Red hair lowers risk for prostate cancer in men. New research shows that men with naturally red hair are 54% less likely to develop prostate cancer as men with blond, brown, or black hair. Why hair color would influence cancer risk is not clear. The scientists behind the findings think it has to do with…
If treatment for prostate cancer is in your future, you might consider the following study results concerning radiation: IMRT (intensity-modulated radiation therapy) was superior to standard radiation when it came to disease control and the possibility of suffering with gastrointestinal problems and hip fractures. However, you are at greater risk of experiencing erectile dysfunction if…
The survival rate for prostate cancer may be on your mind if you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed. You likely have questions about the survival rate for prostate cancer. What are survival rates? Doctors use survival rates as a way of discussing your prognosis or outlook. An example of what your doctor…
People are talking about the latest news: there may be a connection between having a vasectomy and being at risk for prostate cancer. A new study from the Harvard School of Public Health has raised a red flag in the minds of men who already had vasectomies, and those who are considering them. Before getting…
Researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center have identified a gene that causes aggressive prostate cancer. The gene, called SPINK1, occurs in an aggressive form of the disease and is considered an ideal target for a class of drugs known as monoclonal antibodies, including one that is already approved by the FDA. The…
Among the many possible causes of prostate cancer is one you’ve probably never heard about before and one that requires some explanation: polymorphisms of MTHFR genes. A polymorphism occurs when two or more different characteristics of an organism exist in the same species. How could polymorphisms increase the risk of prostate cancer? At Shahid Beheshti…
While the controversy concerning the recommendation for men to forego regular PSA (prostate-specific antigen) testing for prostate cancer, issued by the US Preventive Services Task Force, still rages on, it’s easy to overlook an important group of men: those at high risk for prostate cancer. All men need to take control of their own healthcare,…
There’s a Rolling Stones’ song with lyrics reminding us that we can’t always get what we want, and that sentiment may be relevant to men who have unrealistic expectations about their sexual and urinary function after prostate surgery (prostatectomy). A new study finds that nearly 50 percent of men who had a prostatectomy expected better…
It seems like an unlikely fit: an oral antifungal may help with hormone resistant prostate cancer. Yet that is the finding from a small clinical study reported at the recent American Association for Cancer Research meeting. The antifungal drug is itraconazole, an oral medication used to treat fungal infections that originate in the lungs and…
Prostate cancer is not an equal opportunity disease. In fact, black men are at higher risk for prostate cancer than are white men, Asian men, and Hispanic men. To make matters worse, prostate cancer is more aggressive in black men as well as more deadly. Why is the picture of prostate cancer so gloomy for…
It’s possible that having high cholesterol could turn into a health benefit, according to the results of a 14-year study of nearly one million patients. The authors of the Aston University in Birmingham, UK, study reported that a diagnosis of high cholesterol was associated with a lower risk of dying of prostate cancer, as well…
You might be familiar with the PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test, which is a standard test for prostate cancer, but now a new prostate cancer screening test has been developed and has shown promise. Called the PSA/SIA (solvent interaction analysis) test, this blood/urine prostate cancer test shows promise and could be more sensitive in detecting prostate…
Is prostate surgery better for low grade cancer than active surveillance? According to a recent study, men who undergo radical prostatectomy after being on active surveillance have outcomes that are similar to those of men with low-risk prostate cancer who forego active surveillance and choose radical prostatectomy. These findings were presented at the American Urological…
If you have advanced prostate cancer that has not responded to hormonal therapy (castration-resistant prostate cancer), you be wondering whether to try Provenge for your cancer. Provenge is a novel treatment for advanced prostate cancer that is made by Dendreon. Rather than a chemotherapy or hormone therapy, Provenge is an immunotherapy. This means that Provenge helps…
Did you ever hear the folktale about Chicken Little, who was hit on the head by a falling acorn? He wanted to warn the king – and everyone else – that “the sky is falling!” The story and its many age-old variants satirizes people who are unduly alarmed and spread exaggerated rumors. However, three recent…
Chances are you’ve never heard of proliferative inflammatory atrophy, but it’s about time you did if you are of the male persuasion. It is similar to high-grade PIN (prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia) in that both conditions involve abnormalities of the prostate that can eventually develop into prostate cancer. More specifically, PIA includes inflammation and atrophy (tissue…
Does active surveillance work? According to the results of a new study from the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), active surveillance is an effective treatment choice for men who have low to intermediate risk prostate cancer. The study results were presented at the American Urological Association’s annual meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, on May 20,…
All the test results are in and so is the diagnosis: prostate cancer. What should you do now? It is time to learn as much as you can about your treatment options and then, with the guidance of your physicians, make a decision that best suits your situation. If possible, it is best to consult…
Late stage prostate cancer has no cure, but with treatment you can manage the disease, control symptoms, and increase your life expectancy. Your treatment will depend on a number of different factors including specifics about your cancer, your current health, and your personal preferences related to potential treatments and side effects. What is late stage prostate…
