Support the Foundation while you shop for the holidays
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are two of the busiest shopping days of the year. Support us when you shop on Amazon on Black Friday, Cyber Monday and the holiday season. Begin your Amazon shopping on this link: smile.amazon.com/ch/27-4434212 and Amazon donates to the...
When it comes to your health, you are your best advocate.
The PSA blood test…sounds harmless enough, and not that hard to do; and yet, according to a 2016 study published in JAMA International Medicine found that PSA (prostate specific antigen) testing- a blood test used to screen for prostate cancer- is on the decline. The...
Can Exercise Improve Prostate Cancer Patients’ Survival?-Global Study to find out
The study is called the Global Action Plan 4 Global Prostate Cancer (GAP4), and will include more than 150 researchers from around the world. The clinical trial will be looking to see if exercise can improve cancer symptoms and delay the disease’s progression. The...
Big Dangers when it comes to Pain management
When it comes to “pain management”, most people automatically think of over the counter medications. They take the prescribed dose, the medication goes to work, and the pain is managed; often times it is short-lived, and they can move on from it. But, for many...
Actor Stephen Fry reveals he has prostate cancer
Last week, Actor Stephen Fry revealed that for the past few months, he has been battling prostate cancer. Fry credits early detection: "I felt my life was saved by early intervention so I would urge any of you men of a certain age to get your PSA levels checked." ...
Don’t Allow Prostate Cancer to Drive You and Your Partner Apart
Facing a cancer diagnosis can be tough to handle as a couple. It’s safe to assume that a prostate cancer diagnosis will be stressful for any relationship. The possible unwanted changes that can occur before, during, or after treatment can be very trying, and couples...
Recurrence Anxiety Strikes Unexpectedly
The fear of recurrence weighs heavily on the minds of every cancer survivor, some more than others. For some it can be an overwhelming fear experienced on a daily basis, and for others, less frequent. For many patients, recurrence anxiety strikes most often around...
Prostate Cancer claims more lives than breast cancer in the UK
According to recent numbers released this past week, there are now more prostate cancer related deaths in the UK than breast cancer deaths. You can read the original article here: “Prostate cancer now kills more in UK than breast cancer.” It is amazing to see the...
Dealing With Depression When You Have Cancer
Addressing depression in cancer patients is a vital part of the care provided by healthcare providers. In some cases, healthcare providers should be doing a better job in asking patients going through cancer treatment about their emotional health, and to encourage...
Tips for meeting with your doctor
Before you meet with your doctor for the first time, it’s a good idea to formulate a list of questions you want answered. Be sure to write them down, so you don’t forget to ask any of them. Also, bring someone along for moral support. Having them there will help...
FAQ’s to Help Overcome Your Fears of a Prostate Biopsy
Your Urologist felt a “suspicious lump” and wants to schedule you for a prostate biopsy. Two emotions come to the forefront….anxiety and fear. The source of these emotions are from the unknown- not knowing what expect during the procedure and not wanting to know the...
How to Avoid Buyer’s Remorse After Your Prostatectomy
A study published in the journal Research and Reports in Urology found that the rate of prostatectomy-related regret increases over time, with up to 47 percent of men reporting regret five years after surgery. You can read the original article here: "How to Avoid...
Researchers in Spain may have identified a potential therapeutic target for advanced Prostate Cancer.
Through studying the 3D structure of the androgen receptor, Researchers in Spain have identified a key protein responsible for its activation. Identifying this protein, called TFIIF, makes it a possible therapeutic target for advanced prostate cancer. You can read...
7 Things to do when facing the seemingly never-ending Misery of Cancer
For many Cancer Patients, they face a serious problem, when their cancer-related symptoms are always front-and-center in their life. Pain control or quality-of-life issues can make life miserable every minute of every day. You can read the original article here: “7...
The Key Molecular Process that Leads to Prostate Cancer Metastasis has been uncovered by Researchers
In a new Swedish study, researchers at Umeå University have identified a key protein called Snail1, which appears to be crucial to the spread of prostate cancer cells. You can read the original article here: “Researchers Uncover Key Molecular Process that Leads to...
A new Phase 1 Trial shows ProscaVax Vaccine stopped Prostate Cancer Progression in 80% of participants.
OncBioMune Pharmaceuticals’ new prostate cancer vaccine, ProscaVax, stopped cancer progression in 80% of patients in their Phase 1 clinical trial after 6 injections. You can read the entire article here: “ProscaVax Vaccine Stopped Prostate Cancer Progression in 80% of...
A New Global Study Will Look at Whether Exercise Can Help Prostate Cancer Patients Live Longer
A team of Australian Researchers plan to conduct a global study to evaluate whether prescribed exercise along with traditional treatments can help advanced prostate cancer patients live longer lives. You can read the original article here: "Global Study to Focus on...
A new study out of UCSF finds that cancer cells can alter the surrounding tissue.
The tissue surrounding the malignant tumors can look normal, but its genetic makeup may have been altered in ways that promote the spread of cancer, the study reports. You can read the original article here: “Cancer Can Change Tissue That Surrounds It, University of...
For many, the Toughest Battle with Cancer comes after Treatment
For many prostate cancer patients, their greatest battle with cancer came after treatment. You can read the full article here: "Why the Fiercest Battle with Cancer Frequently Occurs After Treatment." These men are living with a host of quality-of-life issues following...
For many, prostate cancer is a disease that strikes later in life; this simple fact combined with life experience, gives some prostate cancer patients a unique perspective
There is another side of cancer that we all tend to forget about when facing a diagnosis. Sure there are all the treatment choices, side effects to weigh, and tests to consider, but we tend to forget the emotional side that is impacted as well. For many of us,...
Prostate Cancer: It’s Not Just an Old Man’s Disease
While a man’s risk of prostate cancer does increase with age, men in their 40’s and 50’s are still diagnosed, affecting some men as young as 30 with this disease. You can read the entire article here: "Prostate Cancer: It's Not Just an Old Man's Disease" Certain...
PCa Commentary
Expert Commentary On The Latest Prostate Cancer Topics
Written by Dr. Ed Weber
PCa Commentary is a well-researched, clearly presented commentary targeted to medical providers and others interested in current prostate cancer treatment. Each PCa Commentary edition offers an analysis of new developments in the field of prostate cancer with essays discussing and evaluating treatment management options for this disease.
PCa Commentary #121: AR-V7: The Clinical Utility of Knowing Your Status … And When Is the Information Most Useful.
A test for the splice-variant AR-V7, Oncotype Dx AR-V7 Nucleus Detect (Genomic Health, Inc.), has become commercially available. This Commentary will focus on the clinical significance of test results — their predictive and prognostic value. The Major Foundation...
PCa Commentary #120: METASTASIS DIRECTED THERAPY: What Can Be Learned From The First Reported Prospective, Randomized, Multicenter Phase II Clinical Trial?
In December 2017 the JCO published the trial results of Ost and colleagues: “Surveillance or Metastasis -Directed Therapy for Oligometastatic Prostate Cancer Recurrence”. Up to this time there have been numerous retrospective and observational studies of varying...
PCa Commentary #119: KNOW YOUR BRCA STATUS: The Clinical Importance of Mutations in Genes that Repair Injury to DNA
The message is clear. At diagnosis 6% of men carry mutations in the BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 gene. At the stage of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer nearly 12% of men exhibit these germline (inherited) mutations. Finally, as the course of the disease progresses...
PCa Commentary #118: Two Developments are New- and when integrated suggest a pathway forward in prostate cancer management.
The word is out that a survival benefit accrues when either abiraterone (Zytiga) plus prednisone (AA/P) or docetaxel (Taxotere) are added to standard androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in the treatment of de novo metastatic hormone sensitive prostate cancer and also...
PCa Commentary #117: RADIOLIGAND THERAPY IS FOR REAL
RADIOLIGAND THERAPY IS FOR REAL — and as the technique is further developed it will assume an important role in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer. This article has benefited from review and comments by Dr. Scott Tarawa, Associate Professor Clinical Medicine,...
PCa Commentary #116: THE AXUMIN SCAN FOR PROSTATE CANCER — Increasing Availability Throughout the US and to be Available at Swedish Medical Center in October
The Axumin Scan (also termed: 18F-fluciclovine) — What is it? This PET/CT study was approved by the FDA in May 2016 for evaluation of men with rising PSA’s after primary treatment with surgery or radiation. It is a total body “functional” scan based on the cellular...
PCa Commentary #115: PARP INHIBITION – AN EMERGING NEW TREATMENT: A Primer on its Clinical Utility in Treating Metastatic Prostate Cancer with BRCA-like Mutations
I would like to thank Dr. Bruce Montgomery, University of Washington and Seattle Veterans’ System, and Dr. Song Zhao, Cancer Institute, Swedish Medical Center, Seattle, for their valuable input into this article and especially in the sections regarding their...
PCa Commentary #114: ACTIVE SURVEILLANCE: Who Are The Best Candidates and What Are the Best Outcomes?
Active surveillance (AS) is now considered the preferred management option for men with low-risk prostate cancer. The guidelines for all the major organizations relating to prostate cancer recommend a discussion of AS with patients diagnosed on biopsy with low-risk...
PCa Commentary #113: OLIGOMETASTATIC PROSTATE CANCER — METASTASES DIRECTED THERAPY: Where Do We Stand?
A clinically meaningful goal of MDT is the postponement of androgen suppression therapy, while the more lofty goals would be to prolong survival or affect a cure in some patients. Current research is refining the criteria for selecting those men who will benefit most....
PCa Commentary #112: (68)Gallium-PSMA-11 PET/CT: What Can It Tell Us That We Ought To Know (and Don’t)?
We are beginning to recognize that prostate cancer is a much more subversive adversary that we have conventionally thought. This awareness is largely coming from information from studies with the total body PSMA PET/CT. The (68)Ga-PET/CT is rapidly becoming the gold...
UNDERSTAND PROSTATE CANCER.
What is Prostate Cancer?
What is Prostate Cancer, the Symptoms, Risk Factors? What does the Prostate do, where is it located?
Diagnosed with Prostate Cancer?
What tests confirm the presence of prostate cancer? Learn how doctors diagnose prostate cancer.
Treating Prostate Cancer.
Patients have options when it comes to the prostate cancer treatments. Learn about your options.
Which Treatments Are Most Successful
Which TREATMENTS are most likely to leave patients PROSTATE CANCER FREE? Testing PSA levels in thousands of patients for years following treatment, identifies which are most effective. See which course of therapy worked best for patients with low to high risk cancer. Get your copy of the study to discuss with your family and Doctor.
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