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...
As we are all aware, Lung cancer is the leading cause of death amongst all cancer types. In men and women specifically, it is behind breast and prostate cancer in most diagnosis for each of the sexes respectively. Lung cancer is on the rise. There are more and more people smoking, starting at an early age, and then also environmental concerns with smog, pollutants, and asbestos. Once daignosed with lung cancer the odds are against...
If you go to my Vault page (or click the word Vault and it will take you there as well), at the bottom of the article you will see a small link for an update for the week of Aug 27th to the Aug 31st, 2007. If you click on it, it will take you to a new page with picture and an update on the progress on the Vault. It is actually beginning to...
Another tool that is used in radiation therapy is a machine called Cyberknife. Cyberknife is a newer technology that allows a robot to treat a patient with a high dose of radiation to the cancer area. This is what the Cyberknife looks like: It also has a small accelerator structure inside the top of the machine. It is placed on a robotic arm that can move very quickly in any direction. This robot is the same...