Other Health News
Home (Drug News)
HIV/AIDS News
Other Diseases News
Mens Health News
Womens Health News
Senior Health News
Food/Diet News
General Health News
Prostate Cancer Patients, Keep Taking Your Anticoagulants
Here's some exciting (if preliminary) news from a big study conducted by the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, reported by Reuters:
Prostate cancer patients who had been treated with either surgery or radiation, and who took aspirin or other anticoagulant drugs such as warfarin, were far less likely to die of cancer, the researchers said. Those who took the drugs had a 4 percent risk of dying from prostate cancer after 10 years, compared to 10 percent for men who did not take anticoagulants. Men with high-risk prostate cancer benefited the most, the researchers said ahead of an American Society for Radiation Oncology meeting, which starts next week in San Diego. ... Choe's team looked at a study of 5,275 men whose cancer had not spread beyond the prostate gland. Of the men, 1,982 were taking anticoagulants. Those taking aspirin or other drugs to reduce clotting were far less likely to have the prostate tumors pop up elsewhere in their bodies and were less likely to die, Choe's team said in materials published ahead of the meeting.
It's important to note that these patients were already taking anticoagulants on a regular basis. So it could just be the case that men who are prone to deep vein thrombosis, heart attacks, and other problems commonly treated or prevented with anticoagulants are also prone to living longer after having prostate cancer. Other studies will be needed to determine whether aspirin really makes a difference in cancer prognosis when men take it who have no other reason to take an anticoagulant.
On the other hand, look at those numbers: Nearly 38% of the patients were taking anticoagulants. Prostate cancer affects billions of men worldwide, and 38% of billions is a lot of people. So at the very least, anyone who gets prostate cancer can be relatively assured that their anticoagulants are not going to make the cancer worse, and that will be a big relief. It's certainly a much better outcome than having to choose between treating cancer and preventing heart attacks.
Prostate Cancer Patients, Keep Taking Your Anticoagulants originally appeared on About.com Mens Health on Wednesday, October 27th, 2010 at 16:02:32.
Permalink | Comment | Email this
Does Cancer Affect Testosterone Levels in Men?
It's been known for a while that hormone levels drop in women treated for cancer. Now a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology is showing similar effects in older men. MSNBC Health reports:
For the new study, researchers tested more than 400 men with cancers that were unrelated to testosterone.
Nearly half the men had total testosterone levels below 300 nanograms per deciliter. The researchers didn't compare the men to a control group, but note that all other studies of men without cancer have found some percentage with lowered testosterone levels, but far less than half.
The men in the current study with low testosterone also tended to be overweight or obese, and scored slightly lower on a scale designed to measure quality of life than men with "normal" testosterone levels.
However, there are some important caveats:
- The study was sponsored by Solvay Pharmaceuticals, which manufactures a testosterone cream. Since the study was essentially designed to identify a target market for their product, that makes the results somewhat suspect. I would like to see the results replicated by another study that's independently funded--and that includes a control group, which this study didn't have.
- Any study examining testosterone levels will be hampered by "a lack of consensus on what constitute a normal range of testosterone levels, the well-known inaccuracy of measuring serum bioavailable testosterone levels, and the considerable interindividual variation in the degree of testosterone decline associated with age," according to this 2006 article in the International Journal of Impotence Research.
- According to that same article, it isn't even clear whether testosterone affects prostate cancer, and if there is a connection, it's that too much testosterone increases the risk of cancer. So when the researchers say that next they're going to see whether testosterone supplementation increases the prognosis for these cancer patients, they're pretty much talking nonsense.
If you're a man who's had cancer, and you're having problems such as impotence that could be related to low testosterone levels, do consult your oncologist and maybe an endocrinologist or urologist--but don't panic.
Does Cancer Affect Testosterone Levels in Men? originally appeared on About.com Mens Health on Tuesday, October 26th, 2010 at 15:58:52.
Permalink | Comment | Email this
Lots of Useful Info on Prostate Surgery
Jennifer Heisler, the About.com Guide to Surgery, just put up some terrific articles about prostate surgery. Take a look for detailed information on the types, risks, results, and side effects of prostate surgery, as well as answers to frequently asked questions. Tell us what you think.
Lots of Useful Info on Prostate Surgery originally appeared on About.com Mens Health on Tuesday, August 10th, 2010 at 11:53:58.
Permalink | Comment | Email this
Female to Male HIV Transmission Higher During Pregnancy
Studies have clearly shown that pregnant women are at an increased risk for HIV infection. Now, a new study shows that men are at a higher risk of HIV infection from a woman if she is pregnant. A study out of the University of Washighton in Seattle and presented at the International Microbicides Conference reveals that because of biological changes of the female body during pregnancy, pregnant women are more infectious than if they were not pregnant. Over a thousand couples in which the male was HIV positive and over 2200 couples in which the female was positive were studied over a two year period. The results showed that both male to female and female to male transmission were increased during pregnancy. This fact is important because in many couples condom use during pregnancy is not seen as necessary because the female is already pregnant. This type of thinking could lead to an increase in new infections over the course of time.
More Information on HIV and Pregnancy
- Preventing HIV Transmission During Pregnancy
- Sperm Washing and the Quest to Get Pregnant
- C-Section vs. Vaginal Delivery - Which is Right for You?
- The Risks of Breastfeeding When HIV-Positive
Female to Male HIV Transmission Higher During Pregnancy originally appeared on About.com Mens Health on Thursday, June 10th, 2010 at 19:47:23.
Permalink | Comment | Email this
Hip Pain - Should You Be Concerned?
LT had no idea that the mild pain in his left leg was something to be concerned about. It started innocently enough. Some vague discomfort in the left leg, especially in the groin area. Later, the pain became a bit more severe and started to involve the hip. Soon walking became difficult and the pain became unbearable. That's when LT decided to see his doctor. After a battery of tests LT was told he had a degenerative bone and vascular disease of the hip known as avascular necrosis or AVN. What is AVN and how is it treated? Let's examine this problem a little closer.
More About Pain and Pain Control
Hip Pain - Should You Be Concerned? originally appeared on About.com Mens Health on Friday, April 23rd, 2010 at 08:20:48.
Permalink | Comment | Email this
MedicineNet Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs in Men) Specialty
Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Pregnancy (STDs)
Title: Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Pregnancy (STDs)
Category: Diseases and Conditions
Created: 1/31/2005 4:59:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 12/9/2010
For Many Teens, Oral Sex Leads to Riskier Activity
Title: For Many Teens, Oral Sex Leads to Riskier Activity
Category: Health News
Created: 11/1/2010 8:05:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 11/2/2010
STDs Pictures Slideshow: Facts About Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Title: STDs Pictures Slideshow: Facts About Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Category: Slideshows
Created: 10/5/2010 1:37:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 10/7/2010
1 in 5 Gay/Bi Men Have HIV, Nearly Half Don't Know
Title: 1 in 5 Gay/Bi Men Have HIV, Nearly Half Don't Know
Category: Health News
Created: 9/24/2010 6:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 9/24/2010
Friends Don't Let Friends Have Risky Sex After Drinking
Title: Friends Don't Let Friends Have Risky Sex After Drinking
Category: Health News
Created: 8/30/2010 12:10:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 8/31/2010
Patients With Anemia May Be At More Than Triple The Risk Of Dying After A Stroke
Being anemic could more than triple your risk of dying within a year after having a stroke, according to research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2012. "Among stroke patients, severe anemia is a potent predictor of dying throughout the first year after a stroke," said Jason Sico, M.D...
Men With Reduced Fertility At Reduced Risk For Prostate Cancer
Involuntary childlessness owing to reduced fertility is a concern for many men. However, these men do have one advantage - they run a significantly lower risk of suffering from prostate cancer. Researchers are interested in whether this phenomenon could be used in the fight against cancer. There is a clear link between male subfertility and a lower risk of prostate cancer...
Recommendations For HPV And Hepatitis B Vaccinations Broadened By 2012 Adult Immunization Schedule
The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) now recommends routine HPV vaccination for males aged 11 to 12 years and catch-up vaccination for males aged 13 to 21. These are just two of the changes to the 2012 Recommended Adult Immunization Schedule published February 1 in Annals of Internal Medicine, the flagship journal of the American College of Physicians (ACP)...
Men More Likely To Have An Accurate Memory Of Unpleasant Experiences
A woman's memory of an experience is less likely to be accurate than a man's if it was unpleasant and emotionally provocative, according to research undertaken by University of Montreal researchers at Louis-H Lafontaine Hospital...
Ultrasound Male Contraceptive, Overlooked For Decades, Confirmed To Work
Imagine a contraceptive that could, with one or two painless 15-minute non-surgical treatments, provide months of protection from pregnancy. And imagine that the equipment needed were already in physical therapists' offices around the world. Sound too good to be true? For years, scientists thought so too. But new research headed by Dr...
Erectile Dysfunction Increases With Use Of Multiple Medications
The use of multiple medications is associated with increased severity of erectile dysfunction, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published online in the British Journal of Urology International. This study surveyed 37,712 ethnically diverse men from Southern California and found that men taking various medications are likely to have more severe ED...
Erectile Dysfunction Study Shows High Prevalence Of Peripheral Neuropathy
Spanish researchers have uncovered clear links between erectile dysfunction (ED) and peripheral neuropathy, according to a paper in the December issue of the urology journal BJUI...
Erectile Dysfunction Risk Linked To How Many Medications Are Taken
The more medications a man is on, the higher is his risk of developing erectile dysfunction, also known as impotence, researchers from Kaiser Permanente reported in the British Journal of Urology International. Not only is the risk of ED (erectile dysfunction) greater, but also the condition's severity. Lead author, Diana C. LondoƱo, MD...
Bowel Cancer Patients Need Erectile Dysfunction Advice
A study published on bmj.com shows that male bowel cancer patients have a high probability of suffering from erectile dysfunction (ED) after their treatment yet in spite of this, the majority of patients does not receive sufficient information about the condition...
Cialis® For Once Daily Use Now FDA-Approved To Treat Men With Signs And Symptoms Of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) And Men With Both ED And BP
Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Cialis® (tadalafil) tablets for once daily use for the treatment of men who have both erectile dysfunction and the signs and symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (ED+BPH)...
© 2005 USDrugNews.org