Taking bisphosphonates as a part of our prostate cancer treatment puts all of us in direct risk of developing osteoporosis. Bisphosphonates have been found to place us in a high-risk state for developing osteonecrosis of the jaws (rotting of the jaw bones). It is now possible to use X-rays to detect "ghost sockets" in the [...]
When I was on an active hormone blockade (ADT2) I suffered extensively from many of the usually reported morbidity issues (negative side effects). One of the side effects I dealt with was significant cognitive impairment. I live in New York City, was born in the city and have spent most of my life in the [...]
One of the more common side effects from Taxotere (chemotherapy) is nausea. People often refer to this side effect as retching, stomach ache, throwing up, queasy, heart burn, motion sickness, dry heave, puke, and feeling sick to my stomach. However, not everyone experiences nausea. There are many drugs (these medications are called anti-nausea drugs or [...]
I have recently received a number of emails asking about the role of vitamin A (retinol) in advanced prostate cancer. These questions come from the recently released results of the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial, which have caused the current stir about PSA screening. In this study, 803 prostate cancer survivors [...]
The May 5 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine carried a report about some recent research looking to identify biomarkers for aggressive prostate cancer. We have been plagued with our inability to differentiate between which prostate cancers are aggressive and will kill and which are actually indolent and will not affect a man’s life. [...]