AnCan and MedaFit have long been aggressive proponents of the importance of exercise to manage cancer, and in particular prostate cancer.
This short interview between one of AnCan’s favorite GU med oncs, Alicia Morgans at Northwestern and Lorelei Mucci ScD at Harvard examines a recent epidemiological study using the 50,000 male healthcare professionals cohort over 30 years. It finds that amongst the 6,000 men who contracted prostate cancer, those with advanced PCa who engaged in 25 minutes of VIGOROUS (heavy aerobic) exercise daily had a 30% lower risk of developing lethal prostate cancer. Moderate exercise did not show the same results.
MedaFit has been pushing this hypothesis going back to 2007 and is proud to be one of the catalysts bringing about greater academic study of exercise and prostate cancer.
Meet @Tall Allen – Allen Edel; 18F-DCFPyl PSMA scan; radiation proctitis treatments; debulking the primary tumor; scanning tube anxiety; blood clots and treatment; blastic v lytic bone mets; when your med onc switches jobs; penile rehab after hormone therapy; success with metastatic spot radiation; 2nd line anti-androgen comparisons
Researchers at the Univ. of Minnesota conducted a retrospective study of 57 consecutive men with mCRPC followed for one year and found that testosterone levels were suppressed equally whether the men were given Zytiga alone or Zytiga plus ADT drugs such as Lupron and Firmagon. This can provide substantial cost savings for the patients and for society. You can read the full 2019 ASCO abstract here: http://abstracts.asco.org/239/AbstView_239_266583.html
I hope you are all relaxing on this Memorial Day and enjoying the holiday. AnCan thanks those who served their country, and offers much comfort to those who lost loved ones in that endeavor.
Like many of you reading this, I remember both my parents who served during World War 2; my father had a somewhat colorful military career, staying through 1946 and participating in the 8th Army Sicily Invasion and then moving all the way north through Italy. My mother was a WAAF – part of the RAF; she loaded and developed the pix in the aircraft cameras. I stopped by the cemetery Saturday to say hello to my Dad who is buried here in Tucson and thought of adding a Union Jack to all the Stars & Stripes fluttering in the grounds.
I am often asked what is new and promising in PCa research. It is a huge task to stay current on all going on, especially since some of the research is so early and speculative. It is hard to distinguish what may have legs and evolve into the Silver Bullet from what evaporates in the Petri dish. One piece of UCSF research was brought into focus by one of our AnCan participants this week – a drug named ISRIB that may make prostate cancer cells self-destruct. While this is still very early days, it is a fine example of scientific creative thinking.
Two of AnCan’s finest volunteers got to meet each other Friday night in Laurel, MD at the home of Jake Hannam. Rich Jackson and his wife Brenda were ‘Harleying’ it up to DC from Norfolk, VA for what may well be the last Rolling Thunder national gathering; they took a slight detour to pay a social visit to Jake and Paula Hannam. This is certainly a first for Jake to meet another AnCan’r in person; Rich may have run in to one or two at the PCI event in Virginia Beach last year.
Jake runs our FaceBook page and co-moderates the high risk/recurrent/advanced prostate cancer virtual group. Rich handles our data base on Mail Chimp, and moderates the men’s Speaking Freely virtual group. Heartfelt thanks to both of you for all you do.
With thanks to my buddy, John Novack, Director of P.R. & Communications at Inspire, I read this article last week in the Philadelphia Inquirer. ‘Fighting Disease is the Wrong Metaphor’… written by a doctor, it represents one side of the controversial argument about the language of cancer.
My personal opinion ….. since I doubt not everyone in AnCan agrees with me, is that choice of language is completely personal for each cancer patient. By making their preference known, that person rightly expects their medical team, friends and acquaintances to respect it. Nor should should they be offended by others who choose differently. Whatever helps each of us get through our own situation is right for us.
AnCan will hold a webinar on TheLanguage of Cancer on Monday, July, 29, 2019 … all are welcome.
Airbnb and the Cancer Support Community announced a major partnership to help cancer patients get free housing while traveling for treatment. For more details, including income criteria, please follow this link: https://www.cancersupportcommunity.org/airbnb
On hearing of this wonderful program, many generous folks asked if there was a way they could help cancer patients in need. In response, Airbnb is proud to invite you to make a difference and join the Airbnb Open Homes program. We hope you’ll join this special group of hosts who offer medical travelers a short-term home. Open Homes hosts make a major impact on people’s lives. For more information on Open Homes, follow this link: https://www.airbnb.com/openhomes
CancerCare webinars usually feature leading experts on the topic; click on the titles below to register for any of these sessions – all are free. You can also hear recordings by going to their website – www.cancercare.org.
…. then read this excellent short piece from CureToday (5/18/19) by AnCan’s friend, Sarah DeBord who has struggled to identify a trial for herself despite being an outstanding patient advocate.
There are many lessons to be learned here …. read it and you’ll find out!
Advanced disease treatment options; why does your doc not keep you informed?; creating a medical team – remote + local med oncs; NP appointments; Intermittent Hormone Therapy – don’t worry when T. rises!; neuropathy; Axumin appointment; bogus alternative cancer cures; pembrolizumab + SD101 trial; debulking primary with advanced PCa; shortness of breath and weight gain; prednisone side effects
