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Senior Citizen Health & Medicine
Finasteride May Prevent Prostate Cancer But Is It
Worth the Sacrifice?
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Dr. Yair Lotan calls for men to weigh the
potential benefits as well as the side effects of the drug finasteride. |
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Pros, cons of drug proven to prevent prostate
cancer should be considered, researchers say
Jan. 21, 2008 – As men earn the rank of senior
citizens, their chances of prostate cancer increase tremendously. There
is a drug, however, finasteride, that has a proven ability to prevent
this cancer, but it is seldom used due to “quality of life” issues. In a
new study, researchers conclude men carefully weigh both the potential
benefits and side effects.
In today’s online issue of Cancer, UT Southwestern
Medical Center doctors analyzed data gathered by the National Cancer
Institute’s Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial, or PCPT.
The trial, which began in October 1993, was
designed to test whether finasteride could prevent prostate cancer in
men 55 years of age and older. It was stopped early in June 2003 when an
analysis showed that finasteride reduced the risk of developing prostate
cancer by 25 percent.
UT Southwestern’s analysis of the PCPT data
indicates that cost effectiveness and quality of life issues associated
with taking the drug are not clear cut, said Dr. Yair Lotan, assistant
professor of urology and the Cancer study’s senior author.
The PCPT data show that in addition to preventing
prostate cancer, finasteride also reduces urinary-tract symptoms
associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia.
It also decreased sexual desire and caused
impotence in 5 percent of the trial participants.
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"It works by
blocking the body's production of a male hormone that causes the
prostate to enlarge." - MedlinePlus |
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Why is
this medication prescribed?
Finasteride is used alone or in
combination with other medications to treat benign prostatic
hypertrophy (BPH, enlargement of the prostate gland).
Finasteride improves symptoms of BPH such as frequent and
difficult urination and may reduce the chance of acute urinary
retention (suddenly being unable to pass urine). It also may
decrease the chance of needing prostate surgery. Finasteride is
in a class of medications called 5-alpha reductase inhibitors.
Read more at MedlinePlus... |
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Some PCPT participants
who did develop prostate cancer also had high-grade tumors, although
there is ongoing debate whether this result might have been due to
sampling bias.
“Finasteride is currently the only drug that has
been shown to prevent prostate cancer in a large randomized trial but is
used for this purpose in very few men,” Dr. Lotan said.
“A large number of patients are currently taking
over-the-counter supplements to prevent prostate cancer, even though
there is no scientific evidence to support these products’ claims. It’s
important for patients to be aware of this scientific trial and to ask
their doctors if finasteride could benefit them.”
In light of all these pros and cons, Dr. Lotan said
physicians and patients need to work together closely to weigh how
finasteride could affect quality of life on a case-by-case basis.
“With the exception of skin cancer, prostate cancer
is the most common cancer in American men,” Dr. Lotan said.
“Men who are
at low risk for prostate cancer might view taking finasteride as not
very cost effective when considering its impact on their quality of
life. On the other hand, patients at high risk might see it as cost
effective because it lessens their chances of developing prostate
cancer.
“Because there is some complexity to the PCPT I
think doctors hesitate to discuss its results. While I’m not advocating
for the drug, I think physicians should mention finasteride, especially
when their patients are asking questions about ways to prevent prostate
cancer. Patients should understand and be aware of the proven science
that’s out there.”
Editor’s Notes:
Dr. Claus Roehrborn, chairman of urology at UT
Southwestern, was also involved in the study. Researchers from UT M.D.
Anderson Cancer Center also contributed.
Visit
http://www.utsouthwestern.org/patientcare/medicalservices/urology.html
to learn more about UT Southwestern’s clinical services in prostate
diseases.
Links to more SeniorJournal.com reports on
Prostate Cancer:
New Male Sling Helps Prostate Cancer Survivors with
Urinary Incontinence
Losing urine control is frustrating for the
more than 2 million men -
Aug. 29, 2007
Cancer Cells Zapped by Electrical Impulses with Invention by Engineers
Clinical trials come next for test on prostate cancer victims
July 6, 2007
Researchers Say They
Have Found a Better Test for Prostate Cancer?
April 26, 2007
Proteins from Inflammation are 'Smoking Gun' in Spread of Prostate
Cancer
March 19, 2007
Obesity and
Prostate Cancer a Deadly Combination, Study Finds
March 15, 2007
Seniors May Increase Risk of Heart Disease from Prostate Cancer
Treatment
Feb. 26, 2007
Prostate Cancer
Patients Have High Survival Rates with Seed Implants
January 31, 2007
Radiation Therapy
Combo Cures Prostate Cancer Long-Term
January 4, 2007
Lack
of Sons Puts Men at Higher Risk for Prostate Cancer Says New Study
January 3, 2007
Elderly Men
Survive Prostate Cancer 'Significantly' Longer if Treated
December 22, 2006
Octogenarians Not Too Old for Cancer Surgery, Say Mayo Clinic
Researchers
November 27, 2006
Prostate
Cancer Studies Find Benefit to Radiation, No Harm in Testosterone
Replacement in Older Men
November 14, 2006
Prostate
Cancer Cells Killed by Protein Made by the Cancer
November 10, 2006
Researchers
Urge New Approach to Prostate Cancer Screening with Early PSA Base
November 1, 2006
Prostate Cancer Appears Cured in 89 Percent of Men Treated with IMRT
September 27, 2006
PSA of
Prostate Cancer Victims Can Predict How Long They Will Survive
August 25, 2006
Large Study Finds Some Prostate Cancer Patients
Possibly Overtreated
August 15, 2006
Plant-Based Diet with Stress Reduction Slows
Progression of Prostate Cancer
August 15, 2006 - Also in this news report you will find links
to more associations between prostate cancer and nutrition and
supplements.
Prostate Cancer Cells Killed by RNA-Based Drug
August 10, 2006
Men Found with Prostate Cancer Rush to Judgment on
Treatment
June 26, 2006
Potential of Prostate Cancer Spread Detected Early
by New Test
June 21, 2006
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