Conquer Prostate Cancer Now

Dr. Oz Plans Prostate Cancer Screening on Live TV

A PSA, that is, prostate cancer antigen screening,- on live TV?  With a DRE - a digital rectal exam?

This afternoon I got a Tweet from Dr. Oz who says: "During today's show (Thursday, February 11) we're doing a live prostate exam on stage -- definitely a first."

International Prostate Cancer Awareness Day

Raising prostate cancer awareness was the theme of my National Prostate Cancer Awareness Tour which I began last June with African-American off-Broadway actor, Kevin Byrd. At that time we went “on the road” together with Dr. Robert Carey, starting in Sarasota, Florida.

I just received some breaking news from Kevin in the form of a press release. It refers to today, February 2, 2010, as the second annual International Prostate Cancer Awareness Day. As the press release segment I'll cite indicates, you can look forward to this international event every February during Black History Month.

Prostate Cancer Doesn't Kill Like Earthquakes Do

Prostate cancer treatment and awareness is my chief concern at this blog. But like most of us I've got a whole range of other concerns on my mind. One such concern is pondering the plight of humanity due to natural disasters.

Prostate Cancer, Sex, and Tiger Woods

Tiger Wood's marital infidelity has taken many people by surprise. There's no question, though, that throughout history various men of stature have strayed, leaving the framework of marriage to "sow their wild oats."

Transperineal Biopsies More Effective?

Research suggests transperineal biopsy may be associated with higher rates of cancer.

MedWire (10/8, Guy) reported, "Transperineal template-guided biopsy allows better access to the prostate and a higher rate of cancer detection compared with the standard transrectal-ultrasound (TRUS) approach," according to a paper appearing in Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases. 

Transperineal template-guided mapping biopsy (TTMB) is "also better than the TRUS method at identifying tumors in areas of the prostate most linked with clinically significant disease." In fact, "using TTMB," investigators at Wheeling Hospital noted "a cancer detection rate of 75.9 percent on initial biopsy," which is "significantly higher than the 40-45 percent yield expected from standard TRUS biopsy in similar risk men."  (Source: DailyScope@aua.custmbriefings.com - October 9, 2009)

Investigators say NSAIDs May be Ineffective in Cancer Risk

MedWire (10/8, Williams) reported that new research has "cast doubt as to whether the risk for prostate cancer is reduced in men who regularly use over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)." The drugs "have been suggested as a preventive treatment for the disease," because "chronic inflammation is thought to play a role" its development. However, after examining the medical records of thousands of men with and without the disease, the current study authors discovered that men who took "NSAIDs had an increased risk for prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-detected prostate cancer, with odds ratio of 1.24, 1.51, and 1.37, respectively." (Source: DailyScope@aua.custmbriefings.com - October 9, 2009)

Prostate Cancer vs. Breast Cancer - Why Men Can't Get Their Act Together?

Prostate cancer is less of a cause-related issue for men than breast cancer is for women. That at least seems to be a view that's bandied about by men who wonder why government funding is not as substantial for prostate cancer research and awareness compared to breast cancer. Why that's the case is anybody's guess, although I'd like to offer some thoughts on this matter.

Larry King Live Features Prostate Cancer Celebrities

I saw the Larry King Show on prostate cancer last Friday evening (August 21). Despite individual celebrity appearances and promoting the Prostate Cancer Foundation, it did provide some substantive information we survivors or new patients might want. Most noticeably missing, though, was any clear reference to difficulties and coping mechanisms while recovering from treatment after-effects of the kind I’ve mentioned in both my book and blog, Conquer Prostate Cancer.

Prostate Cancer Terrorist Gets Compassionate Release

A terrorist with prostate cancer, Pan Am bomber Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahim, was released this week, from his Scottish prison and sent back to his native Libya, where he got a hero's welcome.. The man was released on the grounds that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer as of a year ago, and now it was terminal.

This act has infuriated many family and friends of the terrorist's 270 victims, whose live were shattered. The terrorist has shown no remorse over the 270 deaths he brought over Lockerbie in 1988, many of them younger and older Americans. Yet the Scottish judge has now reduced his 27 years to the 8 he's served.

The judge in this case declared he took this step in keeping with Scottish and western values, not the values of our enemies. For him this means balancing justice and mercy. Besides, added the judge, he's sent the terrorist  home not to live  but to die within 3 months, based on the doctors' assessment. 

How do you feel about this issue? Given that we know how slow prostate cancers can grow, what would you have decided in place of this judge? We welcome your response, below.

Prostate Cancer PSA, Hurray!

Yesterday I happened to have glanced at the February 5th edition of the Prostate Cancer Treatment Report. It addressed a study on the value of the PC3 test for determining if a man might have prostate cancer.

Here's my response to that report: The PSA test cannot by itself determine prostate cancer. It only indicates the possibility of prostate cancer or its recurrence, subject to further testing such as a biopsy. For this reason, any enhancement of the PSA test, which is unreliable but still the best initial test we have, would be welcomed.

I agree that the PCA3 is a helpful supplement to the current PSA test, but other tests that make use of additional biomarkers have already been developed in the laboratory. Once developed and tested with humans, we can only hope the new tests will provide greater accuracy in pinpointing whether a man has prostate cancer or not.