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Prostate Cancer Archive
Articles
American Heart Association issues statement on cardiovascular side effects from hormonal therapy for prostate cancer
New ways to test for prostate cancer
Recent advances can help men with a worrisome PSA result avoid immediate biopsy.
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood testing receives high marks as an effective way to monitor disease activity in men diagnosed with prostate cancer. Yet, as a screening tool for prostate cancer, PSA testing is problematic.
PSA naturally tends to increase as men get older, but levels that get too high may suggest prostate cancer. A PSA level of less than 4 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) is often reassuring, unless there has been a sudden jump from a much lower number. Many doctors consider a total PSA level higher than 10 ng/mL as the threshold for getting a biopsy to check for cancer.
Predicting low-risk prostate cancer
New calculators can estimate the chance your cancer might — or might not — become more aggressive.
Active surveillance is a popular option for men with low-risk prostate cancer, defined as a tumor that is confined to the prostate gland and unlikely to grow or spread. It involves monitoring prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in the blood for changes and having regular digital rectal exams to look for abnormal areas on your prostate.
During active surveillance, you have a PSA test and a digital rectal exam every six months and prostate biopsies approximately every other year. If your PSA level rises, your doctor will likely recommend a prostate MRI or an immediate prostate biopsy to see if the cancer has become more aggressive. If so, you and your doctor can decide whether to continue with active surveillance and have another biopsy six months or a year later, or move ahead to treatment, such as radiation, hormonal therapy, or surgery.
Radiation after prostate cancer surgery may not be necessary
In the journals
Many men with prostate cancer who have a radical prostatectomy (prostate removal) receive radiation therapy afterward to wipe out any residual cancer cells. Alternatively, men can choose to delay radiotherapy and be monitored for evidence of prostate cancer activity, such as a rising blood level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA). If PSA testing or an imaging test like an MRI shows cancer, these men can then consider radiation therapy.
According to the findings of an analysis published online Sept. 28, 2020, by The Lancet, there is no clear benefit of immediate radiation over monitoring with later radiation therapy as necessary. Since some men will never need radiotherapy, this means that by forgoing immediate treatment, they can avoid potential side effects like incontinence and bowel problems.
Hormone therapy and radiation may help with certain prostate cancer
In the journals
Men with intermediate-risk prostate cancer may benefit from undergoing androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) depending on how far the cancer has progressed, says a study published online Sept. 9, 2020, by JAMA Network Open. The results could help men better weigh risk versus reward when choosing their prostate cancer treatment options.
The study looked at men with intermediate-risk prostate cancer. This is the mid-range of prostate cancer in terms of aggressiveness between low-risk (which often doesn't need treatment) and high-risk cancer. There are two categories of intermediate-risk cancer: favorable intermediate-risk (FIR) and the more advanced unfavorable intermediate-risk (UIR).
Combining two types of biopsies helps diagnose prostate cancer
In the journals
Combining two kinds of biopsies may lead to a more accurate diagnosis of prostate cancer, suggests a study in the March 5, 2020, issue of The New England Journal of Medicine. Researchers from the National Cancer Institute enrolled 2,103 men with prostate abnormalities. Each man had a standard 12-point biopsy and an MRI-targeted biopsy.
With a 12-point biopsy, tissue samples are taken from 12 systematically placed spots on the prostate. An MRI-targeted biopsy uses an MRI image of the prostate to help doctors locate areas where cancer is most highly suspected. Previous research has shown that MRI-targeted biopsies are more accurate than 12-point biopsies. However, even MRIs can miss some tumors.
The facts about testosterone and sex
Can boosting testosterone levels improve your sex life?
The hormone testosterone plays a big part in men's health, but perhaps its most meaningful role is to fuel sex drive and performance.
Testosterone levels tend to decrease with age. They peak by early adulthood and then can drop by up to 1% per year beginning around age 40. Sometimes an abrupt fall occurs because of an injury or illness (such as an infection), chemotherapy or radiation treatment, or certain medications.
Can vitamin and mineral supplements protect against prostate cancer?
On call
Q. Can specific types of supplements help reduce my risk of developing prostate cancer?
A. Most studies of vitamin and mineral supplements have had disappointing results. In fact, some even appear to increase prostate cancer risk. Here's a rundown on where everything stands.
Exercise can reduce the side effects of prostate cancer treatments
In the journals
Men who choose androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for their advanced prostate cancer can avoid possible side effects with short-term exercise, suggests a study published in January 2020 in BJU International.
Common side effects of ADT include weight gain, loss of muscle mass, lower cardio fitness, fatigue, and a drop in quality of life. These often occur within three months after treatment begins. In the study, researchers recruited 50 men with prostate cancer who began ADT. Half did two supervised exercise sessions per week for three months. The hourlong workouts included both aerobic and resistance exercises. The group then continued the workouts on their own for another three months.
The option of prostate cancer surgery
Is surgery the best choice to treat your prostate cancer? Here's what you need to know.
There are many ways to deal with a prostate cancer diagnosis. You might choose the wait-and-see approach of active surveillance for low-risk disease, in which you monitor your condition and only treat if the cancer becomes more aggressive. In terms of treatments, you can opt for radiation therapy, which attacks cancer cells, or androgen deprivation therapy, which tries to slow cancer growth by shutting down testosterone production.
The remaining option is radical prostatectomy: surgery to remove the entire prostate gland. While this is the most invasive approach, it's the right choice for some men.
What could be causing your blurry vision?
Avocado nutrition: Health benefits and easy recipes
Swimming lessons save lives: What parents should know
Preventing and treating iliotibial (IT) band syndrome: Tips for pain-free movement
Wildfires: How to cope when smoke affects air quality and health
What can magnesium do for you and how much do you need?
Dry socket: Preventing and treating a painful condition that can occur after tooth extraction
What happens during sleep — and how to improve it
How is metastatic prostate cancer detected and treated in men over 70?
Could biofeedback help your migraines?
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