Protons With Photons

Men who receive a "boost" of proton therapy after receiving a standard course of X-ray radiation therapy have fewer recurrences of their prostate cancer compared to men who did not receive the extra dose of proton radiation, according to a first-of-its-kind study presented November 2, 2009, at the American Society for Radiation Oncology's 51st Annual Meeting in Chicago. The multi-institutional, randomized trial also shows that the high dose treatment is safe for these patients and causes no severe problems later with urinary or bowel functions.

"There is a lot of interest in proton therapy for prostate cancer. This study proves the importance of giving high radiation doses to prostate cancer patients with low- and intermediate-risk disease because it demonstrates that even these 'favorable' patients still benefit from the extra high-dose treatment," Carl J. Rossi Jr., M.D., a study author and a radiation oncologist at the Loma Linda University Medical Center in Loma Linda, Calif., said. "It also shows that so long as these higher doses are given with a highly conformal technique, such as proton beam therapy, then they can be delivered safely and with minimal side effects.

Proton beam therapy is a form of external beam radiation treatment that uses protons rather than photon X-rays to treat certain types of cancer and other diseases. The physical characteristics of the proton therapy beam allow the radiation oncologist to more effectively reduce the radiation dose to nearby healthy tissue.

During external beam radiation therapy, a beam of radiation is directed through the skin to the cancer and the immediate surrounding area in order to destroy the main tumor and any nearby cancer cells. The study involved 391 patients with early prostate cancer (cancer that has not spread out of the prostate) receiving proton treatments at Loma Linda University Medical Center and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Patients were randomized to receive either "standard dose" or "high dose" radiation, with proton beams being used to deliver the high-dose radiotherapy to prostate.

Findings show that in patients with a low risk of having the cancer return (recurrence), only six percent of patients who were treated with high dose radiation had the cancer return after 10 years, compared to 29 percent who had conventional radiation doses. Similarly, of the patients with an intermediate risk of cancer recurrence, 37 percent who underwent high dose radiation had cancer come back, versus 45 percent of those who had conventional doses of radiation. There were no significant differences between the two groups in how long they survived and in their urinary and bowel functions.

Have a good Monday.
Blessings,
Rick

Provenge Gets Even Closer to the Market

Dendreon Corp. has completed its U.S. regulatory submission for its closely watched experimental prostate cancer vaccine, the company said on Monday, sending its shares up 5 percent.
Dendreon previously said it expected to seek U.S. approval for Provenge in November, and expected regulators to respond by mid-2010.
"The submission came a little earlier than had been expected, which was in mid-November, so that is a positive," said Canaccord Adams analyst George Farmer, who estimated the product's sales potential at greater than $4 billion annually by 2020.
If approved, Provenge would be the first "therapeutic" cancer vaccine. While conventional vaccines prevent disease, Provenge treats the condition.
"With the (application) submission complete, we have taken an important step towards reaching our goal of bringing a new therapy to men with advanced prostate cancer," Dendreon Chief Executive Mitchell Gold said in a statement.
Dendreon in September said it will be able to make enough Provenge to generate potential sales of $60 million to $125 million in the second half of next year.
The company said it will steadily ramp up production until full capacity is achieved by late 2011 at plants in New Jersey, Atlanta and Los Angeles, together able to support potential annual sales of $1.2 billion to $2.5 billion.
Prostate cancer is diagnosed in one of every six American men and is the second-leading cause of cancer death among men.

Have a good Wednesday.
Blessings,
Rick

Dennis Hopper Diagnosed With Prostate Cancer

LOS ANGELES – Dennis Hopper has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and is canceling all travel plans to focus on treatment, his manager said Thursday.

The 73-year-old actor and artist is being treated through a "special program" at the University of Southern California, said Sam Maydew.

Asked about Hopper's prognosis, Maydew said, "We're hoping for the best." He would not elaborate on the actor's condition.

Hopper was forced to cancel his appearance at an exhibition of his artwork and photography at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image in Melbourne. Called "Dennis Hopper and the New Hollywood," the show celebrates "the work and life of an extraordinary filmmaker, artist and key figure in the evolution of Americas cultural scene from the 1950s to today."

Hopper was hospitalized in New York earlier this month and treated for dehydration.

The "Easy Rider" star recently finished shooting the second season of "Crash," a TV version of the Oscar-winning 2004 film. He plays maniacal music producer Ben Cendars on the series, which airs on the Starz network. Hopper also has several film projects in the works.

Blog Site About Diet and Disease

I received a request this morning asking if I would include this blog in mine. Adrienne gives important information about diet as it pertains to disease.
www.onlinepractitionerschools.com/top-25-best-foods-for-fighting-disease/. Check it out and see what you think.


Have a good Thursday.
Blessings,
Rick

Can A Cure For Prostate Cancer Be Far Away?

I woke this morning to learn that The Nobel Committee has awarded President Obama with the Peace Prize. With the close of nominations on February 1st, the man had been in office a scant two weeks. The prize has now been rendered worthless. He has now been made into a god. Is there anything he can't do? With his many supernatural gifts, maybe he's the one who will come up with the cure for prostate cancer. Of course one of his first acts as President was to continue funding for abortions, so the odds are, the one to come up with a cure for many diseases has already been killed.
Of course he has to decide on what to do with his General on the ground in Afghanistan's request for more troops. It's already been 6 weeks and almost 50 American soldiers have died waiting for his decision.
Better quit before I get all worked up.
Have a good weekend.
Blessings,
Rick

Heat Shock Protein-27

Researchers at Liverpool University have shown that men whose tumors contain a compound called heat shock protein-27 are almost twice as likely to be killed by cancer.
The finding paves the way for a blood test that would allow doctors to more accurately distinguish between the more common, slow-growing forms of disease and the more dangerous, fast-growing varieties.
This blood test may save thousands of men from gruelling and unnecessary treatment for prostate cancer.

Have a good Tuesday.
Blessings,
Rick

4th Anniversary

Today marks the 4th anniversary of my last proton treatment and so far, so good.
I continue to have contact with men who have been recently diagnosed with prostate cancer and just gave approval for another article about my experience.
While I cannot say that I'm glad I got prostate cancer; I can say that I am currently involved with many things that I wouldn't be doing if I hadn't been diagnosed. I've met some very good people throughout this ordeal.

Have a good Wednesday.
Blessings,
Rick