 |
|
Prostate cancer patients undergoing hormone therapy may experience cognitive effects
July 28, 2008A recent review of the literature has found that hormone deprivation therapy, a commonly used treatment for prostate cancer, may have subtle adverse effects on cognition in patients-- such as in the ability to recall and concentrate. Published in the September 1, 2008 issue of CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the study indicates that clinicians and patients should be aware of these potential effects and watch closely for their appearance.
For years, hormone deprivation therapy, also known as androgen depletion therapy, has been used as an effective treatment for prostate cancer because hormones such as testosterone drive the growth of prostate cancer cells. The most common way to achieve androgen depletion is through chemical castration with drugs such as leuprolide and goserelin. Androgen depletion therapy has traditionally been reserved for advanced cases of prostate cancer, but increasing numbers of men with earlier stages of the disease are also undergoing the treatment.
Prostate cancer patients who are prescribed these drugs often stay on them for the duration of their life, and researchers have been documenting the potential adverse effects associated with their use. Men may experience hot flashes, osteoporosis, anemia, fatigue, loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, risk of diabetes, risk of cardiovascular disease, emotional distress, and other effects. Research also indicates that androgen depletion may impact cognitive functioning, which can affect a patient's decision-making skills and quality of life.
Unfortunately, only a handful of relatively small studies have investigated the impact of androgen depletion on cognitive functioning, and some of these studies have reported contradictory results. Dr. Christian Nelson, a psychologist at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City and his colleagues recently conducted the first review of these studies and summarized their overall results.
After performing a systematic literature search of studies in animals and humans, Dr. Nelson's team found that testosterone and its derivatives may impact cognition via several mechanisms in the brain. For example, testosterone can modulate brain chemicals called neurotransmitters and stimulate the connections between neurons. Also, studies that have examined the impact of androgen depletion therapy in prostate cancer patients indicate that between 47% and 69% of men being treated decline in at least one cognitive area, most commonly in processes dependent on spatial ability and in high-order capacities such as the ability to multi-task.
The findings indicate that larger, more thorough studies that include brain imaging techniques are needed to better understand the nature and extent of the cognitive effects of androgen depletion.
In addition, researchers are exploring the effectiveness of using androgen depletion therapy in men with rising levels of prostate specific antigen, a potential precursor to prostate cancer. The authors concluded that "as the use of androgen depletion therapy increases, clinicians should become aware of this relationship [with cognitive decline], and inform and monitor patients for this possible side effect of treatment."
American Cancer Society
Unfortunately, only a handful of relatively small studies have investigated the impact of androgen depletion on cognitive functioning, and some of these studies have reported contradictory results. Dr. Christian Nelson, a psychologist at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City and his colleagues recently conducted the first review of these studies and summarized their overall results.
After performing a systematic literature search of studies in animals and humans, Dr. Nelson's team found that testosterone and its derivatives may impact cognition via several mechanisms in the brain. For example, testosterone can modulate brain chemicals called neurotransmitters and stimulate the connections between neurons. Also, studies that have examined the impact of androgen depletion therapy in prostate cancer patients indicate that between 47% and 69% of men being treated decline in at least one cognitive area, most commonly in processes dependent on spatial ability and in high-order capacities such as the ability to multi-task.
The findings indicate that larger, more thorough studies that include brain imaging techniques are needed to better understand the nature and extent of the cognitive effects of androgen depletion.
In addition, researchers are exploring the effectiveness of using androgen depletion therapy in men with rising levels of prostate specific antigen, a potential precursor to prostate cancer. The authors concluded that "as the use of androgen depletion therapy increases, clinicians should become aware of this relationship [with cognitive decline], and inform and monitor patients for this possible side effect of treatment."
American Cancer Society
Science News and Science Current Events Tag Cloud
This tag cloud is a visual representation of term frequencies of random science news topics with common terms grouped together and emphasized by their display size.
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Nutrition Gamma-ray T Cells Human Brain Rotator Cuff Spacecraft Photosynthesis Blood Flow Premature Babies Quasar Beta Cells Satellite Brain Size Pycnogenol Probiotics Cancer Cells Volcanic Activity Cancer Diagnosis Sleep problem Drosophila Fusion Suicide Aneurysm Drug Addiction
See More: Science News Tags
Prostate Cancer Current Events and Prostate Cancer News RSSPredicting the return of prostate cancer: New Johns Hopkins study betters the odds of success
Cancer experts at Johns Hopkins say a study tracking 774 prostate cancer patients for a median of eight years has shown that a three-way combination of measurements has the best chance yet of predicting disease metastasis.
Second gene linked to familial testicular cancer
Specific variations or mutations in a particular can gene raise a man's risk of familial, or inherited, testicular germ-cell cancer, the most common form of this disease.
Researchers pinpoint a new enemy for tumor-suppressor p53
Researchers at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center have identified a protein that marks the tumor suppressor p53 for destruction, providing a potential new avenue for restoring p53 in cancer cells.
Report: Prostate cancer screening has yet to prove its worth
The recent release of two large randomized trials suggests that if there is a benefit of screening, it is, at best, small.
Selenium intake may worsen prostate cancer in some, study reports
Higher selenium levels in the blood may worsen prostate cancer in some men who already have the disease, according to a study by researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute the University of California, San Francisco.
Prostate Cancer Translational Research in Europe meeting: Search for biomarkers continues
Collaboration in prostate cancer translational research in Europe is not only vital to sustain the progress achieved in recent years but also to streamline current efforts between researchers and clinicians and avoid duplication or overlaps.
Dr. Ronald Lewis Couples' treatment for sexual problems on the agenda for sexual medicine experts
Couples' treatment for sexual problems and other innovative approaches to improving sexual health for men and women are on the agenda of sexual medicine experts.
BRIT1 allows DNA repair teams access to damaged sites
Like a mechanic popping the hood of a car to get at a faulty engine, a tumor-suppressing protein allows cellular repair mechanisms to pounce on damaged DNA by overcoming a barrier to DNA access.
Autonomous robot detects shrapnel
Bioengineers at Duke University have developed a laboratory robot that can successfully locate tiny pieces of metal within flesh and guide a needle to its exact location -- all without the need for human assistance.
Green tea may affect prostate cancer progression
According to results of a study published in Cancer Prevention Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, men with prostate cancer who consumed the active compounds in green tea demonstrated a significant reduction in serum markers predictive of prostate cancer progression.
More Prostate Cancer Current Events and Prostate Cancer News Articles
 |
Dr. Patrick Walsh's Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer, Second Edition by Patrick C. Walsh (Author), Janet Farrar Worthington (Author) EVERY MAN NEEDS THIS BOOK! Each year, more than 200,00 American men are diagnosed with prostate cancer. The good news is that more men are being cured of this disease than ever before. Now in a revised second edition, this lifesaving guide by Dr. Patrick Walsh and ard-winning science writer Janet Farrar Worthington offers a message of hope to every man facing this illness. Prostate cancer is a different disease in every man--which means that the right treatment varies for each man. Giving you a second opinion from the world's top experts in surgery, pathology, urology, and radiation and medical oncology, this book helps you determine the best plan for you. Learn:What causes prostate cancer--your risk factors, including heredity, diet, and environmentHow some simple changes in your... |
 |
You Can Beat Prostate Cancer by Robert J. Marckini (Author) The task of choosing the right prostate cancer treatment is daunting. It is further complicated by conflicting information the patient receives from physicians and the Internet. This book is written by a prostate cancer survivor who now runs an international prostate cancer support group. It's about his journey and the important things he learned along the way. It is the book the author wishes had been available when he was diagnosed 6 years ago. It is intended to provide specific information for men who are at risk or have been recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. All major treatment options are examined and the pros and cons of each are summarized. A relatively new, non-invasive, highly effective treatment is highlighted. It is an option that cures cancer as well as any other... |
 |
The Prostate Cancer Men's Club Starring: Thom Rachford Directed By: Rocky Galgano The Men's Club is the only full-length non-fiction motion picture dealing with prostate cancer, its' treatments and side effects. All treatments are investigated and discussed by 32 doctors, and men and women who are living with the most common cancer in men. Highlighting the treatments are live action video and/or animation of each treatment. Segments include women speaking on how their lives have changed, an African-American doctor speaking on high risk patients, celebrities and the treatments they have chosen, support groups and their benefits, what to watch out for with your HMO & PPO, Prostate Cancer as a disability in the work place and an 800 number for a non-profit radio show where the viewer can call and get questions answered. This film is not a bunch of talking heads or... |
 |
Surviving Prostate Cancer Without Surgery by Bradley Hennenfent (Author) The niche bestseller "Surviving Prostate Cancer Without Surgery" begins with the shooting of a urologist and includes a World War II Battle. The book exposes the big lie about radical prostate surgery, is filled with cartoons and simple diagrams, and is written for the average layperson in easy-to-understand style. "Surviving Prostate Cancer Without Surgery" quotes Dr. Gary Onik, M.D., Cryosurgeon and Director of Surgical Imaging at Celebration Health Hospital, Celebration, Florida, who says: "I expect that within five years we will see the death of the radical prostatectomy as a treatment for prostate cancer." The author, Bradley Hennenfent, M.D., has seen five uncles suffer from prostate cancer and his book includes many uplifting stories about less harmful treatments than surgery. Dr.... |
 |
A Primer on Prostate Cancer: The Empowered Patient's Guide by Stephen Strum (Author), Donna L. Pogliano (Author) ¡§A Primer on Prostate Cancer, The Empowered Patient¡¦s Guide¡¨ is a basic resource to be used by patients and physicians when there has been a diagnosis of prostate cancer. It outlines a strategy of disease management that is designed to maximize outcomes for the patient and his loved ones. All aspects of diagnosis and testing are discussed; all currently approved treatments for prostate cancer are described. Discussion of treatment options includes information on side effects and includes questions the patient may not think to ask his doctor. Discussions of various treatments include the salvage therapies that might be employed if primary treatment fails. There is an extensive section on the theory and practice of androgen deprivation therapy in it¡¦s various forms, since... |
 |
Prostate And Cancer: A Family Guide To Diagnosis, Treatment And Survival (3rd Edition) by Da Capo Press The major reference book for men concerned about or diagnosed with prostate cancer. Prostate cancer has become the most-diagnosed cancer in America and the second leading killer of men. Sadly, more than 189,000 men will be diagnosed with the disease in 2002. Dr. Sheldon Marks, a specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer, is the authority that many have come to depend on--both in his practice and through his book, Prostate and Cancer--when cancer has posed a threat. Now completely updated and revised to reflect the latest research in drug therapies and treatments, traditional surgical techniques, "minimally invasive" techniques, and methods to combat impotence and incontinence, Prostate and Cancer is more essential than ever. Dr. Marks has been praised for his... |
 |
Surviving Prostate Cancer: What You Need to Know to Make Informed Decisions (Yale University Press Health & Wellness) by E. Fuller Torrey M.D. (Author), Carlton Stoiber (Illustrator) When Dr. E. Fuller Torrey was diagnosed with prostate cancer, none of the books he could find was current enough or comprehensive enough to satisfy his need for information. This book is for the hundreds of thousands of other men who each year receive the same frightening diagnosis. It is the book Dr. Torrey wished he had when he was facing the countless questions that a man with prostate cancer, and his family and friends, all confront. Complete, up-to-date, and readable, the book explains how to come to terms with the diagnosis of prostate cancer, evaluate the severity of the disease, and assess the variety of treatment options and their complications. Many chapters provide information other books barely consider, such as a full discussion of the causes of prostate cancer and an... |
 |
Eat to Beat Prostate Cancer Cookbook by David Ricketts (Author) Prostate cancer is now the most common nonskin cancer among men in the United States. In 2005 alone, 250,000 new cases were diagnosed, and that number is certain to rise with each passing year. No one is more aware of this than David Ricketts, experienced cookbook author and recent prostate cancer survivor. Shortly after surgery and radiation treatments, Ricketts began to research food and lifestyle changes that might inhibit the likelihood of prostate cancer as well as its progression. The result is this uniquely specific cookbook, which takes full advantage of foods thought to fight prostate cancer while eliminating those believed to contribute to the disease. Eat to Beat Prostate Cancer Cookbook features more than 200 delicious recipes for everything from snacks, sandwiches,... |
 |
FlameEz-Prostate, 60 Capsules/Bottle by FlameEz Most men over the age of 50 develop prostate problems. The three most common prostate problems are prostatitis, caused by an inflammation; benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a noncancerous enlargement of the prostate; and prostate cancer. Prostate problems can get progressively worse and lead to dangerous complications, including bladder and kidney infections. Recent results of prostate tissue examinations from routine autopsies show 75-80% incidence of chronic inflammation. Studies have also shown that prostate inflammation leads to the DNA damage and the gene mutations that set prostate cancer in motion. The inflammation-prostate cancer link is further supported by population-based studies which found a lower risk of prostate cancer among men who take inflammation-reducing medications... |
 |
Prostate Cancer: Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in the United States. Virtually every man over 40 has cancerous growths in his prostate, although most will not die of the disease. This program focuses on what is known about preventing prostate cancer, current diagnostic techniques, and the variety of treatments available. James D. Brooks, MD, is Assistant Professor of Urology at the Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. Brooks focuses exclusively on the treatment of prostate cancer. He is an acknowledged expert in the technique of nerve-sparing radical retropubic prostatectomy and in the surgical anatomy of the pelvis, and has carried out pioneering research on the genetic changes occurring in urological cancers. He has also published extensively on scientific and... |
| © 2009 BrightSurf.com |