Prostate Cancer Blog for Wives and Partners

FDA Approves Xofigo

Thu, 30 May 2013 15:39:53 -0400

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Xofigo® (radium 223 dichloride) for the treatment of men with castration-resistant prostate cancer, symptomatic bone metastases, and no known visceral metastatic disease (prostate cancer in the organs in the cavities of the body), according to Bayer HealthCare. Xofigo is the first alpha particle-emitting radioactive therapeutic agent approved by the FDA that demonstrated improvement in overall survival and delay in time to first symptomatic skeletal event compared to placebo in the Phase III ALSYMPCA trial. The first doses are expected to be ready in a few weeks. May 30, 2013.

New Prostate Cancer Test

Thu, 9 May 2013 15:50:44 -0400

A new test (Oncotype DX®) that predicts disease aggressiveness and offers information beyond current PSA testing and a biopsy Gleason Score is now available, according to Geonomic Health, Inc. The new test is being hailed as a way to help men with prostate cancer and their doctors choose the most appropriate treatment based on an individualized risk assessment. The test measures the level of expression of 17 genes across four biological pathways to predict prostate cancer aggressiveness. In a validation study of 395 men, information obtained from the test significantly increased the number of men who were identified as having very low risk prostate cancer and were candidates for active surveillance. May 9, 2013.

Study: Genetic Signature May Help Predict Need for Treatment After Prostate Cancer Surgery

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 14:18:00 -0400

A genetic signature (a group of genes in a type of cell that have a combined expression pattern that is a unique characteristic of a medical condition) that appears to reflect the risk of prostate cancer tumor recurrence — or the spread of cancer — in men who have undergone surgery for prostate cancer has been identified by a team led by Massachusetts General Hospital researchers. If other studies can confirm these findings, it may help determine whether men will need additional treatment after radical prostatectomy. It may also help distinguish prostate cancer tumors that need to be treated aggressively from tumors that can be safely monitored. The results of the study appear online in PNAS Early Edition. April 16, 2013.

American College of Physicians Issues New PSA Guidelines

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 11:34:34 -0400

Doctors should inform men ages 50 to 69 years about the limited potential benefits and substantial potential harms of prostate cancer screening, according to "Screening for Prostate Cancer: A Guidance Statement from the American College of Physicians." April 11, 2013.

Study: Intermittent Hormone Therapy vs. Continuous Therapy

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 11:25:21 -0400

Men with metastatic prostate cancer who had on-and-off hormone therapy did not live as long as men who had continuous treatment (5.1 years vs. 5.8 years), according to a University of Michigan Health System press release about a study by Hussain et al that followed 1,535 men for nearly ten years. The study authors concluded, however, that their results were statistically inconclusive because “too few events occurred to rule out significant inferiority of intermittent therapy.” Results of the study were published in the April 4 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. April 11, 2013.

Study: Genetic Condition Linked to Prostate Cancer Risk

Tue, 2 Apr 2013 20:19:07 -0400

Men who have Lynch syndrome — an inherited genetic condition — have a higher lifetime risk of developing prostate cancer, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center. These men also seem to develop prostate cancer at an earlier age. April 2, 2013.

Men Needed for Research Study

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 20:36:08 -0400

Researchers at George Mason University are conducting a study to learn more about how the internet affects men’s experiences living with prostate cancer. Your responses may help others understand how internet sites related to prostate cancer can be improved. This study involves completing an online survey, which should take you 10 minutes or less. Your answers will be confidential. Your participation is completely voluntary and the survey may be stopped at any time without penalty to you. Click on the link below to get to the survey or contact Camella Rising at crising@gmu.edu. The survey ends on April 25, 2013. March 29, 2013

Study: Women Can Motivate Men to Seek ED Treatment

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 11:54:29 -0400

There are specific ways that women can motivate men to seek professional help for erectile dysfunction (ED), according to a study by Gerster et al, published in the International Journal of Impotence Research. While the study only included twelve couples, it does provide ten recommendations (click on "Info Box 1" near the end of the page) that may be helpful for both supporting and talking to your partner about his ED. March 19, 2013.

Surgery or Radiation for Prostate Cancer: Is One Better Than the Other?

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 11:07:01 -0400

An abstract presented at the 28th Annual EAU Congress in Milan reveals that a large Swedish observational study has demonstrated that radical prostatectomy is superior to radiation therapy in men with localized prostate cancer while a long-term study published in the March issue of the Journal of Oncology shows that radioactive seed implants is just as effective as prostate cancer surgery. Which one should you believe? It’s important to read clinical studies with discernment, paying close attention to how many men were included in the study, how severe the men’s disease was, and what the study methods were. Click the link below for more helpful information about reading clinical studies. March 18, 2013.

Study: Influence of Stress on Prostate Cancer Treatment

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 13:45:01 -0500

Researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center have demonstrated that induced stress in mice implanted with human prostate cancer cells negatively affected androgen ablation therapy with the drug bicalutamide. Prostate cancer tumors decreased in size in mice that were kept calm while mice that were subjected to repeated stress did not respond as well to treatment. Stress also accelerated the development of prostate cancer. Researchers believe that adrenaline initiates a cellular reaction that controls cell death, according to a Science News report. The study (by Hassan et al) appears in the January online version of the Journal of Clinical Investigation. January 29, 2013.

Fiber May Play a Fabulous Role in Prostate Cancer

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 15:59:05 -0500

Researchers are suggesting that a high-fiber diet may prevent the progression of early-stage prostate cancer. Science Daily has reported on an animal study in the January 2013 issue of Cancer Prevention Research, which demonstrated that mice fed with a major component of high-fiber diets (called inositol hexaphosphate or IP6) had radically reduced tumor volumes. While promising, human studies are needed. January 10, 2013.

MRI-guided Biopsy for Prostate Cancer

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 16:15:55 -0500

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) used in combination with real-time ultrasound is a more accurate method of detecting prostate cancer, according to a UCLA study published in the online January 2013 issue of The Journal of Urology, as reported by ScienceDaily. Researchers worked with 171 men with elevated PSA scores who were monitoring slow-growing prostate cancers through active surveillance (watchful waiting). It was reported that MRI and ultrasound fusion biopsy was shown to be more accurate than conventional biopsy, may lead to fewer biopsies, and early detection of prostate cancer. December 11, 2012.

Prostate Cancer Books

Sat, 8 Dec 2012 13:30:30 -0500

Prostate cancer books that may help you and your loved one as you cope with the disease.

Study: Cabozantinib and Metastatic Cancer to the Bone

Thu, 6 Dec 2012 21:34:38 -0500

Improvements in bone scans were reported in approximately two-thirds of patients treated with cabozantinib, according to a new study reported by researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center. Medical News Today is reporting that the drug had the most effect on tumors that spread to a man’s bones, which is a primary site for the spread of prostate cancer. December 6, 2012.

Xtandi® (Enzalutamide) Receives FDA Approval

Tue, 4 Sep 2012 13:46:15 -0400

The FDA has approved Xtandi capsules for men with metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer who have previously used the chemotherapy drug docetaxel. In a clinical trial, men who received Xtandi lived nearly five months longer (median overall survival) than men who did not receive the drug (18.4 months vs. 13.6 months), according to a Medivation press release. Xtandi is an oral, once-daily androgen receptor inhibitor. It is expected to cost about $7,450 a month, according to The New York Times . It may also be some time before it is readily available in US pharmacies. September 4, 2012.

Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

Tue, 28 Aug 2012 17:44:12 -0400

September is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness of the disease and to support research efforts. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men in the United States. This past year, we have seen the pendulum swing backward by de-emphasizing the value of PSA testing. While we agree that PSA testing has its limitations (and we hope that better diagnostic tests will be developed this year) it does save lives. A study published in The Journal of Urology on August 23 indicates that thanks to PSA testing, survival has improved for men with newly diagnosed prostate cancer that has spread to the bones or other areas of the body. And that’s something to celebrate. August 28, 2012.

Study: Circulating Free Testosterone an Independent Predictor of Advanced Disease

Fri, 17 Aug 2012 19:27:24 -0400

Schnoeller et al have published a study in the online first edition of World Journal of Urology that demonstrated that low levels of free testosterone (<0.047µg/l) in men with localized prostate cancer were significantly associated with higher tumor stage, positive lymph node status, and advanced disease. Researchers measured sex hormone serum levels in 137 men before undergoing radical prostatectomy. The study authors suggest that measuring pre-treatment total testosterone levels in addition, or in combination, with PSA testing may be a useful prognostic parameter for men prior to radical prostatectomy. August 17, 2012

Study: Vaccine Therapy Plus Radiation Not Much Different Than Radiation Alone

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 15:11:22 -0400

Combing external beam radiation therapy with a poxviral vector-based therapeutic vaccine (interleukin-2 (S-IL-2) did not result in significant differences in overall survival, compared to radiation therapy alone, in a small study that followed 36 men with localized prostate cancer for up to six-and-a-half years. The study appears in the September issue of Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Disease (it was first published in the March advance online publication). August 16, 2012

Can No Treatment Be The Best Treatment For Prostate Cancer?

Tue, 7 Aug 2012 15:16:29 -0400

There’s been a lot of press about whether men should opt for active surveillance (also known as watchful waiting) instead of aggressively treating prostate cancer. This morning, a Johns Hopkins health alert arrived stating that: “active surveillance is usually appropriate for men with very low-risk prostate cancer whose estimated life expectancy is less than 20 years.” Johns Hopkins’ prostate cancer experts consider a man to be at very low risk if he has: a stage T1c (PSA-detected) tumor; a Gleason score (the sum of the primary and secondary Gleason grades) of 6 or below; prostate cancer in no more than two biopsy cores with cancer present in 50 percent or less of any core; and PSA density (PSA divided by prostate volume on ultrasound) below 0.15 ng/mL/cc. August 7, 2012

Multiple Biopsies, Robotic Surgery, and Erectile Dysfunction

Thu, 19 Jul 2012 13:14:28 -0400

Men who have multiple biopsies for prostate cancer prior to nerve-sparing robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) may have poorer outcomes for erectile dysfunction, according to a study (Sooriakumaren et al) published in the July/August issue of the International Journal of Impotence Research. Between May 2009 and December 2009, 367 men who had RARP were divided into two groups: men who had a single prostate biopsy and men who had multiple biopsies. Men who had multiple biopsies had poorer erectile function six months after RARP (57% vs 80%). It should be noted that there were only 50 men followed in the single biopsy group, 23 men in the multiple biopsy group, and a single surgeon performed all of the RARPs. It would be interesting to see the outcomes of a similar study for men who have had traditional radical prostatectomy. We also do not think that six months is long enough to measure sexual recovery (which is why we always encourage couples to be patient the first few years following any type of prostate cancer surgery). We would love to know how these men are doing three years after RARP. July 19, 2012

The Good (And Bad) Affordable Healthcare Act News

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 17:40:27 -0400

The fact that the Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Healthcare Act (AHA) in its entirety gives prostate cancer survivors continued access to affordable health insurance. Unfortunately it puts early detection for prostate cancer at risk, according to a recent ZERO press release. ZERO states that the United States Preventive Services Task Force’s (USPSTF) recent recommendation to change prostate cancer to a grade of D discourages men from getting tested for prostate cancer, which may lead private health insurance companies, Medicare, and Medicaid to stop providing coverage for PSA testing. USPSTF is responsible for establishing the required list of preventive services that both government agencies and private insurance companies must pay for. July 12, 2012

New Prostate Cancer Test

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 18:04:50 -0400

Last month Beckman Coulter, Inc. announced that it had received Premarket Approval (PMA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the Prostate Health Index, a simple, non-invasive blood test that they claim is 2.5-times more specific in detecting prostate cancer than prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in patients with PSA values in the 4-10 ng/mL range. They also claim it is proven to reduce the number of biopsies. July 10, 2012

Black Tea and Prostate Cancer Risk?

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 14:39:00 -0400

Over the years, research about the benefits of drinking green tea (an antioxidant) for prostate cancer has resulted in mixed results. Now a new study published in Nutrition and Cancer has linked high consumption of black tea (greater than or equal to 7 cups daily) to risk of men developing prostate cancer. While the media has jumped all over this story, read this excellent response from the "New" Prostate Cancer InfoLink about the limitations of this study. June 26, 2012.

News About Abiraterone Acetate Plus Prednisone in Men with Metastatic Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer

Tue, 5 Jun 2012 16:28:33 -0400

Results observed from a pre-specified interim analyses of a randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 3 study (COU-AA-302) demonstrated that men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who were treated with abiraterone acetate (brand name Zytiga®) plus prednisone showed a statistically significant improvement in radiographic progression-free survival and all secondary endpoints, compared to men who were treated with placebo (pill without medication) plus prednisone, according to a press release issued by Janssen Research & Development, LLC, which is part of Johnson & Johnson. These results were announced at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting on June 2. Abiraterone acetate is currently only approved for use in combination with prednisone for the treatment of men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who have received prior chemotherapy containing docetaxel. You can read the full press release here. June 5, 2012.

Controversy Over PSA Screening Continues

Tue, 5 Jun 2012 15:54:10 -0400

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) issued a statement that it “recommends against prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-based screening for prostate cancer. This is a grade D recommendation. This recommendation applies to men in the U.S. population that do not have symptoms that are highly suspicious for prostate cancer, regardless of age, race, or family history...” We beg to differ, as do many leading organizations in the prostate cancer community, including the American Urologic Association, Society of Urologic Oncologists, American Society for Radiation Oncology, Prostate Cancer Research Institute (PCRI), American Cancer Society, Johns Hopkins, the Mayo Clinic, and others, according to a recent mailing by PCRI. You can read both supporting and opposing comments here. June 5, 2012.

XGEVA® (denosumab) Does Not Receive FDA Approval

Thu, 3 May 2012 21:22:23 -0400

The FDA has not approved the use of denosumab to treat men with castration-resistant prostate cancer at high risk of developing bone metastases, according to an Amgen press release. The FDA determined that the effect on bone metastases-free survival was of insufficient magnitude to outweigh the risks (including osteonecrosis of the jaw) of denosumab in the intended population, and requested data from adequate and well-controlled trials demonstrating a favorable risk-benefit profile for denosumab. May 3, 2012.

Small High Intensity Focused Ultrasound Study Shows Promise

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 18:18:43 -0400

Although high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is not approved for use in the United States, a small UK study by Ahmed et al, is reporting favorable results in the early online version of The Lancet Oncology. With HIFU, small lumps of cancerous prostate tissue are removed, making it somewhat similar to lumpectomy for breast cancer. Then soundwaves cause targeted tissue to heat up, which kills the cancer cells. Proponents claim that HIFU is extremely accurate, effective, and has fewer side effects than conventional treatments, such as radical prostatectomy. In this study of 42 men, 12 months after starting HIFU treatment (some men had treatment more than once), 40 men had pad-free continence, 31 men (out of 35 who were able to have penetrative intercourse at baseline) were able to maintain erections sufficient for penetration, and 95% of men were free of clinically significant cancer. While promising, larger long-term studies need to be conducted. April 17, 2012.

Study: Antifungal Treatment for Prostate Cancer

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:17:21 -0400

Antifungal treatment is sometimes used in men with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). In a recent study by Antonarakis et al, 46 men with CRPC either received daily 200 mg or 600 mg of the antifungal drug itraconazole (Sporanox is the brand name). Results of the study have not yet been published, but were presented at the American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting. MedPage Today reported that men in the high-dose itraconazole group had a progression-free survival (PFS) of 48.4% at 24 weeks versus 11.8% for the men in the 200-mg group. The median PFS was 17 weeks for the high-dose group and 11.9 weeks for the low-dose group. April 12, 2012.

Study: Brachytherapy and Men with Gleason 7 Prostate Cancer

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 12:00:12 -0400

Researchers in British Columbia who compared the records of 1,500 men with prostate cancer (439 men had Gleason 7 disease; 362 men had Gleason 3+4 and 77 men had 4+3 disease) have determined that treatment with I-125 brachytherapy seeds with 6 months of hormone treatment demonstrated excellent biochemical no evidence of disease (using the Phoenix definition of biochemical recurrence, which is nadir PSA + 2.0 ng/mL following brachytherapy) in men with Gleason 7 disease after 5 years. They also found no difference in results between men with Gleason 3+4 or 4+3 disease. These men received I-125 prostate brachytherapy without supplemental external beam radiation therapy. But most men also received 6 months of hormone treatment. March 29, 2012

Prostate Cancer Statistics for 2012

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 15:29:02 -0400

Before you read these prostate cancer statistics, remember that every man is different and every case of prostate cancer is different.

Canadian Warnings About Finasteride and Dutasteride

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 14:31:54 -0400

Health Canada has issued new safety warnings about Proscar, Avodart, and Jalyn, which are used to treat an enlarged prostate, according to CNC news. Updates to labels for generic forms of these drugs will also be issued. The warnings come on the heels of two international clinical trials, which demonstrated that men aged 50 and older who used 5 mg of finasteride and dutasteride for four years had a small but statistically significant increased risk of high-grade prostate cancer. High-grade prostate cancer grows and spreads more quickly than low-grade prostate cancer. March 20, 2012.

Study Participants Needed

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 20:41:32 -0400

Researchers at Mount Allison University are conducting a study examining the psychological side effects of prostate cancer treatment. If you or your partner are currently undergoing such treatment and would be interested in participating in or learning more about the study, call 1-506-364-2649, E-mail mashlabprostatecancerstudy@gmail.com, or click on the link below to register online. March 15, 2012.

Prostate cancer recurrence and keeping the faith

Sat, 3 Mar 2012 13:04:08 -0500

Keeping the faith despite prostate cancer recurrence, one man's story

Progensa® Receives FDA Approval

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 18:02:07 -0500

Last week, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Progensa® PCA3, Gen-Probe's prostate cancer gene 3 assay, which is the first urine-based molecular test to help determine if men who had a previous biopsy that was negative for prostate cancer need a repeat biopsy. February 23, 2012.

No Expanded Indication for Denosumab

Thu, 9 Feb 2012 18:41:54 -0500

A Food and Drug Administration (FDA) panel has almost unanimously (12 to 1) voted against expanding the indication for denosumab (Xgeva), which would have allowed men with castration-resistant prostate cancer to take the drug to help prevent their cancer from spreading to the bone, according to a MedPage Today news report. FDA's Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee concluded that the risks associated with Xgeva did not outweigh the benefit. Xgeva is a fully human monoclonal antibody that binds to RANK Ligand, a protein essential for the formation, function, and survival of osteoclasts (the cells that break down bone). Xgeva prevents RANK Ligand from activating its receptor, RANK, on the surface of osteoclasts, thereby decreasing bone destruction. It is currently approved to prevent skeletal-related events in men with advanced prostate cancer that has already spread to the bone. February 9, 2012

Study: Robotic-assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy vs Open Radical Prostatectomy is a Draw

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:09:41 -0500

Medicare-age men should not expect fewer adverse effects following robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, according to a study by Gallagher et al, which was published online first in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Using 20% of Medicare claims files for August 1, 2008, through December 31, 2008, the study authors sent out a survey to 797 men about 14 months following their surgeries that included self-ratings of problems with continence and sexual function. Of that number, 406 men had robotic-assisted surgery and 220 men had open radical prostatectomy. Robotic-assisted prostatectomy was not associated with greater problems with sexual function, but was associated with a nonsignificant trend toward greater problems with continence. The study authors conclude that risks of problems with continence and sexual function are high after both procedures. The "New" Prostate Cancer Infolink first reported this and provide their excellent analysis here. January 31, 2012.

MRIs Changed Course of Robotic Surgery

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:18:08 -0500

When men undergoing robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy had magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the prostate gland prior to their procedures, it changed the surgeon's decision to use a nerve-sparing technique in 27% of men, according to results from a single-center study, published by McClure, et al in the January 24th online edition of Radiology. January 26, 2012.

Prostate Cancer Online Sexuality Survey Results Now Available

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 21:06:42 -0500

Dr. Jo-an Baldwin Peters (PhD) just contacted me to let me know that results of her independent online sexuality survey for prostate cancer survivors and their partners (and other helpful articles) are now available online. Dr. Baldwin and her fellow research partners conducted the survey as a follow up to her earlier work on how prostate cancer treatments impinge on the sexuality of both partners. January 21, 2012.

Why Do Couples Stop Using ED Drugs?

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:38:01 -0500

Between 15% to 60% of couples stop using oral medications for erectile dysfunction (ED). Moskovic, et al, conducted 155 interviews to determine why couples stop using them in a study that was published in the International Journal of Impotence Research.Thirty-four percent of men said their main reason for stopping usage of ED medication was cost. "Partner issues" from the men's perspective were seldom discussed. For women, however, "partner issues" meant a range of problems from separation to alcohol abuse, lack of communication, lack of confidence, or fear of failure. The authors concluded that women had a different perspective on the reasons for stopping the use of ED medications. January 12, 2012.

Hormone Therapy Risks Up For Debate Again

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:34:38 -0500

Over the last few years, several studies have suggested that hormone therapy (androgen deprivation therapy) for prostate cancer increases a man's risk of death due to cardiovascular problems. A meta analysis published in the December issue of JAMA, however, states that hormone therapy was not associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular death. Nguyen et al, reviewed the records of 4,141 men from 8 randomized trials (you can read the abstract here. Another study published in Cancer in early December links the development of blood clots in men over age 65 who receive hormone therapy. In this study, Edhaie et al, reviewed the records of 154,000 men with localized prostate cancer. They reported a 56 percent increased risk of blood clots in men being treated with hormone therapy versus those men who did not receive hormone therapy. Read the abstract. December 22, 2011.

Study: Hormone Therapy Linked to Increased Blood Clots

Sun, 4 Dec 2011 16:48:21 -0500

A study by Ehdaie et al suggests that hormone therapy for prostate cancer may raise the risk of potentially dangerous blood clots, according to a Reuters Health report. Researchers reviewed data from more than 154,000 men with prostate cancer who were age 65 or older. The men who received hormone therapy had double the rate of blood clots in the veins, arteries, or lungs versus the men who did not receive hormone therapy. Fifteen percent of the 58,000-plus men who received hormone therapy developed a blood clot within about 4 years, compared to seven percent of men who did not receive hormone therapy. December 4, 2011.

BBQ Beef Linked to Aggressive Prostate Cancer

Sun, 4 Dec 2011 16:14:48 -0500

Higher intake of well-done grilled or barbequed red meat and ensuing carcinogens could increase the risk of aggressive prostate cancer, according to a study by Punnen et al, published in PloSONE. Eating more ground beef or processed meats were positively associated with aggressive prostate cancer, with ground beef showing the strongest association. Grilled or barbequed meat, especially more well-done meat, were also associated with a higher risk of aggressive prostate cancer. You can read the study here. December 4, 2011.

After Prostate Cancer Diagnosis, Where to Begin

Thu, 1 Dec 2011 11:31:55 -0500

After your loved one's prostate cancer diagnosis, it's important to develop an action plan. But it may be hard to think clearly. Here's how to get started.

Study: Radiation Plus Hormone Therapy Improves Survival

Tue, 8 Nov 2011 15:13:46 -0500

Men who added radiation therapy to hormone therapy lived significantly longer than men who had hormone therapy alone, according to results from a study of 1,205 men with locally advanced prostate cancer (cancer that extended outside the surface of the prostate gland, but had not spread further). Medical News Today reports that 74 percent of men were still alive at the seven-year point in the combined radiotherapy plus hormone therapy group, compared with 66 percent in the hormone-only group. You can read the full article here. November 8, 2011.

It is Movember Again!

Tue, 8 Nov 2011 14:57:06 -0500

Movember (the month formerly known as November) is a time when men around the world are being asked to grow a mustache to help raise funds and awareness of men's health, including prostate cancer. You can learn more by visiting their worldwide website page. November 8, 2011.

Support Your Man With Prostate Cancer

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 17:13:49 -0400

Here are some ideas you may want to consider to support your man with prostate cancer.

Lycopene and Prostate Cancer

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 14:14:22 -0400

Lycopene has been studied to determine if it can prevent prostate cancer, or slow or prevent prostate cancer progression.

Your Voice Counts!

Sun, 16 Oct 2011 14:17:20 -0400

Earlier this week we reported on a US Preventive Services Task Force's (USPSTF) draft recommendation that men should not routinely receive PSA testing. Please consider sending your comments anonymously to the USPSTF panel (they do not ask for ID or require that you be a US citizen). When the same panel recommended doing away with mammograms, the public outcry caused them to reconsider. The American Urological Association will be submitting formal comments on behalf of organized urology, but they are calling for members of the prostate cancer community to voice their opinions. You can submit your comments here. October 16, 2011.

US Government Says Men Should Not Routinely Be Tested for Prostate Cancer

Fri, 7 Oct 2011 19:26:07 -0400

The prostate cancer community is up in arms today over a draft recommendation from the US Preventive Services Task Force (which was organized by the Department of Health and Human Services) that men should not be routinely tested for prostate cancer. Zero sent a notice stating that the decision "contradicts prostate cancer testing recommendations from medical and professional organizations, including the National Comprehensive Cancer Network and American Urological Association." The Washington Post reported that the 16-member panel was chaired by a professor of pediatrics. According to Zero, there was not a urologist or a medical oncologist on the panel. You can read the full draft recommendation here. You can also read comments by Zero's chief executive in this MSNBC article here. October 7, 2011.

Calcium and Prostate Cancer Risk in African American Men

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 17:58:25 -0400

A study by epidemiologists at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and colleagues suggests that a high intake of calcium causes prostate cancer among African-American men who are genetically good absorbers of the mineral. Researchers examined VDR Cdx2 genotype and calcium intake (assessed by a food frequency questionnaire) in 533 African-American men who had prostate cancer (256 men had advanced stage at diagnosis while 277 had localized prostate cancer) and 250 African-American men who did not have prostate cancer. September 20, 2011.