DISCLAIMER: AnCan does not endorse Superpower or any of its products. All patients should discuss with their healthcare provider before using any of their products or any of the tests or advice in the article.
In another of the seemingly endless organizations offering premium health services, Superpower, founded in 2023, provides a fairly straightforward overview of the myriad tests and biomarkers available to Prostate Cancer patients (A Clear Guide to PCa Biomarkers). Seasoned AnCaners may find little new in here, especially those that attend or review many of the recent seminars/webcasts, but newcomers or those needing a refresher may find it helpful for further research or equipping you to be your own best advocate. The article hits many of the main tests with which we are all familiar, as well as some of the urine biomarkers (PCA3, Select MDx, ExoDX), without specifically endorsing any of them. It does touch on MRIs, but only multi-parametric, not bi-parametric MRIs, nor does it get into the trans-rectal versus trans-perineal debate. Be forewarned, there is information with which not everyone will agree (shocking, I know), but it is still a useful, albeit somewhat rudimentary tool.
Interpreting Prostate Needle Biopsies in Today’s World
Interpreting Prostate Needle Biopsies in Today’s World
Dr. Jonathan Epstein, MD, Advanced Uropathology
Reliable biopsies are critical to selecting the right treatment at all stages of prostate cancer – we’re talking needle tissue, not blood, btw. Get it wrong and you may get too much or too little treatment.
Reading pathology is part art and part science! AnCan Advisory Board Member, Dr. Jonathan Epstein is globally acknowledged to have the best eye in the genitourinary pathology world. AnCan frequently refers men to him for a 2nd opinion. His presentation will include:
Getting the most out of a 2nd Opinion
The relevance of cribriform, intraductal, ductal, & small cells
Hi-Risk/Recurrent/Advanced PCa Video Chat, May 5, 2025
AnCan is grateful to the following sponsors for making this recording possible: Bayer, Foundation Medicine, Janssen, Myriad Genetics, Novartis, Telix, Blue Earth Diagnostic and Foundation Medicine.
AnCan respectfully notes that it does not accept sponsored promotion. Any drugs, protocols or devices recommended in our discussions 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!
Editor’s Pick: How to follow PARP-I for BRCA1 Gent (rd)
Topics Discussed
Setting up for recurrence treatment in Alberta, Canada; PSMA rules out Mx, but what about other pelvic issues – bone Bx to follow; debulk IMRT done – SBRT boost to follow; 2 Pluvicto sessions reveal good progress; 90 days max for vacay meds on Medicare; is darolutamide monotherapy enough?; will new test to replace PSA work for recurrence?; how long to PSA nadir on HT?; Tricare alone not enough – join Vets to learn how to dual enroll; Payer denies Orgovyx – what to do; Marine Chaplain can’t find his voice – so uses Chat!
AnCan is grateful to the following sponsors for making this recording possible: Bayer, Foundation Medicine, Janssen, Myriad Genetics, Novartis, Telix & Blue Earth Diagnostic.
AnCan respectfully notes that it does not accept sponsored promotion. Any drugs, protocols or devices recommended in our discussions 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!
Editor’s Pick: We’re talking incontinence and tricks to manage it this week + Pluvicto works! ? (rd)
Topics Discussed
ATM germline Gent faces recurrence; slow moving recurrence brings urinary incontinence; MRI finds hip lesion raising early Mx – do PSMA for pace of mind; neuropathy dismissed by Mayo docs as ageing – not HT or chemo???; when to ask for PSMA on recurrence; Pluvicto brings great results – enjoy it rather than ask what’s next; how do differences in MRI equipment impact interpretation?
Chat Log
Wes – San Diego sent: 5:17 PM
Intraductal commonly, I’m told, has a low PSA.
Wes – San Diego sent: 5:22 PM
What does a medical oncologist add to surgeon and radiologist? Hormones?
Gary sent: 5:24 PM
Medical Oncologist deals with everything from ADT to lutetium, docetaxel, etc.
So it would seem to me that any prostate guy would be wise to have a medical oncologist, albeit others can prescribe Lupron, etc.
Jim Marshall, Alexandria, VA sent: 5:26 PM
Specifically one should look for a Genitourinary Medical Oncologist. NOt a General Meneral Oncologist. Jim
Gary sent: 5:26 PM
I agree.
Jim Marshall, Alexandria, VA sent: 5:37 PM
Somatic testing. Jim
John A sent: 5:44 PM
dr.john@ancan.org
Wes – San Diego sent: 5:55 PM
Is it related to drinking carbonated water, beer, etc. ? which prompts me much, much more than other drinks.
AnCan – rick sent: 5:57 PM
Gemtessa
Alfredo in Houston sent: 5:58 PM
I think it is NOT generic yet, and around $500/ 30 days
Bob Schwartz, USN, Venice FL sent: 6:20 PM
Another good mtg. Have to go.
Wes – San Diego sent: 6:32 PM
heart BP meds can prompt gout and edema, which can be related to nueropathy, as they have been for me.
Don Rogers sent: 6:32 PM
Dan, I would suggest you contact the radiologist and set up a meeting and have the doctor explain the report. I have done this twice with great success. Don Rogers
AnCan – rick sent: 6:33 PM
Don – may be harder to do at Kaiser.
Hank Zajic Springfield VA sent: 6:38 PM
I just did a PSMA PET using Pylarify. The test result report recorded 8.86 mCi (millicurie) dose. not much.
Alfredo in Houston sent: 6:38 PM
The amount of radiation exposure from an imaging test depends on the imaging test used and what part of the body is being tested. For instance: A single chest x-ray exposes the patient to about 0.1 mSv. This is about the same amount of radiation people are exposed to naturally over the course of about 10 days. A mammogram exposes a woman to 0.4 mSv, or about the amount a person would expect to get from natural background exposure over 7 weeks. Some other imaging tests have higher exposures, for example: A lower GI series using x-rays of the large intestine exposes a person to about 8 mSv, or about the amount expected over about 3 years. A CT scan of the abdomen (belly) and pelvis exposes a person to about 10 mSv. A PET/CT exposes you to about 25 mSv of radiation. This is equal to about 8 years of average background radiation exposure.
Hi-Risk/Recurrent/Advanced PCa Video Chat, March 3, 2025
AnCan is grateful to the following sponsors for making this recording possible: Bayer, Foundation Medicine, Janssen, Myriad Genetics, Novartis, Telix & Blue Earth Diagnostic.
AnCan respectfully notes that it does not accept sponsored promotion. Any drugs, protocols or devices recommended in our discussions 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!
Editor’s Pick: What’s the evidence to switch HT treatment after several years? (rd)
Topics Discussed
“Get thee to a GU med onc” – before further Tx errors!; nausea from Pluvicto may be the norm; – get ahead of it; when another recurrence is suspected, when’s the time to do a PSMA scan; same 4+5 Gents asks.” should ADT accompany RT on 2nd recurrence?”; is urinary retention a side effect of Mx PCa with a prostate?; recalcitrant VA MO rejects RT on recurrence – get 2nd opinion; chemo side effects , esp. nausea need meds; after 3 years, time to switch HT?; addressing hot sweats; pay no attention to the fantasy numbers on your Medical bills
Chat Log
AnCan – rick sent: 6:14 PM
rd@ancan.org rick
Luther Blake sent: 6:18 PM
OHSU patients are well represented in this group.
AnCan – rick sent: 6:32 PM
Matt Rettig https://www.uclahealth.org/providers/matthew-rettig
Wes – San Diego sent: 6:40 PM
Got a question for you all: 2. What kinds of hormone therapy are available?
Frank sent: 6:46 PM
Zofran is the medication that helps me Marc
Luther Blake sent: 6:48 PM
You can get big bags of ‘Gin-Gins’ on amazon
Brian Haack – Eagle, ID sent: 6:50 PM
My PSA went from 0.12 to nearly 20 before mets were seen on PSMA-PET/CT
Wes – San Diego sent: 6:52 PM
I buy fresh ginger, cut it, and squeeze it using a garlic press, and use it as the incredient for tea. Most chews have more sugar than ginger; be careful with them.
There are also wrist pressure bands, used for sea sickness that might also work. V credible; I keep them in my backpack for random trips out to the SD bay.
Wes – San Diego sent: 7:30 PM
A new sleeping pill Belsomra, creates a good sleep architecture (deep, REM, etc).
Alicia Morgens study of the Embr wave 2: “66% of participants rated the thermal device as effective for management of daytime and nighttime hot flashes, while 77% of participants reported being somewhat to very satisfied with the device.”
AnCan – rick sent: 8:00 PM
Good memory Len…..
Wes – San Diego sent: 8:04 PM
My PSMA via UCSD was $34K.
Good point for my uninsured brother.
Brian Haack – Eagle, ID sent: 8:07 PM
Private insurance sets their prices based on Medicare reimbursment
Wes – San Diego sent: 8:09 PM
Taking about the range of costs, so we know what is possible is good, including flying to France, Cuba, etc.
