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Men continue to have normal life after radiation for prostate cancer
July 18, 2005Men receiving radiation therapy to combat early-stage prostate cancer are still able to achieve an erection and face a low rate of incontinence one year following treatment, according to a new study published in the July 15, 2005 issue of the International Journal of Radiation OncologyBiologyPhysics, the official journal of ASTRO, the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology.
Researchers enrolled 98 men from 24 institutions and set out to gauge the health-related quality of life in patients receiving low-dose rate prostate brachytherapy, a form of internal radiation therapy in which tiny radioactive seeds are implanted directly into the prostate gland to battle the cancer.
Patients were given three separate health-related quality of life questionnaires a total of five times before, during and after undergoing radiation therapy to allow researchers to evaluate what effect their treatment was having on them. The two most important side effects studied were sexual and urinary function.
The study reports that one year after receiving treatment, 78 percent of the men were able to achieve an erection, both with and without assistance. However, nearly 50 percent of the men did experience some loss of sexual function, such as reduced desire, activity and satisfaction as well as fatigue.
Although the overall rate of incontinence was low at 1 percent, some men did have difficulty urinating at the one-year mark. Typically, incontinence increases at the beginning of treatment and is completely gone one year after treatment.
"This is the first multi-institutional study of its kind," said Steven J. Feigenberg, M.D., lead author of the study and a radiation oncologist at Fox Chance Cancer Center in Philadelphia. "This study has provided us with valuable data that will help radiation oncologists better address possible side effects patients may have after receiving seed implants for prostate cancer."
For more information on radiation therapy for prostate cancer, please visit http://www.astro.org/patient/treatment_information/ for a free brochure.
To arrange an interview with Dr. Feigenberg or for a copy of the study "Health-Related Quality of Life in Men Receiving Prostate Brachytherapy on RTOG 98-05," please contact Nick Lashinsky at nickl@astro.org or 1-800-962-7876. ASTRO is the largest radiation oncology society in the world, with more than 8,000 members who specialize in treating patients with radiation therapies. As a leading organization in radiation oncology, biology and physics, the Society is dedicated to the advancement of the practice of radiation oncology by promoting excellence in patient care, providing opportunities for educational and professional development, promoting research and disseminating research results and representing radiation oncology in a rapidly evolving socioeconomic healthcare environment.
American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Onc
The study reports that one year after receiving treatment, 78 percent of the men were able to achieve an erection, both with and without assistance. However, nearly 50 percent of the men did experience some loss of sexual function, such as reduced desire, activity and satisfaction as well as fatigue.
Although the overall rate of incontinence was low at 1 percent, some men did have difficulty urinating at the one-year mark. Typically, incontinence increases at the beginning of treatment and is completely gone one year after treatment.
"This is the first multi-institutional study of its kind," said Steven J. Feigenberg, M.D., lead author of the study and a radiation oncologist at Fox Chance Cancer Center in Philadelphia. "This study has provided us with valuable data that will help radiation oncologists better address possible side effects patients may have after receiving seed implants for prostate cancer."
For more information on radiation therapy for prostate cancer, please visit http://www.astro.org/patient/treatment_information/ for a free brochure.
To arrange an interview with Dr. Feigenberg or for a copy of the study "Health-Related Quality of Life in Men Receiving Prostate Brachytherapy on RTOG 98-05," please contact Nick Lashinsky at nickl@astro.org or 1-800-962-7876. ASTRO is the largest radiation oncology society in the world, with more than 8,000 members who specialize in treating patients with radiation therapies. As a leading organization in radiation oncology, biology and physics, the Society is dedicated to the advancement of the practice of radiation oncology by promoting excellence in patient care, providing opportunities for educational and professional development, promoting research and disseminating research results and representing radiation oncology in a rapidly evolving socioeconomic healthcare environment.
American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Onc
Prostate Cancer Current Events and Prostate Cancer News RSSResearchers Identify Role of Gene in Tumor Development, Growth and Progression
Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center and VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine researchers have identified a gene that may play a pivotal role in two processes that are essential for tumor development, growth and progression to metastasis.
Common pain relief medication may encourage cancer growth
Although morphine has been the gold-standard treatment for postoperative and chronic cancer pain for two centuries, a growing body of evidence is showing that opiate-based painkillers can stimulate the growth and spread of cancer cells.
Young athletes need dual screening tests for heart defects, study suggests
To best detect early signs of life-threatening heart defects in young athletes, screening programs should include both popular diagnostic tests, not just one of them, according to new research from heart experts at Johns Hopkins.
Routine evaluation of prostate size not as effective in cancer screening, Mayo study finds
New Mayo Clinic research studied the association between prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels and prostate size and found that routine annual evaluation of prostate growth is not necessarily a predictor for the development of prostate cancer.
Carnegie Mellon researchers link health-care debate to risk of dying in US and Europe
The current health care debate in the United States is complicated. Trade-offs between heath care expenditures, lifestyle choices and life expectancy have been suggested but seldom clearly demonstrated.
New finding suggests prostate biopsy is not always necessary
Researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and the University of Wisconsin-Madison have discovered that some elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in men may be caused by a hormone normally occurring in the body, and are not necessarily a predictor of the need for a prostate biopsy.
Does prostate-specific antigen velocity help in early detection prostate cancer?
The November issue of European Urology, the official journal of the European Association of Urology, features an article focussing on prostate specific antigen (PSA) velocity and early cancer detection. It has been suggested that changes in PSA over time aid prostate cancer detection.
New Synthetic Molecules Trigger Immune Response to HIV and Prostate Cancer
Researchers at Yale University have developed synthetic molecules capable of enhancing the body's immune response to HIV and HIV-infected cells, as well as to prostate cancer cells. Their findings, published online in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, could lead to novel therapeutic approaches for these diseases.
Chemo-radiation before prostate removal may prevent cancer recurrence
Researchers in the Oregon Health & Science University Knight Cancer Institute and the Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center have found a combination of radiation therapy and chemotherapy given before prostate removal is safe and may have the potential to reduce cancer recurrence and improve patient survival.
Blood vessels might predict prostate cancer behavior
A diagnosis of prostate cancer raises the question for patients and their physicians as to how the tumor will behave. Will it grow quickly and aggressively and require continuous treatment, or slowly, allowing therapy and its risks to be safely delayed?
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