In a presentation at the European Association of Urology Congress in Barcelona, Spain there was a report that showed that prostate cancer patients who had high levels of neuroticism (a broad personality trait in which a person experiences the world as distressing, threatening, and unsafe place) had significantly more adverse events following surgery, including sexual dysfunction and urinary incontinence. The data was created from a survey of almost 1,000 men
Laser-Targeted Removal of Prostate Tumors Works as Well as the Complete Removal of the Prostate
One question we often hear at Cancer ABCs is about the efficacy of laser targeted removal of cancerous tissue from the prostate gland as opposed to removing the entire gland. Recently described research from Dr. Eric Walser who is at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston has shown that selectively destroying cancerous prostate tissue inside of the prostate gland can be as effective as the removal of the entire prostate gland.
The RESPOND STUDY – Understanding the African American Man’s Risk for Prostate Cancer
Black Men with Prostate Cancer Do Better with Radiation Than White Men
Recently released and unexpected findings have been announced, contrary to previous understandings, black men who received primary radiation therapy to treat their prostate cancer had lower rates of biochemical cancer recurrence than white men. They also had a lower rate of developing distant metastasis. These findings are from data coming from the randomized RTOG trials and were reported at the American Society of Radiation Oncology by Daniel Spratt, MD, of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Making this finding even more interesting is the finding that Black men do better when they receive Provenge than white men
Both of these findings point out that there are likely differences in the underlying prostate cancer disease between Black and White men. However, this conclusion does not negate the fact that Black men have less access to treatment than White men, a fact that needs to be corrected, especially given the circumstances indicated in these two conclusions that Black men do well when given treatment.
By Joel T. Nowak
A New Twist On Diet and Cancer Risk
Robotic v Open Prostate Cancer Surgery
A recent study, published in the Lancet Oncology compared robotic to open prostate cancer surgery (prostatectomy). The study found that over a two-year period both forms of surgery produced equivalent results for preserving erectile function and urinary continence. However, there were some differences.
Cancer Insurance & Family Leave News
Hypofractionation and Hydrogel Spacer – Two New Important Changes in the Delivery of Primary Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer
How radiation is delivered as a primary treatment for prostate cancer therapy has been changing, mostly since 2017. The change involves two different items, one the method of delivery of the radiation and the increasing use of a newly developed “safety” product that lowers the adverse side effects of the radiation treatment.
Should African American Men Consider Active Surveillance?
Dose Escalated Radio Therapy Did Not Improve Survival, But….
No Survival Advantage Seen in Prostate Cancer with High-Dose Radiation Therapy
An Analysis of Hydrogel Spacer for Men Undergoing Radiotherapy
Low PSA - Aggressive Prostate Cancer
Aetna Insurance Company Approves SpaceOAR With Radiation Therapy
Regular Use of Aspirin May Lower Men’s Risk of Developing Advanced Prostate Cancer
The EU Restricts Gadolinium in MRIs
The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Warns That Even One Alcoholic Drink A Day Raises Your Cancer Risk
Comments by Alan Meyer About the Treatment of Aggressive Prostate Cancer
The Prostate Health Index (phi) Limits the Need for Additional Biopsies
Shingrix – A new and Better Shingles Vaccine
An article in the New York Times describes a new and more effective vaccine against Shingles, which you should consider getting.
Shingles can be a very painful and debilitating disease which most of us are at risk to get. The FDA has approved this new vaccine; Shingrix and it should be generally available within the next month.
There does seem to be an “ouch” factor involved in receiving the vaccine and it does require two separate injections, but getting Shingles is much worse.
We urge that you speak with your doctor and ask if you should be getting this vaccine. Having Shingles is no fun.
Joel T. Nowak, MA, MSW wrote this Post. Joel is the CEO/Executive Director of Cancer ABCs. He is a Cancer Thriver diagnosed with five primary cancers - Thyroid, Metastatic Prostate, Renal, Melanoma, and the rare cancer Appendiceal cancer.