clipped from www.prostatecancerfoundation.org

Report to the Nation on Prostate Cancer: A Guide for Men and Their Families

Being diagnosed with prostate cancer can be a life-altering experience. It requires making some very difficult decisions about treatments that can affect not only the life of the man diagnosed, but also the lives of his family members in significant ways for many years to come.

More than 218,000 men in the United States will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year, and each and every one of them will need to make very personal and individualized decisions about treatment options and diet and lifestyle changes.

But most importantly, each and every one of them will have to find a strong, knowledgeable team of physicians, nurses and other healthcare providers to help guide him through the process at each step of the way.

This book is about 100 pages, half dedicated to treating early prostate cancer and the other half discussing treatment of hormonal therapy and late stages of prostate cancer. It has a downloadable version of the book or you can request a free copy through the website of the prostate cancer foundation.

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Us Too! Prostate Cancer Education and Support - HotSheets

#Doc Moyad’s What Works and What is Worthless Column—Provenge�

# Cell Genesis Reports Phase II Results with GVAX Immunotherapy

# A Survivor Reviews the 2007 ASCO Prostate Cancer Symposium

The robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy is rapidly becoming the
“standard of care” for those who choose surgery.

IMRT (Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy) is the “standard of care” for
external beam radiation, but there remains an important place for brachytherapy
(radioactive seed implants).

Docetaxel is the “standard of care” for those who need chemotherapy.

# UCSD Researchers Report Ability to Detect Cancer at Earliest, Curable Stage

# New Blood Test for Prostate Cancer—Can EPCA-2 be on the Horizon?

Continue reading "Us Too Newsletter for June" »

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There is a decent website from a pharmaceutical company: prostateinfo.com.

It does a decent job of going over the basics involved in screening and explaining the treatment options.

My one big criticism is that is out of date when it comes to robotic surgery and how accepted it is, making up about 30-35% of all radical prostatectomies currently.

I would add HIFU as an experimental therapy and make laparoscopic and robotic procedures an accepted form. I know that there are more robotic prostatectomies done than perineal ones, and pretty sure there are more laparoscopic prostatectomies done in the US than perineal.

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The ultimate deadline Chicago Tribune: "The ultimate deadline
Faced with conflicting medical advice, newsman Robert Jordan took the road less traveled to treat his prostate cancer

By Robert Jordan
Special to the Tribune
Published June 18, 2006"

This story was given to me by a patient. Mr. Jordan has done excellent research and has hit on the important points that are overlooked by many patients and not stressed by all physicians.

1- Second opinions are a good thing. There are many opinions in choosing the best form of treatment for prostate cancer and a second opinion can help get multiple views.

2- In his decision making about choosing radiation, he writes: "Doctors there use tomotherapy, which targets radiation on the cancerous area. Patients can continue a nearly normal lifestyle during the course of the therapy, which is painless and non-invasive. It leaves most patients continent and potent, but subsequent scarring from the radiation, sometimes two to three years later, can cause problems in both those areas."

You are trading in short term side effects for long term effects with radiation.

3- He understands the importance of cautery free surgery: "I read up on the da Vinci procedure in medical journals and discovered papers discussing the advantages of not using cautery-a technique that stops blood vessels from bleeding with an electrical arc, which immediately coagulates the blood. Zapping a blood vessel so near a nerve couldn't be good for the nerve, I thought, so I looked for da Vinci surgeons who did not cauterize."

Even bipolar devices that do not spread electricity, will spread heat and I try to limit any cautery near the nerves including the prostate pedicles.

I think this article hits on most of the important points in choosing therapy for prostate cancer and is a must read for newly diagnosed patients.

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Low Blow - One man's battle with prostate cancer: MSNBC.com

This is one mans story about his bout with prostate cancer and his recovery from robotic prostatectomy. Mr. Stuckey should be commended for sharing his story, as it will help thousands of men deal with their cancer more effectively. Much of the anxiety men deal with cancer is from not knowing what to expect and the fear of the unknown.

There is a message board that people can post at and read from other people's experience.

Remember when reading people's story, there is a wide range of results that depend on patient factors, surgeon factors, and to an extent luck. I have one patient who has had a perfect result who has been discussing his recovery on the site, but I also have patients that I have expected to have full recoveries who have not.

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