Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
Yet Another Great Family
I had the opportunity to meet a great family over the weekend who was exploring proton therapy to treat their father's prostate cancer. They found my blog and contacted me via email. They attached a phone number to their email and I called them right away. I won't go into detail about that because I want to respect their privacy, but suffice it to say, I was able to put them in contact with my radiation/oncologist and they'll be going for a consult soon.
The Internet can be a wonderful thing.
Have a good Monday.
Blessings,
Rick
The Internet can be a wonderful thing.
Have a good Monday.
Blessings,
Rick
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Some Are Truly Out of Touch
I attended a dinner meeting last night where the Dr. giving the presentation spoke about his experience with the DaVinci Robot. I thought it particularly interesting that his talk centered on incontinence. He did have an upgraded robot at the meeting that people could see and do some hands on with.
During the question and answer time, someone asked a question about proton beam therapy. This question gets asked at every meeting and it rarely is by someone who has chosen protons as their treatment option.
Anyway, the doctor proceeded to tell the group that protons was on the fringe and that it was waiting for FDA approval. He even said that they had stopped doing it. I sat there in shock that an educated man was so out of touch. He said that men choose protons because they just liked it. DUH!!! If a guy is given an option of choosing a treatment that would leave him incontinent or one which offered a much better outcome, who wouldn't like that? I envisioned a proton doctor having the incontinence PowerPoint presentation buried in his bag instead of this guy who apparently had it right on top of his bag.
Several people who knew of my treatment looked over at me and all I could do was smile. After all, how do you argue with someone who is so out of touch. I must admit, I did consider jumping back at him, but I didn't want to embarrass him in front of the group.
It's no wonder that people are so confused with making medical decisions when some doctors are so out of touch with reality.
It's my duty to write a report about his talk for our Us TOO Newsletter. This one's going to be a real challenge.
Have a good Wednesday.
Blessings,
Rick
During the question and answer time, someone asked a question about proton beam therapy. This question gets asked at every meeting and it rarely is by someone who has chosen protons as their treatment option.
Anyway, the doctor proceeded to tell the group that protons was on the fringe and that it was waiting for FDA approval. He even said that they had stopped doing it. I sat there in shock that an educated man was so out of touch. He said that men choose protons because they just liked it. DUH!!! If a guy is given an option of choosing a treatment that would leave him incontinent or one which offered a much better outcome, who wouldn't like that? I envisioned a proton doctor having the incontinence PowerPoint presentation buried in his bag instead of this guy who apparently had it right on top of his bag.
Several people who knew of my treatment looked over at me and all I could do was smile. After all, how do you argue with someone who is so out of touch. I must admit, I did consider jumping back at him, but I didn't want to embarrass him in front of the group.
It's no wonder that people are so confused with making medical decisions when some doctors are so out of touch with reality.
It's my duty to write a report about his talk for our Us TOO Newsletter. This one's going to be a real challenge.
Have a good Wednesday.
Blessings,
Rick
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Happy Veterans Day
I spoke to a 2nd grade class, a pre-school class and kindergarten class yesterday about Veterans Day and the children were very attentive.
If you are related to, or just know a Veteran, be sure to thank them today.
We have 13 families that lost their beloved Veteran this past week at Ft. Hood. Especially remember them today.
Have a good Wednesday.
Blessings,
Rick
If you are related to, or just know a Veteran, be sure to thank them today.
We have 13 families that lost their beloved Veteran this past week at Ft. Hood. Especially remember them today.
Have a good Wednesday.
Blessings,
Rick
Monday, November 9, 2009
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
"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
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
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
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
Friday, October 30, 2009
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.
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.
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