Tag: multiparametric MRI

Multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) has been the biggest gamechanger in the prostate cancer world for the past 15 years. It has revolutionized not only the detection prostate cancer (PCa), but it can actually fine tune the diagnosis, treatment plan, and even the treatment itself. Traditionally, almost all aspects of PCa were within the specialty of urology, keep reading

The title is a bit of a trick question. MRI can’t “see” actual genes or prostate cancer gene mutations. There are indeed genetic factors that contribute to both the risk of developing prostate cancer (PCa), and the behavior of particular cell lines. Ongoing research continues to shed light on the genomics of prostate cancer, and keep reading

Prostate cancer (PCa) is not a basic yes/no diagnosis. It would be so easy to say, “You either have it or you don’t.” If that were the case, treatment decisions would be simplified. Instead, PCa can be seen as a spectrum of diseases from precancerous conditions that can become full blown cancer, all the way keep reading

Few medical centers are as venerable as the Mayo Clinic. It began when William Worrall Mayo, a physician and chemist, settled his family on the Minnesota prairie in 1864, and opened a small practice. His two doctor sons joined the practice. As other partners came on board, it grew into the Mayo Clinic. Today, its keep reading

These days, Active Surveillance (AS) seems to be the new best friend for prostate cancer (PCa) patients. Over 40% of newly diagnosed, low-to-favorable intermediate risk patients now begin PCa management on AS. This method defers treatment, but there’s a catch. Patients must be responsible to: Obtain the most thorough portrait of your PCa (multiparametric MRI, keep reading

There is universal agreement among prostate cancer (PCa) experts, educators, and support organizations that second opinions matter greatly. This applies to your biopsy slides, imaging results, and recommended treatment options. Authoritative sources offer consistent wisdom. For instance: The American Cancer Society urges all cancer patients to seek at least one other viewpoint. “Getting a second keep reading

“Look before you leap.” This moral is from a fable called The Fox and the Goat. Its author was an ancient Greek storyteller named Aesop. Though his life is obscure, his legendary fame is based on his tales of animals that have charmed kids while also teaching practical lessons. The Fox and the Goat teaches keep reading

Six years ago, we posted a blog about the PROMIS study, which delivered a one-two punch to conventional TRUS biopsies. That blog described a planned follow-on British study that would combine mpMRI with diagnostic biomarkers, in hopes of identifying men whose prostate cancer is so low-risk as to avoid a needle biopsy, and who can be safely monitored. To launch the study... keep reading

According to cancer.net, “A cancer diagnosis often brings concerns about how long your life will be.” Even though prostate cancer (PCa) is not as life-threatening as some other tumor cancers, PCa patients who have just been diagnosed may still encounter fear of death. Yet, the odds of dying from something other than their cancer are keep reading

Once upon a fairly recent time, radical prostatectomy (RP) was the treatment of choice for prostate cancer (PCa), even for high risk disease. There were two main reasons for this: It was believed that PCa was a multifocal disease scattered throughout the gland, even if too small to be picked up by biopsy. Therefore, aggressively keep reading