible to reverse the vicious cycle.

Both ways reduced levels of the cancer-promoting proteins and inhibited cell growth. Because the level of LIN28 itself goes down, the effects are reinforced and act as an `off` switch to reduce cancerous behaviour.

"We need new ways of treating patients with malignant germ cell tumours, to minimise the toxic effects of chemotherapy and to improve survival rates when tumours are resistant to treatment," .

"Having identified this `on/off` switch, it will now be important to identify new drugs that can be used to keep it in the `off` position," he said.

"The switch effect that we have discovered is present in all malignant germ cell tumours, whether they occur in males or females, young or old. Such a fundamental abnormality makes an excellent new target for treating these tumours," said the Dr. 

ps- this is only for information, always consult you physician before having any particular food/ medication/exercise/other remedies.

ps- those interested in recipes are free to view my blog-

http://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/

for info about knee replacement, you can view my blog-

http://Knee replacement-stick club.blogspot.com/

for crochet designs

http://My Crochet Creations.blogspot.com/

I've not given details about designs, but those interested are free to mail me for the same.

Potent compound kills prostate cancer cells

 Scientists have found a promising compound that kills prostate cancer cells by compromising their ability to withstand environmental stress.

The study led by researchers  uncovered the mechanism behind the anticancer compound called SMIP004.

For prostate cancer patients, one treatment option is castration - the chemical or surgical removal of the testes - which reduces the production of the male sex hormone testosterone.

This strategy works because prostate cancer cells, at least initially, depend on testosterone for their growth and survival. But many patients eventually develop castration-resistant prostate cancer, in which the cancer cells adapt and become insensitive to hormone deprivation therapy.

"For advanced prostate cancer - castration-resistant prostate cancer in particular - when the cancer recurs, the only therapy is Taxol, which will prolong life for only a couple of months," said a study author.

"There`s good potential that our compound could become a novel, much-needed therapy for castration-resistant prostate cancer," he said.

In a previous study, Wolf and his team identified SMIP004 as a promising anticancer agent when they screened for compounds that specifically kill prostate cancer cells while sparing normal cells. But until now, exactly how SMIP004 works was unknown.

In the new study, the researchers found that SMIP004 causes cancer cells to die by interfering with the functioning of mitochondria - structures within cells that are responsible for generating energy and controlling cell growth and death.

In a process known as oxidative stress, harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS) built up within mitochondria, causing the cells to stop replicating and to start dying.

Wolf and his team pinpointed the exact molecular signalling pathways underlying SMIP004`s effects and identified ROS-mediated activation of the unfolded protein response as the trigger of cancer-cell death.

Through one of the newly identified pathways triggered by oxidative stress, SMIP004 caused a decrease in the number of androgen receptors - proteins within prostate cancer cells that are activated by testosterone.

Moreover, the researchers found that SMIP004 strongly inhibited the growth of prostate and breast cancer in mice, underscoring the compound`s potential value in treating a range of cancers.

ps- this is only for information, always consult you physician before having any particular food/ medication/exercise/other remedies.

ps- those interested in recipes are free to view my blog-

http://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/

for info about knee replacement, you can view my blog-

http://Knee replacement-stick club.blogspot.com/

for crochet designs

http://My Crochet Creations.blogspot.com/

I've not given details about designs, but those interested are free to mail me for the same.