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Latest Prostate Cancer News
November 20, 2011
Xgeva Delays Bone Metastases from Prostate Cancer
Among men with prostate cancer that has stopped responding to hormonal therapy, the bone drug Xgeva™ (denosumab) delayed the spread of cancer to the bones. These results were recently published in The Lancet, and were previously presented at the 2011 European Multidisciplinary Cancer Conference. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) often plays an important role in the [...]
November 13, 2011
Adding Radiation Therapy To Hormone Therapy Benefits Men with Locally Advanced Prostate Cancer
For men with locally advanced or high-risk prostate cancer, treatment with a combination of radiation therapy and hormone therapy appears to be more effective than hormone therapy alone. These results were published in The Lancet. Locally advanced prostate cancer refers to cancer that has spread through the prostate capsule but not to distant sites in [...]
November 04, 2011
Do Complementary Therapies Work? – Ask the expert about herbs, acupuncture, and other complementary therapies
Live Web Chat with Barrie R. Cassileth, PhD, Chief, Integrative Medicine Service; Laurance S. Rockefeller Chair Integrative Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), click here for Dr. Cassileth’s bio Dr. Cassileth is a world-renowned authority in intergrated medicine. She is a researcher, educator, and planner who has worked in alternative and complementary (integrative) medicine and [...]
October 19, 2011
Vitamin E Supplements Increase Prostate Cancer Risk
The results of a large, randomized trial suggest that taking daily vitamin E supplements may increase a man’s risk of prostate cancer. These results were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed type of cancer (other than skin cancer) in US men. Although many prostate cancers [...]
October 10, 2011
Shorter Course of Radiation Therapy Appears to be Effective for Prostate Cancer
Delivering a shorter course of external-beam radiation therapy—with higher doses of radiation given at each visit—appears to be as effective for prostate cancer as the conventional approach to external-beam radiation therapy. These results were presented at the 53rd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO). Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed [...]
October 04, 2011
Zytiga Reduces Fatigue in Advanced Prostate Cancer
Among men with metastatic, hormone-refractory prostate cancer that has previously been treated with Taxotere® (docetaxel), Zytiga® (abiraterone) reduced fatigue in addition to improving overall survival. These results were presented at the 2011 European Multidisciplinary Cancer Congress. Prostate cancer is a hormonally sensitive disease that can often be controlled for long periods with androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT). [...]
September 27, 2011
Radium-223 Improves Survival among Prostate Cancer Patients with Bone Metastases
In a Phase III clinical trial, the investigational drug radium-223 chloride (Alpharadin) improved overall survival among prostate cancer patients with bone metastases. These results were presented at the 2011 European Multidisciplinary Cancer Congress. Metastatic cancer refers to cancer that has spread to distant sites in the body. Several types of cancer—including prostate cancer—have a tendency [...]
September 26, 2011
Xgeva Delays Onset of Bone Metastases
Among men with prostate cancer that has stopped responding to hormonal therapy, the bone drug Xgeva™ (denosumab) delayed the spread of cancer to the bones. These results were presented at the 2011 European Multidisciplinary Cancer Conference. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) often plays an important role in the treatment of prostate cancer. ADT slows or stops [...]
September 22, 2011
Predicting Sexual Outcomes After Prostate Cancer Treatment
Information about a man’s baseline characteristics and prostate cancer treatment plan can help predict erectile function after treatment. These results were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed type of cancer (other than skin cancer) in US men. Most men will survive a diagnosis of early-stage [...]
September 20, 2011
Prolia Approved for Treatment of Bone Loss in Patients with Breast or Prostate Cancer
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded the approval of Prolia® (denosumab) to include treatment of bone loss among breast cancer patients treated with aromatase inhibitor therapy and prostate cancer patients treated with androgen deprivation therapy for non-metastatic cancer. Treatment is intended to increase bone mass among patients at high risk of fracture. [...]
August 30, 2011
Clinical Trial Participation Is Inadequate
A large proportion of cancer patients do not enroll in clinical trials, and those who do participate may not adequately represent age groups, cancer stages, cancer types, and racial and ethnic groups. These findings were recently reported in the Annals of Surgery. Clinical trials are the process through which medications ultimately become approved by the [...]
August 22, 2011
Some Prostate Cancer Patients Expect Better Recovery
Some men who undergo surgery for prostate cancer expect better recovery of sexual and urinary functions than they actually experience. These findings were recently published in the Journal of Urology. For men who undergo radical prostatectomy (complete removal of the prostate), side effects may include urinary incontinence (leakage of urine) and erectile dysfunction. These complications [...]
August 08, 2011
Urine Test May Help Guide Prostate Biopsy Decisions
An investigational urine test may help men with an elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level decide whether a prostate biopsy is necessary. These results were published in Science Translational Medicine. Men 50 years of age or older in the United States are often offered a PSA blood test for the early detection of prostate cancer. The [...]
August 03, 2011
Hormone Therapy Poses Risks for Prostate Cancer Patients with Heart Problems
Among men with early but high-risk prostate cancer treated with radiation therapy, the addition of hormone therapy may worsen outcomes for the subset of men who have a history of congestive heart failure or heart attack. These results were published in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics. Treatment options for men with early-stage prostate cancer [...]
July 17, 2011
Addition of Hormonal Therapy to Radiation Therapy Benefits Men with Intermediate-Risk Prostate Cancer
For men with localized, intermediate-risk prostate cancer, treatment with a combination of radiation therapy and short-term androgen-deprivation therapy results in better outcomes than treatment with radiation therapy alone. These results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Treatment options for men with early-stage prostate cancer include surgery, radiation therapy, and active surveillance (close [...]
July 14, 2011
Stay on Top of Your Family History of Cancer
People who are at high risk of cancer as a result of their family history may be advised to undergo earlier or more intensive cancer screening. Because family history of cancer can change over time, it’s important to update this information periodically with your healthcare provider. This was the conclusion of a study published in [...]
July 10, 2011
Survivors of Childhood Cancer Face Risk of More Cancer
Children who survive cancer have an increased risk of developing cancer later in life. These findings were recently reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. The good news about childhood cancer is that increasingly more children are surviving. These improved outcomes, however, present new concerns, as long-term health of these individuals may be compromised due [...]
July 05, 2011
Medicare Will Cover Provenge for Prostate Cancer
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has announced that Medicare will cover Provenge® (sipuleucel-T) for the uses approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): the treatment of metastatic, hormone-refractory prostate cancer that is producing few or no symptoms. Prostate cancer is a hormonally sensitive disease that can often be controlled for long periods [...]
July 04, 2011
Prostate Cancer Outcomes Worse for Smokers
Men who smoke at the time they’re diagnosed with prostate cancer have an increased risk of recurrence and death compared with never smokers. Odds for men who quit smoking at least 10 years previously, on the other hand, are similar to those of never smokers. These findings were recently reported in JAMA. Evidence continues to [...]
June 20, 2011
New Substances Added to List of Cancer-Causing Agents
In the most recent version of the National Toxicology Program’s Report on Carcinogens, two new substances have been classified as “known human carcinogens” and six others have been classified as “reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogens.” The National Toxicology Program is headquartered at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, part of the National Institutes [...]
June 20, 2011
Medical Costs Higher Among Survivors
Cancer survivors tend to pay substantially more in annual medical costs compared with people who have never had cancer. These findings were recently reported in Cancer. A significant number of adults in the United States are cancer survivors—approximately 12 million—and, as the population ages, this number is likely to grow. As increasingly more people are [...]
June 09, 2011
Cabozantinib Active against Advanced Prostate Cancer
The investigational drug cabozantinib is showing promise in the treatment of metastatic, hormone-refractory prostate cancer, with particularly notable results among patients with bone metastases. These results were presented at the 2011 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Prostate cancer is a hormonally sensitive disease that can be controlled for long periods with [...]
June 09, 2011
Zytiga Prolongs Survival with Advanced Prostate Cancer
Among men with hormone-refractory prostate cancer, treatment with Zytiga™ (abiraterone) improves overall survival by close to four months. These results—which contributed to the approval of Zytiga by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)—were published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Prostate cancer is a hormonally sensitive disease that can often be controlled for [...]
May 30, 2011
Cabozantinib Shows Promise against Bone Metastases
The investigational drug cabozantinib is showing promise against several types of advanced cancer, and may also reduce or eliminate bone metastases (cancer that has spread to the bone) in some patients. These results will be presented at the 2011 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Metastatic cancer refers to cancer that has [...]
May 18, 2011
Xgeva Delays Bone Metastases in Men with Prostate Cancer
Among men with prostate cancer that has stopped responding to hormonal therapy, the bone drug Xgeva™ (denosumab) delayed the spread of cancer to the bones. These results were presented at the 2011 annual meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA). Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) often plays an important role in the treatment of prostate cancer. [...]
May 16, 2011
No Clear Role for Selenium in Cancer Prevention
Some studies have suggested that people with higher selenium levels have a lower risk of certain types of cancer; a review conducted by the Cochrane Collaboration, however, found no clear evidence that selenium supplements provide a cancer benefit. Selenium is a trace mineral that is important for human health. Small amounts are generally sufficient, and [...]
May 03, 2011
Zytiga Approved for Prostate Cancer
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Zytiga™ (abiraterone acetate) for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer. The approval came two months earlier than expected. Prostate cancer is a hormonally sensitive disease that can often be controlled for long periods with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). When prostate cancer stops responding to this treatment, [...]
April 27, 2011
Intermittent Hormone Therapy Effective for Prostate Cancer
For men who experience a PSA recurrence (rise in prostate-specific antigen levels) after radiation therapy for prostate cancer, hormone therapy given intermittently (with breaks) appears to be as effective as hormone therapy given continuously. These results were presented at the 2011 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium. Androgen deprivation therapy is designed to block testosterone from stimulating the [...]
April 26, 2011
Testosterone May Be Safe for Some Men with Prostate Cancer
Testosterone therapy (used to treat symptoms of testosterone deficiency) may not worsen prostate cancer in selected men undergoing active surveillance for early-stage disease. These results were published in the Journal of Urology. Symptoms of testosterone deficiency (low testosterone levels) include fatigue, decreased libido, and decreased sexual performance. Testosterone therapy can help to relieve these symptoms, [...]
April 17, 2011
Additional Evidence That Active Surveillance is an Option for Low-Risk Prostate Cancer
For selected men with very low-risk prostate cancer, active surveillance appears to be safe and allows men to avoid or delay treatment with surgery or radiation therapy. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Men with early-stage prostate cancer have the option of being treated aggressively, which may include radiation therapy or [...]
April 10, 2011
Fewer Lung Cancer Deaths Among Women
The lung cancer death rate among women appears to be declining for the first time in 40 years, according to an annual report published by multiple institutions. Findings from the report were recently released in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. A report on the status of cancer is published each year by the [...]
March 24, 2011
Using PSA Velocity in Prostate Cancer Screening May Lead to Unnecessary Biopsies
Some guidelines recommend that men with rapidly rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) undergo prostate biopsy even if their PSA remains in the “normal” range and they have no other signs of prostate cancer. A recent study, however, suggests that PSA velocity is a poor predictor of prostate cancer, and may lead to many unnecessary biopsies. These [...]
February 25, 2011
Xgeva Reduces Bone Complications From Prostate Cancer
Among men with bone metastases from prostate cancer, Xgeva™ (denosumab) was more effective than Zometa® (zoledronic acid) at delaying or preventing bone complications such as fracture. Results from this Phase III clinical trial were published in The Lancet. Metastatic cancer refers to cancer that has spread to distant sites in the body. Several types of [...]
February 24, 2011
Avodart May Slow Prostate Cancer Growth
Among men who choose active surveillance for early-stage prostate cancer, treatment with Avodart® (dutasteride) may slow cancer growth. These results were presented at the 2011 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium. The management of early prostate cancer may involve surgery, radiation therapy, or active surveillance (close observation but no treatment until the cancer shows signs of worsening). Because [...]
February 23, 2011
Robotic-Assisted Prostate Surgery: Experience Matters
According to the results of a study presented at the 2011 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium, a surgeon may have to perform well over a thousand robotic-assisted prostate cancer surgeries before becoming fully proficient at the procedure. Treatment options for early-stage prostate cancer include surgery, radiation therapy, and active surveillance (close observation but no treatment until the [...]
January 17, 2011
Cancer Care Costs Expected to Rise by at Least 27% Over Next Decade
As a result of the growth and aging of the US population, cancer care costs are expected to rise by 27% by the year 2020. This estimate does not include increases in the cost of cancer treatment itself, which would push expenditures even higher. These results were published in the Journal of the National Cancer [...]
January 16, 2011
Behavioral Therapy Reduces Incontinence after Prostatectomy
Behavioral therapy with pelvic floor muscle exercises, bladder control techniques, and fluid management can reduce (but rarely eliminate) urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy for early prostate cancer. These results were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Men with early-stage prostate cancer have the option of being treated with surgery (radical prostatectomy), radiation [...]
January 12, 2011
Exercise May Lower Risk of Death Among Men with Prostate Cancer
Physical activity may improve survival among men diagnosed with prostate cancer. These findings were reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Exercise and its relationship to patient quality of life, cancer prevention, and impact on treatment and recurrence have been studied extensively in several types of cancer, including prostate cancer. To determine whether survival among [...]
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