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Robotic surgery promises greater precision, less blood loss

The reason robotics really took off was the blood loss. A traditional “open” pelvic surgery uses 2 liters of blood (approximately one-half gallon) versus 100 cubic centimeters (approximately 3 ounces) for the minimally invasive, robotically assisted surgery. Once, during a particularly difficult open surgery, he saw a patient require 22 liters of blood.

In addition to reducing blood loss, the system reduces recovery time, pain and trauma by minimizing the number and size of the incisions needed for the surgery.

Gold coils could be used in the fight against prostate cancer

Doctors led by one of Indian-origin are arming themselves with a precious new weapon in the fight against prostate cancer - gold coils.

Gold coils are being used to target radiotherapy more accurately, intensifying the effect of the treatment on the prostate and preventing damage to nearby organs such as the bowel or bladder.

Around six of the coils, which are 1cm to 2cm long and cost 80-100 pounds each, are inserted in the prostate prior to treatment.

Gold is used because it shows up on scans and few people are allergic to it. Once fitted, the coils stay in the prostate for life.

Will active surveillance save us money in management of prostate cancer?

From a health economics point of view, prostate cancer costs a lot of money every year - because a lot of men get diagnosed and treated. However, data on the cost-effectiveness of active surveillance compared to immediate treatment are still few and far between.

On the other hand, a recent study does show that significant economic savings may be available if appropriate men diagnosed with low- and very-low risk prostate cancer are initially managed with active surveillance as opposed to being rushed to the operating room or the radiation suite.

‘Natural formula’ offers hope to treat prostate cancer

A recent study suggests an all-natural, doctor-designed formula that combines botanical extracts, phytonutrients, botanically enhanced medicinal mushrooms, and antioxidants shows promise to fight aggressive prostate cancer tumours.
Researchers say study results, demonstrate the significant effects of the formula in suppressing the proliferation and metastasis of human hormone refractory (androgen independent) prostate cancer cells.

In addition, the toxicology analysis proved that this formula is non-toxic and poses no risk of side effects.

First genetic mutation linked to an inherited form of prostate cancer

According to University of North Carolina researchers, the mutation is significantly more common in men with a family history of prostate cancer that strikes at an earlier age, compared to older patients with no family history.While more study is needed, scientists hope the finding could lead to genetic tests for men at high risk for prostate cancer, raising new hope of one day improving early screening for the disease.

Researchers said the mutation appears only in a small subset of prostate cancer patients, but those who inherited it showed 10 to 20 times higher risk of developing prostate cancer, particularly before age 55.

For some prostate cancers, waiting beats treatment

If lung cancer is like a fast-moving wildfire, prostate cancer is like a slow-moving sloth. About 30% of men over age 50, and about 70% of men over age 70, have at some cancerous cells in their prostate glands. Yet most of them die from something else, and never know about these cells.
Recently, a panel of experts convened by the National Institutes of Health recommended that many men with localized, low-risk prostate cancer be closely monitored, and that treatment be delayed until there was evidence that the disease was progressing.

Researchers find familial prostate cancer gene mutation

A new study at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine has found that men who inherit a rare genetic mutation are 10 to 20 times more likely than average to develop prostate cancer. The gene variant may help explain cases of the disease that run in families and strike men at unusually young ages.

The mutation accounts for only about 1 percent of all prostate cancers. But studying it might help scientists understand the disease in general and find better treatments.

Robot-assisted surgery is not necessarily better than open surgery

A new study just published in the Journal of Clincial Oncology pretty much compared the risks of problems with continence and sexual function after robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) and open radical prostatectomy among Medicare-eligible men.
The results of the study showed that risks of problems with continence and sexual function are high after both (RALP and open surgery). Medicare-age men should not expect fewer adverse effects following robotic prostatectomy. Study suggesgt that despite men may have higher expectation of the quality of their outcome after RALP, a poor surgeon with access to a robot is still a poor surgeon.

Patient satisfaction after first-line treatment for localized prostate cancer

A new article in the journal Anticancer Research suggests that patients had greater satisfaction after modern forms of external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) than after some other standard forms of first-line treatment. Of course the absolute truth of this conclusion may be affected by the details of the study.

However, experts suggest that we interpret these data with caution, although it should be said that they do demonstrate a clear trend toward greater satisfaction with EBRT and brachytherapy than with surgery or hormone therapy.

Proton therapy safer and more effective against prostate cancer

Two new studies have claimed proton therapy, a type of external beam radiation therapy, is a safe and effective treatment for prostate cancer.

The study has been published in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology-Biology-Physics (Red Journal). (ANI)