Prostate Cancer

Fewer radiation treatments at higher doses following surgery may be a safe and effective treatment option for people with prostate cancer, according to new clinical trial data. The study by the American Society for Radiation Oncology found that men who had radiation regimens of five weeks instead of seven weeks, saw positive results while not increasing their risks of long-term side effects.  Prostate cancer is highly treatable when caught early enough. In the United States, the 10-year survival rate is 98%. Undergoing fewer radiation treatments after surgery can be desirable for prostate cancer patients for many reasons, especially convenience. But Dr. Neha Vapiwala, a radiation oncologist at the University of Pennsylvania, told U.S. News & World Report that  the safety of a shorter regimen has been a major concern among doctors and patients . She was not involved in the study. Vapiwala did say that these new findings offer "level-one eviden...

Tumor thickness was associated with aggressive histological growth pattern in basal cell carcinoma (BCC), suggesting that the assessment of tumor thickness may help in determining the pathological risk and prognosis in patients with BCC, according to research findings published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology . The study was a retrospective review of 85 primary BCCs in 82 patients who underwent surgery at a single center from 2002 to 2008. In total, 91.7% of the tumor slides were available for retrospective review. Researchers evaluated the histological subtype, ulceration, perineural invasion, and tumor thickness. The study looked for "aggressive growth patterns," which were defined as tumors that demonstrated infiltrative, micronodular, morpheaform, and basosquamous features. Mean diameter of the evaluated tumors was 0.94±0.48 cm. The investigators identified 3 histopathological subtypes in 6.4% tumors. Approximately 42.3% of the tumors contai...

A new prototype photodynamic therapy (PDT) device for at-home treatment of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) reduces pain level of treatment while also achieving efficacy comparable to a hospital stay according to pilot study findings presented at the 30th European Association of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress.1 The efficacy of PDT, a treatment that use a light-sensitive medicine and a light source to destroy cancer cells, for low-risk BCC has been studied multiple times and proven efficacious, but the pain that patients have experienced afterwards has prompted development of this device.  "The importance of a portable PDT device is crucial in its country of origin, Brazil, where many patients need to travel more than 300km to receive specialized dermatological treatment," said Ana Gabriela Salvio, MD, lead author of the study from Brazil. "However, the global pandemic accelerated the need to develop this at-home treatment element, which has the potential ...

It's normal to be concerned when you discover a red flush or pimple-like dots on your skin, but a rash under your breast could indicate any number of things. The good news: Most are mild or easy to treat. Still, in rare cases, a breast rash can be a sign of something more serious. Here's a roundup of likely causes, plus when to call a healthcare professional. Infections  Often, a below-the-breast rash is a sign of a mild infection.  Mastitis  Mastitis is breast pain, swelling, and itchiness or warmth, often on one side, due to a bacterial infection or irritation from clogged milk ducts. Typically, it's the result of breastfeeding challenges but can also affect women and men who aren't nursing. Along with a breast rash and fatigue, you may notice a wedge-shaped red area or nipple discharge that could contain pus. You may have flu-like symptoms like fever, chills, and nausea. Usually, mastitis ca...

As men age, their prostate health can also decline. Poor diet, stress, obesity, and other issues cause poor prostate health. An enlarged prostate primarily affects the urinary and sexual health of men. It is paramount to boost your prostate health using herbal supplements. What is the ProstateMD dietary formula? ProstateMD is advertised as a groundbreaking supplement that can support the prostate health of men. The manufacturer, IMD Nutrition, is a US-based company that makes various dietary supplements that can augment the health of multiple parts of your body. IMD has for over five years made several nutritional formulas that are safe and effective. Some of the prostate supporting ingredients in this formula include an original saw palmetto extract known as USPlus. It is rich in 3× beta-carotene, 30× zeaxanthin, and 10× lutein than standard saw palmetto extract. Additionally, ProstateMD is loaded with other plant-based minerals, sterols, and antioxidants that can naturally heigh...

If you have been diagnosed with a tumor, the first step your healthcare provider will take is to find out whether it is malignant or benign, as this will affect your treatment plan. In short, the meaning of malignant is cancerous and the meaning of benign is noncancerous. Learn more about how either diagnosis affects your health. Verywell / Joshua Seong What Is a Tumor? A tumor is an abnormal lump or growth of cells. When the cells in the tumor are normal, it is benign. Something just went wrong, and they overgrew and produced a lump. When the cells are abnormal and can grow uncontrollably, they are cancerous cells, and the tumor is malignant. To determine whether a tumor is benign or cancerous, a healthcare provider can take a sample of the cells with a biopsy procedure. Then the biopsy is analyzed under a microscope by a pathologist, a healthcare provider specializing in laboratory science. Benign Tumors: Noncancero...

Stage 3 colon cancer is when a mass of cells called a tumor spreads (metastasizes) beyond the lining of the colon to nearby lymph nodes—small structures that are part of the immune system. Although the lymph nodes will contain cancer cells, the disease will not yet have spread to distant organs in the body, such as the liver or lungs. This article reviews the possible symptoms of stage 3 colon cancer and how healthcare providers go about classifying, diagnosing, and treating it. You'll also learn about the expected outcome if you or a loved one are diagnosed with it. Symptoms of Stage 3 Colon Cancer While people with stage 1 and stage 2 colon cancer will often have no signs of the disease, those with stage 3 are more likely to develop noticeable symptoms. This is not always the case, though, and depends largely on the size and location of the tumor. Common A tumor within the colon can cause a stricture , which is narrowing of the int...

Prior studies have shown that statins, drugs typically used to lower cholesterol, are associated with a mild reduction in prostate growth over time. Newer studies are investigating the effect of these drugs on patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). In a recent Journal of Urology study, 1 Jordan J. Kramer, MD, and co-authors examined whether statins impact LUTS incidence in asymptomatic men and progression in symptomatic men with BPH. Kramer is a PGY4 urology resident at Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California. Could you discuss the background for this study? This study looks a lot at BPH and associated LUTS, BPH being benign prostatic hyperplasia, which involves increased proliferation of stromal epithelial cells in the region of the prostate called the transitional zone located around the urethra. Because of that location, this tissue bulges in and can actually decrease the patient's ability to urinate and can lead...

Eur Urol Open Sci. 2021 Sep 22;33:28-41. doi: 10.1016/j.euros.2021.08.009. eCollection 2021 Nov. ABSTRACT CONTEXT: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) associated with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) is diagnosed in up to 80% of men during their lifetime. Several novel ultra-minimally invasive surgical treatments (uMISTs) for BPH/benign prostatic obstruction (BPO) have become available over the past 5 yr. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the perioperative and functional outcomes of recently introduced uMISTs for BPH/BPO, including Urolift, Rezūm, temporary implantable nitinol device, prostatic artery embolization (PAE), and intraprostatic injection. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A systematic literature search was conducted in December 2020 using Medline (via PubMed), Embase (via Ovid), Scopus, and Web of Science (registered on PROSPERO as CRD42021225014). The search strategy used PICO criteria and article selection was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. The risk of bias and th...