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Posts Tagged ‘prostate cancer’

No Benefit for Hormone Therapy in Low-Risk Prostate Cancer

November 5th, 2009

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According to a new study presented at the American Society for Radiation Oncology 51^st Annual Meeting, men with low-risk prostate cancer who undergo radiation therapy do not need to be treated with hormone therapy. Hormone treatment does not improve survival in this group of prostate cancer patients.

This study, involving 1979 men with prostate cancer, is the largest prostate cancer study to date. Study participants were randomly assigned to receive either hormone therapy plus radiation or radiation alone. After 8 years of follow-up, the overall survival and prostate cancer-specific survival were similar between the two groups of patients. Since hormone therapy can lead to loss of sexual function and liver toxicity, being able to skip hormone treatment means fewer adverse side effects for low-risk prostate cancer patients.

This new study definitively establishes that there is no benefit to hormone therapy in men with low-risk prostate cancer. On the other hand, short-term hormone treatment does improve survival in men with intermediate-risk prostate cancer. This study is the first to demonstrate compelling evidence of survival benefit in men with intermediate-risk patients with prostate cancer. However, the radiation doses and techniques used in this study are outdated, and it may be that the higher doses of radiation that are given now would eliminate the need for hormone therapy.

Source:

American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) 51^st Annual Meeting, Presented 2 November 2009.

Created on: 11/04/2009
Reviewed on: 11/04/2009

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Posted in Health Tips, Mens health, News, Uncategorized

Tags: 2 November, 8 Years, Adverse Side Effects, Cancer Radiation, Cancer Study, Cancer Survival, Compelling Evidence, Hormone Therapy, hormone treatment, Liver Toxicity, prostate cancer, Prostate Cancer Patients, Prostate Radiation, Radiation Doses, Radiation Oncology, Radiation Therapy, Risk Patients, Sexual Function, Study Participants, Survival Benefit

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Denosumab Increases Bone Density In Prostate Cancer Patients

August 26th, 2009

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Prostate cancer patients treated with androgen-deprivation therapy are at risk for bone loss and increased likelihood of fracture.

According to a study published in the August 20, 2009 issues of New England Journal of Medicine, treatment with a monoclonal antibody called denosumab was associated with increased bone density and reduced incidence of new fractures affecting the spine among men receiving androgen-deprivation therapy for non-metastatic prostate cancer.

Scientists from the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and their colleagues randomly assigned androgen-deprivation therapy-treated prostate cancer patients to receive either denosumab or a placebo every 6 months. The researchers found that, at 24 months, bone density of the lumbar spine had increased 5.6% among prostate cancer patients in the denosumab group as compared with a loss of 1.0% in the placebo group. Denosumab therapy was also associated with significant increases in bone density at the total hip, femoral neck, and distal third of the radius. Furthermore, significant differences in bone density between the two groups were detected as early at 1 month and sustained through 36 months of follow-up. Prostate cancer patients who received denosumab also had a decreased incidence of new vertebral fractures at 36 months.

Based on the findings of this study, denosumab therapy significantly reduces the bone-related adverse effects of androgen-deprivation therapy among patients with non-metastatic prostate cancer.

Source:

NEJM. 2009:361:745-755.

Created on: 08/26/2009
Reviewed on: 08/26/2009

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Posted in Health Tips, Mens health, News, Uncategorized

Tags: Adverse Effects, Bone Density, Bone Loss, Cancer Scientists, Denosumab, England Journal Of Medicine, Fracture, Hospital Cancer Center, Journal Of Medicine, Lumbar Spine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Medicine Treatment, Metastatic Prostate Cancer, Monoclonal Antibody, New England Journal, New England Journal Of Medicine, Placebo Group, prostate cancer, Prostate Cancer Patients, Vertebral Fractures

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Prostate pointers: Put a finger on prostate cancer

November 6th, 2008

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by Dr. Miriam Joy C. Calaguas, FCR

Men, like women, also have to go through some changes as they reach their prime. Sadly, most men will prefer to go through these changes in silence. They will definitely not brag about how they are beginning to have trouble urinating.

Problems in urination among men are telltale signs of enlargement of the prostate gland. The prostate is a walnut sized gland beside the rectum that secretes fluid that is a component of semen. The prostate surrounds the uretha (the canal that empties urine from the urinary bladder), so when it enlarges, it causes urination problems, such as:

* Frequent urination, especially at night
* Difficulty starting urination
* Weak or interrupted urine flow;
* Feeling that some urine is retained in the bladder. (more…)

Posted in Mens health

Tags: Cancer Cells, Digital Rectal Examination, Doctor Inserts, Frequent Urination, Laparoscope, Linear Accelerator, Perineum, Prostate Biopsy, prostate cancer, Prostate Enlargement, Prostate Gland, Prostate Pointers, Prostate Specific Antigen, Radiation Therapy, Telltale Signs, Trouble Urinating, Uretha, Urinary Bladder, Urination Problems, Urine Flow

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Do you need a statin drug?

October 24th, 2008

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by Tyrone M. Reyes, M.D.

The case for taking cholesterol-lowering statin drugs, already among the world’s most widely prescribed medications, keeps getting stronger. Mounting evidence suggests using the drugs, such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), simvastatin (generic, Zocor, others), rosuvastatin (Crestor), fluvastatin (Lescol), and pravastatin (Lipostat, others), to push cholesterol well below the levels once thought unnecessary. Other research suggests that statins may protect the heart even in people who have ideal blood cholesterol levels by reducing the inflammation of the coronary arteries.

Statins may also help prevent or treat other common disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, osteoporosis, prostate cancer, and rheumatoid arthritis. And statins are getting less expensive, now that other generic versions of these drugs are coming on the market.

But that doesn’t mean everyone should rush to take these medications. Statins pose potentially serious risks, and the evidence is still too weak to justify taking them for anything but their heart benefits. So if your doctor prescribes a statin for you, observe the following safety tips: Have your liver function tested before starting the drug and periodically afterward. Call your doctor promptly if:

• Your muscles become achy, tender, or weak while you’re taking any statin; or,

• You develop stinging or burning pain in your hands or feet. (more…)

Posted in Health Tips

Tags: Atorvastatin, Blood Cholesterol Levels, Cholesterol Drugs, Coronary Arteries, Crestor, Disease Osteoporosis, Generic Versions, Heart Benefits, Heart Healthy Diet, Lescol, Lifestyle Changes, Liver Function, Pravastatin, prostate cancer, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Rosuvastatin, Simvastatin, Statin Drug, Statin Drugs, Zocor

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The war on prostate cancer begins with proper education

July 24th, 2008

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by MICHAEL D. BAÑOS

Cagayan De Oro City — Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy among males worldwide although available statistics rank it third among the top causes of morbidity among males in the country.

Despite this, the Philippine Urological Association said it is highly curable in its early stages but ignorance about the disease and the lack of hard information in the medical community are two biggest constraints to bringing it further down the list.

To address this problem, the group spearheaded a nationwide free consultation using digital rectal examination two weeks ago to gather hard data on the exact extent of its morbidity and mortality, as well as encourage males 45 years and above to undergo the free examination. (more…)

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