Medscape Medical News reports on a study which compared the quality of life of prostate cancer patients who received Proton Beam radiation therapy (PBT) compared with patients who received 3D conformal
(3D-CRT) or intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT).
The study found that quality of life (measured in terms of bowel funciton and urinary function) was better in men treated with PBT - but only in the first few months after treatment. When the patients' conditions were reviewed after 1 year and then after 2 years, it was found that the decrease in quality of life was the same, regardless of the form of radiation therapy received.
The study was led by Phillip J.
Gray, MD, from the Harvard radiation oncology program in Boston, Massachusetts and was presented at the American Society for
Radiation Oncology 54th Annual Meeting.
Read the full Medscape Medical News report here.
(Free sign-up may be required)
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Is brachytherapy plus external radiation a good Prostate Cancer treatment option ?
In the following video, Dr. Gerald Chodak discusses a recent large study which reports on men treated by combining seed
implantation and external radiation. There are many flaws with the
report and it provides very misleading information about the
effectiveness of this treatment while completely omitting any
information about side effects. Men should be very concerned if their
doctor advises this combination as it is more likely to be good for the
doctor than for you, the patient.
Treating for Fracture Risk when on Prostate Cancer Hormone Therapy
Treatments to lower testosterone levels are often given to patients with Prostate Cancer.
The lower levels of testosterone can often result in osteoporosis which predisposes patients to fractures.
Patients are often advised to take calcium and vitamin D supplements to minimise the risk of osteoporosis but the actual dosage can be difficult to determine. Some patients may be taking insufficient amounts of these supplement to make a difference whilst other patients may be taking doses which are so high that they may be causing their own health problems.
This issue is unfortunately made more difficult by a lack of scientific/clinical studies into what dosages of these supplements are in fact effective.
In the following video, Dr. Gerald Chodak discusses these issues and also talks about a new treatment called Prolia.
The lower levels of testosterone can often result in osteoporosis which predisposes patients to fractures.
Patients are often advised to take calcium and vitamin D supplements to minimise the risk of osteoporosis but the actual dosage can be difficult to determine. Some patients may be taking insufficient amounts of these supplement to make a difference whilst other patients may be taking doses which are so high that they may be causing their own health problems.
This issue is unfortunately made more difficult by a lack of scientific/clinical studies into what dosages of these supplements are in fact effective.
In the following video, Dr. Gerald Chodak discusses these issues and also talks about a new treatment called Prolia.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Which is better - Immediate or Delayed Radiation After Radical Prostatectomy ?
Many men who undergo radical prostatectomy are found to have cancer
growing outside the gland.
Often, doctors recommend radiation to the prostate bed after urinary control returns.
A previous well done study showed that immediate radiation did improve survival at 10 years but it never answered the question whether radiation could be delayed.
Now a good study has addressed this question and it is discussed by Dr. Gerald Chodak in the following video:
Often, doctors recommend radiation to the prostate bed after urinary control returns.
A previous well done study showed that immediate radiation did improve survival at 10 years but it never answered the question whether radiation could be delayed.
Now a good study has addressed this question and it is discussed by Dr. Gerald Chodak in the following video:
Is Intermittent Hormone Therapy for Rising PSA a Good Option ?
When the PSA begins to rise after surgery or radiation, many men are
told to begin hormone therapy. Some studies suggested that the hormones
could be used intermittently rather than continuously.
Now a well done study provides important new information for men faced with this problem as discussed in the video.
Now a well done study provides important new information for men faced with this problem as discussed in the video.
Dr Gerald Chodak discusses:
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Scientists find blood signatures for aggressive prostate cancer
Reuters: London |
Scientists have found two distinct genetic "signatures" for prostate cancer that may help doctors predict which patients have aggressive tumors, and designed experimental blood tests to read those genetic signs like barcodes.
The teams, whose work was published on Tuesday in the Lancet Oncology journal, believe tests developed from the signatures could eventually be used to tell which patients need immediate treatment.
Read the full Reuters report
Scientists have found two distinct genetic "signatures" for prostate cancer that may help doctors predict which patients have aggressive tumors, and designed experimental blood tests to read those genetic signs like barcodes.
The teams, whose work was published on Tuesday in the Lancet Oncology journal, believe tests developed from the signatures could eventually be used to tell which patients need immediate treatment.
Read the full Reuters report
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Antioxidants tied to older men's sperm quality
Reuters Health - NEW YORK |
Middle-aged and older men who get enough antioxidants in their diets may have better-quality sperm than men who are lacking in the nutrients, a new study suggests.
Researchers found that among men age 45 or older, those who got the most vitamins C and E, folate and zinc tended to have fewer DNA-strand breaks in their sperm.
That's a measure of the genetic quality of sperm, which is known to decline as a man ages.
The findings, reported in the journal Fertility and Sterility, do not prove that antioxidants directly improve sperm quality - or boost the chances of a healthy pregnancy.
Read the full Reuters Health report
Middle-aged and older men who get enough antioxidants in their diets may have better-quality sperm than men who are lacking in the nutrients, a new study suggests.
Researchers found that among men age 45 or older, those who got the most vitamins C and E, folate and zinc tended to have fewer DNA-strand breaks in their sperm.
That's a measure of the genetic quality of sperm, which is known to decline as a man ages.
The findings, reported in the journal Fertility and Sterility, do not prove that antioxidants directly improve sperm quality - or boost the chances of a healthy pregnancy.
Read the full Reuters Health report
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Walnuts Appear to Improve Semen Quality in Healthy Men
Medscape Medical News - August 28, 2012 - Joe Barber Jr, PhD
The daily addition of 75 g of whole-shelled walnuts to a typical Western-style diet appears to have positive effects on the vitality, morphology, and motility of sperm in healthy men, according to the findings of a randomized, parallel, 2-group, dietary intervention trial.
The authors noted that this study could not clarify whether the effects observed in healthy adults will be applicable to those with fertility issues. "Whether adding walnuts to the diet will go beyond the shifts in sperm parameters as seen in this study to improving birth outcomes for men within fertility clinic populations or in the general population is not yet known and will require further research," the authors write.
This study was funded through a grant from the California Walnut Commission. Dr. Lamb has received grant support from the National Institutes of Health and from the William and Ella Owens Medical Research Foundation.
Read the full Medscape Report
(Free sign-up may be required)
The daily addition of 75 g of whole-shelled walnuts to a typical Western-style diet appears to have positive effects on the vitality, morphology, and motility of sperm in healthy men, according to the findings of a randomized, parallel, 2-group, dietary intervention trial.
The authors noted that this study could not clarify whether the effects observed in healthy adults will be applicable to those with fertility issues. "Whether adding walnuts to the diet will go beyond the shifts in sperm parameters as seen in this study to improving birth outcomes for men within fertility clinic populations or in the general population is not yet known and will require further research," the authors write.
This study was funded through a grant from the California Walnut Commission. Dr. Lamb has received grant support from the National Institutes of Health and from the William and Ella Owens Medical Research Foundation.
Read the full Medscape Report
(Free sign-up may be required)
Benefits of circumcision outweigh risks
Reuters - CHICAGO |
"We're not saying you have to have it," said Dr. Andrew Freedman, a pediatric urologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles who chaired the AAP's circumcision task force.
"We're saying if a family thinks it is in the child's best interests, the benefits are enough to help them do that," he said.
In a statement issued on Friday in anticipation of the guidelines, the anti-circumcision group Intact America said most of the studies underlying the new guidelines are based on research done on adult men in Africa.
"The task force has failed to consider the large body of evidence from the developed world that shows no medical benefits for the practice, and has given short shrift, if not dismissed out of hand, the serious ethical problems inherent in doctors removing healthy body parts from children who cannot consent," said Georganne Chapin, the group's executive director.
Read the full Reuters report
"We're not saying you have to have it," said Dr. Andrew Freedman, a pediatric urologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles who chaired the AAP's circumcision task force.
"We're saying if a family thinks it is in the child's best interests, the benefits are enough to help them do that," he said.
In a statement issued on Friday in anticipation of the guidelines, the anti-circumcision group Intact America said most of the studies underlying the new guidelines are based on research done on adult men in Africa.
"The task force has failed to consider the large body of evidence from the developed world that shows no medical benefits for the practice, and has given short shrift, if not dismissed out of hand, the serious ethical problems inherent in doctors removing healthy body parts from children who cannot consent," said Georganne Chapin, the group's executive director.
Read the full Reuters report
Saturday, August 25, 2012
New prostate cancer study clouds PSA debate
Reuters Health - NEW YORK |
A new study suggests men with advanced prostate cancer may live longer in the "PSA era" than they did before the screening test began to gain a foothold in the early 1990s.
The findings - which a leading cancer expert said were problematic - stoke the heated debate over prostate cancer screening using the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. Many researchers now fear routine testing may lead to aggressive treatments that do more harm than good.
"The translation of this is, might it very well be that for advanced prostate cancer finding it earlier may allow the earlier initiation of therapy that may then reduce the death rates from the disease?"
But the chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society, who was not involved in the work, said the study has a number of serious shortcomings.
Read the full Reuters Health report
A new study suggests men with advanced prostate cancer may live longer in the "PSA era" than they did before the screening test began to gain a foothold in the early 1990s.
The findings - which a leading cancer expert said were problematic - stoke the heated debate over prostate cancer screening using the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. Many researchers now fear routine testing may lead to aggressive treatments that do more harm than good.
"The translation of this is, might it very well be that for advanced prostate cancer finding it earlier may allow the earlier initiation of therapy that may then reduce the death rates from the disease?"
But the chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society, who was not involved in the work, said the study has a number of serious shortcomings.
Read the full Reuters Health report
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Study 'Shows the Way' to Resolving PSA Controversy
Medscape Medical News | August 15, 2012
A new approach to evaluating the benefits and harms of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing "shows the way to a resolution of the long-standing problem about screening for prostate cancer," according to an editorial in the August 16th edition of The New England Journal of Medicine.
The new study, which is derived from statistical modeling, found that the benefit of prostate cancer screening is "diminished" by the loss of quality-adjusted life-years caused by overdiagnosis and overtreatment.
Nevertheless, there is an average net benefit from screening in terms of quality-adjusted life-years, according to the study authors, who are led by Eveline Heijnsdijk, PhD, of the Erasmus Medical Center in the Netherlands.
Annual screening of those between the ages of 55 and 69 years would result in:
- 9 fewer deaths from prostate cancer (28% mortality reduction);
- 14 fewer men receiving palliative therapy (35% reduction);
- a total of 73 life-years gained (an average of 8.4 years per prostate cancer death avoided).
However, the total number of quality-adjusted life-years gained from screening in the group was lower (56 years) than the unadjusted (73 years) because of harms that men endure due to screening, they report. Screening would also result in 45 men being overdiagnosed and overtreated.
The authors calculated that to prevent one prostate cancer death, 98 men would have to be screened and 5 cancers would have to be detected.
Read the full Medscape Medical News report
(Free sign-up may be required)
A new approach to evaluating the benefits and harms of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing "shows the way to a resolution of the long-standing problem about screening for prostate cancer," according to an editorial in the August 16th edition of The New England Journal of Medicine.
The new study, which is derived from statistical modeling, found that the benefit of prostate cancer screening is "diminished" by the loss of quality-adjusted life-years caused by overdiagnosis and overtreatment.
Nevertheless, there is an average net benefit from screening in terms of quality-adjusted life-years, according to the study authors, who are led by Eveline Heijnsdijk, PhD, of the Erasmus Medical Center in the Netherlands.
Annual screening of those between the ages of 55 and 69 years would result in:
- 9 fewer deaths from prostate cancer (28% mortality reduction);
- 14 fewer men receiving palliative therapy (35% reduction);
- a total of 73 life-years gained (an average of 8.4 years per prostate cancer death avoided).
However, the total number of quality-adjusted life-years gained from screening in the group was lower (56 years) than the unadjusted (73 years) because of harms that men endure due to screening, they report. Screening would also result in 45 men being overdiagnosed and overtreated.
The authors calculated that to prevent one prostate cancer death, 98 men would have to be screened and 5 cancers would have to be detected.
Read the full Medscape Medical News report
(Free sign-up may be required)
Benefits of PSA testing may outweigh harms
Reuters Health | NEW YORK |
The possible benefits and harms of prostate cancer screening have been hotly debated in recent years, but for the first time a new study tries to put a number on the balance of pluses and minuses for the average man.
Using data from past cancer studies and a mathematical model, researchers from the Netherlands calculated that on average, annual screening using prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing would add three healthy weeks to a man's life.
Whether screening has a net benefit or harm for a particular man depends on how he feels about the possibility of suffering screening- and treatment-related side effects - and how much erectile dysfunction or incontinence, for example, would influence his quality of life
Researchers considered the benefits of catching some cancers early - including a lower chance of dying from prostate cancer - as well as the harms of so-called overdiagnosis. Cancers caught during screening are considered overdiagnosis if they never would have produced symptoms or threatened a man's lifespan. In those cases, treatment can cause side effects but won't do men any good.
While the European study showed a 29-percent reduction in the chance of dying from prostate cancer in men who were screened, another large trial from the U.S. failed to show any survival benefit.
I note that some of the researchers have received consulting fees from pharmaceutical and medical device companies, including a company that designs PSA tests.
Read the full Reuters Health report
The possible benefits and harms of prostate cancer screening have been hotly debated in recent years, but for the first time a new study tries to put a number on the balance of pluses and minuses for the average man.
Using data from past cancer studies and a mathematical model, researchers from the Netherlands calculated that on average, annual screening using prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing would add three healthy weeks to a man's life.
Whether screening has a net benefit or harm for a particular man depends on how he feels about the possibility of suffering screening- and treatment-related side effects - and how much erectile dysfunction or incontinence, for example, would influence his quality of life
Researchers considered the benefits of catching some cancers early - including a lower chance of dying from prostate cancer - as well as the harms of so-called overdiagnosis. Cancers caught during screening are considered overdiagnosis if they never would have produced symptoms or threatened a man's lifespan. In those cases, treatment can cause side effects but won't do men any good.
While the European study showed a 29-percent reduction in the chance of dying from prostate cancer in men who were screened, another large trial from the U.S. failed to show any survival benefit.
I note that some of the researchers have received consulting fees from pharmaceutical and medical device companies, including a company that designs PSA tests.
Read the full Reuters Health report
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Robot prostatectomy cuts incontinence, surgeon finds
Reuters Health - NEW YORK |
Robot surgery for prostate cancer lowered the rate of urinary complications compared with hands-on surgery in a new Italian study.
While the study was small and contradicts earlier results, it's important because robot surgery has quickly overtaken cheaper alternatives in the U.S., helped by hospitals aggressively marketing the technology.
Cooperberg said surgeon skill and experience is more important than the technology they use. Patients, he added, should not be afraid to ask their surgeon about his or her outcomes.
And that, perhaps, is the strongest conclusion from the new report.
Read the full Reuters Health report
Robot surgery for prostate cancer lowered the rate of urinary complications compared with hands-on surgery in a new Italian study.
While the study was small and contradicts earlier results, it's important because robot surgery has quickly overtaken cheaper alternatives in the U.S., helped by hospitals aggressively marketing the technology.
Cooperberg said surgeon skill and experience is more important than the technology they use. Patients, he added, should not be afraid to ask their surgeon about his or her outcomes.
And that, perhaps, is the strongest conclusion from the new report.
Read the full Reuters Health report
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Statins Don't Cut Prostate Cancer Recurrence After Prostatectomy
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Aug 01 -
Statin users did not have a lower rate of biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy in a recent study.
"Prostate cancer can be a very aggressive disease, and we are all looking for a golden bullet to stop it in its tracks," Dr. Alon Y. Mass from New York University School of Medicine in New York City told Reuters Health by email.
"We entered this study being hopeful that we may be able to isolate a viable therapy to combat the progression of prostate cancer after prostatectomy. Unfortunately, statins don't seem to be the answer."
Read the full Reuteurs Health report via Medscape Today
(Free sign-up may be required)
Statin users did not have a lower rate of biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy in a recent study.
"Prostate cancer can be a very aggressive disease, and we are all looking for a golden bullet to stop it in its tracks," Dr. Alon Y. Mass from New York University School of Medicine in New York City told Reuters Health by email.
"We entered this study being hopeful that we may be able to isolate a viable therapy to combat the progression of prostate cancer after prostatectomy. Unfortunately, statins don't seem to be the answer."
Read the full Reuteurs Health report via Medscape Today
(Free sign-up may be required)
Thursday, August 2, 2012
More men with prostate cancer "team" wait on treatment
Reuters Health - New York |
Men with low-risk forms of prostate cancer are more likely to opt for so-called active surveillance over surgery or radiation when they have a multidisciplinary team of doctors working with them, according to a new study.
Researchers said that may be because teams with urology, imaging and cancer specialists can provide the most balanced view of the risks and benefits of different options.
Men with low-risk forms of prostate cancer are more likely to opt for so-called active surveillance over surgery or radiation when they have a multidisciplinary team of doctors working with them, according to a new study.
Researchers said that may be because teams with urology, imaging and cancer specialists can provide the most balanced view of the risks and benefits of different options.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Mutation Increases Prostate Cancer Risk
Medscape Medical News - July 20, 2012
A new study has confirmed that a genetic mutation significantly increases the risk for prostate cancer, especially early-onset and familial cancers, in white men.
The study was published online July 9 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute and moves academic research a step closer to a possible commercial test.
The new study comes about 6 months after a groundbreaking article was published on the discovery of the mutation. That article established the G84E mutation as the first major genetic variant associated with inherited prostate cancer.
Read the full Medscape report
(Free sign-up may be required)
A new study has confirmed that a genetic mutation significantly increases the risk for prostate cancer, especially early-onset and familial cancers, in white men.
The study was published online July 9 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute and moves academic research a step closer to a possible commercial test.
The new study comes about 6 months after a groundbreaking article was published on the discovery of the mutation. That article established the G84E mutation as the first major genetic variant associated with inherited prostate cancer.
Read the full Medscape report
(Free sign-up may be required)
Holmium Laser Enucleation Favored for Large Prostate Tumors
Reuters Health: NEW YORK Jul 05, 2012
In a randomized trial in men with large prostate tumors, Holmium laser enucleation yielded better outcomes than photoselective vaporization.
The study, published online May 16th in The Journal of Urology, involved 80 men with adenomas ranging in size from 62 to 160 mL.
The authors say it's the first randomized head-to-head comparison of Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) and photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP).
Read the full Reuters Health report from Medscape
(Free sign-up may be required)
In a randomized trial in men with large prostate tumors, Holmium laser enucleation yielded better outcomes than photoselective vaporization.
The study, published online May 16th in The Journal of Urology, involved 80 men with adenomas ranging in size from 62 to 160 mL.
The authors say it's the first randomized head-to-head comparison of Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) and photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP).
Read the full Reuters Health report from Medscape
(Free sign-up may be required)
Adverse Effects of Prostate Cancer Treatment Persist for Longer Term
In a recent Medscape video article by Dr. Gerald Chodak, a recent study concludes the following:
Compared with men without cancer, men who had been treated with surgery or radiation had significantly worse urinary control, sexual function, and bowel function. Of importance, when patients who had surgery were compared with patients who had radiation, urinary and sexual function were significantly worse in the surgery group, and bowel function was significantly worse in the radiation group.
View the full article here
(Free sign-up with Medscape may be required)
Compared with men without cancer, men who had been treated with surgery or radiation had significantly worse urinary control, sexual function, and bowel function. Of importance, when patients who had surgery were compared with patients who had radiation, urinary and sexual function were significantly worse in the surgery group, and bowel function was significantly worse in the radiation group.
View the full article here
(Free sign-up with Medscape may be required)
Surgery for Prostate Cancer Does Not Save Lives
Reuters Health - NEW YORK |
Prostate cancer surgery didn't appear to save lives compared with observation alone in a new study that tracked men for a decade after their diagnosis.
However, nearly twice as many men who had surgery reported incontinence and impotence after two years, researchers report in the New England Journal of Medicine.
"These are very compelling data," said Dr. Durado Brooks, director of prostate and colorectal cancers at the American Cancer Society, who was not involved in the research.
Both he and study author Dr. Timothy Wilt of the University of Minnesota School of Medicine said the results suggest that many men who have received surgery in the past probably didn't need it.
Read the full Reuters Health report here.
Prostate cancer surgery didn't appear to save lives compared with observation alone in a new study that tracked men for a decade after their diagnosis.
However, nearly twice as many men who had surgery reported incontinence and impotence after two years, researchers report in the New England Journal of Medicine.
"These are very compelling data," said Dr. Durado Brooks, director of prostate and colorectal cancers at the American Cancer Society, who was not involved in the research.
Both he and study author Dr. Timothy Wilt of the University of Minnesota School of Medicine said the results suggest that many men who have received surgery in the past probably didn't need it.
Read the full Reuters Health report here.
Does Selenium Help to Prevent Prostate Cancer
In today's video, Dr. Gerald Chodak discusses recent studies about the relationship between selenium levels and the risk of developing prostate cancer.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Cancer doctors say discuss PSA test with some men
Reuters Health - NEW YORK |
Doctors should discuss prostate cancer screening with men who have at least 10 years left to live, one of the country's largest groups of cancer doctors said Monday.
But men with a poorer outlook should generally avoid screening with the blood test for prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
"Screening should be discussed with men who have a longer life expectancy, so that men can make an informed decision," said Dr. Ethan Basch, a prostate cancer specialist and co-chair of the ASCO panel.
The new advice, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, comes on the heels of a blanket recommendation against prostate cancer screening from the government-backed U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.
When the USPSTF's guidelines were released last May, they triggered an outcry from many cancer specialists and urologists who felt the move could be a death sentence for scores of men across the country.
Dr. Michael LeFevre of the USPSTF stressed the similarities between the two sets of recommendations, but said his organization took a slightly stronger stance against the test.
"We are actually not suggesting that physicians bring up screening with men," he told Reuters Health. If a patient wants the test after getting adequate information about the pros and cons, however, LeFevre said he has no qualms with it.
Read the full Reuters Health report
Doctors should discuss prostate cancer screening with men who have at least 10 years left to live, one of the country's largest groups of cancer doctors said Monday.
But men with a poorer outlook should generally avoid screening with the blood test for prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
"Screening should be discussed with men who have a longer life expectancy, so that men can make an informed decision," said Dr. Ethan Basch, a prostate cancer specialist and co-chair of the ASCO panel.
The new advice, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, comes on the heels of a blanket recommendation against prostate cancer screening from the government-backed U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.
When the USPSTF's guidelines were released last May, they triggered an outcry from many cancer specialists and urologists who felt the move could be a death sentence for scores of men across the country.
Dr. Michael LeFevre of the USPSTF stressed the similarities between the two sets of recommendations, but said his organization took a slightly stronger stance against the test.
"We are actually not suggesting that physicians bring up screening with men," he told Reuters Health. If a patient wants the test after getting adequate information about the pros and cons, however, LeFevre said he has no qualms with it.
Read the full Reuters Health report
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Prostate surgery tied to need for bladder surgery
Reuters Health - New York -
One in 20 men who have their prostate gland removed may need a second surgery for severe loss of bladder control, new research from Canada suggests.
Based on more than 25,000 men who had prostate surgery, the study also found that rates of subsequent surgery for urinary incontinence doubled between five and 15 years after the first operation.
The study, published in the Journal of Urology, is the first to suggest that urinary incontinence may be a long-term problem for men many years after their prostate surgery, according to the researchers.
"Doctors should discuss with patients the risk of needing incontinence surgery after radical prostatectomy," said Nam, adding that physicians themselves need to be more aware that bladder issues can persist even 15 years after prostate surgery.
Read the full Reuters report here
One in 20 men who have their prostate gland removed may need a second surgery for severe loss of bladder control, new research from Canada suggests.
Based on more than 25,000 men who had prostate surgery, the study also found that rates of subsequent surgery for urinary incontinence doubled between five and 15 years after the first operation.
The study, published in the Journal of Urology, is the first to suggest that urinary incontinence may be a long-term problem for men many years after their prostate surgery, according to the researchers.
"Doctors should discuss with patients the risk of needing incontinence surgery after radical prostatectomy," said Nam, adding that physicians themselves need to be more aware that bladder issues can persist even 15 years after prostate surgery.
Read the full Reuters report here
German verdict to delay circumcision, not ban it, jurist says
Reuters - Paris -
A widely criticized German court verdict on religious circumcision this week aims only to delay the act, not ban it, and is not directed against any faith, a jurist with a leading role in the legal debate said on Friday.
The operation does serious bodily harm and only males old enough to consent to it freely should undergo it, said Holm Putzke, law professor at Passau University in southern Germany.
Using arguments Putzke has published in recent years, a court in the western city of Cologne ruled on Tuesday that the circumcision there of a Muslim boy who suffered post-operative bleeding had violated a German law against causing bodily harm.
Read the full Reuters report here
A widely criticized German court verdict on religious circumcision this week aims only to delay the act, not ban it, and is not directed against any faith, a jurist with a leading role in the legal debate said on Friday.
The operation does serious bodily harm and only males old enough to consent to it freely should undergo it, said Holm Putzke, law professor at Passau University in southern Germany.
Using arguments Putzke has published in recent years, a court in the western city of Cologne ruled on Tuesday that the circumcision there of a Muslim boy who suffered post-operative bleeding had violated a German law against causing bodily harm.
Read the full Reuters report here
German court circumcision ban meets wave of criticism
Reuters - Berlin -
Germany's foreign minister added his voice on Thursday to a chorus of criticism of a court decision to ban the circumcision of young boys for religious reasons, arguing that such traditions must be permitted in a tolerant society.
The Central Council of Jews in Germany called the ruling an "unprecedented and dramatic intrusion" on religious freedom and the Central Council of Muslims in Germany called it "blatant and inadmissible interference" in the rights of parents.
Germany's two main Christian churches also criticized the Cologne court ruling, the Catholic Episcopal Conference calling it "extremely disconcerting".
"To ban circumcision is a serious attack on religious freedom," said Catholic Bishop Heinrich Mussinghoff.
Read the full Reuters report here
Germany's foreign minister added his voice on Thursday to a chorus of criticism of a court decision to ban the circumcision of young boys for religious reasons, arguing that such traditions must be permitted in a tolerant society.
The Central Council of Jews in Germany called the ruling an "unprecedented and dramatic intrusion" on religious freedom and the Central Council of Muslims in Germany called it "blatant and inadmissible interference" in the rights of parents.
Germany's two main Christian churches also criticized the Cologne court ruling, the Catholic Episcopal Conference calling it "extremely disconcerting".
"To ban circumcision is a serious attack on religious freedom," said Catholic Bishop Heinrich Mussinghoff.
Read the full Reuters report here
German court bans circumcision of young boys
Reuters - Berlin -
Jewish and Muslim groups protested on Wednesday after a German court banned the circumcision of young boys for religious reasons in the first ruling of its kind in the country.
The court ruled involuntary religious circumcision should be made illegal because it could inflict serious bodily harm on people who had not consented to it.
However the ruling, which applies only to the Cologne area, said boys who consciously decided to be circumcised could have the operation. No age restriction was given, or any more specific details.
Read the full Reuters report here
Jewish and Muslim groups protested on Wednesday after a German court banned the circumcision of young boys for religious reasons in the first ruling of its kind in the country.
The court ruled involuntary religious circumcision should be made illegal because it could inflict serious bodily harm on people who had not consented to it.
However the ruling, which applies only to the Cologne area, said boys who consciously decided to be circumcised could have the operation. No age restriction was given, or any more specific details.
Read the full Reuters report here
Side effects persist after prostate cancer treatment
Reuters Health
NEW YORK |
Men who are treated for prostate cancer may still suffer side effects from treatment up to a decade later, a new study found.
Up to 10 years after treatment, more than 95 percent of men had some degree of sexual dysfunction, Taylor's team found. And about half had urinary symptoms.
Past studies have found such lingering side effects, too. But they have been shorter-term - following men for as far as five years. And they've left some question as to whether the sexual and urinary problems could just be a product of aging, rather than prostate cancer treatment, Taylor explained.
These latest findings, reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, suggest it's not simply the aging process that's to blame.
Read the full Reuters Health report here
NEW YORK |
Men who are treated for prostate cancer may still suffer side effects from treatment up to a decade later, a new study found.
Up to 10 years after treatment, more than 95 percent of men had some degree of sexual dysfunction, Taylor's team found. And about half had urinary symptoms.
Past studies have found such lingering side effects, too. But they have been shorter-term - following men for as far as five years. And they've left some question as to whether the sexual and urinary problems could just be a product of aging, rather than prostate cancer treatment, Taylor explained.
These latest findings, reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, suggest it's not simply the aging process that's to blame.
Read the full Reuters Health report here
'Important Errors' in USPSTF Report on PSA Testing
The USPSTF's characterization of the evidence against screening as
being of "moderate or high certainty," and thus deserving of its D
rating, is a "critical error," suggest the authors, led by Sigrid
Carlsson, MD, PhD, from the Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in
New York City and Göteborg University in Sweden.
The USPSTF did not competently assess the mortality benefit of screening, the authors say, and this error alone casts doubt on their grading of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing.
Read the full Medscape Medical News report here
(May require free sign-up)
The USPSTF did not competently assess the mortality benefit of screening, the authors say, and this error alone casts doubt on their grading of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing.
Read the full Medscape Medical News report here
(May require free sign-up)
Low Testosterone Levels Can Improve With Weight Loss, Exercise
Researchers evaluated 891 middle-aged men with impaired glucose
tolerance and low testosterone levels who undertook a 1-year lifestyle
modification program involving 150 minutes per week of exercise and
calorie and fat reductions in their diets.
Participants had a nearly 50% increase in testosterone levels, researchers announced.
Although noting that the study reinforces existing knowledge of the effect obesity has on blood testosterone levels, and that reversing the excesses weight improves the effect, Dr. Handelsman cautioned that the remedy is not testosterone treatment.
"It is important to state clearly that the lower blood testosterone levels are not a true deficiency state; rather, they are a barometer of ill health, as opposed to a real deficiency state," he told Medscape Medical News.
"An important implication is that such men should not be treated with testosterone."
Read the full Medscape Medical News report here
(May require free sign-up)
Participants had a nearly 50% increase in testosterone levels, researchers announced.
Although noting that the study reinforces existing knowledge of the effect obesity has on blood testosterone levels, and that reversing the excesses weight improves the effect, Dr. Handelsman cautioned that the remedy is not testosterone treatment.
"It is important to state clearly that the lower blood testosterone levels are not a true deficiency state; rather, they are a barometer of ill health, as opposed to a real deficiency state," he told Medscape Medical News.
"An important implication is that such men should not be treated with testosterone."
Read the full Medscape Medical News report here
(May require free sign-up)
Is Quality of Life Better With Active Surveillance?
Way too many men who are undergoing radical prostatectomy are being
told, "Well, you may have a little trouble with some sexual function."
They are given the impression that there is a high chance that
functioning will return to normal, and they may underestimate their risk
for problems in both urinary and sexual functioning.
We need to provide better counseling for men who are going to have these therapies so they understand the potential tradeoffs of surgery or seed implantation. For surgery, outcomes are not as good as patients have been led to believe in the past. This is going to depend on many factors, such as the patient population, and maybe most important, on the surgeon who is providing the treatment.
Read the full commentary from Dr. G. Chodak here
(May require free sign up)
We need to provide better counseling for men who are going to have these therapies so they understand the potential tradeoffs of surgery or seed implantation. For surgery, outcomes are not as good as patients have been led to believe in the past. This is going to depend on many factors, such as the patient population, and maybe most important, on the surgeon who is providing the treatment.
Read the full commentary from Dr. G. Chodak here
(May require free sign up)
Friday, June 1, 2012
The Issue of 'Overdiagnosis'
I have just read an interesting article on the subject of 'overdiagnosis' which is of special relevance at this time when we find ourselves in the midst of the controversy regarding screening for prostate cancer.
The NHS Choices article reviews a 'Daily Mail' (U.K.) newspaper report about a British Medical Journal article, the authors of which say that there is increasing evidence that too many people are being overdosed, overtreated and overdiagnosed.
Ths NHS article gives an excellent explanation of the term 'overdiagnosis' and gives examples relating to such conditions as breast and thyroid cancers, chronic kidney disase, asthma, osteoporosis, high cholesterol and, of course, prostate cancer.
Click here for the full NHS Choices article
The NHS Choices article reviews a 'Daily Mail' (U.K.) newspaper report about a British Medical Journal article, the authors of which say that there is increasing evidence that too many people are being overdosed, overtreated and overdiagnosed.
Ths NHS article gives an excellent explanation of the term 'overdiagnosis' and gives examples relating to such conditions as breast and thyroid cancers, chronic kidney disase, asthma, osteoporosis, high cholesterol and, of course, prostate cancer.
Click here for the full NHS Choices article
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Prostate Cancer Screening - the Debate Continues
As we have already reported in this recent post, there has already been some professional criticism of the US Preventive Services Task Force Policy advising against routine prostate cancer screening.
It was with interest that I read two commentaries from prostate cancer expert Dr. Gerald Chodak which address some of these criticisms.
The first point Dr. Chodak makes is that the criticism is almost exclusively focussed on the men who MIGHT miss out on 'potentially curative therapy' and ignores all those men who are actually being harmed by screening and treatment.
On his website ProstateVideos.com, Dr. Chodak has created a checklist of facts about prostate cancer in the form of a prostate cancer screening consent form which can help to put the current 'debate' into perspective and is well worth reading.
In his second commentary, Dr. Chodak refers to and recommends the following CNN article written by psychologist Dr. Charles Raison who talks about the mental health side of PSA screening:
The Danger of Fearing Cancer
It was with interest that I read two commentaries from prostate cancer expert Dr. Gerald Chodak which address some of these criticisms.
The first point Dr. Chodak makes is that the criticism is almost exclusively focussed on the men who MIGHT miss out on 'potentially curative therapy' and ignores all those men who are actually being harmed by screening and treatment.
On his website ProstateVideos.com, Dr. Chodak has created a checklist of facts about prostate cancer in the form of a prostate cancer screening consent form which can help to put the current 'debate' into perspective and is well worth reading.
In his second commentary, Dr. Chodak refers to and recommends the following CNN article written by psychologist Dr. Charles Raison who talks about the mental health side of PSA screening:
The Danger of Fearing Cancer
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Review of the Effectiveness of Saw Palmetto for treating BPH
Saw Palmetto is a herbal remedy used by many men to treat the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate).
Although early studies on the use of Saw Palmetto confirmed that symptoms of BPH such as difficulty urinating, dripping and frequent urination at night were all eased using the remedy, a review of 17 more recent studies (which used more reliable testing methods) show that Saw Palmetto was no better at alleviating these symptoms than placebo.
The leader of one of the most recent of the studies, Dr. Michael Barry, agreed that taking Saw Palmetto definitely did make a difference to the symptoms but the improvement was seen equally in those men in the trial who took only the placebo.
Dr. Barry said that some men may still want to try Saw Palmetto as just the expectation of feeling better will yield some improvement.
For details of the research and the treatment of BPH, read the full Reuters Health Report.
Although early studies on the use of Saw Palmetto confirmed that symptoms of BPH such as difficulty urinating, dripping and frequent urination at night were all eased using the remedy, a review of 17 more recent studies (which used more reliable testing methods) show that Saw Palmetto was no better at alleviating these symptoms than placebo.
The leader of one of the most recent of the studies, Dr. Michael Barry, agreed that taking Saw Palmetto definitely did make a difference to the symptoms but the improvement was seen equally in those men in the trial who took only the placebo.
Dr. Barry said that some men may still want to try Saw Palmetto as just the expectation of feeling better will yield some improvement.
For details of the research and the treatment of BPH, read the full Reuters Health Report.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Analysing the Cost of Avoiding Prostate Cancer Screening
Following finalization of the US Preventive Services Task Force Policy for prostate cancer screening which recommended against such screening, Dr. E. David Crawford & colleagues suggest that this approach may ultimately cost more due to having to treat greater number of patients with advanced disease.
Whilst adopting the USPSTF recommendation would initially save in the vicinity of $2.4 billion, the cost of treating men who will subsequently be diagnosed with 'clinically significant' prostate cancer would far exceed $2.4 billion.
Dr. Crawford also expressed concern that lack of screening would result in missing 0.57% to 1.22% of significant prostate cancer cases.
Dr. Crawford recommended that urologists should read the USPSTF report and give consideration to suggestions such as extending the amount of time in between screening individuals, using a better marker of disease progression and separating diagnosis from treatment.
Chicago urologist Anthony J. Schaeffer pointed out that it must be remembered that diagnosis does not necessarily have to lead to treatment and also that the ultimate decision as to whether or not to have a PSA test must be left to the patient, with his doctor providing him with sufficient knowledge to make such a decision.
Read the full report at Medscape Medical News (free sign-up may be required).
Whilst adopting the USPSTF recommendation would initially save in the vicinity of $2.4 billion, the cost of treating men who will subsequently be diagnosed with 'clinically significant' prostate cancer would far exceed $2.4 billion.
Dr. Crawford also expressed concern that lack of screening would result in missing 0.57% to 1.22% of significant prostate cancer cases.
Dr. Crawford recommended that urologists should read the USPSTF report and give consideration to suggestions such as extending the amount of time in between screening individuals, using a better marker of disease progression and separating diagnosis from treatment.
Chicago urologist Anthony J. Schaeffer pointed out that it must be remembered that diagnosis does not necessarily have to lead to treatment and also that the ultimate decision as to whether or not to have a PSA test must be left to the patient, with his doctor providing him with sufficient knowledge to make such a decision.
Read the full report at Medscape Medical News (free sign-up may be required).
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Dr. Chodak on routine prostate cancer screening
In this video Dr. Chodak explains that the reason for the recommendation is fundamentally that, according the best information currently available, the benefit of routine screening is very small (or non-existent) and is outweighed by the harms of such screening.
Dr. Chodak points out that a PSA blood test itself does not cause undue pain, discomfort or suffering but that an abnormal test result means that one or more prostate biopsies will be called for and such biopsies are not without side-effects.
If prostate cancer is actually diagnosed, the treatments also all have side-effects which can include sexual dysfunction, loss of bladder control and other complications.
The bottom line is that, if diagnosed, the chances of suffering treatment side-effects are much greater than the chances of being able to avoid suffering and/or death from prostate cancer.
Dr. Chodak refers to a recent study which showed that there was no difference in survival after 10 years in men whose prostate cancer was treated or left untreated.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Promising New Therapy for Localized High-risk Prostate Cancer
A recent clinical trial has shown that the drug abiraterone (which is already being used to treat men with advanced prostate cancer), may also be of very great benefit to patients with localized high-risk prostate cancer.
After 6 months of treatment, the study showed that abiraterone (Zytiga) completely eliminated or nearly eliminated the tumour in the prostate in an unprecendentedly high 34% of men in the trial.
Localized high-risk prostate cancer comprises approx. 15% of all prostate cancer and is often not able to be cured by prostatectomy (removal of the prostate) with most patients eventually dying from the disease.
The disappearance of the tumour in the prostate itself (as shown in the current trial) translates into a much better outcome for patients.
All participants in the trial had hormone therapy (in addition to abiraterone) and all underwent prostatectomy after completing the drug treatment.
A further clinical trial will be required to validate the results but, as yet, has not been planned.
After 6 months of treatment, the study showed that abiraterone (Zytiga) completely eliminated or nearly eliminated the tumour in the prostate in an unprecendentedly high 34% of men in the trial.
Localized high-risk prostate cancer comprises approx. 15% of all prostate cancer and is often not able to be cured by prostatectomy (removal of the prostate) with most patients eventually dying from the disease.
The disappearance of the tumour in the prostate itself (as shown in the current trial) translates into a much better outcome for patients.
All participants in the trial had hormone therapy (in addition to abiraterone) and all underwent prostatectomy after completing the drug treatment.
A further clinical trial will be required to validate the results but, as yet, has not been planned.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
U.S. task force: End routine prostate cancer screening
NEW YORK (Reuters) -
A task force advising the U.S. government on Monday recommended against routine use of the prostate-cancer screening test called PSA, or prostate specific antigen, for lack of a discernible health benefit.
Like a draft proposal last October, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force gave PSA screening a D, for "don't recommend" in healthy men.
PSA, a blood test, is a poor screening tool because PSA levels can rise for reasons unrelated to cancer, including age and prostate enlargement. Yet an elevated PSA level can trigger a biopsy to check for cancer.
Most biopsies show no cancer, which means the PSA was a false positive.
Against the tiny benefit of PSA testing, the task force weighed its harms. At least 15 percent of PSA tests will trigger a biopsy, after which up to one-third of men experience pain, fever, bleeding, infection, difficulty urinating, or other problems requiring medical attention, studies show.
"When you stack up those harms, the tiny or zero benefits do not outweigh the risk," said task force co-chair Dr. Michael LeFevre of the University of Missouri Medical School. Because PSA tests cannot distinguish between aggressive and indolent cancer, said ACS's Brawley, "men are rendered impotent and put in diapers, and for what?" he asked. "They never really had cancer in the first place."
Read the full Reuters report:
U.S. task force: End routine prostate cancer screening:
A task force advising the U.S. government on Monday recommended against routine use of the prostate-cancer screening test called PSA, or prostate specific antigen, for lack of a discernible health benefit.
Like a draft proposal last October, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force gave PSA screening a D, for "don't recommend" in healthy men.
PSA, a blood test, is a poor screening tool because PSA levels can rise for reasons unrelated to cancer, including age and prostate enlargement. Yet an elevated PSA level can trigger a biopsy to check for cancer.
Most biopsies show no cancer, which means the PSA was a false positive.
Against the tiny benefit of PSA testing, the task force weighed its harms. At least 15 percent of PSA tests will trigger a biopsy, after which up to one-third of men experience pain, fever, bleeding, infection, difficulty urinating, or other problems requiring medical attention, studies show.
"When you stack up those harms, the tiny or zero benefits do not outweigh the risk," said task force co-chair Dr. Michael LeFevre of the University of Missouri Medical School. Because PSA tests cannot distinguish between aggressive and indolent cancer, said ACS's Brawley, "men are rendered impotent and put in diapers, and for what?" he asked. "They never really had cancer in the first place."
Read the full Reuters report:
U.S. task force: End routine prostate cancer screening:
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Video - HIFU for Localized Prostate Cancer
The following video presents Dr. Gerald Chodak discussing the results of a recent study of High Intensity Focussed Ultrasound as used to treat localized prostate cancer.
Saturday, April 28, 2012
FDA approves Vivus's fast-acting Viagra rival
NEW YORK (Reuters) -
Men with erectile dysfunction may not have to plan for sex as far in advance anymore after Vivus Inc won U.S. approval for avanafil, its faster acting rival to Viagra.
Avanafil, which will be sold under the brand name Stendra, is the first new drug in the category in a decade.
While it is recommended that patients take the new pill 30 minutes prior to sexual activity, in clinical trials it has been shown to work in as fast as 15 minutes. Viagra typically takes about an hour to start working.
The most common side effects reported in clinical studies included headache, flushing of the face and other areas, nasal congestion, common cold-like symptoms and back pain.
Read the full Reuters Health report:
FDA approves Vivus's fast-acting Viagra rival
Men with erectile dysfunction may not have to plan for sex as far in advance anymore after Vivus Inc won U.S. approval for avanafil, its faster acting rival to Viagra.
Avanafil, which will be sold under the brand name Stendra, is the first new drug in the category in a decade.
While it is recommended that patients take the new pill 30 minutes prior to sexual activity, in clinical trials it has been shown to work in as fast as 15 minutes. Viagra typically takes about an hour to start working.
The most common side effects reported in clinical studies included headache, flushing of the face and other areas, nasal congestion, common cold-like symptoms and back pain.
Read the full Reuters Health report:
FDA approves Vivus's fast-acting Viagra rival
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Pricier therapy no better for early prostate cancer
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) -
A new study suggests that expensive, high-tech proton beam radiation doesn't do any more for men with prostate cancer than the most commonly-used option.
Proton beam radiation, heavily promoted by facilities that perform the treatment, also came with a higher risk of certain side effects compared to intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), researchers found.
The findings suggest that men have multiple radiation options when it comes to treating early, localized prostate cancer.
Though not covered in the new study, their options also include surgery -- or getting no treatment at all and waiting to see how the disease progresses, researchers said.
Read the full Reuters Health report:
Pricier therapy no better for early prostate cancer
A new study suggests that expensive, high-tech proton beam radiation doesn't do any more for men with prostate cancer than the most commonly-used option.
Proton beam radiation, heavily promoted by facilities that perform the treatment, also came with a higher risk of certain side effects compared to intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), researchers found.
The findings suggest that men have multiple radiation options when it comes to treating early, localized prostate cancer.
Though not covered in the new study, their options also include surgery -- or getting no treatment at all and waiting to see how the disease progresses, researchers said.
Read the full Reuters Health report:
Pricier therapy no better for early prostate cancer
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Prostate & Baldness drugs may have sexual side effects
Two Merck drugs for treating male baldness and enlarged prostate will now carry extended labels to add more possible sexual side effects, US regulators said on Friday.The changes involve Propecia and Proscar, both of which contain the active ingredient finasteride
The new Propecia label will include "libido disorders, ejaculation disorders, and orgasm disorders that continued after discontinuation of the drug," the FDA said. Propecia is a drug to treat male baldness.
Proscar, which treats symptoms of enlarged prostate, will now have a label that adds "decreased libido that continued after discontinuation of the drug."
In addition, both labels are being revised to "include a description of reports of male infertility and/or poor semen quality that normalized or improved after drug discontinuation," the FDA said.
Read the full story here:
US warns two drugs may have sexual side effects
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Researchers Find Genes Linked to Aggressive Prostate Cancer
MONDAY, April 9 (HealthDay News)
The discovery of two inherited genetic variations may help doctors identify men at greater risk for aggressive prostate cancer, a new study suggests.
A man's risk for the disease could triple or even quadruple depending on the genetic variant they have, according to the researchers from Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City and elsewhere.
Having a family history of prostate cancer is the strongest risk factor for the disease. As a result, the researchers set out to find DNA that is deleted or duplicated in the genetic information of men with prostate cancer compared to those who do not have the disease.
In testing the effect of the two inherited variants in a lab, the investigators showed that the variants helped cancer cells grow and invade, putting some men at four times greater risk for prostate cancer.
Read the full HealthDay News report here:
Researchers Find Genes Linked to Aggressive Prostate Cancer:
The discovery of two inherited genetic variations may help doctors identify men at greater risk for aggressive prostate cancer, a new study suggests.
A man's risk for the disease could triple or even quadruple depending on the genetic variant they have, according to the researchers from Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City and elsewhere.
Having a family history of prostate cancer is the strongest risk factor for the disease. As a result, the researchers set out to find DNA that is deleted or duplicated in the genetic information of men with prostate cancer compared to those who do not have the disease.
In testing the effect of the two inherited variants in a lab, the investigators showed that the variants helped cancer cells grow and invade, putting some men at four times greater risk for prostate cancer.
Read the full HealthDay News report here:
Researchers Find Genes Linked to Aggressive Prostate Cancer:
Friday, March 30, 2012
Circumcision Hype?
A new study linking circumcision before sexual intercourse to lower rates of prostate cancer may be so flawed that the conclusions are meaningless, says Dr. Gerald Chodak.
Medscape Urology
Read the Medscape report here:
Circumcision Hype?
Medscape Urology
Read the Medscape report here:
Circumcision Hype?
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Self-checking won't spot testicle cancer
Celebrity appeals for British men to check their testicles to detect early signs of cancer are a waste of time and possibly harmful, an opinion piece published by the British Medical Journal (BMJ) says.Read the report here:
Self-checking won't spot testicle cancer
Monday, March 12, 2012
Circumcision tied to lower prostate cancer risk
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Circumcised men may have a slightly lower risk of developing prostate cancer than those who still have their foreskin, according to a new study.
The new work falls short of actually proving that removing a boy's foreskin will cut his future cancer risk, said Dr. Jonathan L. Wright, who led the research.
"I would not go out and advocate for widespread circumcision to prevent prostate cancer," Wright, of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, told Reuters Health."We see an association, but it doesn't prove causality."
Read the full Reuters Health report:
Circumcision tied to lower prostate cancer risk
The new work falls short of actually proving that removing a boy's foreskin will cut his future cancer risk, said Dr. Jonathan L. Wright, who led the research.
"I would not go out and advocate for widespread circumcision to prevent prostate cancer," Wright, of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, told Reuters Health."We see an association, but it doesn't prove causality."
Read the full Reuters Health report:
Circumcision tied to lower prostate cancer risk
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Men opting for costly new prostate cancer treatment
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) -
Men diagnosed with localized prostate cancer are more likely to be treated with proton beam therapy, a novel form of radiation therapy, if the technology is available nearby, a new study found.
In the study, researchers examined the treatment choices of nearly 20,000 men living inside or outside of a regional market for Loma Linda University, a hospital in Southern California with a proton beam facility. All men were diagnosed with low- to intermediate-risk prostate cancer.
The treatment is often billed as having lower impotence and incontinence rates than other radiation treatment options, but there's a lack of evidence to support this.
Despite the added costs, there's no evidence to suggest that proton beam therapy results in better outcomes than other forms of prostate cancer treatment, including other forms of radiation, surgery or hormone therapy.
With the healthcare crisis looming and multiple treatment options available, newer, more expensive procedures for prostate cancer should be validated before they are implemented.
Read the full Reuters Health report:
Men opting for costly new prostate cancer treatment
Men diagnosed with localized prostate cancer are more likely to be treated with proton beam therapy, a novel form of radiation therapy, if the technology is available nearby, a new study found.
In the study, researchers examined the treatment choices of nearly 20,000 men living inside or outside of a regional market for Loma Linda University, a hospital in Southern California with a proton beam facility. All men were diagnosed with low- to intermediate-risk prostate cancer.
The treatment is often billed as having lower impotence and incontinence rates than other radiation treatment options, but there's a lack of evidence to support this.
Despite the added costs, there's no evidence to suggest that proton beam therapy results in better outcomes than other forms of prostate cancer treatment, including other forms of radiation, surgery or hormone therapy.
With the healthcare crisis looming and multiple treatment options available, newer, more expensive procedures for prostate cancer should be validated before they are implemented.
Read the full Reuters Health report:
Men opting for costly new prostate cancer treatment
Thursday, February 16, 2012
In prostate cancer, other death risks may be higher
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) -
Some men with prostate cancer may have increased risks of dying from causes other than the cancer itself, a new study finds.
Read the full Reuters report:
In prostate cancer, other death risks may be higher
Some men with prostate cancer may have increased risks of dying from causes other than the cancer itself, a new study finds.
Researchers found that when men had their prostate cancer diagnosed after developing symptoms -- and not after screening tests -- they had heightened risks of dying from heart problems or other cancers.
It's not clear what to make of the findings at this point. Mainly, they raise questions for future studies, said Dr. Anthony D'Amico, of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School in Boston.
Read the full Reuters report:
In prostate cancer, other death risks may be higher
DiagnoCure gets FDA nod for prostate cancer test, shares jump
(Reuters) -
Canada's DiagnoCure Inc said it received U.S. regulatory approval for a prostate cancer test that may help avoid unnecessary biopsies, sending its shares to their highest in about 18 months.
The urine-based test -- named Progensa PCA3 -- will be used with other patient information to help decide on repeat biopsy in men of 50 years or older.
The company said the PCA3 test will now be available for sale in the United States, Canada and the European Union.
Read the full Reuters report:
DiagnoCure gets FDA nod for prostate cancer test, shares jump
Canada's DiagnoCure Inc said it received U.S. regulatory approval for a prostate cancer test that may help avoid unnecessary biopsies, sending its shares to their highest in about 18 months.
The urine-based test -- named Progensa PCA3 -- will be used with other patient information to help decide on repeat biopsy in men of 50 years or older.
The company said the PCA3 test will now be available for sale in the United States, Canada and the European Union.
Read the full Reuters report:
DiagnoCure gets FDA nod for prostate cancer test, shares jump
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Prostate Size May Be Clue to Severity of Cancer
FRIDAY, Feb. 10 (HealthDay News) --
The size of a man's prostate gland may help doctors predict the severity of his prostate cancer, according to a new study.
Researchers from the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, Tenn., found smaller prostates that produce higher levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA) in the blood are more often linked to serious forms of prostate cancer that require aggressive treatment.
What it's really about is the ratio of PSA to size, or PSA density, meaning that a small prostate that is making a lot of PSA is likely to be due to a bad tumor, whereas a large prostate making a lot of PSA is likely to be due to benign enlargement of the prostate (BPH).
The study's authors suggest the findings could help doctors determine the best course of treatment for patients with prostate cancer. For instance, low-risk patients with a small prostate might benefit from aggressive treatment.
The researchers pointed out that the findings are significant since men with prostate cancer who are considered low-risk may receive less aggressive treatment or just be placed under observation.
The researchers cautioned that more accurate tests are still needed to determine which cancers are actually threatening to patients.
Read the full HealthDay News report:
Prostate Size May Be Clue to Severity of Cancer
Erectile drugs might help premature ejaculation
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) -
Most studies looking at whether erectile dysfunction drugs can help men overcome premature ejaculation problems agree that the pills make a difference, but much of the research is flawed, according to a new review of the evidence.
The drugs, which go by the brand names Viagra, Levitra and Cialis, are intended to treat men who have problems getting and keeping an erection.
Asimakopoulos and his colleagues ran into problems trying to compare the studies. For one, they didn't always agree on the definition of premature ejaculation.
The other stumbling block to the group's analysis was that fewer than half of the studies compared the drugs to a placebo, a standard for high-quality studies that helps researchers determine whether the drug itself is responsible for any effects seen.
"There seems to be a global positive effect of these drugs in delaying ejaculation; however, the existing evidence is still partial and their role remains controversial,"
Read the full Reuters Health report:
Erectile drugs might help premature ejaculation
Most studies looking at whether erectile dysfunction drugs can help men overcome premature ejaculation problems agree that the pills make a difference, but much of the research is flawed, according to a new review of the evidence.
The drugs, which go by the brand names Viagra, Levitra and Cialis, are intended to treat men who have problems getting and keeping an erection.
Asimakopoulos and his colleagues ran into problems trying to compare the studies. For one, they didn't always agree on the definition of premature ejaculation.
The other stumbling block to the group's analysis was that fewer than half of the studies compared the drugs to a placebo, a standard for high-quality studies that helps researchers determine whether the drug itself is responsible for any effects seen.
"There seems to be a global positive effect of these drugs in delaying ejaculation; however, the existing evidence is still partial and their role remains controversial,"
Read the full Reuters Health report:
Erectile drugs might help premature ejaculation
Friday, February 10, 2012
Heart Disease May Be Risk Factor for Prostate Cancer (HealthDay)
THURSDAY, Feb. 9 (HealthDay News) -- Heart disease may be a risk factor for prostate cancer, a new study suggests.
If this link is confirmed in future research, it means that lifestyle changes that reduce heart disease risk -- such as weight loss, exercise and a healthy diet -- may also protect men against prostate cancer, the Duke Cancer Institute researchers said.
The Duke researchers found that men with coronary artery disease had a 35 percent greater risk of developing prostate cancer over time and a 24 percent greater risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer within the first two years of the study compared to men who did not have heart disease.
Read the full HealthDay News report:
Heart Disease May Be Risk Factor for Prostate Cancer
Friday, February 3, 2012
Science Shows How Exercise Might Help in Prostate Cancer (HealthDay)
TUESDAY, Jan. 31 (HealthDay News) --
Vigorous exercise causes changes in some 180 prostate genes among men with early stage prostate cancer, a new study suggests.
Included are genes known to suppress tumor growth and repair DNA, which might mean that exercise could prevent or delay progression of the disease, the researchers said.
Read the full HealthDay News report:
Science Shows How Exercise Might Help in Prostate Cancer
Vigorous exercise causes changes in some 180 prostate genes among men with early stage prostate cancer, a new study suggests.
Included are genes known to suppress tumor growth and repair DNA, which might mean that exercise could prevent or delay progression of the disease, the researchers said.
June Chan, associate professor of epidemiology and biostatistics, and urology at the University of California, San Francisco said that there are limitations to this study. Most important, the study was small and so the results could be by chance, she said.
"If confirmed, the results suggest that vigorous physical activity might offer protection against prostate cancer progression," Chan said.
Read the full HealthDay News report:
Science Shows How Exercise Might Help in Prostate Cancer
Study Compares 3 Common Prostate Cancer Treatments (HealthDay)
TUESDAY, Jan. 31 (HealthDay News) --
Experts comparing three leading prostate cancer therapies find external beam radiation therapy to be more toxic and expensive than either surgery or a more localized form of radiation therapy known as brachytherapy.
Study Compares 3 Common Prostate Cancer Treatments
Experts comparing three leading prostate cancer therapies find external beam radiation therapy to be more toxic and expensive than either surgery or a more localized form of radiation therapy known as brachytherapy.
Brachytherapy, the researchers noted, resulted in the fewest number of toxicities involving their genital or urinary organs. Just 3.4 percent of those treated with this therapy experienced these types of problems, such as a narrowing of the urethra or bladder bleeding. Brachytherapy also had the lowest cost per patient per year of about $2,557.
A slightly higher number (6.7 percent) of those treated with prostatectomy experienced problems with their genital or urinary organs. This treatment, the study revealed, had a total cost of about $3,206 per patient-year.
Meanwhile, just over 7 percent of patients who received external beam radiation therapy had these adverse effects. This was also the most expensive therapy, at $6,412 per patient-year. Similarly, 1.7 percent of patients who underwent the treatment had gastrointestinal effects. In contrast, only 0.1 percent of prostatectomy patients and 0.3 percent of brachytherapy patients experienced these issues.
They added their findings are preliminary and more research is needed to investigate why the three prostate cancer therapies produce different results and whether or not certain types of patients are more vulnerable to the long-term effects of a particular treatment.
Experts said decisions about treating the individual patient remain specific to that patient and his disease, however.
Study Compares 3 Common Prostate Cancer Treatments
Study questions proton therapy for prostate cancer (AP)
AP - A warning to men considering a pricey new treatment for prostate cancer called proton therapy: research suggests it might have more side effects than traditional radiation does.
A warning to men considering a pricey new treatment for prostate cancer called proton therapy: Research suggests it might have more side effects than traditional radiation does.
A warning to men considering a pricey new treatment for prostate cancer called proton therapy: Research suggests it might have more side effects than traditional radiation does.
A study of Medicare records found that men treated with proton beams later had one-third more bowel problems, such as bleeding and blockages, than similar men given conventional radiation.
It costs around $48,000 — at least twice as much as other prostate radiation treatments. Hospitals are rushing to build proton centers, and nine are operating now — sites include Boston, Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, Jacksonville, Fla., and Loma Linda, Calif., east of Los Angeles. Promoters often claim it is less likely to cause complications.
"There's no clear evidence that proton therapy is better" for prostate cancer, and the new results suggest it may cause more complications, said Dr. Ronald Chen, a radiation specialist at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
Read the full AP report:
Seed therapy for prostate cancer may zap fertility
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) -
Radioactive "seeds" that are sometimes used to treat early prostate cancer may do widespread damage to the DNA in a man's sperm, a small study finds.
Known as brachytherapy, the treatment involves implanting radiation-emitting pellets into the prostate gland to kill off cancer cells.
The damage, researchers say, would seem to be enough to make a man infertile. And they should be aware of that going into treatment.
Read the full Reuters Health report:
Seed therapy for prostate cancer may zap fertility
Radioactive "seeds" that are sometimes used to treat early prostate cancer may do widespread damage to the DNA in a man's sperm, a small study finds.
Known as brachytherapy, the treatment involves implanting radiation-emitting pellets into the prostate gland to kill off cancer cells.
The damage, researchers say, would seem to be enough to make a man infertile. And they should be aware of that going into treatment.
Men who are having their prostates surgically removed and still want to have children can opt to bank their sperm ahead of treatment.
Similarly, Fleshner said, "if a man is going for brachytherapy, then sperm-banking may be a good idea."
But in weighing treatment options, any man has to discuss the benefits and risks of each with his doctor, according to Fleshner.
In general, any prostate cancer therapy can have lasting side effects, like urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction.
And because brachytherapy is used for early-stage prostate cancer, some men who are candidates for it may also be able to delay having any treatment at all.
That's because prostate cancer is often slow-growing and may never advance to the point of threatening a man's life. So many men with early-stage tumors can opt for "active surveillance" -- which means monitoring the prostate cancer over time to see if it's progressing.
Read the full Reuters Health report:
Seed therapy for prostate cancer may zap fertility
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Drug May Slow Early Prostate Cancer: Study
TUESDAY, Jan. 24 (HealthDay News) --
New research suggests that Avodart, a drug used to treat an enlarged prostate gland, may help slow the progression of early stage prostate cancer, reducing the need for aggressive treatment in some men.
Prostate cancer can grow and spread slowly, which is why some men are urged to engage in so-called watchful waiting when the cancer is first diagnosed. Avodart (dutasteride) may help such men feel comfortable with surveillance as opposed to radical treatment, the researchers noted.
The medication does have side effects, however, including reversible breast enlargement and tenderness and some sexual dysfunction.
Some experts have concerns about 5-alpha reductase inhibitors. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently issued a warning that men who take these drugs to treat enlarged prostate glands may be at increased risk for high-grade prostate cancer.
Read the full HealthDay report here:
Drug May Slow Early Prostate Cancer
New research suggests that Avodart, a drug used to treat an enlarged prostate gland, may help slow the progression of early stage prostate cancer, reducing the need for aggressive treatment in some men.
Prostate cancer can grow and spread slowly, which is why some men are urged to engage in so-called watchful waiting when the cancer is first diagnosed. Avodart (dutasteride) may help such men feel comfortable with surveillance as opposed to radical treatment, the researchers noted.
The medication does have side effects, however, including reversible breast enlargement and tenderness and some sexual dysfunction.
Some experts have concerns about 5-alpha reductase inhibitors. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently issued a warning that men who take these drugs to treat enlarged prostate glands may be at increased risk for high-grade prostate cancer.
Read the full HealthDay report here:
Drug May Slow Early Prostate Cancer
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Don't believe hype about robot prostatectomy: study
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) -
Older men considering robotic surgery for prostate cancer shouldn't trust the rosy ads promoting the expensive technology over low-tech surgery.
That's according to a new survey that found complaints about sexual problems and urinary leakage were equally common after the two procedures.
"I wasn't surprised at all," said Dr. Otis Brawley, chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society, who wasn't involved in the study.
"Unfortunately, robotic prostatectomy -- like many things in prostate cancer -- has gotten a lot more hype than it should."
Read the full Reuters reporter here:Don't believe hype about robot prostatectomy
Older men considering robotic surgery for prostate cancer shouldn't trust the rosy ads promoting the expensive technology over low-tech surgery.
That's according to a new survey that found complaints about sexual problems and urinary leakage were equally common after the two procedures.
"I wasn't surprised at all," said Dr. Otis Brawley, chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society, who wasn't involved in the study.
"Unfortunately, robotic prostatectomy -- like many things in prostate cancer -- has gotten a lot more hype than it should."
Read the full Reuters reporter here:Don't believe hype about robot prostatectomy
PSA screening doesn't prevent cancer deaths: study
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) -
Annual screening for prostate cancer doesn't cut men's chances of dying from the disease, according to the latest results of a large screening trial.
Annual screening for prostate cancer doesn't cut men's chances of dying from the disease, according to the latest results of a large screening trial.
The results support a previous report by the same researchers that found no difference in deaths seven to 10 years after the screening program started.
They are also consistent with recent draft guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommending that average-risk men not undergo regular PSA screening, according to a researcher who worked on the study.
Read the full Reuters report here
PSA screening doesn't prevent cancer deaths
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)