President Obama finally declares September as National Prostate Cancer Month A PROCLAMATION Although its mortality rate has steadily fallen in the last decade, prostate cancer is still the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men in the United States. This year alone, nearly 218,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and more than [...]
Taxotere can cause severe irritation of the liver, so your liver functions must be monitored via regular blood tests. If the blood screens show you are developing liver problems a modification of your dosing or possibly stopping further infusions is warranted. Liver damage caused by taxotere is usually reversible when the drug is stopped, however [...]
Recent statistics projecting the cancer incidence in the United States for 2010 have a number of interesting items buried inside the data charts. I thought that three items were particularly interesting and relevant, so I want to share them with you. 1- The 2010 expected death rate per 100,000 cases for the "Good Cancer" (prostate [...]
We all know that hormone therapy (ADT2) stops the production of testosterone and blocks the little testosterone that might still be produced from entering into the prostate cancer cell to “feed” the cancer. There have been a number of studies that have investigated and concluded that ADT not only stops testosterone, but also has anti-vascular [...]
One of the more common experiences many of us have when fighting advanced prostate cancer is fatigue. Despite how common fatigue is in men with advanced disease there has not been even one published controlled trial of interventions for fatigue! A research team at the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, [...]
In men with prostate cancer hot flashes are one of the most commonly reported adverse effects of hormonal therapy (ADT). Researchers at the Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon wanted to confirm the many reports that acupuncture can moderate hot flashes. […]
When you are diagnosed with cancer one of the hurdles you might face is a financial one. Bills can accumulate quickly so it might be a good idea to seek financial help early on after being diagnosed. […]
One of the largest and most controversial issues for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer is the value of androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT). Most doctors use ADT as their pivotal initial treatment in the management of locally advanced and metastatic prostate cancer (PCa). But, the grand question is does it extend survival? […]
The prognosis of patients with advanced prostate cancer who have lymph node metastasis depends on the number of positive lymph nodes removed and Gleason score of the primary tumor. Bilateral pelvic lymph node dissection should be performed in intermediate- and high-risk patients to identify those with minimal nodal burden who may benefit the most from [...]
On the Advanced Prostate Cancer Listserv there was a question raised about the need to use an antiandrogen (bicalutamide/Casodex, flutamide/Eulexin, or nilutamide/Nilandron) along with degarelix, the recently approved LHRH antagonist (a drug that halts the production of testicular androgens). Doctors who are knowledgeable about the use of LHRH antagonists (Zoladex, Lupron, Eligard, Viadur and Firmagon [...]
