We are in the fortunate position because the treatment of men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) continues to evolve as new agents with the ability to extend survival gain FDA approval. The most recently FDA approved treatment, the alpha emitting radiopharmaceutical radium-223 (Xofigo) was approved for men with bone metastatic prostate cancer. Most other [...]
Men who elect to have a radical prostatectomy (surgical treatment for prostate cancer) as their primary treatment often panic if they find out that they had positive surgical margins (PSMs). Positive surgical margins are an indication for the use of adjuvant radiotherapy. Despite this automatic response the association between PSMs and prostate cancer-specific mortality (CSM) [...]
Castate resistant metastatic prostate cancer (mRPC) withvisceral disease (tumors involving the internal organs of the body, specifically those within the chest (as the heart or lungs) or abdomen (as the liver, pancreas or intestines) is a negative prognostic factor. In many cases clinical trials of new investigational drugs rule out men with visceral disease from [...]
Prostate cancer is not just one disease; in reality there are several different types of prostate cancer, which will look different under a microscope and behave differently in your body. In addition to the more common types of prostate cancer there are also several kinds of rare cancers that can develop in the prostate. Prostate [...]
In prior posts I have strongly recommended that, if possible, it is in your best interest not to go into the hospital in the month of July. The month of July is the traditional beginning of a new rotation for the new hospital Residents, or there are an overwhelming number of newly minted doctors with [...]
It was announced today that after observing significant benefits in overall survival (OS) and radiographic progression free survival (PFS) ,the two co-primary endpoints of the the Xtandi pre-chemotherapy trial, the Independent Data Monitoring Committee (IDMC) for The Phase 3 PREVAIL trial of enzalutamide in metastatic prostate cancer recommends that "the study be stopped and patients [...]
Last Thursday’s New York Times had an article about Dr. Perry Hudson, in 1950s a medical researcher at Columbia University. The article was about his research on skid row in New York City where he offered alcoholics in lower Manhattan an offer: If they agreed to surgical biopsies of their prostates, they would get a [...]
Step therapy (ST) has again reared its most ugly head in our prostate cancer world, to the detriment of us, prostate cancer survivors and only to the benefit of private insurance payers. So, what is this “creeping crud,” Step Therapy (aka as Fail First Therapy)? Simply, ST is when insurance companies decide, without sound medical [...]
I want to share a post I made today on the advanced prostate cancer online support group ). It was in response to an ongoing thread with a spouse (caregiver) who was fired by her husband's doctor by having his nurse call them. She was guilty of asking questions, relevant and important ones, but the [...]
All of the Americans who receive their insurance benefits from Medicare need to become aware that the Medicare Open Enrollment Period begins today, October 15. What is the Medicare open enrollment period?During this open enrollment period you can make new choices and pick plans that work best for you depending upon your doctors and [...]
