Cancer patient survey on diet, exercise, and weight management

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has put together a brief research survey to learn more about patients’ experiences with cancer care. Specifically, ASCO is interested in patient’s perspectives on how things like diet, exercise, and weight management are incorporated into cancer care. … READ MORE …

AS in practice in a specific US community setting

In a presentation at the ASCO annual meeting, Dr. Ronald Chen reported that just 32 percent of newly diagnosed men who were initially managed on active surveillance (AS) in North Carolina between 2011 and 2013 were actually managed in compliance with guideline recommended monitoring. … READ MORE …

Symptom management after initial prostate cancer treatment

A recently published study has provided us with interesting information on how patients can be taught to better “self-manage” post-treatment, problematic symptoms associated with first-line treatment of localized prostate cancer. … READ MORE …

Early data suggest 18F-DCFPyL PET/CT scans can change patient management

A media release issued yesterday by Progenics Pharmaceuticals states that the investigational imaging agent 18F-DCFPyL changed physician behavior in the management of biochemically recurrent prostate cancer in > 65 percent of patients. … READ MORE …

A paradigm for the future?

Not so long ago, one of the new immunotherapeutic agents (a PD-1 inhibitor called pembrolizumab or Keytruda) was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of so-called microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR) solid tumors — regardless of the biological site of origin of those tumors. … READ MORE …

Understanding “cell-free DNA analysis” in cancer diagnosis and management

We have probably all heard terms like “liquid biopsy” and “genetic screening” and “cell-free” DNA analysis over the past few years. These are all terms related to the use of genetic and genomic information to “personalize” cancer diagnosis and its management. And they are potentially a huge big deal. But, … READ MORE …

But annual, mass, population-based PSA screening really works (or does it?)

A new and potentially controversial article in Urology (the “Gold Journal”) has just suggested that regular, mass, population-based screening of men for risk of prostate cancer every 12 to 18 months remains a good idea. … READ MORE …

Hypothetical cost savings associated with “observation” for low-risk prostate cancer

A newly published article in JAMA Oncology has reported hypothetical costs savings to Medicare of $320 million over a 3-year time frame if men of > 70 years with low-risk prostate cancer are simply “observed” as opposed being given immediate treated. … READ MORE …

Understanding the genetics of prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment

For those who are interested in this evolving topic, we recommend listening to Dr. Charles Ryan’s 16-minute-long discussion with Heather Cheng, MD, PhD, entitled “Genetic evaluation and counseling in prostate cancer treatment”. … READ MORE …

Speed of change in the management of prostate cancer

One of our regular correspondents (who lives in England) was recently told something rather interesting by the Consultant Urologist he sees in the UK. … READ MORE …

Active surveillance in management of younger men with prostate cancer

Your sitemaster has long argued that it is perfectly reasonable for many younger men diagnosed with low- and very low-risk forms of prostate cancer to be managed initially on active surveillance (despite reticence on the parts of many physicians and many patients). … READ MORE …

Prostate cancer and its management: where we are at now

A relatively long article in the June 21 issue of US News & World Report discusses a series of topical issues related to the diagnosis and management of prostate cancer, including: … READ MORE …

Wide uptake of active surveillance across VA medical system

A research letter in the Journal of the American Medical Association reports a major uptake in the application of active surveillance as a first-line form of management of prostate cancer across the Veterans Affairs health system here in the US since 2005. … READ MORE …

“Getting off biopsy train in prostate cancer”

“Getting off biopsy train in prostate cancer” is the title of the latest article by Howard Wolinsky (a long-time active active surveillance patient) on the MedPage Today web site. We recommend it to your attention. … READ MORE …

Should perineural invasion influence active surveillance and radiation treatment options?

Perineural invasion (PNI) is a risk factor detected on a biopsy in 15 to 38 percent of men with a prostate cancer diagnosis. … READ MORE …