Last year GenomeDx Biosciences presented data showing that its Decipher® Prostate Cancer Classifier (the test), a genomic test, is capable of predicting the probability that a man will eventually develop metastatic prostate cancer, despite having surgery as a primary treatment for prostate cancer. The company claims that the test out performs other existing tests of [...]
Most of our testosterone is made in out testicles, so the first stage of hormone therapy to treat prostate cancer is to prevent them from making any androgens. Testosterone is said to “feed” prostate cancer, so stopping the creation of testosterone controls prostate cancer progression. We have a number of ways to limit the production [...]
The newest gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist therapy drug, degarelix (aka Firmagon) has become more commonly used in everyday clinical practice as an alternative hormone therapy treatment drug (ADT). Given that its use has become common it is important to understand both its safety and efficacy as compared to our older standard drugs. The best way [...]
It is a little out of the normal scope of this blog, but a recent prostate cancer study from Canada has received a lot of buzz and needs some commentary and analysis. The study concluded that for men who are diagnosed with local prostate cancer (still confined in the gland) live longer if they have [...]
NICE, which serves as a cost-effectiveness agency has said in a draft guidance that it supports the use of Xtandi (enzalutamide) in men whose prostate cancer has spread after the failure of first-line therapy (i.e. ADT), but for whom chemotherapy is not yet necessary. The agency found that Xtandi can delay the need for chemotherapy, [...]
As we reach this holiday season I want to remind you that Malecare has been working to help you and your family survive longer and have a better quality of life. We have helped you in ways that you are aware of; like through this blog and by the Malecare Advanced Prostate Cancer Online Support Group. [...]
We have some good news, the United States Congress has passed the Omnibus spending package. The package will fund the U.S. Government through fiscal 2016. We should take note that this bill includes a $2 billion increase for the National Institute of Health (NIH), a 5% increase for the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the [...]
There has been a lot of buzz around the new scanning contrasts that have come into limited usage for evaluating metastasized cancer cells that are in the bones. Despite the enthusiasm from the prostate and breast cancer communities, CMS (Medicare) continues to limit its financial coverage for PET scans using the contrast NaF-18 even though [...]
The US Congress has just published the proposed Omnibus Budget for 2016. The good news is that the proposed budget includes the restoration of the 13.2 million dollars to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for Prostate Cancer Prevention and Education and it also includes 80 million dollars for the Department of Defense Prostate Cancer [...]
Currently, there are a number of different treatments used to treat recurrent prostate cancer when the primary treatment had radiation has failed. In this situation surgery is considered very difficult and can only be successfully performed by an experienced surgeon, so alternative treatments are often considered. Long-term data about the success of these alternative treatments [...]
