Dr. Nima Sharifi from the Cleveland Clinic’s Lerner Research Institute has claimed to have identified a genetic mutation in one of the deadliest forms of prostate cancer. His finding, published online today in the journal Cell, shows that there is a mutation that occurs in an enzyme that is present in a drug resistant form [...]
September is Prostate Cancer Awareness month and many organizations that are involved with education and support of men (and their families) who have prostate cancer are scheduled to have programs during the month. There are a number of events that I want to let you know about (perhaps you will attend): September 6-8 The Prostate [...]
Some good news for my neighbors immediately to my north. Enzalutamide (Xtandi) has received Health Canada's approval for the treatment of metastatic castration-resistand advanced prostate cancer in the post chemotherapy phase. This means that any man with castrate resistant prostate cancer, once they have received taxotere can now get Xtandi. Xtandi works by being a [...]
On August 13, 2013 I wrote an important post about the terrible practice beginning to rear its head called step therapy. Step therapy is the practice of insurance companies requiring less expensive drugs be prescribed prior to more expensive ones despite the comparative efficacy of the drugs and their different mechanisms of action. This practice [...]
Most of the newly approved drugs and treatments for men with advanced prostate cancer are designed and approved to be used independently of other advanced prostate cancer treatments, other than with the continuation of standard androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). The newly approved drug, Xofigo, is different. It has been designed to supplement, or actually go [...]
A study from Michael T. Schweizer, MD, and colleagues at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore Md. concluded that the longer the metastasis-free survival after a radical prostatectomy the longer overall survival in men who experience biochemical recurrence (PSA only recurrence) of their prostate cancer. This conclusion was made from a retrospectively study of 450 men [...]
When Angelina Jolie's double mastectomy hit the headlines in May this year there was a lot of press coverage including discussions about BRCA 1 and 2 genes. These conversations centered on women and their risk of breast or ovarian cancer. But, what about BRCA 1 and 2 in relation to prostate cancer, is there any? [...]
The exciting thing about Provenge is not only the real survival advantage that it offers with minimal side effects, but that it is a proof of concept treatment that is heralding in the potential future of many other immunotherapies. Today, we have two new possible treatments in active phase 3 trials, Prostvac and Yervoy. [...]
Dr. Farid Fata, who owns Michigan Hematology Oncology which has six offices throughout Michigan in the cities of Clarkston, Bloomfield Hills, Lapeer, Sterling Heights, Troy and Oak Park is now out of jail, but he is on bail. Why am I even telling you about this, because as usual I have an important lesson to [...]
It has been brought to my attention that when I wrote the August 8, 2013 post on Pharma Sponsored Assistance Programs, I neglected to mention another excellent assistance program for men with advanced prostate cancer. The Chronic Disease Fund (CDF) has two funds that might be of specific interest to men with castrate resistant prostate [...]
