Nov 11
21
Let’s Give Thanks For Veggies
Happy Thanksgiving to one and all! Hope to see everyone at the Holiday Party next month.
Elaine
Elaine Camerota, Editor
Private Insurance better prostate surgery
Prostate surgery risks greater for elderly men
This pair of papers by Dr. Trinh, Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, lays out research ascribing differences in younger vs. older patients, private vs public insurance and smaller vs. larger teaching hospitals. This is for prostatectomy procedures only.
Healthy men should no longer receive a P.S.A. blood test to screen for
prostate cancer because the test does not save lives over all and
often leads to more tests and treatments that needlessly cause pain,
impotence and incontinence in many, a key government health panel has
decided.
U.S. Panel Advises Against Routine Prostate Test – NYTimes.com
If any season is synonymous with vegetables, it’s summer. Now is the time. Visit a local farmer’s market and sample their colorful and healthy offerings before there’s a nip in the air and the markets close until next year. Help your body while helping local growers. Below are 3 recipes that take advantage of this summer’s bounty.
Elaine Camerota, Editor You Say Tomato
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) approval of sipuleucel-T (Provenge) — the first vaccine for the treatment of cancer — marks an important milestone in the war against prostate cancer. Provenge doesn’t prevent prostate cancer (in the sense that most traditional vaccines prevent disease), or cure it or even slow its spread. But it does prolong life in some men with advanced prostate cancer. The extra time, slightly more than four months, is modest, at best, but important because it is proof that a cancer vaccine to boost the immune system can prolong life, suggesting that future vaccines might be even better.
View the entire article: provenge JH 8sep11
Subject: PCIG: Cabozantinib Active Against Advanced Prostate Cancer
Cabo is one of several promising pharmaceuticals. See the attachment for more details. 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.”
This suite of five “tools” helps the post-op patient answer this question: What is the meaning of rising PSA values after my treatment (surgery or radiation)?
#1 Dr. Nancy Dawson discusses the role of PSA readings to predict the severity of relapse following treatment. Use this link:
# 2 Dr. Charles E. (Snuffy) Myers (same subject)
PSA Only Recurrent PCa « Myers
#3 Memorial Sloan-Kettering Calculator: Note limitation on entries.
<http://nomograms.mskcc.org/Prostate/PsaDoublingTime.aspx>
#4 Guidelines on PSA doubling time in the June 2008 issue of the Journal of Urology
#5 PSA bounce after brachytherapy do not always indicate biochemical failure: Sarah Guy, 23dec10. brachytherapy bounce
Confusing and Confounding Event. Perhaps shift to more frequent (monthly?) PSA readings until Bounce is eliminated
Testimonials Trilogy 2011
August 31 & September 28
This is a new format for our Education Meeting—The Town Hall. The discussion framework for this Town Hall is the new book Invasion of the Prostate Snatchers. Key learning from Invasion is projected on the screen, one learning at a time. Members are invited to the front to share 5-10 minute vignettes from their individual Journeys related to message on the screen.
There are two kinds of member-presenters. The first are known to the Mailmaster in advance. He gives them a “Ticket”, which ensures they are called forward at the correct time. That presenter may include a PowerPoint slide or two to support his message.
The second type of presenter is “spur of the moment.” The projected slide or the comments of another presenter may trigger a relevant experience.
Attached to this email is a three-page .doc file. This learning will appear on-screen as individual PowerPoint slides. Study this in advance. Want to “Take a Ticket?” The August program is essentially pre-treatment, slides #1-#11. The September program is essentially post-treatment, including Relapse, slides #A-#O.
invasion slides See you at both meetings! Jim Golan, Mailmaster
Jgolan1@cinci.rr.com
Table. Outcomes vs Expectations After Radical Prostatectomy
| Outcome | Urinary Incontinence | Sexual Function |
|---|---|---|
| Matched expectations | 36% | 40% |
| Results better than expected | 17% | 15% |
| Results worse than expected | 47% | 44% |
“What is troubling is that 47% of the men actually had worse outcomes than they expected for urinary control or incontinence and 44% had worse sexual function than they expected.
“What does this mean? Despite great attempts to provide good preoperative counseling, men are either not hearing that information or they’re choosing to ignore it and believe that they are going to have better outcomes than they are being told they might have.”
This link indicates that nearly half of men don’t understand the outcomes of Robotic Radical Prostatectomy and highlights the need for groups such as ours to educate newly diagnosed.
Open the link for the full video by Dr. Cholak.
Steve Delaney
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/746200?src=mp&spon=17 <http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/746200?src=mp&spon=17>
In our Special Report on Advanced Prostate Cancer Treatments, Dr. Jacek Mostwin, Professor of Urology at Johns Hopkins, answers questions on hormonal treatment for recurrent prostate cancer. Here are some of Dr. Mostwin’s comments.
In the ongoing war against prostate cancer, researchers are making progress. Twenty years ago, many of the men diagnosed with prostate cancer clearly had tumors that had extended beyond the prostate. However, thanks to the PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test, men are now being diagnosed much earlier, when the cancer is still within the prostate and they can be cured with a radical prostatectomy.
Read the rest of JH Hormones Treatment For Recurrent Prostate Cancer »
Testimonials Trilogy 2011
Radiation Vacation in Sarasota (July 27), to……
Straight Talk Express (August 31) framed by Invasion of Prostate Snatchers, to…….
Is Relapse A Death Sentence? (September 28).
Instead of Doc On A Box, we will be led by Joe The Show. A town hall-like structure invites audience participation by PCIG Joes. Kevin Chaffee and Jim Golan are the Joes up front.
The details on July 27:
Radiation Vacation in Sarasota where Top Shelf Technology is practiced at the Dattoli Cancer Center, Sarasota, FL. Dattoli took high-precision IMRT external beam radiation, combined it with seeds and hormone treatment (for high risk patients) to create combination therapy and post some of the highest published cure rates in prostate cancer treatment. Mike Sweeney contributing. Dattoli also works directly with Sand Land Lake Imaging in Orlando on ground-breaking scanning technology which finds precisely where cancer is located in the body.
Jack Ramsay shares his Journey from surgical relapse, to Dr. Snuffy Myers, Charlottesville, VA, guiding his Active Surveillance program, to his radiation program now underway at Dattoli. His is the story of six years without toxic side effects.
Dressings for Success Camerota’s Cupboard
Dr. Alan Safdi says research suggests that extensive use of olive oil in cooking and dressings may reduce risk of stroke, diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, and obesity in older adults.
By Dan Zenka, Senior Vice President, PCF, June 2011
With the identification of more than 25 types of prostate cancer by PCF-funded scientists in the past 24 months, and the fact that it remains one of the least talked about cancers, it’s no wonder there remains a great deal of confusion surrounding this disease.
Ask any group of men about prostate cancer. If they don’t abruptly change the subject or take the opportunity to crack a few wise remarks, chances are you will get a wide variety of answers when it comes to what it is, how it should be treated and whether or not (and when) one should be screened for this disease. Against this reality, it is always a good idea to review some of the more popular myths and misconceptions about this disease that claims the lives of more than 32,000 men in the U.S. each year.
Read the rest of 10 MYTHS AND MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT PROSTATE CANCER »
Vit D The attached 4-page .pdf presents the Practice Guideline on Vitamin D Issued by the Endocrine Society. This key sentence:
“Based on all the evidence, at a minimum, we recommend vitamin D levels of 30 ng/mL, and because of the vagaries of some of the assays, to guarantee sufficiency, we recommend between 40 and 60 ng/mL for both children and adults.”
Steve Delany brought this reference to our attention.
Johns Hopkins Health Alerts
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is an enzyme produced by the glandular cells of the prostate and secreted in the seminal fluid released during ejaculation. High blood levels may indicate prostate cancer but can also be caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and infection. By looking at the percentage of free PSA or complexed (bound) PSA, doctors can determine the cause of elevated PSA levels. Here’s how …
PSA in the blood is either bound (attached to proteins) or unbound (free). PSA assays usually measure the total PSA (both free and complexed). Other assays measure the percentage of free PSA or the percentage of complexed PSA. Compared with men with BPH, men with prostate cancer have a higher percentage of bound PSA and a lower percentage of free PSA. Research suggests that determining the ratio of free to total PSA in the blood helps distinguish between PSA elevations due to cancer and those caused by BPH. Using the percent free PSA result to help determine the need for biopsy might help reduce the number of unnecessary biopsies.
Researchers estimate that in men whose PSA levels are between 4 ng/mL and 10 ng/mL, performing a prostate biopsy only when the percent free PSA is 24% or below would detect more than 90% of prostate cancers while reducing the number of unnecessary biopsies by 20%. In addition, some investigators are enthusiastic about using complexed PSA measurements to detect cancer, believing that this provides the same information as free PSA and total PSA.
Posted in Prostate Disorders on December 30, 2010
A relatively new and helpful addition in the diagnosis of prostate cancer is the free PSA Test.
This blood test is done in addition to the PSA Test and the finger (digital) examination.
The PSA Test measures a protein in the blood that is produced only by the prostate gland. Some of the PSA in blood is bound to other proteins and the rest circulates freely. This free PSA is a damaged variant of PSA that no longer is able to bind to other proteins and thus circulates in the blood in the unbound (free) form.
Read the rest of Free PSA Test Helps in Prostate Cancer Diagnosis (by William J. Catalona, M.D.) »
If you recall in his talk to our group in April, Dr. Alan Safdi recommended adding herbs and spices to our meals for the antioxidant benefits they provide. Also USA Weekend (2/6/11) cites a study from India in which cumin was found to be just as effective as an anti-diabetes drug in controlling diabetes in lab rats. Cumin also has been shown to protect bones and help prevent food poisoning.18jun11 Cumin
If you’re like many men, you may not be aware of the location and function of your prostate gland until it begins to cause health problems. Here’s a brief discussion of the anatomy of the prostate.
Read the rest of Johns Hopkins Health Alert: Prostate Anatomy 101 »
Jun 11
18
Risk From BPH, Hair Loss Drugs: Proscar, Propecia, Avodart, Jalyn Increase Risk of High-Grade PCa
WebMD Health News
Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD
June 9, 2011 — The prostate drugs Proscar, Avodart, and Jalyn and the hair-loss drug Propecia add to the risk of high-grade prostate cancer, the FDA warns.
All of the drugs must change their labels to warn of the risk, which unexpectedly appeared in two different large-scale clinical trials.
Ironically, Proscar and Avodart appear to reduce the risk of low-grade prostate cancer, which is less aggressive than high-grade prostate cancer. But the increased risk of high-grade prostate cancer means the drugs can’t claim to lower overall prostate cancer risk.
From Johns Hopkins Health Alerts: Prostate Disorders, June 1, 2011
Biomarkers are substances like prostate-specific antigen (PSA) that can be measured in blood, urine or other body fluids and used to detect or monitor a disease. Researchers are investigating a number of potential biomarkers that, in the future, may improve upon the PSA test’s ability to detect prostate cancer and identify potentially life-threatening tumors. Two promising biomarkers are PCA3 and gene fusion.
Read the rest of PCA3 And Gene Fusion: 2 New Biomarkers »
New Prostate Cancer Test Gives More Accurate Diagnosis
In a large, multi-center clinical trial, a new PSA test to screen for prostate cancer more accurately identified men with prostate cancer – particularly the aggressive form of the disease – and substantially reduced false positives compared to the two currently available commercial PSA tests, according to newly published research from Northwestern Medicine.
Read the rest of Pro-PSA Test Gives More Accurate Diagnosis »
Systematic Review: Comparative Effectiveness and Harms of Treatments for Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer
- Timothy J. Wilt, MD, MPH;
- Roderick MacDonald, MS;
- Indulis Rutks, BA;
- Tatyana A. Shamliyan, MD, MS;
- Brent C. Taylor, PhD; and
- Robert L. Kane, MD
+Author Affiliations: From the University of Minnesota School of Medicine, Center for Chronic Disease Outcomes Research, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and Clinical Outcomes Research Center, School of Public Health, Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Background: The comparative effectiveness of localized prostate cancer treatments is largely unknown.
Purpose: To compare the effectiveness and harms of treatments for localized prostate cancer.
Data Sources: MEDLINE (through September 2007), the Cochrane Library (through Issue 3, 2007), and the Cochrane Review Group in Prostate Diseases and Urologic Malignancies registry (through November 2007).
What Rhymes with Orange Eat your carrots. And have some . . . pumpkin pie. People with high blood levels of alpha-carotene – an antioxidant found in orange fruits and vegetables — live longer and are less likely to die of heart disease and cancer than those who have little or none of it in their bloodstreams, a new study reports.
Elaine, Editor, Camerota’s Cupboard
Impact of denosumab on bone metastasis-free survival
A presentation at the American Urological Association annual meeting in Washington a few days ago provided data that treatment with denosumab (Xgeva) delayed the onset of bone metastasis by 4.2 months compared to treatment with a placebo in men with high-risk, non-metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer. However, it should be immediately pointed out that the data from the same presentation also showed that treatment with denosumab had no significant impact on the patients’ overall survival.
Read the rest of Impact Of Denosumab: Bone Metastasis-Free Survival »
New data suggest that acetaminophen may prevent prostate cancer
Posted on May 24, 2011 by Sitemaster
Over the years, a variety of studies have demonstrated a possible impact of aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents or NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen, COX-2 inhibitors) on risk for prostate cancer. (See, for example, this report from late in 2010.)
Strictly speaking, acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol and other over-the-counter products) is not an NSAID at all, but of course it is well known to have anti-inflammatory effects.
A new paper by Jacobs et al., just published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, has now suggested that regular, long-term use of acetaminophen (30 or more tablets a month for a period of at least 5 years) is associated with a significant reduction in risk of a diagnosis of prostate cancer in general and aggressive forms of prostate cancer in particular.
Read the rest of Acetaminophen May Prevent Prostate Cancer »
How young men have thought about treatment options for Gleason 6 prostate cancer
Posted on May 25, 2011 by Sitemaster
A new study based on data from nearly 500 patients gives us some insight into how a selected group of men less than 50 years of age were thinking about treatment for prostate cancer between 2001 and 2005. Whether one would get the same results for a similar group of patient diagnosed today is a good question.
The paper by Sidana et al. is based on a cohort of 986 men — all under 50 years of age and all confirmed to have Gleason 3 + 3 = 6 prostate cancer after they had sought a pathologic opinion on their biopsy specimens from Dr. Epstein and colleagues at Johns Hopkins Medical Center between 2001 and 2005.
“PSA and the family physician”
The full text of a recent article having the above title offers a good (if perhaps not perfect), reasonably current overview of issues related to PSA testing for prostate cancer and appeared recently in a supplement to the Canadian Journal of Urology.
As the author — Dr. Barkin, a urologist — notes right up front in the abstract to this article, “The need for men to undergo screening for prostate is controversial.” However, he gives a well-thought-out explanation for the appropriate and justifiable use of PSA testing, while simultaneously emphasizing the importance of risks related to the diagnosis of clinically insignificant prostate cancer and the over-treatment of such clinically insignificant disease.
Avanafil shows benefit against ED in prostate cancer patients post-surgery
Read the rest of Avanafil Shows Benefit Against ED Post-Surgery »
Age, exercise, and ADT: effects on health and fitness in prostate cancer patients
Posted on May 27, 2011 by Sitemaster
A newly published study by Alberga et al. has examined the effects of patient age, type of exercise, and the use of ADT on changes in body composition and fitness following a 24-week exercise program in men with prostate cancer.
Read the rest of Age, Exercise, and ADT: Effects On Health And Fitness »
Posted By “New” PC Infolink Social Network
A biopharmaceutical company called Advantagene, Inc. announced last Thursday that it has reached agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regarding the conduct of a Phase III clinical trial of a vaccine-like treatment called ProstAtak™ — in combination with standard therapy — in the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer.
According to the company’s media release, and other information of the company’s web site, ProstAtak uses what the company is calling “gene-mediated cytotoxic immunotherapy” (GMCI™) to assist in the prevention of recurrence of localized prostate cancer in men being treated with standard forms of therapy. Some earlier literature refers to this type of treatment as “suicide gene therapy” (see Cher et al.). The proposed Phase III trial is expected to start accruing patients later this year. The projected number of men to be accrued to the trial is 711, and the company says that definitive trial results should be available by 2015.
Read the rest of Phase III Trial For “Gene Suicide” Therapy »