U.S. Congress Increases Funding for Prostate Cancer Research for FY 2020
To foster more research projects in prostate cancer, the U.S. Congress has increased funding for the Department of Defense’s Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP) by $10 million, to $110 million, for fiscal year 2020. To read the full article click here.
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...
A new study suggests that precision lymph node radiotherapy could improve prostate cancer outcomes.
Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is a highly precise type of radiation, and a recent clinical trial suggests it may be a safer form of treating lymph nodes in prostate cancer patients. You can read the entire article here: “Precision Lymph Node...
Multiparametric MRI
Multiparametric MRI by, Dr. James W. Borrow With improvements in equipment, the introduction of new imaging sequences and studies involving thousands of men with prostate cancer, dedicated MRI has been shown to be a valuable tool in the diagnosis, treatment choice and...
New study data shows low-to-intermediate risk prostate cancer patients who receive low-dose brachytherapy have excellent long-term outcomes
Recently presented study data shows that low-to-intermediate risk prostate cancer patients who received low-dose permanent brachytherapy had excellent long-term outcomes. Read the original article here: "Low-dose Brachytherapy Seen as Viable Choice for Lower Risk...
SpaceOAR Hydrogel Quality-of-Life benefits are re-confirmed with new Long-term data.
Prostate cancer patients who received the SpaceOAR System prior to their radiation therapy continue to report better long-term bowel and sexual function. Click here to read the original article. The new 5-year long-term bowel and sexual quality-of-life results...
Janssen Biotech has submitted an application for Zytiga to be used as a supplemental drug to treat Metastatic Prostate Cancer
The Danish pharmaceutical company has submitted a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA.) Click here to read the original published article. The application requests approval to use Zytiga in combination with...
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 #153: PSMA Targeted Radioligand Therapy for Metastatic Prostate Cancer: Where We Currently Stand and Where Research is Heading
Radioligand Therapy (RLT) targeted with the radionuclide Lutetium 177 or Actinium 225 has been found in early studies to be promising, safe and effective. A Gestault of results has generally shown about a 50% PSA decline in 50% of patients and a median...
PCa Commentary #152: Genomic Sequencing and Genomic Classifiers: Aids to Decision Making. A primer just to provide a ‘heads-up’.
Genomic classifier panels for risk stratification and whole-genome sequencing in search of actionable mutations both provide personal molecular data that can guide management decisions. However, each provides an entirely different category of information. Both are...
PCa Commentary #151: OLIGOMETASTATIC PROSTATE CANCER: Metastases Directed Therapy – Patient Selection, Imaging and Outcomes
Metastases Directed Therapy (MDT) has become a realistic option for men who develop metastases after primary therapy. The theoretical foundation of MDT was succinctly stated by David Palma, M.D., PhD: “The oligometastatic paradigm hypothesizes that...
PCa Commentary #150 – Bone Health: An Important Issue Insufficiently Acknowledged for Men on Androgen Suppression
A Commentary discussing bone health and bone protective therapy may not be as eye-catching as new developments in PSMA and Axumin imaging or radioligand therapy with Lu-177, but as the old spiritual says: “dem bones, dem bones gonna walk around …” and we...
PCa Commentary #149 – LUPRON vs FIRMAGON: Is The Debate About Superiority Over? Just the Facts, Please, … but with the December FDA approval of Relugolix the debate may now be moot.
A great deal has been written about the comparison between Lupron (leuprolide) and Firmagon (degarelix). Lupron as been the mainstay of treatment of relapsed and metastatic prostate cancer since its introduction in the early 1990’s. Firmagon (degarelix) was FDA...
PCaCommentary #148: ACTIVE SURVEILLANCE – What’s New.
Active surveillance (AS) is an increasingly recommended strategy for carefully selected men with a biopsy diagnosis of low grade, localized prostate cancer. It involves delaying primary intervention with careful follow-up monitoring with a goal of avoiding...
PCa Commentary #147: Olaparib and Rucaparib (PARP inhibitors)
OLAPARIB and RUCAPARIB (PARP inhibitors): These newly FDA approved agents now offer a much needed additional treatment option for men with metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). The prostate cancer field is abuzz with encouraging reports of efficacy...
PCa Commentary # 146: Radium-223 (Xofigo); A Radioisotope Treatment for Prostate Cancer Metastatic to Bone. The radiobiology of Radium-223 suggests greater effectiveness when used early in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).
In 2013 Radium-223 was FDA approved for treatment of prostate cancer patients with bone metastases on the basis of a large randomized trial, ASYMPCA, comparing the radioisotope to a placebo. In 708 heavily pretreated men, the overall median survival was extended by...
PCa Commentary # 145: PSA, PSA Dynamics, and Advances in Imaging: PSA and the PSADT (PSA doubling time) Guide the Management of Prostate Cancer.
Following radical prostatectomy [and radiation therapy] for organ confined disease, approximately one-third of men will develop a biochemical relapse with a detectable PSA level.” Quoted from “PSA Doubling Time and Absolute PSA Predict Metastases-free Survival in Men...
PCa Commentary #144: THE CHECKPOINT INHIBITORS – In Search of a Role in the Treatment of Prostate Cancer: The Current Status.
UNDERSTANDING PROSTATE CANCER
What is Prostate Cancer?
What is Prostate Cancer, the Symptoms, Risk Factors? What does the Prostate do, where is it located?
Prostate Cancer Recurrence.
For Some, Cancer Returns After Treatment. Compare Treatments. Increase Your Odds of Remaining in Remission.
Treating Prostate Cancer.
Patients have options when it comes to the prostate cancer treatments. Learn about your treatment options.
Remission versus Recurrence?
Relapse of prostate cancer is way more common than you might think. Many men treated for prostate cancer have their cancer return, which can lead to a lifetime of treatment. Prostate Cancer Free studies treatment outcomes documented in "The STUDY", recently updated for 2021. Take this Study to your doctor, and discuss your chance of cancer recurrence. The Study is available with the new, just released booklet, to help you learn about prostate cancer. Both the Prostate Cancer Free Study and the booklet, “What You Need to Know About Prostate Cancer” are available NOW for you to VIEW, PRINT or DOWNLOAD.
Help To Continue the Work!
The Prostate Cancer Free Foundation, reviews the results of hundreds of thousands of men treated for prostate cancer. Tracking them for years. This information is available to you, and others like you, to help find the best prostate cancer treatment. This work takes time, effort, resources all of it done by volunteers. Please help us continue. Please Donate!