Today's topic is something that is new in the arena of prostate cancer. None of what I am going to talk about today is approved yet by the FDA, or the Food and Drug Administration. A targeted therapy is one that is designed to treat only the cancer cells and minimize damage to normal, healthy cells. Cancer treatments that “target” cancer cells may offer the advantage of reduced treatment-related side effects and improved outcomes. Advances...
Today's topic will yet be another option for the treatment of prostate cancer. We all know that part of what makes men, men, is the fact that they have a large amount of testosterone in their bodies. Testosterone is a male hormone that is produced in the testicles. Many cells in the body respond to or are controlled by testosterone. Cells located inside of the prostate have receptors or "landing pads" that are attracted to...
Yesterday there was an article release by the University of Minnesota in regards to the aggressiveness of prostate cancer in African American men versus Caucasion men. For a long time it has always been taught and reports that prostate cancer in African Americans tends to be more aggressive then it does in Caucasion males. A lot of this information has been based on retrospective trials of collected data. The problem with this type of a...
Well my last topic for therapy in regards to prostate cancer was on surgery. Today I will be tackling the topic of Radiation Therapy and how it relates to prostate cancer. Since this month is Prostate Cancer Awareness, I think it is best to try and describe the different treatment options that are available to our patients. Remember, the size of the prostate is only about the same size as a walnut. To get started,...
In todays edition of Reuters out of London, a team of researchers reported that tangerine peel might be helpful in the fight against cancer. The researchers stated that human cancer cells contain an enzyme called P450 CYP1B1, and that these enzymes were destroyed when a compound labeled Salvestrol Q40 was in contact with the enzymes. This Salvestrol Q40 is found in the peels of tangerines. These findings are helpful in potentially finding another cure for cancer. One...
The treatment options for prostate cancer depend in part on whether the tumor has spread. For tumors that are still inside the prostate, radiation therapy (using x-rays that kill the cancer cells) and a surgery called radical prostatectomy are common treatment options. "Watchful waiting" is also a treatment option. In this approach, no treatment is given until the tumor gets bigger. Watchful waiting may be the best choice for an older man who has a...
Well since it is September and it is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, I figured it would be a good idea to describe what the typical work up would be for a patient that is thought to have prostate cancer. The very first thing to do is to determine the PSA level. Age-related PSA levels can be assessed, as can clinical evidence of prostatitis. If the physician believes the PSA level might be elevated secondary to infection,...
I have been talking to several of my current patients and they have all indicated to me that one of the most difficult things is to figure out how to get the answers they seek. In order for us to get the answers that we are searching for, we need to ask the right questions. So I decided to put together a list of questions that would be appropriate for one to ask their physician...
It has been brought to my attention that it might be a good idea to talk about what patients should do once they are told by their physician that they have cancer. So I was doing some writing, a bit of research, and I came up this this list that I hope people recently diagnosed with cancer will find helpful and informative. Breathe. That's right. The very first thing you should do is take a deep...
Well since it is September, it is time for all of us to focus on Prostate Cancer Awareness. That's right, with the beginning of Fall, school starting, football season launching, baseball commencing, Labor Day, and the turkey right around the corner, it is only right that we kick it all off by celebrating all of the men in our lives. A good way to help them live longer, happier, and enjoy life well into their...