In many places it is a common practice to stop a radical prostatectomy (prostate gland removal) if the surgeon finds that the patient has positive lymph nodes. Since positive nodes are considered systemic disease as opposed to a localized disease, many physicians have felt there is no reason to complete the surgery and subject the [...]
I am truly saddened by the passing of Senator Edward Kennedy, a giant in the area of advocacy for people with cancer and for health care policy. Senator Kennedy’s concerns always included not only his home state of Massachusetts, but all Americans no matter from what state they lived. Senator Kennedy, as a passionate anti-cancer [...]
We already know it, but the actual numbers can be a little surprising. People who have obtained the age of 60 are the most vulnerable individuals to heat waves. There are 82% to 92% more deaths than in the general population occurring in this age group. There is also a significant increase in the risk [...]
A new study links hormone therapy for prostate cancer with a higher risk of death in older men who've had serious heart problems. The side effects of hormone therapy can be significant. They include impotence, bone loss, hot flashes, memory problems, fatigue and an increased risk for diabetes and heart disease. In a study appearing [...]
When I had my recurrence in December of 2005, my PSA made it’s way to 87.7 and I had a PSA doubling time of 4.2 months. Hormone deprivation therapy (ADT) caused the PSA to “drop like a rock” and within six to eight weeks my PSA was happily
I don’t know about your experiences, but I definitely suffer from insomnia. There are two different types of insomnia, difficulty falling asleep and difficulty staying asleep. I have no problem getting to sleep, but after three to four hours I find myself waking every half hour to hour. This can continue on for two to [...]
One of those things that sometimes irk me is the lack of warmth I have encountered from medical professionals throughout my journey with cancer. No question, there have been exceptions, glimpses of compassion extended from a few people. More often than not there seems to be a general lack of empathy or sensitivity. It is [...]
Cancer Care is conducting a telephone workshop on Metastatic Prostate Cancer on Tuesday, September 22, 2009 from 1:30 to 2:30 eastern time. Listening in on the workshop is free. Participants in the workshop will be: Susan Slovin MD, PhD, Associate Attending Physician, Genitourinary Oncology Service, Sidney Kimmel Center for the Treatment of Prostate & Urologic [...]
In a small trial using oral sodium clodronate, a bisphosphonate like Zometa and Fosamax, it was shown to extended prostate cancer survival by 23 percent (23%). The survival benefit was seen only when the drug was used in combination with hormone therapy in men with metastatic disease. Many doctors have believed that bisphosphonates could have [...]
Today’s New York Times has published another of its fantastic articles about cancer and coping with cancer. Today’s article, written by Jane Brody, discusses chemo brain. Until a short time ago, many doctors denied that it even existed, but today it is pretty much accepted as being real. One is said to suffer from chemo [...]
