Study

Research shows that men who carry the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are at higher risk of developing prostate cancer than men without the genes.

A Swedish study finds that the combination of five genetic variations increases the risk of developing prostate cancer.

Researchers report that an experimental urine test can better distinguish between prostate cancer and benign conditions than both PSA and PCA3 testing.

Research has shown that testosterone levels decline as men age. In theory, taking testosterone supplements should counter that natural process. But a Dutch study concluded that they few benefits.

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Two teams of researchers suggest that focal therapy may be a promising treatment option for men with cancer confined to the prostate. However, more research is needed to determine its long-term effectiveness.

Physicians and researchers have long believed that consuming high amounts of calcium and dairy products increases the risk of prostate cancer, although study results have been inconsistent. Two recent studies make clear that the jury is still out.

Obese men tend to have lower PSA concentrations than men with healthier weights. As a result, fewer obese men undergo biopsies, potentially leaving prostate cancer undetected.

A study by Boston researchers found that hormone therapy may increase risk of death from heart disease, especially among patients who have had prostate surgery.

Studies reveal that lycopene, a nutrient found in tomatoes, does not seem to reduce prostate cancer risk.

Historically, the answer has been yes, but mounting evidence suggests that lifestyle factors may influence risk.

A British study finds that repeat biopsies may play an important role in active surveillance for untreated, localized prostate cancer.

Anxiety, not clinical symptoms and disease progression, may sway patients toward treatment.

Blood and tissue levels of chromogranin A (CgA) may be early indication that prostate cancer that won’t respond for long to hormone therapy.

Study finds that finasteride may actually lower the overall risk of prostate cancer and aid in the detection of aggressive tumors. An earlier study had implicated finasteride in the development of these deadlier tumors.

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More research is needed, but taking tadalafil (Cialis) could be helpful for men with BPH.

Researchers have identified several genetic variations that raise prostate cancer risk, variations that may also account for the higher incidence of prostate cancer in African Americans.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine have developed a new blood test for prostate cancer, which in a preliminary study proved better than the PSA test at identifying which men have cancer. The new test measures levels of the protein EPCA-2, which — unlike PSA — is produced almost exclusively by cancerous tissue.

I have used finasteride (Proscar) to treat my BPH, and it has reduced the size of my prostate. However, my body’s production of semen has diminished, too. Will switching to dutasteride (Avodart) solve that problem?

Searching PubMed in five easy steps

You can find and read the studies that are referenced on this Web site by searching PubMed, a resource of the National Library of Medicine. The abstracts (short summaries) of the studies are available for free, but in most cases you will have to pay to obtain the full report.

Here’s how to access an abstract:

1. Open up your browser’s window while connected to the Internet. Type www.pubmed.gov and hit return.

In short, yes. If you take Flomax (tamsulosin), be sure to tell your eye doctor before having cataract surgery.

Three doctors describe some surgical options for treating an enlarged prostate, including the ones they think patients prefer.