Category: General Prostate
A new approach to focal treatment for prostate cancer has made its entrance onto the world stage and has patients talking. It is called photodynamic therapy (photo for light, dynamic for action) or PDT. It involves administering a light-sensitive chemical called TOOKAD® by a 10-minute IV injection, which is quickly taken up in the prostate keep reading
A newly available prostate cancer treatment has made Kaiser Permanente, one of the largest not-for-profit health plans, sit up and take notice. On October 4, 2016, the life sciences news service StatNews featured an article by Kaiser News staffer Julie Appleby, “Billboards and Websites Push Costly Prostate Cancer Treatment With Unknown Long-Term Benefits.”[i] The treatment keep reading
One of the most respected robotic surgeons, Dr. David Samadi, is an active online participant, with regular blogs on relevant prostate cancer topics. The New York Daily News recently (Sep. 22, 2016) carried an article by Dr. Samadi, “Prostate Cancer Means Deciding between Surgery or Radiation.”[i] In talking about the necessity of doing research in keep reading
Cryotherapy, or freezing, is a method of destroying prostate cancer by subjecting the prostate gland to the extreme temperature of -40° Celsius. The procedure, done under anesthesia, consists of using ultrasound image guidance to insert thin hollow needles into the prostate gland through the perineum (skin between the scrotum and anus). When argon gas is keep reading
The challenge to overcome cancer has been around as long as the human race has known about cancer. An Egyptian papyrus from 1600 B.C. identifies cancer and describes removal of a breast tumor by cauterizing (burning) it. The writer notes that there is no known cure for cancer.[i] In modern times, the three main methods keep reading
Everyone knows that money doesn’t buy happiness. But can it buy life? A new study out of the University of Washington Medical Center suggests that prostate cancer patients in extreme financial distress are more likely to die than those who are not. This doesn’t mean that having money can buy life, but hardship is a keep reading
I never cease to be amazed at the amount of publication that comes from various individuals and teams at the University College London. On top of their clinical work with patients, and conducting clinical trials, I am impressed with their commitment and energy level when it comes to setting fingers to keyboard and writing articles keep reading
For decades, researchers have been looking for a link between prostate cancer and other health factors such as obesity, smoking, or diet. They don’t have to look very hard. There is a huge amount of evidence that links prostate cancer risk with these and other conditions—making a powerful case for making healthy choices. But what keep reading
Before the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Panel’s 2012 recommendation against broad PSA screening, the blood test was commonly offered to men age 50 and over (45 if you had known risk factors). The Panel’s directive started a push in the opposite direction, encouraging doctors to discuss with each patient the merits and downsides of keep reading
When you’re cruising along in good health, it’s easy to take that smooth road for granted. An annual physical with a PSA is a little like stopping at a red light and waiting till the light changes. When the physical ends, you figure it’s a green light and leave the office, expecting to go on keep reading
