Active Surveillance Prostate Cancer Video Chat, July 8th, 2026
AnCan is grateful to the following sponsors for making this recording possible: Novartis, Blue Earth Diagnostics, Telix, and Foundation Medicine.
Active Surveillance (AS) for low-risk prostate cancer involves unique challenges compared to other treatments. This online support group is designed for men and their caregivers who are currently on or considering AS. We hold four meetings monthly, recording only the second and fourth sessions. Our discussions cover a wide range of topics, including anxiety management, biopsy experiences, and the decision-making process around continuing or discontinuing AS. Newcomers are given priority to share their experiences, so we encourage you to join us.
Andy, Florida 8:24 PM
Advanced Uropathology of New York 700 Stewart Ave, Suite 101 Garden City, NY 11530 Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00AM – 6:00PM P: 516-760-2037 F: 516-200-3899 jepstein@imppllc.com
Hi-Risk/Recurrent/Advanced PrCa Video Chat, July 6, 2026
COMING SOON… AnCan Heart Group – new support group for all things cardio and open to all!
AnCan thanks the following sponsors for making this recording possible: Novartis, Blue Earth Diagnostics and Foundation Medicine.
Views expressed in this Recording are solely the opinion of AnCan Foundation, our Moderators and Participants.
AnCan does not accept sponsored promotion. Any drugs, protocols or devices discussed are based solely on anecdotal peer experience or clinical evidence.
AnCan cannot and does not provide medical advice. We encourage you to discuss anything you hear in our sessions with your own medical team.
AnCan reminds all Participants that Adverse Events experienced from prescribed drugs or protocols should be reported to the pharmaceutical manufacturer or the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). To do so call 1-800-332-1066 or download interactive FDA Form 3500 https://www.fda.gov/media/76299/download
All AnCan’s groups are free and drop-in … join us in person sometime! You can find out more about our 12 monthly prostate cancer meetings at https://ancan.org/prostate-cancer/ Sign up to receive a weekly Reminder/Newsletter for this Group or others at https://ancan.org/contact-us/
Join our other free and drop in groups:
Men (Only) Speaking Freely…1st & 3rd Thursdays @ 8.00 pm Eastern https://ancan.org/men-speaking-freely/
Veterans Healthcare Navigation… 1st & 3rd Tuesdays @ 8.00 pm Eastern Schmier Room https://ancan.org/veterans/
Veterans Speaking freely… 4th Tuesday @ @ 8.00 pm Eastern Schmier Room
Editor’s Pick: Unique wearable cooling devices for those darned hot sweats
Topics Discussed
PSA reaches 0.22 6 yrs after RRP with suspicious former SVI region; this Gent starts HT treatment with mets after 9 years of AS; neck fans & other unique cooling devices; MSKCC GU med onc sleeping on the switch… again; IHT looking good but possible iliac wing fracture; stable report; Ide Brothers give grief Down Under – statins at fault? abi switch?; switch to Schweizer at Hutch; self doctoring mono daro doesn’t work – GU MO needed quickly; AnCan’r accepted for ANDROMEDA
Finding out whether you’ve inherited a cancer-causing genetic mutation from a parent can add an important puzzle piece to your prostate cancer diagnosis. That information can affect whether you should be screened for other cancers, whether blood relatives should also consider getting tested, and even which prostate treatments you might want to pursue.
The genes most closely associated with harboring inherited mutations that cause prostate cancer include BRCA1, BRCA2, HOXB13, ATM, CHEK2, PALB2, TP53, PTEN, MSH2, and MSH6. As they pass from one generation of a family to the next, these harmful mutations (also called pathogenic variants) put recipients at increased risk of developing other types of cancers, such as breast, ovarian, endometrial, colorectal, pancreatic, and melanoma.
A germline (inherited) genetic test can reveal whether you carry any of these variants. The test will check your saliva, a cheek swab, or your blood for inherited mutations. If you have one, it exists in every cell of your body. Testing positive doesn’t mean you’ll necessarily develop another cancer, but it indicates that extra monitoring will be warranted. Aside from any cancer-causing variants you might have acquired from a parent, cancer cells can make their own mutations. A separate analysis of your biopsied tumor tissue—called a somatic test—can show if that’s happened in your case.
Learning that you have a germline variant is a red flag that other blood relatives who may have inherited the same mutation should consider getting tested, too. A positive result could also influence your treatment choices. If you carry a BRCA2 mutation, for instance, your treatment options may expand to include PARP inhibitors, drugs that tend to work best in prostate cancers with changes in that particular gene.
Having prostate cancer raises the chance that you carry an inherited variant. One analysis found germline BRCA1/2 variants in 4.47% of prostate cancer patients overall and 5.84% of those with metastatic disease, compared with roughly 0.25% to 1% in the general population.
Family history matters, too. If blood relatives have had prostate, breast, or other cancers linked to inherited variants, the case for testing is stronger. The same is true if your ancestry is associated with higher-than-normal rates of certain variants. For instance, the incidence of BRCA-related variants is significantly increased among Greenlandic Inuit, Ashkenazi Jews, and people with ancestry from Whalsay, Shetland, or Orkney in Scotland. Breast cancer studies also suggest elevated inherited BRCA1/2 rates among patients from the Bahamas, Nigeria, and Trinidad and Tobago.
If you test positive, AnCan is ready to help. We host a quarterly online support group for people with inherited pathogenic variants. It meets on the second Thursday of each quarter at 8 p.m. Eastern in the AnCan Schmier Room. AnCan also offers an email list that makes it easy for men with prostate cancer and inherited mutations to share information.
A New Option for Intermediate-Risk Prostate Cancer — and Why It Matters
By Stuart Jordan
A clinical trial exploring a new treatment option for intermediate-risk prostate cancer has produced a striking result. Across 42 patients enrolled in the RTIRE trial at Weill Cornell Medicine, none of the 12-month biopsies showed evidence of recurrent cancer. That outcome is now driving a major Phase III randomized trial — called IRRADIANT — launching at some of the top cancer centers in the country, including Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, Moffitt Cancer Center, Fox Chase Cancer Center, UT Southwestern, and Mayo Clinic (MN & AZ).
I was fortunate to be one of those 42 patients. And I want to tell you why I chose this trial, what the experience was like, and what it may mean for men in our community who have been diagnosed with intermediate-risk prostate cancer — Grade Group 2 or 3, or in Gleason terms, 3+4 or 4+3 — and are considering their treatment options.
The core problem RTIRE was designed to solve is one that AnCan knows well. Focal treatments are appealing — less invasive, fewer side effects, and faster recovery. But recurrence remains a significant concern, and RTIRE was designed specifically to address that challenge. It combines IRE, a precise nonthermal ablation of the dominant lesion, with reduced-dose MR-guided radiation to cover the entire prostate. Think of the IRE as a boost — targeting the most aggressive area with intensity — while the radiation handles the rest of the gland with less total dose than standard SBRT. The goal is to achieve cancer control comparable to whole-gland treatment while reducing side effects.
When I brought this to AnCan two years ago, the group was skeptical. The questions were fair: why take the risk of focal when standard SBRT has a strong track record? And if you were going focal, why add the complexity of a clinical trial? I had my reasons — the credentials of Drs. McClure and Nagar, the MRLinac technology at MSK, and frankly, the logic of addressing the risk of recurrence directly rather than accepting it as a given. The group respected my reasoning without necessarily agreeing with it.
Today, they are the ones asking me to share this story.
My own outcome has been encouraging: a clean 12-month biopsy, consistently low PSA readings, a clean MRI and PSMA scan, manageable urinary side effects controlled with medication, no bowel issues, and some sexual-function changes, which can occur with virtually any prostate cancer treatment. I am not cured. I remain under routine surveillance and am currently considered low risk, and I have no regrets about the path I chose.
IRRADIANT is now open and enrolling. The trial is randomized, so participants have a 50/50 chance of receiving either the IRE boost plus reduced-dose SBRT or standard SBRT radiation treatment alone. If you have been diagnosed with intermediate-risk prostate cancer and are weighing your treatment options, I am happy to discuss further. Reach out during our session or email me at stuart@ancan.org.
RTIRE – trial details and results‑related info
1. ClinicalTrials.gov – official RTIRE registry (Phase II)
Includes protocol, dose (32.5 Gy/5 or 22 Gy/2), eligibility, endpoints, and status. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05345444
2. BMC Urology protocol paper (PubMed)
Full write‑up of the RTIRE Phase II design, rationale, and planned outcomes; registered as NCT05345444. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39054460/
Active Surveillance Prostate Cancer Video Chat, June 24th, 2026
AnCan is grateful to the following sponsors for making this recording possible: Novartis, Blue Earth Diagnostics, Telix, and Foundation Medicine.
Active Surveillance (AS) for low-risk prostate cancer involves unique challenges compared to other treatments. This online support group is designed for men and their caregivers who are currently on or considering AS. We hold four meetings monthly, recording only the second and fourth sessions. Our discussions cover a wide range of topics, including anxiety management, biopsy experiences, and the decision-making process around continuing or discontinuing AS. Newcomers are given priority to share their experiences, so we encourage you to join us.
AnCan thanks the following sponsors for making this recording possible: Novartis, Blue Earth Diagnostics and Foundation Medicine.
Views expressed in this Recording are solely the opinion of AnCan Foundation, our Moderators and Participants.
AnCan does not accept sponsored promotion. Any drugs, protocols or devices discussed are based solely on anecdotal peer experience or clinical evidence.
AnCan cannot and does not provide medical advice. We encourage you to discuss anything you hear in our sessions with your own medical team.
AnCan reminds all Participants that Adverse Events experienced from prescribed drugs or protocols should be reported to the pharmaceutical manufacturer or the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). To do so call 1-800-332-1066 or download interactive FDA Form 3500 https://www.fda.gov/media/76299/download
All AnCan’s groups are free and drop-in … join us in person sometime! You can find out more about our 12 monthly prostate cancer meetings at https://ancan.org/prostate-cancer/ Sign up to receive a weekly Reminder/Newsletter for this Group or others at https://ancan.org/contact-us/
Join our other free and drop in groups:
Men (Only) Speaking Freely…1st & 3rd Thursdays @ 8.00 pm Eastern https://ancan.org/men-speaking-freely/
Veterans Healthcare Navigation… 1st & 3rd Tuesdays @ 8.00 pm Eastern Schmier Room https://ancan.org/veterans/
Veterans Speaking freely… 4th Tuesday @ @ 8.00 pm Eastern Schmier Room
Editor’s Pick: Ask for an EKG if you’re on hormone therapy – Dr. Alfredo says it’s cheap!
Topics Discussed
Newbie switches ADT after EKG; wearing a Holter patch; white diet during radiation; AnCan’r signs up for ANDROMEDA; 8 lesions but all above the pelvis call for new QB; no treatment for 12 mo. more, so why worry about what’s available; T returns and PSA says low; Axumin may find what PSMA does not; dental issue; insist on regular DEXA and PSMA scans during treatment; PTEN and TP53 somatic emerge – will it change treatment?; MSKCC doc drops the ball; steady as she goes on mono daro at 89; E2 needs name for its newsletter
Chat
Billy Ingersoll sent: 3:23 PM
QTC 482 from 420/437
Alfredo in Sacramento sent: 3:26 PM
Medicare covers 72% of the EKG (Electrocardiogram) cost. Beneficiaries should budget approximately $4 in out-of-pocket costs. EKG (Electrocardiogram) costs vary 37% across states: from $12 in Arkansas to $17 in Alaska. At $15 nationally, EKG (Electrocardiogram) is a low-cost procedure. For most Medicare beneficiaries, the coinsurance will be under $50. The patient cost of $4 is within the annual Part B deductible ($257), making this relatively affordable for Medicare beneficiaries.
Jim Marshall, Vet Sup Grp. Moderator sent: 3:46 PM
There is GOTO Help. 877-582-7011 if want to ask why. Jim
Avery Becton sent: 3:46 PM
ok. thx
Avery Becton sent: 3:51 PM
Finally I can hear the group on my PC
Bob Schwartz, USN, Venice, FL. sent: 3:58 PM
Great mtg., see everyone next mtg., have to go.
Alfredo in Sacramento sent: 3:58 PM
Gotta go now, best wishes to all.
AnCan–John A sent: 4:11 PM
next-generation sequencing or genomic or somatic test .on the biopsy sample
Jim Marshall, Vet Sup Grp. Moderator sent: 4:12 PM
Genitourinary Medical Oncologist
David D Seattle sent: 4:51 PM
I have to run to another meeting. Have a good evening all.
Alan Moskowitz sent: 4:56 PM
bye all
J. Ward sent: 4:59 PM
What was the date of Len’s write-up again, please?
AnCan thanks the following sponsors for making this recording possible: Novartis, Blue Earth Diagnostics and Foundation Medicine.
Views expressed in this Recording are solely the opinion of AnCan Foundation, our Moderators and Participants.
AnCan does not accept sponsored promotion. Any drugs, protocols or devices discussed are based solely on anecdotal peer experience or clinical evidence.
AnCan cannot and does not provide medical advice. We encourage you to discuss anything you hear in our sessions with your own medical team.
AnCan reminds all Participants that Adverse Events experienced from prescribed drugs or protocols should be reported to the pharmaceutical manufacturer or the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). To do so call 1-800-332-1066 or download interactive FDA Form 3500 https://www.fda.gov/media/76299/download
All AnCan’s groups are free and drop-in … join us in person sometime! You can find out more about our 12 monthly prostate cancer meetings at https://ancan.org/prostate-cancer/ Sign up to receive a weekly Reminder/Newsletter for this Group or others at https://ancan.org/contact-us/
Join our other free and drop in groups:
Men (Only) Speaking Freely…1st & 3rd Thursdays @ 8.00 pm Eastern https://ancan.org/men-speaking-freely/
Veterans Healthcare Navigation… 1st & 3rd Tuesdays @ 8.00 pm Eastern Schmier Room https://ancan.org/veterans/
Veterans Speaking freely… 4th Tuesday @ @ 8.00 pm Eastern Schmier Room
Editor’s Pick: 1) SUV may be key to advanced treatment 2) 7 lesions really high volume?
Topics Discussed
7 metastases should be considered high volume and may indicate triplet protocol including chemotherapy; low SUV may indicate that lesion is NOT metastatic; old GU MO and new GU MO disagree on PSMA reading and treatment; managing two doctors: does he need a PSMA scan with a PSA of 0.12?; fatigue and brain fog in younger Gent maty call for switch in HT; switching docs at Fred Hutch, UW; starting IHT, but how best to monitor; first appointment with Dr. E coming up
Chat… (shortest ever in this group!!!)
Bill Lawler sent: 5:16 PM
Left Iliac bone
AnCan – Rick sent: 5:19 PM
877 582 7011 GoTo Assistance
If you need to dial in 646 749 3129 then 222 583 973
AnCan – Rick sent: 5:32 PM
dexamethasone in place of pred.
AnCan–John A sent: 5:34 PM
Lorente, Omlin, et.al. Tumour responses following a steroid switch from prednisone to dexamethasone in castration-resistant prostate cancer patients progressing on abiraterone. BrJCancer, 2014 Oct14 doi;10.1038/bjc.2014.531
Active Surveillance Prostate Cancer Video Chat, June 10th, 2026
AnCan is grateful to the following sponsors for making this recording possible: Novartis, Blue Earth Diagnostics, Telix, and Foundation Medicine.
Active Surveillance (AS) for low-risk prostate cancer involves unique challenges compared to other treatments. This online support group is designed for men and their caregivers who are currently on or considering AS. We hold four meetings monthly, recording only the second and fourth sessions. Our discussions cover a wide range of topics, including anxiety management, biopsy experiences, and the decision-making process around continuing or discontinuing AS. Newcomers are given priority to share their experiences, so we encourage you to join us.
You can find out more about our 12 monthly prostate cancer meetings at https://ancan.org/prostate-cancer/. Sign up to receive a weekly Reminder/Newsletter for this Group or others at https://ancan.org/contact-us/.
Andy Douglas, Florida 8:11 PM
Jonathan Epstein, MD
Andy Douglas, Florida 8:11 PM
Advanced Uropathology of New York 700 Stewart Ave, Suite 101 Garden City, NY 11530 Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00AM – 6:00PM P: 516-760-2037 F: 516-200-3899 jepstein@imppllc.com
Ray E 8:12 PM
Ming Zhou Md
Ray E 8:12 PM
https://profiles.mountsinai.org/ming-zhou
Andy Douglas, Florida 8:23 PM
Shaw Zhou, MD St Petersburg 38th Avenue 5747 38th Ave N, St. Petersburg, Florida 33710 Phone (727) 381-8667
Ed Cirimele, Ca 8:39 PM
Ed Cirimele: jocimo@gmail.com
Eric 8:41 PM
Gotta head back to it. Thanks!
Andy Douglas, Florida 8:43 PM
https://www.healthcare6.com/physician/san-rafael-ca/joseph-lee-2179445.html
AnCan – Rick 8:45 PM
Here’s the KP link Ed…. https://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/ncal/providers/jhlee
Andy Douglas, Florida 8:49 PM
PSA density is a measure that relates the level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the blood to the size of the prostate gland, calculated by dividing the PSA value by the prostate volume. A higher PSA density can indicate a greater risk of prostate cancer, especially if it is above 0.15 ng/mL/cc.
AnCan thanks the following sponsors for making this recording possible: Novartis, Blue Earth Diagnostics and Foundation Medicine.
Views expressed in this Recording are solely the opinion of AnCan Foundation, our Moderators and Participants.
AnCan does not accept sponsored promotion. Any drugs, protocols or devices discussed are based solely on anecdotal peer experience or clinical evidence.
AnCan cannot and does not provide medical advice. We encourage you to discuss anything you hear in our sessions with your own medical team.
AnCan reminds all Participants that Adverse Events experienced from prescribed drugs or protocols should be reported to the pharmaceutical manufacturer or the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). To do so call 1-800-332-1066 or download interactive FDA Form 3500 https://www.fda.gov/media/76299/download
All AnCan’s groups are free and drop-in … join us in person sometime! You can find out more about our 12 monthly prostate cancer meetings at https://ancan.org/prostate-cancer/ Sign up to receive a weekly Reminder/Newsletter for this Group or others at https://ancan.org/contact-us/
Join our other free and drop in groups:
Men (Only) Speaking Freely…1st & 3rd Thursdays @ 8.00 pm Eastern https://ancan.org/men-speaking-freely/
Veterans Healthcare Navigation… 1st & 3rd Tuesdays @ 8.00 pm Eastern Schmier Room https://ancan.org/veterans/
Veterans Speaking freely… 4th Tuesday @ @ 8.00 pm Eastern Schmier Room
Editor’s Pick: Two (2) younger Newbies both need better QBs… AND we have another hydrocele
Topics Discussed
Agent Orange Newbie doing well on RT and doublet; younger Newbie with possible variant PrCa needs solid GU med onc; 2nd younger Newbie also needs to upgrade his MO – is he stuck in doublet?; scans suggest Jevtana not holding disease – pasritamig trial next?; debulking to start with IMRT; does coffee creamer interfere with treatment?; hydrocele not the first time for AnCan; nocturia and RT proctitis cause problems; Orgovyx coming soon; Dr. E in his future
John, thank you for the recommendation! And yes, I can get to UofC easily! I just retired…..lots of free time!
Don Rogers sent: 4:08 PM
Hi John, Nice to hear you are doing well. Everything here in Boca Raton is also wonderful. I am doing great, PSA still undetectible. Looking forward to going on a Disney Cruise with the entire family in early July. Mary and I then go on a 10 day camping trip to Yellowstone. Let me what you find out at your 3 month visit with your oncologist. My best always, Don
Len Sierra sent: 4:21 PM
EZH2 inhibitors: Mevrometostat (PF-06821497): An investigational selective inhibitor of enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) being studied in combination with XTANDI for mCRPC. Several Phase 3 trials (MEVPRO-1 and MEVPRO-2) are ongoing.
Bob McHugh sent: 4:49 PM
Lomotil or Immodium?
Jim Ekrut, Ft. Worth, TX sent: 4:51 PM
Imodium doesn’t seem to help much. I’m hoping the gastroenterologist will prescribe Lomotil, but he initially hesitated because it’s a controlled substance.
Jim Marshall, Vet Sup Grp. Moderator sent: 4:56 PM
The LATITUDE Trial, 2017, had HS Abi + 10mg. and a few years later HS dropped to 5mg although CR stayed at 10mg. Jim M
Jim Ekrut, Ft. Worth, TX sent: 5:04 PM
Thanks so much for a helpful session! Until next time.
Living with cancer often means living with uncertainty, and for many patients, that uncertainty shows up as fear of recurrence and the very real stress of upcoming scans, tests, and follow-up appointments. In his introduction for the most recent Men Speaking Freely on June 4th, Dr. John provides a great summary of the Fear of Cancer Recurrence:
I thought I’d take a new look at a favorite topic of ours, Fear of Recurrence. Here is an update from recent literature.
Not that we need a definition, but FCR is defined in the literature as the fear, worry, or concern that cancer will return or progress. It’s among the most common and persistent concerns for cancer survivors, including men with prostate cancer. It seriously affects our quality of life, mental health, and even relationships.
Recent studies confirm that at least half of cancer survivors experience moderate to high FCR, with 10–20% experiencing severe, disabling FCR. Younger age, female gender, recent diagnosis, low social support, poor physical condition, and previous psychological difficulties are risk factors for higher FCR in general. For prostate cancer, younger patients and those with PSA increases or ambiguous test results are at higher risk. Of course, men may underreport FCR due to stigma or stoicism (fancy word for being stupid).
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness-Based Interventions are still the most evidence-based approaches. New trials support the efficacy of both in reducing FCR, including when delivered via telehealth.
Structured interventions like ConquerFear (iConquerFear) and SWORD (Survivors’ Worry Reduction) are scientifically validated in multiple countries and are worth looking at. There’s supposed to be an Australian intervention called iCanADAPT for prostate cancer, but I can’t seem to navigate to it from icandapt.adaptcancer.org.au. Meta-analyses show modest benefit for these interventions, with high patient acceptability.
Medications addressing fear of recurrence are still not supported as primary treatment, but they sure got me by those early months without adverse effects.
The International Psycho-Oncology Society and ASCO survivorship guidelines, as well as recent research, recommend regular assessment and referral for FCR. Tools like the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory (FCRI), FCR-7, and Cancer Worry Scale are available, but I’ve never heard of anyone being screened. Wake up, docs.
On the horizon, studies are examining genetics, inflammation, and personality traits as predictors of FCR. Interventions are becoming culture-specific.
So, FCR is normal, and severe/persistent FCR is treatable. Routine discussion and screening for FCR should be part of survivorship care. Effective interventions (CBT, mindfulness, research-based web-based programs) are available and increasingly accessible. Patients should not hesitate to raise FCR concerns – help is available.
-Dr. John Antonucci MD
With thanks to one of our own, Andy Douglas, a recent webinar from Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale, part of its Survivorship Series, goes into far more detail and is worth watching. In Unraveling Fear of Cancer Recurrence: Realities and Tools for Coping (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27aHVlFsgN4), presenters Gabriel Cartagena, PhD, Angela Khairallah, MSW, LCSW, and Susanne Lee-Baldassini, LCSW, examine fear of cancer recurrence and “scanxiety,” explaining how common these experiences are and offering practical coping strategies for managing them.
Not everyone will experience fear of cancer recurrence or scan-related anxiety in the same way, but these concerns are common across the cancer community. This webinar will not make uncertainty disappear, but it does offer grounded, practical tools that can help patients and families navigate it with more confidence. If you’re struggling with anxiety, read the recent Substack post by Howard Hertz: Anxiety and the Miscalibrated Mind. Hertz breaks down how our brains are evolutionarily hard-wired to prioritize survival over factual accuracy, meaning your brain would rather make the mistake of feeling anxious than risk being caught off guard.
