Oral Drug Parity – What Is It and Do I Have It?

Cancer survivors have many additional problems in their life. I guess the most significant problem is that we have a life threatening illness. So, why are we forced to have to worry if our medications will be paid for or if we are able to afford to pay for them? When we are fighting for [...]

*Smoking Doubles the Chance That Men with Prostate Cancer Will Die From the Cancer

In a new study it was shown that smoking doubles the chances that a prostate cancer survivor will have the cancer spread and that he would die from the cancer. Study co-author Dr. Michael Zelefsky, Vice Chair of Clinical Research in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center said, "Basically we [...]

Radiologic Progression Free Survival Might Predict Treatment Response and Survival

In a recent publication it was suggested that radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS) in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) was highly consistent and highly associated with overall survival. This reproducible quantitative find could have implications for the interim measurement of treatment response in future studies, according to Dr. Michael J. Morris of Memorial Sloan [...]

Radiation Plus Hormone Therapy Prolongs Survival for Older Men with Locally Advanced Prostate Cancer *

It was recently discovered that if hormone therapy (ADT) is added to radiation cancer deaths are lowered by nearly 50 % in men with locally advanced prostate cancer aged 76 to 85 compared to men who only received hormone therapy. Prior studies have shown that 40% of men with aggressive prostate cancers are treated with [...]

Liver Metastases and ECF – A Possible Treatment In A Not Good Situation

Liver metastases are uncommon in men with castrate resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Having liver metastases is associated with more serious disease and shorter survival. How to treat men with liver metastases is still not very clear. It is felt that more active treatment might benefit these men. A standard regimen for treating gastric cancer is [...]

On the Horizon – Circulating Tumor Cells in the Clinic – We are Waiting

It isn’t here yet, but it very much is here! What am I talking about? Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are going to become a clear winner for us as the concept of using them finds its way into commercialization. Metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) is difficult to evaluate using our less than stellar conventional [...]

PSA Doubling Time and Seminal Vesicle Invasion at the Time of Surgery Are Predictors for Successful Salvage Radiation

There was a recent Norwegian study which reviewed the impact of salvage external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) on post-prostatectomy patients. They evaluated long-term follow-up on biochemical-free recurrence (PSA only recurrence) (BFR) and metastatic-free survival. He study also described the pathological and clinical predictors of outcome. The study was conducted between 1987–2010. It included 76 men with [...]

Measuring the Efficacy of Salvage Radiation With and Without ADT *

A small study from one hospital in Norway has suggested that PSA doubling times after surgery may predict the value of salvage radiation therapy alone as a second line form of therapy. Servoll et al carried out a small retrospective analysis of data derived from 76 men treated by salvage external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) [...]

On the Horizon – Bipolar Androgen Therapy

A Small study suggests that alternating testosterone levels may make hormonal therapy work longer A recent very small study was published that might lend a new light on hormone therapy for advanced prostate cancer, Bipolar ADT. This study suggests that a new treatment strategy might be effective where men alternate between low and high levels [...]

Go to Top