Prostate cancer tends to metastasize to bones as opposed to soft tissue and other organs. We have no idea why it does have a preference for bone, but it does. Developing bone metastases in prostrate cancer is a very strong negative prognostic indicator. Prostate cancer’s tendency to favor bone over soft tissue causes significant morbidity [...]
As I have said before, the next big step in the clinical care of men with prostate cancer will be in not in the development of a new drug, but in our growing knowledge of how to sequence and combine our new drugs. Today’s post provides just one example of this new type of breakthrough [...]
Xgeva, also known as denosumab, is an injectable medication (injected once a month subcutaneously under the skin in the doctor’s office) that is used to prevent bone fractures and spinal cord compression caused by bone metastases in breast and prostate cancer survivors. Solid tumors in the bone, which is a common site for individuals with [...]
Many of our doctors are constantly vigilant about our developing skeletal related issues. Having advanced prostate cancer and receiving treatment for this disease increases our odds of developing skeletal issues which affect both our quality of life and our mortality. Drugs like denosumab (Xgeva) and zoledronic acid (Zometa) are important in delaying the onset of [...]
In a presentation at the ASCO Annual Meeting, Dr. Andrew Himelstein, MD, FACP of the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute, presented the results of a trial evaluating Zoledronic Acid (Zometa) at a dosing schedule of every 12 weeks as opposed to the current standard of care of every 4 weeks. The trial included [...]
It is vital that you take an active role in making sure that you are going to receive the correct IV treatment and injections. Mistakes do happen, protect yourself. Make sure that you personally double check to confirm you're receiving the correct treatment. Don't sit back and rely on another person, errors do occur and [...]
Randy Sheffield, a member of the Malecare Advanced Prostate Cancer Online support group recently has had his fight with advanced prostate cancer made even more complex when he developed Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). ONJ is an uncommon but terrible side effect of taking bisphosphonates. Randy wrote a warning to all the members of the [...]
Somehow I have been negligent and not let people know that I have written and posted a major update of my “Guide to Advanced Prostate Cancer.” As in the past, it is available as a free download from the Malecare web site. Helping me to update the book was prostate cancer survivor Craig Pynn and [...]
Docetaxel is the only globally approved first-line chemotherapy for the treatment of castrate resistant prostate cancer. Yhe universal truth is that all men taking docetaxel will become refractory to the treatment. Zoledronic acid (ZA) is the most commonly used member of nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate family. By itself it has anti-tumor activity, including in prostate cancer. In [...]
Chemotherapy using docetaxel remains an important therapy, despite the newly approved drugs, to treat hormone refractory prostate cancer. Chemotherapy improves survival, however, all men taking it will eventually become refractory to the treatment. Zoledronic acid (ZA) is the most potent member of nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate family and has anti-tumor activity in prostate cancer. In a study, [...]
