Last Tuesday’s New York Times had a commentary, A Fighting Spirit Won’t Save Your Life caused me to pause and think. The author, Richard Sloan, who is a professor of behavioral medicine at the Columbia University Medical Center, is attempting to debunk the belief that getting sick is a punishment for being a bad person [...]
I just started reading one of the most interesting books I have recently enjoyed about the history of cancer. Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee, author of "The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer," tells the narrative about the history of the search for ways to treat cancer and how it has been perceived. Dr. Mukherjee [...]
For those who do not know, I moderate an advanced prostate cancer on-line support group. Members are both men with advanced prostate cancer and many of their care givers. There was a recent conversation I want to share about specific “off label” and “out of the box” treatment strategies, specifically about oncologists not knowing about [...]
We all know it, advanced prostate cancer not only affects the survivor, but it also affects his family. When diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer, the most common treatment is androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) which causes many side effects. These side effects include (but are not limited to) fatigue, nausea, hot flashes, pain, constipation and sexual [...]
This study estimated and projected the number of years of potential life lost (YPLL) among men who die of prostate cancer(advanced prostate cancer) in the United States from 2004 through 2050 and compare the projections by race/ethnicity and age, accounting for demographic changes and population growth. The researchers applied the life expectancy method to estimate [...]
According to a study funded by Amgen Inc., the incidence of stage IV prostate cancer has significantly declined and survival has improved, but the scary side of the equation is that younger men represent an increasing proportion of those diagnosed. The study was published in the June issue of Urology. […]
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has just issued new rules for Medicare- and Medicaid-participating hospitals that protect patients’ right to choose their own visitors during a hospital stay, including a visitor who is a same-sex domestic partner. […]
Today, I spent most of the day listening to the CME (Medicare & Medicaid) hearing on Provenge. CME does not have to abide to the decisions of the advisory committee, so like we experienced with the FDA Advisory Committees we will have to wait and see what will eventually become the policy for reimbursement. I [...]
We are about to enter into a dark period in health care which is best exemplified by the roaring debate over the issue about Medicare funding for Provenge. The bottom line of the debate comes down simply to, what is the value of one human life? […]
We all have a man or men in our life whom we love, respect and wish to honor. November 21, which is fast approaching, is a date which is being set aside to honor them. November 21 is our country’s first annual MENS HEALTH NIGHT. On this night we all have an opportunity to honor [...]
