A December 20th article by Associated Press medical writer Lauran Neergaard illustrated the difference between “watchful waiting” and “active surveillance” for men diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer. Most of the 240,000 cases of prostate cancer diagnosed annually in the United States are in the “low-risk” category. Yet 90% of these men seek immediate treatment and more »
1) The November 16th, 2011 issue of the Newsletter from Zero-The Project to End Prostate Cancer, published an interesting article from the New York Times entitled “A Watch-and-Wait Prostate Cancer Treatment.” The article focused on the PSA screening and subsequent actions that a man over the age of 70 can take to keep his prostate more »
Positive Phase 3 clinical trial results for the drug MDV3100 in men whose prostate cancers had progressed after failing hormonal therapy and chemotherapy have recently been reported in a special edition of the Prostate Cancer Foundation Newsletter, November 7th, 2011 (see http://www.pcf.org/site). Such positive results were observed that the trial was stopped early and the more »
I often consider my prostate cancer as “my problem.” I am focused on being maintained in a symptom-free condition for as long as possible, or potential treatments as needed and finally focused on not dying of the disease. But God sees my condition from a totally different viewpoint. From my personal perspective, it is often more »
At the annual American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting in Chicago in June 2011, the Prostate Cancer Foundation September 30th newsletter reported on promising Phase III clinical trial results for radium-223 chloride (alpharadin), an agent specifically being developed for cancer patients with bone metastases. The drug works by emitting small doses of alpha particle radiation that more »
In an article published in the International Journal of Paleopathology, a research team in Portugal has recently diagnosed the oldest known case of prostate cancer in ancient Egypt and the second oldest documented case in the world. The earliest diagnosis came from a 2,700 year-old skeleton of a Scythian king in Russia. The tumors were more »
As discussed in this website blog posted on October 15th, a government medical panel, the United States Preventive Services Task Force, recently recommended that routine PSA testing in healthy men under the age of 75 be discontinued unless they have symptoms that are highly suspicious for prostate cancer. The panel claimed that such routine screening more »
The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), an independent panel appointed by the Federal cabinet-level Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), is preparing a recommendation which would eliminate prostate cancer testing (PSA) for all men. The rationale cited by the government panel is that there is moderate or high certainty that PSA testing more »
For years, the general practice used in the initial screening for prostate cancer is a blood test for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in conjunction with a digital rectal examination. These tests are then used to determine whether or not to subject the patient to a prostate biopsy, inherent with its own side effects and hopefully negative more »
It has been known for over 60 years that in general, prostate cancer cells respond to androgen deprivation (hormonal) therapy. At some point however, the prostate cells no longer respond (they become hormone-refractory) and levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) begin to rise. Treating this hormone-refractory prostate cancer remains a major challenge. There is now evidence more »
Very few, if any, treatments are without side effects. Whatever route a person takes to treat prostate cancer, one is usually “never quite the same again.” Radiation therapy is no exception. Urinary tract and bowel effects can be encountered. You do not want to have to constantly focus on the nearest bathroom facility. Therefore, before more »
Osteoporosis (bone loss) is one of several side effects which accompany androgen deprivation (hormonal) therapy (ADT). Fifty (50) percent of men will be affected by their fourth year of treatment, and more than 80 percent will be affected after10 years. The risk of fractures including those of the spine also increases with hormonal therapy treatment more »
The most troubling thought for prostate cancer patients whose cancer has recurred after an initial radicalprostatectomy is the fact that there are PSA-producing cells located somewhere in our bodies. While subsequent treatments such as androgen deprivation (hormonal) therapy may keep these cells under control, there are undoubtedly micro-metastases somewhere in our bodies. When the controlling more »
Sources of current medical information concerning prostate cancer are listed on this website under the section Medical Resources. Recently, a new August 2011 electronic newsletter entitled NewsPulse was received from the Prostate Cancer Foundation. The issue contained very current information on specific diagnostic methods, biomarkers for cancer detection, targeted therapies and drugs under development, nutrition and more »
Provenge (sipuleucel-T) was the first approved prostate cancer therapy which uses a person’s immune system to fight the disease. Its approval was limited to men with advanced prostate cancer who have not responded to other treatments like hormonal (androgen deprivation) therapy and are experiencing few or no symptoms. Cost and supply remain significant issues hindering more »
In the last few weeks, I received word that prostate cancer had unexpectedly recurred in two men I know. Both men understandably expressed discouragement, apprehension and fear. What now??? I experienced a similar recurrence in 2003 (see My Story, 1994-2003, “December, 2002 – January 11th, 2004. The cancer recurs. What do I do now?”.) In more »
My prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level was again below detectable limits, 0.01 ng/mL. The prostate cancer is still under control! God’s plan, presence, protection, power and promises again prevailed over my apprehension and fears. Christ’s perfect love truly never fails! The scene above overlooking Charlotte Harbor as it leads to the Gulf of Mexico is from a scenic more »
My cancer has been kept under control with the help of hormonal therapy for nearly five (5) years. It is anticipated that at some point, one becomes resistant (refractory) to hormonal therapy. In that case, additional treatments need to be administered. If they are chemotherapies, they have more severe side effects; or, if they are more »
David Wilkerson was a famous Christian pastor and spiritual leader. In the 1950’s, he left his relatively rural background in Indiana and Pennsylvania and traveled to New York City to begin working with gang members and drug addicts. Out of that move was born Teen Challenge, a Christian drug and alcohol rehabilitation program which today more »
Every six months, I have an appointment with my oncologist at the Moffitt Cancer Center, on the campus of the University of South Florida, in Tampa. Moffitt is a designated National Cancer Institute (NCI, National Institutes of Health, my former employer) Comprehensive Cancer Center, a highly-sought-after distinction. My oncologist had been highly recommended to me more »