Radiation, Hormone Treatment Combo May Help with Some Prostate Cancers

While many of the 180,000 American men likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year will find their condition is low risk, that is simply not always the case. Some men will find their diagnosis relates to a more aggressive, higher risk form of the disease. New research, however, is showing that a combination treatment may offer some of those in the higher risk category a greater chance for successful treatment with a significantly higher five-year disease-free survival rate.

Hypofractionated Radiotherapy and Prostate Cancer

Men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer are very likely to find that some form of radiation treatment is recommended to help ensure this disease is effectively tackled. While radiation can present with the potential for side effects, this option is one of the most effective for killing off cancer cells. Some forms of radiation therapy, however, may increase the risks for side effects. Researchers are finding, in fact, that hypofractionated radiotherapy may present with a greater risk of late toxicity than conventional radiation treatment methods.

Why Communication Matters In Prostate Cancer Treatment

Men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer will find their lives turned upside down as soon as the words leave their healthcare provider’s mouth. With a myriad of decisions to make and unfamiliar territory to traverse, the time immediately following diagnosis can be especially difficult. Open communication between a man and his healthcare provider during the diagnosis phase, treatment and long after, however, can greatly improve quality of life.

High Dose Radiation And Prostate Cancer Treatment

As highly targeted radiation options become more widely available, many cancer patients are finding that their treatment involves higher doses delivered over a shorter period of time. While this can be especially helpful in treating a variety of cancers while limiting the procedures patients must endure, researchers are finding that higher dose delivery isn’t always the best path to take. For low-risk prostate cancer patients, in fact, a new study indicates that higher dose treatments may not always produce the best results.

Blood Test May Offer More Accuracy Than PSA

As the prostate-specific antigen tests remains under fire for its track record of inaccuracies, researchers in Sweden believe they’ve found a better blood test. Designed to screen for prostate cancer using a large number of markers, the test has held up well in studies so far for its ability to accurately detect aggressive prostate cancer.

Surgical Castration Works Better Than Drugs in Prostate Cancer, Study Finds

While many of the estimated 200,000 American men who will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year will find their recommended treatments are very mild, some may learn that more drastic measures are needed. In advanced cases of metastatic prostate cancer, in fact, chemical castration is sometimes recommended to better control the disease by blocking a hormonal fuel source.  Researchers are finding, however, that surgical castration could be the superior option.

An Aspirin A Day May Keep Prostate Cancer At Bay

Men looking to lower their risks for developing prostate cancer may find that taking a simple aspirin a day can help. For those who have already been diagnosed with this disease, regular aspirin usage may help lower the risk of death associated with this disease.

Researchers Say Men’s Health Supplements Don’t Work for Prostate Cancer

An apple a day might keep the doctor away, but men’s health supplements won’t beat back the symptoms of prostate cancer. Those are the findings of a recently released study whose investigators add that these supplements may sometimes even do more harm than good.

Addressing Men’s Psychosexual Concerns After Prostate Cancer Treatment

An estimated 220,000 American men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year. Many of these men will find themselves undergoing treatment that can produce side effects that impact psychosexual health. From the potential to produce incontinence to impotence, side effects are common, but are not guaranteed with treatment. Researchers are finding, however, that prevalence is high enough that patients and their doctors should not only be aware of them, they should have an open dialogue about them.

Radiation Techniques Deliver Stronger, Safer Prostate Cancer Care

While many men find their prostate cancer is low-grade and slow growing, that’s not always the case. For those who discover more aggressive treatments are recommended to tackle cancer that’s equally as aggressive, the news can be disheartening. After all, the side effects associated with some prostate cancer treatments are a bit intimidating even if the outcome of their use is a greater chance of survival. Enter a relatively new form of radiation therapy that gets to the heart of the matter without necessarily damaging nearby healthy cells.

Why Black Men Should Pay Attention to Their Prostates

Prostate cancer is a man’s disease that can prove fatal. Some men, however, are much more likely than others to develop it and some are even more likely to die from the cause. With this in mind, it’s critical for all men of advancing years to discuss screening with their healthcare providers. Black men especially will want to make sure screening is a part of their regular healthcare protocol starting around the age of 40.

Certain Protein May Play Role in Cancer Development

Unlocking the mystery of just how and why the body’s programming runs amok to create cancer has long been the focus of study. Now, researchers at Texas A&M say they may have uncovered insights into the role a certain stem cell protein plays in the development of breast and prostate cancer. Their work may one day pave the way for more effective long-term treatments that prevent recurrence entirely.