Prostate Cancer Blog for Wives and Partners

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

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:09:41 GMT

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 19:18:08 GMT

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

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 02:06:42 GMT

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.

Prostate Cancer Questions and Answers

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 16:01:03 GMT

This list of common prostate cancer questions and answers makes it easy for you to quickly understand the disease and find key topics you want to learn more about on our site.

Why Do Couples Stop Using ED Drugs?

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:38:01 GMT

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.

Penile Rehabilitation for Erection Problems After Prostate Cancer

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:52:48 GMT

Learn what penile rehabilitation is, and why it’s a hot topic in the prostate cancer medical community.

Hormone Therapy Risks Up For Debate Again

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 22:34:38 GMT

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.

Sex After Prostate Cancer Treatment

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:42:27 GMT

Sex after prostate cancer treatment may be different than before. Here are some tips that you may want to consider.

Study: Hormone Therapy Linked to Increased Blood Clots

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 21:48:21 GMT

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, 04 Dec 2011 21:14:48 GMT

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, 01 Dec 2011 16:31:55 GMT

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.

Prostate Cancer Support Groups For Wives and Partners

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 02:53:00 GMT

A list of prostate cancer support groups specifically for wives and partners.

Study: Radiation Plus Hormone Therapy Improves Survival

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 20:13:46 GMT

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, 08 Nov 2011 19:57:06 GMT

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 21:13:49 GMT

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

Lycopene and Prostate Cancer

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 18:14:22 GMT

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 18:17:20 GMT

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, 07 Oct 2011 23:26:07 GMT

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 21:58:25 GMT

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.

Emerging Concepts in Erectile Preservation

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 21:40:08 GMT

The September/October issue of The International Journal of Impotence Research features an article by Moskovic et al that reviews most the recent data in support of therapies for erectile dysfunction following radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer. We've summarized many of the studies they reviewed on our page about penile rehabilitation, but you may be interested in reading this article, particularly if you are interested in testosterone replacement. September 20, 2011.

Alpharadin Gets Fast Tracked

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 20:59:19 GMT

Alpharadin (radium-223 chloride), an investigational drug for the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer in men whose cancer has spread to the bone (called bone metastasis), has been granted Fast Track designation by the Food and Drug Administration, according to Bayer Health Care. The drug contains an alpha-particle emitting nuclide and mimics many of the behaviors of calcium in the bone. Alpharadin's Phase III ALSYMPCA trial met its primary endpoint by considerably improving overall survival of patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer and symptomatic bone metastases. Results were so impressive that an Independent Data Monitoring Committee recommended that the study be stopped and that the patients on placebo (typically a sugar pill with no medication) be offered Alpharadin therapy. In the US, Fast Track Designation is given to medications that treat serious diseases and fill an unmet medical need. September 15, 2011.

Another Urine Test for Prostate Cancer?

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 18:59:40 GMT

Last year, we reported on a preliminary laboratory research conducted by scientists (Whitaker et al) in the UK, which demonstrated that a protein in urine could be a reliable marker for prostate cancer. Now a study from the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Michigan Center for Translational Pathology suggests that a new urine test (which is not yet available) may help aid early detection of prostate cancer in men who have an elevated PSA. Researchers looked for a gene fusion that is believed to cause prostate cancer (called TMPRSS2:ERG), and a marker (called PCA3), in the urine samples of 1,312 men who had elevated PSAs. You can read the study abstract here. August 11, 2011.

Study: Short-term Hormone Therapy Plus Radiation Therapy Increases Survival

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 16:27:58 GMT

The use of short-term hormone therapy for 4 months before and during radiotherapy in men with stage T1b, T1c, T2a, or T2b prostate cancer, and a PSA level of 20 ng per milliliter or less, was associated with significantly decreased disease-specific mortality and increased overall survival, according to a study by Jones, et al, which was published in the July 14 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. Other studies have reported on the benefits of combining short-term hormone therapy with radiation therapy, but this is the largest randomized trial to date and studied 1,979 men at low and intermediate risk of prostate cancer progression for a period of more than more than nine years, from October 1994 to April 2001 at 212 U.S. and Canadian centers. Read the study abstract. July 19, 2011.

Final Judgment about Java and Prostate Cancer Risk?

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 16:09:26 GMT

Back in 2009, we reported on a prospective investigation that suggested that there may be a relationship between regular coffee consumption and the risk of advanced prostate cancer. Now researchers who conducted a meta analysis of 12 epidemiological studies suggest that there is no evidence to support a harmful effect of coffee consumption on prostate cancer risk. You can read the study abstract, which was published in BJU International, here. July 19, 2011.

Survey: Life after Prostate Cancer Surgery

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 14:41:19 GMT

Reuters Health is reporting that of 152 men surveyed who had radical prostatectomy, almost half said that their life after surgery is worse than they expected, and that they had less sexual function and greater incontinence problems than they anticipated. The results of the survey have been published in an in-press article by Tracey L. Krupski in the Journal of Urology. Despite presurgery counseling, men surveyed may have had unrealistic expectations of regaining full sexual function and urinary control in the first year after surgery. When questioned, about half of the men believed that they would have the same sexual function as before surgery, and seventeen percent of men believed that their sexual function would improve after prostate cancer surgery. It should be noted that the follow-up time of this survey was only one year after the men's surgeries. As we have previously reported, sexual recovery following radical prostatectomy may take longer than one year. July 5, 2011.

Lupron Now Available In Six-Month Injection

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 18:49:14 GMT

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Abbott's new 45 mg for six-month administration formulation of Lupron Depot (leuprolide acetate for depot suspension). Lupron is a medication that works by suppressing the production of the hormone testosterone. It is used as a palliative treatment for men who have advanced prostate cancer. Prior to this, men could get injections every month, every three months, or every four months. June 23, 2011.

AUA Supports Prostate Cancer Legislation

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 20:53:33 GMT

The American Urological Association (AUA) has announced its support for the Prostate Research, Outreach, Screening, Testing, Access and Treatment Effectiveness (PROSTATE) Act of 2011 (H.R. 2159), which was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. The goal of the PROSTATE Act is to foster a more integrated and coordinated focus on prevention, diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer. Read the AUA press release. June 16, 2011.

Experimental Drug Shows Promise for Bone Metastases

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 17:27:19 GMT

According to a Reuters news report, interim results from a midstage clinical trial (presented yesterday at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual meeting), show that the experimental drug cabozantinib shrank bone malignancies caused by prostate cancer in 76 percent of men who took the drug, using bone scan evaluation. These results represent a subset (108 men) of the total number of men (171) who were enrolled in the trial (called a post hoc analysis). According to the study abstract presented by Hussain, et al, cabozantinib showed clinical activity, and provided pain relief, in men with metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer (particularly those men whose prostate cancer spread to the bone), regardless of whether they had prior treatment with chemotherapy (docetaxel). Exelixis Inc. now intends to initiate a phase 3 study by the end of 2011 to evaluate the drug's ability to reduce pain and clear bone lesions. June 7, 2011.

Java for Prostate Cancer?

Thu, 19 May 2011 18:16:48 GMT

Drinking six cups of coffee (regular or decaffeinated) a day appeared to help lower men's risk of getting prostate cancer, according to a retrospective study of 47,911 men by Wilson et al, which was published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Investigators also suggest that the risk of men getting fatal or metastatic prostate cancer is lower in men who consume six cups of coffee a day. Before you start brewing mass mugs of java, bear in mind that the results of this study were based on looking at records of these men, and only 5,035 of the total number of men actually had prostate cancer (and only 642 men had fatal or metastatic cancer). There may have been many other factors that might have caused these outcomes. Read the study abstract. May 19, 2011.

Study: Men’s Sexual Satisfaction Following Prostate Cancer Surgery

Thu, 12 May 2011 19:36:56 GMT

The April edition of the International Journal of Impotence Research includes results of a small study by Messaoudi et al that suggests that radical prostatectomy can adversely affect a man's sexual desire, self-esteem, and masculinity, in addition to erectile and orgasmic functions. The study assessed the impact of prostate cancer surgery on men's sexual health and satisfaction using a questionnaire that was given to two groups of men (63 total) who had radical prostatectomy (with high or lower levels of sexual motivation). The mean age of men was 63.9 years and 74.6% of men were being treated for erectile dysfunction. After prostate cancer surgery, men reported lower sexual desire (52.4%), reduced intercourse frequency (79.4%), anorgasmia, which is the inability to achieve orgasm (39.7%), less satisfying orgasm (38.1%), urination during orgasm, which is called climacturia (25.4%), greater distress (68.3%) and/or lower partner satisfaction (56.5%). Among the most sexually motivated men, 76.0% reported loss of masculine identity, 52% loss of self-esteem and 36.0% anxiety about performance. These rates were lower among less motivated patients (52.6, 28.9, and 18.4%, respectively). May 12, 2011.

Study: Tissue Spacer May Prevent Rectal Burning from Radiation

Mon, 02 May 2011 20:10:43 GMT

Injecting a tissue spacer compound in the prostate-rectal inter-space "essentially eliminated" severe rectal radiation burns in a small study of 34 men with prostate cancer, as reported by Medical News Today. The study findings were presented April 30, 2011, at the Cancer Imaging and Radiation Therapy Symposium in Atlanta, which is sponsored by the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) and Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). Injecting the spacer created, on average, an additional 1 cm separation between the prostate and rectum. This was reported to result in a significant reduction in the rectal dose of radiation that was administered, causing very little damage to the rectum. May 2, 2011.

Study: Salvage Radical Prostatectomy after Radiation Therapy

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 22:10:49 GMT

Freedom from clinical metastasis was observed in greater than 75 percent of men with radiation-recurrent prostate cancer 10 years after they had open salvage surgery, according to data from a retrospective analysis of 404 men, which was published by Chade et al in the March 17 online edition of European Urology. The median age of men was 65 at the time of salvage radical prostatectomy (SRP) and the median pre-SRP PSA was 4.5 ng/ml. Following SRP, 195 men experienced biochemical recurrence, 64 men developed metastases, and 40 men died from prostate cancer. At the 10-year point after SRP, the probability of biochemical-free survival was 37 percent; the probability of metastasis-free survival was 77 percent; and the probability of cancer-specific survival was 83 percent. Unfortunately, this study did not include any information about side effects of SRP, which can be considerable and should always be considered. April 14, 2011.

Medicare to Pay for Provenge

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 22:12:11 GMT

It looks like Medicare will pay the $93,000 it costs for the drug Provenge, according to an Associated Press report. Provenge is a unique therapy for men with metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer (cancer that has spread and does not respond to hormone therapy) that uses the body's own immune system to fight prostate cancer. The active components of Provenge are a man's own immune cells mixed with a protein that is designed to produce an immune response to prostate cancer. When the immune cells of a man with prostate cancer are mixed with the protein, the cells are activated. These activated cells are then infused into a man's body. A clinical study showed that Provenge gave men with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer an extra four months to live. Millions of men will now be able to afford Provenge through the government-backed health care coverage. Medicare's decision should be finalized by June 30. March 31, 2011.

Study: Six Months of Hormone Therapy Plus Radiation Doubled Survival Rate

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 00:07:59 GMT

Men who had locally advanced prostate cancer and received 6 months of hormone therapy, along with radiation treatment (called neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy), halved their risk of dying from prostate cancer compared to men who received radiation therapy alone, according to results of a 10-year clinical trial (Trans-Tasman Radiation Oncology Group or TROG), which was published March 25 in the online edition of The Lancet Oncology. The TROG 96.01 trial assessed the effects of 3-month and 6-month short-term hormone therapy in 818 men with locally advanced prostate cancer. Read the abstract. March 27, 2011.

Modest Decline in PSA Screenings Reported

Thu, 03 Mar 2011 18:50:02 GMT

The number of PSA screenings conducted by the U.S. Veterans Health Administration Pacific Northwest Network has slightly declined, according to a Medical News Today report. The decline was 3 percentage points among men aged 40-54; 2.7 percentage points among men aged 55-74; and 2.2 percentage points among men aged 75 years and older. This modest decline has been attributed to new guidelines for screening, which followed the publication of two large clinical trials in 2009. March 3, 2011.

And a Man’s ED Drug of Choice is…

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 19:07:44 GMT

After analyzing muliptle preference studies, Morales et al have determined that men prefer tadalafil (brand name Cialis) over vardenafil (Levitra) and sildenafil (Viagra), according to their article in the December online edition of International Journal of Impotence Research. A PubMed search was conducted for manuscripts published within the last 10 years containing the search items ED, preference, sildenafil, tadalafil or vardenafil. Selected articles were from peer reviewed publications on patients' preference and ED published in medical literature since 2000. According to the authors, 52 to 65% of men prefer tadalafil compared with 12 to 20% of men who prefer vardenafil and 8 to 30% of men who prefer sildenafil. The authors state that preference for tadalafil was mainly due to "the longer duration of action that increases patients' freedom in sexual life." This isn't exact science, of course. But we can tell you from personal experience that if you are not happy with the results of one ED medication, ask your doctor to try another. February 17, 2011.

Study: No Link Between Prostate Cancer and Vitamin D

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 23:08:18 GMT

Having a higher or lower level of vitamin D does not make men more or less likely to develop prostate cancer, according to new research published in Cancer Causes and Control, as reported by Medical News Today. Other studies have suggested that vitamin D can play a role in helping prostate cancer. The findings of this new research, however, support a review by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which also found there is no evidence that lower levels of vitamin D increase the risk of prostate cancer. More studies are needed to better determine the role vitamin D plays (or does not play) in prostate cancer. February 15, 2011.

Stress Less Before Prostate Cancer Surgery

Thu, 03 Feb 2011 21:54:28 GMT

According to Medical News Today, a new study by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center suggests that if a man practices stress management techniques before his prostate cancer surgery, it may help activate his body's immune response and result in a quicker recovery while aiding his emotional state of mind. These same researchers reported earlier that men who received this training had significantly less mood disturbance and improved quality of life one year after surgery. Stress management was defined as meeting with a psychologist one to two weeks prior to surgery to discuss concerns and learn cognitive techniques. Men also learned deep breathing, guided imagery exercises, mental imagery to prepare for surgery and hospitalization, received a stress management guide, audiotapes of techniques to practice on their own, and had brief booster sessions with the psychologist the morning of their surgery and 48 hours post surgery. The full study will be published in the February/March edition of Psychosomatic Medicine. February 3, 2011.

Men with Prostate Cancer Walk Away Risk of Dying

Thu, 13 Jan 2011 17:36:09 GMT

In a study of 2,705 men who survived nonmetastatic prostate cancer, those men who walked at a normal to brisk pace for at least 90 minutes a week had a 46% lower risk of dying from prostate cancer than men who walked at a more leisurely pace for shorter periods of time, according to a report from Medpage Today. Men who added 3 or more hours of vigorous exercise a week lowered their risk even further. Men were asked to complete a questionnaire that described their type, frequency, and duration of physical activity (which suggests limitations to this study). All of the men who participated in the study had a diagnosis of nonmetastatic prostate cancer and they were followed from 1990 to 2008. The study has been published in the online edition of the Journal of Clinical Oncology. January 13, 2011.

HIFU Clinical Trial

Thu, 13 Jan 2011 00:37:49 GMT

Recruitment is underway for a multi-center clinical trial to investigate High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) with the Sonablate® 500 medical device at up to 20 trial sites in the U.S. and Canada. Men between the ages of 40 and 85 who have had a prostate cancer recurrence two or more years following failed external beam radiation therapy may be eligible if they have biopsy-confirmed, organ-confined recurrent prostate. HIFU is not yet approved for use in the U.S. but is being used in 30 countries. For more information, call (877) 874-4389 or visit www.clinicaltrials.gov to see a complete list of inclusion/exclusion criteria and specific trial site locations. January 12, 2011.

Age Should Not Be a Barrier to Treatment

Tue, 04 Jan 2011 23:56:10 GMT

Results of a University of California, San Francisco study suggest that older men (above age 75) with high-risk prostate cancer may experience earlier death because they are offered fewer and less-effective treatment choices than younger men. Instead of surgery and radiation therapies, these men are often given hormone therapy or are advised to do watchful waiting. The study authors state that old age should not be a barrier to treatments that could potentially cure a man's prostate cancer. The study, which was published in the December 6 online issue of the Journal of Oncology, was based on a database of more than 13,805 men with prostate cancer in the United States. January 4, 2011.

Study Will Evaluate Single Dose Radiation for Prostate Cancer

Tue, 21 Dec 2010 21:39:24 GMT

Radiation oncologists at Beaumont Hospital have launched a research study that will treat men who have low to intermediate risk prostate cancer with a single dose of radiation, according to Medical News Today. This form of treatment is called high-dose rate brachytherapy (HDR). A small radioactive pellet (called a "smart seed") about the size of a grain of rice is temporarily implanted with plastic needles (while a man is under anesthesia) at the prostate cancer tumor site. The procedure takes about three hours, although the actual radiation treatment is only about 15 minutes. No radioactive material is left behind in the man's body. Low and intermediate risk men who qualify for participation in the study include men with T1c through T2b tumors, a Gleason score of 6 or 7, and a PSA that is lower than 15. December 21, 2010.

Silymarin and Selenium and Prostate Cancer Progression

Thu, 09 Dec 2010 15:50:50 GMT

In a small study of 37 men, the combination of silymarin (a milk thistle extract) and selenium (a trace mineral) significantly reduced markers of lipid metabolism, which has been associated with prostate cancer progression, low-density lipoprotein (LDL or bad cholesterol) and total cholesterol, according to a UroToday report. The 37 men received 570 mg of silymarin and 240 μg of selenium daily for six months following radical prostatectomy. No improvements were recorded in the group that did not take the combination (placebo group). In other studies, low dietary selenium has been associated with prostate cancer. December 9, 2010.

Provenge and Medicare Coverage

Sun, 28 Nov 2010 23:48:37 GMT

The Medicare Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee has reviewed the impact of labeled and unlabeled use of Provenge (sipuleucel-T), according to a Dendreon Corporation press release. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a draft guidance memo will be issued by March 30, 2011, and the expected National Coverage Analysis completion date is June 30, 2011. Provenge is the first in a new therapeutic class known as autologous cellular immunotherapies for men with advanced prostate cancer. November 28, 2010.

Can Soy Save Men’s Lives?

Tue, 09 Nov 2010 03:38:47 GMT

Researchers have found that a new, nontoxic drug made from a natural chemical found in soy (called genistein) may prevent cancer cells from spreading from the prostate to other body areas, according to a news report from Northwestern University. This experimental cancer therapy drug has demonstrated success in preclinical animal studies and now appears to show benefits in men with prostate cancer. In this small phase II randomized study of 38 men with localized prostate cancer, men who took genistein in oral form once a day for one month prior to their prostate cancer surgery had beneficial effects on prostate cancer cells. Specifically, genistein increased the expression of genes that suppress the invasion of cancer cells, and decreased the expression of genes that enhance invasion, in the cancer cells from the prostate that were removed and examined after surgery. While this new therapy is promising, more studies are needed to see if this drug can truly prevent cancer cells from metastasizing. These research findings will be presented at the Ninth Annual American Association for Cancer Research Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research Conference. November 8, 2010.

It’s Movember Time Again!

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 23:07:49 GMT

Movember is a month-long event, which raises awareness and funds for men with cancer. The 'Mo', which is slang for moustache, and the month of November, have come together every year for Movember since 2003. Men who participate in Movember commit to growing a moustache for 30 days. Funds raised benefit the Prostate Cancer Foundation and LIVESTRONG. November 1, 2010.

Aspirin for Prostate Cancer?

Thu, 28 Oct 2010 15:36:20 GMT

A new study suggests that aspirin may lower the risk of death in men who have localized prostate cancer, as reported by HealthDay News. In 2009, we reported on another retrospective study by Choe et al, which demonstrated that the use of anti-clotting drugs (aspirin, Coumadin, and Plavix) appeared to lower the chance of prostate cancer recurrence in men who also received radiation treatment. This new study, also led by Dr. Kevin Choe, reviewed the records of 5,272 men with localized prostate cancer who had been treated with surgery or radiation and were taking blood thinners (called anticoagulants). Of those men, 1,649 were taking aspirin, 428 were taking warfarin, 287 were taking clopidogrel (Plavix), 26 were taking enoxaparin, and 408 were taking a combination of blood thinners. The risk of dying from cancer was reported to be reduced by more than half. These findings were presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO). Choe stated that men taking blood-thinning medications had "better outcomes with regards to prostate cancer death and that this benefit was most prominent in patients who had high-risk disease." After an average follow-up of about seven years, only 1 percent of men who had been taking an anticoagulant had died versus 4 percent of those in the control group. At 10 years, 4 percent of those taking one of these medications had died versus 10 percent in the no-blood thinner group. While encouraging, more stringent clinical trials need to be conducted. Always check with your doctor before starting an aspirin regimen because it has its own risks including bleeding. October 28, 2010.

FDA: New Warnings Needed for Hormone Treatments

Thu, 21 Oct 2010 16:57:20 GMT

Reuters is reporting that health officials have stated that hormone treatments for prostate cancer need new warnings about a small increased risk of diabetes and heart problems including sudden death. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stated that the risk of diabetes and heart disease in men treated with the drugs appeared to be low, but that men should be regularly monitored for increased blood sugar or possible signs of heart damage. Doctors should also evaluate a man's risk for diabetes and heart disease before starting treatment and weigh potential side effects versus benefits. The medications, called gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists, include Lupron, Zoladex, Eligard, Trelstar, Vantas, and Synarel, as well as generic versions of these drugs. October 21, 1010.

Urine Test to Determine Prostate Cancer?

Thu, 21 Oct 2010 02:46:25 GMT

Very preliminary laboratory research conducted by scientists (Whitaker et al) in the UK has demonstrated that a protein in urine could be a reliable marker for prostate cancer risk, according to a report from Medical News Today. Results of the study were published online on October 13 in PLoS ONE. The protein microseminoprotein-beta (MSMB) is produced by normal prostate cells and is then secreted into urine from semen. This protein regulates programmed cell death and is linked to an increased risk of developing prostate cancer. A urine test might be a promising new method for prostate cancer screening because levels of this protein seem to be unaffected by other conditions, such as an enlarged prostate, or by hormones. While there is a long way to go, researchers are hopeful that a simple urine test might one day be used along with PSA testing to ensure more reliable results. October 20, 2010.

Your Help is Needed!

Tue, 19 Oct 2010 20:41:27 GMT

A while back we mentioned that Dr. Jo-an Baldwin Peters (PhD) is the principle investigator of an independent online sexuality survey for prostate cancer survivors and their wives/partners (she is also the wife of a prostate cancer survivor). This survey builds upon their previous work about how prostate cancer treatments affect the sexuality of men and their wives/partners. The survey will close at the end of this month and she has informed us that they have not reached their goal of 1,000 responses. Both men and their wives/partners can participate in the survey. If you can spare a few minutes, we encourage you to help by completing the survey. You can access it here. October 19, 2010.