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. [...]
Not a very big surprise but androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) substantially increases the risk for cardiovascular and bone-related problems, as well as for diabetes, according to a review of the medical literature published online April 27 in the journal Cancer. At the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, Lockwood G. Taylor wrote a review [...]
When your PSA starts to rise after you have received primary treatment you need to be concerned that your prostate cancer has reoccurred. The first indicator of recurrent prostate cancer is a detectable level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Research has demonstrated that PSA doubling time is a reliable tool to distinguish which cancers pose a [...]
A letter from Sens. Tim Johnson (D-SD) and Mike Crapo (R-ID) is circulating in the Senate now and will be sent to the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee on Friday, April 24. Contact your Senators today and ask them to sign the Johnson-Crapo Appropriations letter to increase research funding for prostate cancer at the Department of Defense. [...]
At the American Association for Cancer Research 100th Annual Meeting 2009 in Denver, National Cancer Institute (NCI) Director John E. Niederhuber, M.D., announced major details, such as funding more grants, development of a platform for personalized cancer care, and an accelerated cancer genetics program, that will move cancer research forward in this new economic environment. [...]
Our own Alvin Chin, Prostate Cancer Survivor & Advocate, Virginia Prostate Coalition, joins oncologists Howard Scher MD, Donald S. Coffey, PhD, Peter S. Nelson, MD and representatives from research and the Pharma industry for a round table discussion April 23. You can make your voice heard by joining the conference by phone and emailing questions [...]
