Bipolar Hormone Therapy, BAT for Prostate Cancer, BAT Patient Guide
Cancer ABCs
Bipolar Androgen Therapy (BAT): A Patient's ...

This complete guide to Bipolar Androgen Therapy (BAT) should be your stepping-off point if you are interested in using BAT to treat your castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CrPC).

Bipolar Androgen Therapy (BAT): A Patient's Guide
Radiopharmaceutical Treat
Cancer ABCs
Which is Better, 177Lu-PSMA-617 (Pluvicto) or ...

Several men have asked us if they are better off having 177Lu-PSMA-617 (Pluvicto) or Xofigo, a radiopharmaceutical drug that treats bone metastases. There is no simple answer, and the answer is not the same for each of us. Making a sound decision can be helped by understanding the mode of action and the limits of each treatment.

Which is Better, 177Lu-PSMA-617 (Pluvicto) or Xofigo (Radium-223)
PARP Inhibitors, Companion Diagnostics, BRACA
Cancer ABCs
Understanding the PARP Inhibitors - Who Will ...

LYNPARZA (olaparib) and RUBRACA (rucaparib) are PARP Inhibitors that were FDA approved in May of 2020 for men with castrate resistant prostate cancer who also have certain genetic mutations. The FDA also approved certain Companion Diagnostic genetic tests to go along with the decision making to use these PARP Inhibitors.

There is a lot of information now available with these recent developments which makes decision making confusing.

Understanding the PARP Inhibitors - Who Will Benefit?
Radiation Side Effect Man, Managing Radiation Side
Cancer ABCs
Managing Late Stage Radiation Side Effects

There are several possible side effects that can result from receiving radiation treatment. The most common of these side effects include the development of scar tissue that makes it hard to urinate (pee), defecate (poop), and in some instances, link the activity of either peeing and pooping together; bladder or colon bleeding and diarrhea. 

Managing Late Stage Radiation Side Effects
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What is the Correct Treatment Protocol if you Develop Lymph Node Metastasis after Surgery?

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Having positive lymph node metastasis (LNM or pN1) after a radical prostatectomy (RP) to treat prostate cancer is a poor prognostic indicator.  Knowing what the next best course of treatment is if you are in this situation remains questionable.  To begin to understand and better answer this problem a group of researchers performed a comparative analysis of three of the current management strategies for men with positive lymph nodes after RP.

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Comparing the Efficacy of the Treatment Options of Metastatic, Castration-Resistant, Docetaxel-Resistant Prostate Cancer

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There was a large meta-analysis recently published that compared the efficacy of abiraterone acetate (Zytiga), enzalutamide (Xtandi), cabazitaxel (Jevtana) and Radium-223 (Xofigo) in the treatment of castration-resistant, docetaxel-resistant metastatic prostate cancer.

Dealing With Liver Metastases

There is an ongoing conversation in an Advanced Prostate Cancer support group which we participate in where there has been a discussion about some individuals’ experience in dealing with liver metastases (Mets). The main take away from this conversation is that if you do develop liver metastases you should ask your doctor about adding Carboplatin to Taxotere Chemotherapy.

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Taking Zytiga At A Lower Dose With Food

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Since abiraterone acetate (Zytiga) was approved for men with metastatic prostate cancer, it is well known that taking the drug with food in your stomach as opposed to having an empty stomach enhances the amount of drug that becomes active.  Given the very high cost of Zytiga, many men have been tempted to take fewer pills along with a meal.  

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Role and Precautions About to the Use of Bisphosphonate Drugs

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Once a man with metastatic prostate cancer becomes castrate resistant (mCRPC) it is common to add a bisphosphonate like injectable zoledronic acid (Zometa) or denosumab (Xgeva) to his drug regimen.  Like all other drugs, bisphosphonates have unwanted side effects, some which can be mediated. 

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The Difference Between an Agonist, an Antiandrogen and an Antagonist in ADT?

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Primary, or first line Hormone Therapy (ADT) can involve some different drugs. However, the constant standard includes either a GnRH agonist, such as leuprolide or an antagonist like Firmagon and an antiandrogen like Casodex. 

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Warning - A Possible Danger - Xofigo in Combination with Zytiga and Prednisone

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The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended halting the use of the Xofigo (radium-223 dichloride) in combination with Zytiga (abiraterone acetate) and prednisone due to a possible increased risk of death and fractures.

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Questioning the Wisdom of Combined Androgen Therapy

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One of the questions that often come up is how long a man should use an antiandrogen drug like Casodex along with a GnRH agonist like Lupron or Zoladex?  There is no question that an antiandrogen needs to be used before the first dosage of the agonist (Lupron), but should the antiandrogen be stopped or should it be continued along with the agonist (combining an antiandrogen along with the GnRH agonist is often referred to as a combined androgen blockade)?

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The Difference Between Agonists, Antiandrogens, and Antagonist in ADT

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First line Hormone Therapy (ADT) involves the use of different drugs. These drugs include three different classes of medications with three different modes of action.  They include the GnRH agonists, such as leuprolide, antagonists like Firmagon and the antiandrogens like Casodex. 

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Degarelix May Reduce Risk of Cardiovascular Events in Men with Prostate Cancer

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Preliminary data that suggests that men with cardiovascular disease being treated for metastatic prostate cancer may experience fewer cardiovascular events when treated with a GnRH antagonist, such as degarelix (Firmagon), compared with a GnRH agonist (Lupron, etc.).

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Choosing Docetaxel or Zytiga

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Both Taxotere (docetaxel) and Zytiga (abiraterone) are approved for newly diagnosed men with very aggressive prostate cancer and who have not yet had any exposure to hormone therapy (ADT).  

The two approvals lead us to the question, which of these treatment options would be best for you? 

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A New Drug Approval- Erleada ™ (apalutamide) For Non-Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer

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he FDA approved a new advanced hormone therapy drug (a next-generation androgen receptor inhibitor) for the treatment of men with non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (NM-CRPC). This drug with the trade name Erleada (aka apalutamide), is the first drug approved in this disease space. 

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The FDA Approves Abiraterone Acetate for Some Men with Castrate Sensitive Metastatic Prostate Cancer

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The Food and Drug Administration approved the use of abiraterone acetate (Zytiga) with prednisone for men with high-risk, castration-sensitive, chemotherapy-naive metastatic prostate cancer, but there are some hitches and hurdles.

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