In this podcast, Dr. Schellhammer shares his treatment experiences and advice for other men as they navigate through an ever-evolving and complex treatment landscape. Dr. Schellhammer stresses that becoming a “student” of your disease is more essential than ever to ensure you receive the best—and most current—care.

Dr. Paul Schellhammer, one of the investigators on the IMPACT trial, joins us to respond to the study’s critique and explain why he feels that the criticism does not “pan out biologically and practically.” 

Lee, a resident of Seattle, Washington, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in February 2007. His father passed away from prostate cancer after waiting too long to see a physician, so Lee knew the importance of acting quickly. Lee did his research and is currently on active surveillance and considers himself to be quite “lucky.” Like Lee, Dr. Stephen Gloyd was also recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. His PSA levels were sporadic, so with much understanding and research behind him, careful watchful and waiting vs. aggressive intervention was his preferred option. Dr. Gloyd is currently in an active surveillance clinical trial where the cancer is being closely monitored.

Dr. Lin defines active surveillance as a individualized treatment for men who are fit for curative therapy, but chose to delay it. So who are the best men for surveillance? Is active surveillance the same as doing nothing? Listen or read about active surveillance, the utility of the PSA, monitoring methods and watchful waiting. If you are interested in learning more about active surveillance for prostate cancer, this program offers a great deal of expertise and knowledge on the subject.

Dr. Kuban’s patient, Doug, begins the program by sharing his story. About 5 years ago, around age 63, prostate cancer was discovered when Doug was having a work up prior to heart valve replacement surgery. His cardiologist immediately referred him to M. D. Anderson where Doug met Dr. Kuban. He had radiation treatment and is doing very well today. Listen or read the transcript to learn more about Doug’s story.

Dr. Kuban discusses Doug’s case and the factors that go into treatment decisions. She explains the different types of radiation available at M. D. Anderson such as Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) and proton therapy which is external; as well as internal radiation called brachytherapy. Dr. Kuban goes on to talk about the importance of seeking care at an experienced center. In her own words “The point that's so important to get across to patients is that it's not just the technology, it's who is using the technology and that they must go to a center where the physicians and, as you say, the physicists, the dosimetrists and the therapists who treat the patient each day are very well versed and very experienced in this treatment as well.”

Mike, Dr. Davis’, patient joins the program to share his story. Mike has a family history of prostate cancer and it was discovered last Summer that he had an elevated PSA. After weighing his options, he decided on surgical treatment and is doing well today. Listen to hear more of Mike’s story and his recovery.

Dr. Davis speaks in detail about the tools used to make a treatment decision. He explains the PSA and it’s relevance to diagnosis and treatment and how a family history factors in. Dr. Davis goes on to speak in-depth about surgery and how it works. He also touches on urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction, often associated with prostate cancer treatment. Dr. Davis stresses the importance of prostate screening and being vigilant about one’s health. If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, listen to this program for expert advice.

Robert Brown, a resident of Bellevue, Washington, and a retired senior manager for Boeing, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2007. He was in good health for most of his life until the age of 65 when his PSA levels were elevated. Robert underwent a radical prostatectomy, which lowered his PSA, only to find out the cancer had metastasized. With new trials on the horizon, Dr. Montgomery, suggested he might be a good candidate once the trials became available. After a full month on the ARMOR trial, Robert is delighted to be back exercising three days a week.

Giving patients a sense of normalcy, like in the case of Mr. Brown, is always the goal. Andrew and Dr. Montgomery conclude with a discussion on how experts have figured out that even resistant prostate cancer continues to rely on hormonal signaling, and now have multiple drugs in clinical studies targeting the pathways. If you’ve been searching for prostate cancer treatment options, meet an inspiring patient and a knowledgeable expert as we learn about new hormonal therapies and drugs for prostate cancer.

The program begins with Ralph, a retired transplant surgeon, who participated in a clinical trial for flax seed after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. To quote Ralph “I'd preached participation in clinical trials, particularly for transplant drugs, for 30 plus years, and so here was my chance to take part as well.” He joined Dr. Demark-Wahnefried’s study and, at first, was skeptical about the difference that flax seed made. Ralph shares his experience, as well as the outcome, of his clinical trial experience, including how he feels about flax seed now.

Dr. Demark-Wahnefried helps listeners to understand what supplements are, how they can affect your health, their interactions with drugs, and stresses the need for open communication with your physician. She cautions listeners about the “lax” regulations on supplements and why these can be harmful to your health. Dr. Demark-Wahnefried later discusses antioxidants and the necessity of following a healthful diet rich in “whole foods.” Listen to this program to learn the ‘real story’ on supplements and claims being made by the manufacturers of various supplements.

Dr. Higano speaks about the history of hormone therapy, the role of PSA tests and how questions and complaints over the years from spouses have pushed researchers to investigate the causes of cognitive breakdowns among various patients. Does the patient have a high-stress job? Was this a pre-existing condition? Dr. Cherrier talks about experimental measures and clinical measures assisting them in researching the causes of cognitive disruption. Both experts discuss androgen deprivation therapy, the impact of testosterone in hormonal studies and the variances of cognitive issues being examined.

Dr. Higano and Dr. Cherrier both emphasize the importance of being proactive to prevent negative side effects and how research has brought great progress in this area. If you or someone you know has undergone treatment for prostate cancer, learn how cognitive functions can be affected and how talking to your doctor about proactive steps, can make a difference. Find out more about the motivation behind current studies and clinical trials and how these two experts, along with top experts around the country, are helping to make cancer and cancer treatment more tolerable.

Dr. Chang helps listeners to understand what this news potentially means for men with advanced prostate cancer. He explains the details of the trial and how this affects FDA approval of Provenge. Dr. Chang then goes on to talk about how cancer vaccines can provide an advantage through individualized therapy. To learn more, listen to this enlightening program with Dr. Sam Chang.

For the past two decades, the PSA blood test, used to screen for prostate cancer, has been a routine part of preventative medicine for men over the age of 40. However, two newly published long term studies suggest that the PSA test may save few lives. In fact, many men may end up exposing themselves to invasive and unnecessary treatments as a result. In this breaking news segment, Dr. Gerald Andriole, Professor and Chief of Urologic Surgery at Washington University School of Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis and lead investigator of the American study, joins host Andrew Schorr to explain the study results. Dr. Adriole, who is in Stockholm, Sweden presenting the findings, stresses the PSA test is still an important aspect of preventative medicine, particularly for younger men. However, it is crucial that men examine the results of their PSA tests with their doctors and fully weigh their options.

In addition to his work as an oncologist, Dr. Dalkin studies how well different treatments work. He describes how this research is conducted, what he has learned and what it means for patients. Dr. Dalkin discusses what his research has shown about the specific treatment options, including cryotherapy, brachytherapy, immunotherapy and finasteride. He also talks about when treatment is necessary and how it is possible to overtreat patients in certain situations.

Ted describes his journey with prostate cancer, from diagnosis to brachytherapy treatment 12 years ago. Peter discusses his experiences with various treatments and explains why he decided to seek out better care than his first doctor could give. Dr. Dalkin’s research sparks a debate about the effectiveness of treatments, and how to know whether a certain treatment is effective.

Listen to this webcast if you or someone you know is worried about prostate cancer. The guests talk about treatments for patients who have been diagnosed, as well as people like Peter, who have been able to prevent onset. Listen now to learn more.

The program opens with Doug, one of Dr. Frank?s patients. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer while at the doctor for a routine physical exam. Doug speaks about his time at M. D. Anderson, the testing he received to determine appropriate treatment, and how he and his doctors worked togethers to be sure he was getting the best therapy available for his specific cancer. He also talks about his family and what it means to be a cancer survivor.

Dr. David Swanson, urologist and clinical professor in the department of urology at M. D. Anderson shares his perspective on prostate cancer treatment. Having been on staff at M. D. Anderson for over 30 years, he speaks candidly about how new developments, such as brachytherapy, have changed the course of prostate cancer treatment. Dr. Frank, an assistant professor in the department of radiation oncology, details Doug?s treatment plan and explains why Doug was a candidate for brachytherapy. Both doctors provide a comprehensive explanation of the procedure, and why it works. If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, this program can provide detailed options and information to consider for your cancer treatment.

Dr. Hung eases into the discussion with a focus on the benefits of traditional radiation and side effects of treatment. He breaks down some of the therapeutic differences in regards to successful outcomes between surgery and radiation. Dr. Hung speaks about new ways of delivering the radiation using Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), 3-D conformal radiation external beam treatments, and Calypso® seeds, which are implanted into the prostate. Hear how these new treatments have little to no impact on some patients, allowing their quality of life to remain in tact.

Learn more about the Calypso® device and its potential for treating patients with breast cancer as well as patients with head and neck tumors. Find out how the latest technologies are zeroing in on the tumor area, while allowing patients to return to their normal active lives.

About one in three men over age 50 have some evidence of prostate cancer, with the majority being limited in size and associated with moderate to slow growth rates. Recent evidence suggests that many of these men may not require immediate treatment and may live with insignificant prostate cancers with no detriment to their health or well being. As a result, the traditional concept of "watchful waiting" for prostate cancer has evolved to "active surveillance."

Rather than "waiting" until the cancer becomes symptomatic, active surveillance focuses on identifying the early signs of disease progression and treating the cancer before it spreads outside the prostate. Patients are selectively treated with every intention to provide a cure. Data suggests that well characterized, early stage tumors followed by experienced physicians and knowledgeable patients are not likely to progress rapidly and that deferring treatment is not likely to alter their natural course.

In this program, hear from Dr. Peter Carroll, the Co-director of Urologic Cancer at UCSF Medical Center and learn about the “active surveillance” approach they’ve helped pioneer.

During the program several treatment options are discussed including: surgical approaches to prostatectomy, both nerve-sparing and those performed robotically; radiation, which encompasses external radiation, targeted radiation with the new GPS for the Body ® approach and implanted radiation seeds; drug and hormone therapy; cryotherapy; and watchful waiting. The advantage of the Multidisciplinary Prostate Clinic at Oregon Health & Science University is that patients see a urologist who specializes only in prostate cancer, a radiation oncologist and a medical oncologist. All of these experts work together to make a comprehensive recommendation for treatment. However, the ultimate decision goes to the patient.

Listen as Nurse Sokoloff explains the sequence of events that takes place when a patient contacts them and the patients the clinic is most apt to treat. Also during the program, Andrew and Nurse Sokoloff highlight the advantages of being at a research institution when seeking treatment, particularly for a condition like prostate cancer, where tremendous progress is being made in the field. This Patient Power program offers prostate cancer patients and their families a valuable resource to sort through the various treatment options and find care that is best for them.

In this webcast, Andrew is privileged to be joined by renowned expert, Dr. Tomasz Beer, medical oncologist and associate professor of medicine at Oregon Health & Science University Cancer Institute. He is also the Grover C. Bagby Endowed Chair for Cancer Research and director of the Prostate Cancer Research Program. Dr. Beer’s patient, Darryl Pape, a prostate cancer patient, also joins the program.

Darryl, a 54-year-old transportation coordinator in the trucking business, noticed changes in his body and immediately saw a specialist. These concerns led to him to Dr. Beer at Oregon Health & Science University Cancer institute, where he explored multiple clinical trials - entering several with little success. He later entered a phase II MDX010 clinical trial. Soon after receiving treatment, Darryl noticed a drastic change in his body. From beginning to end, hear how Darryl’s PSA is currently undetectable and how persistence has given him his life back. Darryl, a religious man, shares how his faith and hope kept him from giving up after feeling as though he was running out of options.

Hear more about the research being conducted at one of the nations leading cancer institutes, particularly, Ipilimumab, also known as MDX010. Dr. Beer discusses methods for determining aggressive cancers, candidates for prostate cancer clinical trials, preventative strategies and PSA test reliability. You’ll hear about the importance of clinical trials, the latest in treating prostate cancer and how side effects are being controlled. Listen to this enlightening and informative program about prostate cancer with a highly knowledgeable expert and inspiring patient. In Dr. Beer’s own words - “Clinical trials are not just for patients who have experienced all the standard treatments that are available, but they may be appropriate even earlier in the course of the disease.”