Surgery better for younger prostate patients: report (AFP)

Surgery better for younger prostate patients: report
(AFP): "

AFP - Surgery appears to be a better treatment option for early prostate cancer than 'watchful waiting,' particularly for younger patients, according to a Swedish study.

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Aggressive Treatment May Be Beneficial for Early Prostate Cancer (HealthDay)

Aggressive Treatment May Be Beneficial for Early Prostate
Cancer
(HealthDay): "HealthDay - WEDNESDAY, May 4 (HealthDay News) -- Among men under 65 with
early stage prostate cancer, those who have the prostate gland removed are
less likely to die than those who adopt a 'watchful waiting' approach,
according to a new long-term study out of Europe."

Men with prostate cancer face a confusing maze of options today, including not only surgery but hormone therapy, different kinds of radiation therapy and even simply foregoing medical treatment while monitoring the cancer closely ("watchful waiting," also known as "active surveillance").

"Watchful waiting" is often recommended when a man is not expected to die of the cancer and would like to avoid the risk of the debilitating side effects associated with prostate cancer treatment. These may include: incontinence and erectile dysfunction (surgery); erectile dysfunction and secondary cancers (radiation therapy); nausea, breast growth, liver problems (hormonal therapy); and weakness, hair loss, fluid retention (chemotherapy).

Supplements don't prevent prostate cancer: study

Supplements don't prevent prostate cancer: study: "NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A new study deflates hopes that certain nutritional supplements could stave off prostate cancer, the second most common cancer in men.

Canadian researchers found that vitamin E, selenium and soy, taken daily for three years, provided no benefit to men who were at a higher risk of developing the disease.

The findings come three years after a larger study of men, who were at no increased risk of prostate cancer, also found no benefit of selenium or vitamin E supplementation (see Reuters Health report, October 28, 2008).

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