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prostate cancer therapy

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Q: Does hormone therapy for males suffering prostate cancer cause mental confusion?
My father has organic brain damage and moderate cognitive deficits after suffering a stroke in 2001. He has recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer. We are concerned that hormone therapy might increase his level of mental confusion. Is this a common side effect of hormone therapy to assist in treatment of prostate cancer? He is looking at radiation therapy and hormone therapy now.

A: No, it could actually help your cognitive abilities. Men are hardwired a weird way, and we actually need testosterone at certain points in our lives, not having the testosterone making organs, you need to substitute. I feel this would be his best bet to actually keep his sanity.

Consult with his doctor. They will tell u the truth seeing as how they see it every day.

I hope this helped!

Q: What Is The Cost Of Proton Beam Therapy For Prostate Cancer?
My insurance will not pay for this. They will pay for regular radiation treatments claiming they do not think Proton Beam is superior to regular external radiation treatments.

A: there is also microwave bombardment to the prostate also.

Q: How will the situation at Chalk River affect a person scheduled to have radiation therapy for prostate cancer?

A: Hello. Good question.

The Chalk River problem really only affects the production of specific radio-isotopes which happen to be those used mostly in diagnostic tests, but less commonly in treatment. (One exception to this might be radioactive thyroid treatments or radio-labelled immuno-isotopes, but these are less common than the diagnostic scans.) In particular, for those in oncology (as I am) bone scans, MUGA scans, and thyroid scans are all affected.

For a person who has already been fully assessed and is planned for radiation treatment this is irrelevant. Radiation treatments will not be affected as they (almost always) use linear accelerators to produce their radiation and not radio-isotopes. In short, radiation treatments will continue as normal.

Prostate cancer patients who may be affected are those who are more recently diagnosed but have not yet had all the necessary tests. In particular those patients who would normally require a bone scan prior to treatment. Note that this is not most prostate cancer patients who are now low-risk patients who do not require a bone scan. Higher risk/more aggressive disease however where getting a scan remains important to decide what the best treatment is will be forced to decide whether to assume the scan will be negative and treat accordingly or wait into the new year when we hope that a new source of isotopes will be found and perform the bone scan then.

Hope this helps.

Q: What is the prognosis for a recurrence of prostate cancer being treated with hormone therapy?
My husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer 5 years ago and had radiotherapy after which he was ok until early this year when his PSA started to rise. It is now 16 and he has been advised to go on permanent hormone treatment. The doctor didn’t tell us how likely this was to work and how long for. He is 63. Does anyone here know anything about it.

A: I’m not sure what you mean by “work”. I assume you know this will not cure him of the disease. Prostate cancer is typically slow growing and far more often than not managed very well. How aggressive it is, is determined by the Gleason score. This would have been determined at biopsy. Hormone therapy is standard care and works quite well at slowing the disease for long periods of time. It is not unusual to see men with prostate cancer for 15-20 and more. Whenever you realize you have an unanswered question call the doctor and ask over the phone they are used to it – it’s part of the job.

You may also be interested in knowing there is a prostate cancer vaccine due on the market by February. I can’t remember the name but I believe it is coming from a company in New Jersey. From what I was told it works very well, but it is also very expensive $30,000-$40,000. The patient’s tumor cells are used to make the vaccine so it is specific to the patient and their cancer. Over time, which fortunately you husband has, I suspect the price will come down. I also believe this type of vaccine will become available for different types of cancer. I work with a doctor who has had one for brain tumors in clinical trials for a few years now and it has been doing very well. Best wishes.

Q: Prostate Cancer?
I’d like to hear from anyone who has decided to recieve medical treatment and/or decided to ‘wait’ and use alternative therapy for prostate cancer. There are so many differing opinions about the treatment. A relative of mine had a reading and was refused the ‘internal radiation method’ as he was 1 point too high. This would not have been the case if he lived in another state!! I was told my a doctor that with medical treatment 9 out of 10 survive long term as the medical profession does not entirely know how this cancer works. Of course he explained that is not what the doctors want but due to uncertainty of the disease it is just what happens.
If anyone has used alternative ‘medicines’ can you give the names?
Thank you

A: There is a strong temptation to go to “alternative” treatment. The question is do they work? Many are advertised with the qualifier “may” and suggest, without being obligated to prove that they “do” work: drink orange juice, which “may” cure cancer. One of my patients came to believe that blueberries “may” cure his prostate cancer. He came to me too late. Ten years ago, I lost a friend to prostate cancer. The man was the world’s ultimate authority on diet and cancer prevention. If he could not help himself, what chance does the “alternative” product provider have of helping anyone? You can read more about all this on the In the News: Editorials pages of http://www.laprp.com

Q: prostate cancer- should i choose radiation therapy, or go for removal of the prostate?
I am 61 years old and recently diagnosed with low grade prostate cancer. I have to decide on radiation therapy or complete removal of the prostate. I would like to hear from anyone who can shed some light on this for me. I am leaning toward radiation, but need to know if this therapy makes people sick. All responses will be much appreciated. The “seeds” therapy is not an option for me, due to the size of my prostate. I would like to hear from all.

A: Choose neither.
Go for alternative methods which are more successful and less painful.
Please spend time reading the following page in detail which will explain why.
It has a specific section on radation.

Cancer

http://dgwa1.fortunecity.com/body/cancer.html

Q: which prostate cancer therapy has least permanent side effects?

A: I don’t know which one has the LEAST permanent but I know that chemo sure took a lot out of my wife’s grandfather.

Q: Prostate cancer – side effects of radiation therapy?
My husbane started radiation therapy today to treat prostate cancer. His doctors have advised him that there will be no side effects apart from perhaps some fatigue towards the end of the course of treatment.
He has a stressful job and is concerned that the therapy may affect his ability to work at some stage.
Has anyone reading this had this treatment? What, if any, side effects did you experience and how were they treated?

He is 60 and the cancer was detected in its very early stages.

A: Everyone responds differently as their bodies are different. However, the doctors probably are your best source for the side effects of his therapy. If he is experiencing fatigue, he should limit the amount of activity outside of work, and rest more on his off work hours.

A lot of people have develop some anemia and other vitamin and mineral deficiency problems during radiation and or chemo. Ask his doctor if taking a multi vitamin/mineral supplement would be beneficial. Fuzzy

Q: What are effects of prolonged hormone therapy for treatment of prostate cancer, specifically seratonin levels.

A: Serotonin is not a hormone, it’s a neurotransmitter located in the brain.
Estrogen is used for prostate cancer. Hot flashes are the most common side-effect.

Q: prostate cancer radiation therapy is about to start. Does anyone have any good or bad to say about it .?

A: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_4X_Radiation_Therapy_36.asp?sitearea=

http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic3213.htm

http://www.prostateinfo.com/patients/treatment/radiation.asp

I found these links that have plenty of information for you to look at. Hope they help. Good Luck.

Q: Does hormone therapy prolong the life of men with prostate cancer?
If so, by how much?

A: Absolutely! I am a medical transcriptionist for a urology group and I see this every day. There are so many great treatments out there for prostate cancer now. Be sure and discuss ALL the options with your doctor to find the right one.

Q: My father had prostate cancer and went through radiation therapy. Now he is bleeding from his penis.?
Has anyone been through this and why is it happening? Also what can he use to stop the bleeding or even just something so the blood will not run through his pants. Any help would be much appreciated.
He has been to his doctor and his options are to deal with it or have his bladder removed. Just wounderig if anyone has been through this. Its been five years since the therapy.

A: Anything dealing with cancer, radiation therapy, and bleeding from the penis should result in an immediate trip to the doctor.
Do not stop on yahoo answers.
Do not worry about keeping the blood from running through his pants. Avoiding embarassing blood stains is not nearly as important as getting to the doctor.

Q: why hormone therapy is used for prostate cancer?

A: It stops the pituitary gland in the brain producing testosterone which is what controls the growth of the tumour.

Q: Can you help with this question about prostate cancer and pomegranate juice?
I have a strong family history of prostate cancer (father & older brother). I am now over 65 and my PSA tests have remained at normal levels I have that test and a rectal exam by a urologist done annually. I’ve heard recently that pomegranate juice may be of value in treating men wiith prostate cancer whose cancer is still progressing despite radiation and/or hormonal therapy. What I’d like to know is this:

(1) Is there any evidence that it might help in preventing or delaying onset of the disease? and
(2) Is there any indication it could interfere with early diagnosis by skewing the PSA test?
Cat Lover: Thank you for your kind remarks. Last year after reading an article that advised taking 4 times the usual recommended dose of Vitamin D3 I asked my urologist about it and he was able to tell me nothing. I think he would have no more information about pomegranate juice. I find that most doctors’ knowledge of therapies is restricted to treatment of trauma, surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and the latest drugs the big pharmaceutical companies are pushing. They don’t seem to know or even care about alternative therapies. I know, of course, there are exceptional doctors who do, but it’s difficult to find them.

A: Why don’t you ask your doctor? Most of the men (boys) who answer questions here are too young to even think of prostate cancer! They are more obsessed about sex!

I think this pomegranate juice theory is relatively new, and no real studies have been done. Your best bet is to keep on having the PSA tests regularly. You are at the age where it is very important to do this.

I have no idea whether the juice would interfere with the PSA test or not. Again, ask your doctor. And just because there has been a lot of prostate cancer in your family, doesn’t guarantee you will get it. Just keep having those tests! If you should get it, treatment is so much better these days than it was years ago.

Good luck!

Q: Is it permisable or wise to donate blood while your are being treated for prostate cancer?
I have prostate cancer and my treatment is: Hormone Therapy and External Beam Radiation. Is my blood OK to use for what ever purposes blood banks use it?

I can’t help any other way at the moment and wish to continue helping others. Prior to my cancer I would do volunteer work. Now I am too tired to do the physical work I used to do. Even driving my car has been too much.
Thank you everyone, it was so silly of me to think I could donate.

A: Blood banks must follow Food & Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines. Contact your area blood bank with this question.

Regarding the use of donated blood: By FDA regulations, if you are paid to donate plasma (this process is called plasmapheresis), this plasma is not transfused into human beings. The companies you donate to will sell the plasma to research companies and drug manufacturers.

You do not mention how long you have been receiving your radiation therapy. Your oncologist should be able to instruct you regarding fatigue–what causes it, how long it will last, what can be done to address it so you may become active again. You are a very unselfish, empathetic person to be still thinking of others in your own times of hardship–bless you.

Please talk to your oncologist. I hope your cancer is treated successfully!

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