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Prostate Cancer Patients, Keep Taking Your Anticoagulants

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 16:02:32 +0000

Here's some exciting (if preliminary) news from a big study conducted by the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, reported by Reuters:

Prostate cancer patients who had been treated with either surgery or radiation, and who took aspirin or other anticoagulant drugs such as warfarin, were far less likely to die of cancer, the researchers said.

Those who took the drugs had a 4 percent risk of dying from prostate cancer after 10 years, compared to 10 percent for men who did not take anticoagulants.

Men with high-risk prostate cancer benefited the most, the researchers said ahead of an American Society for Radiation Oncology meeting, which starts next week in San Diego.

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Choe's team looked at a study of 5,275 men whose cancer had not spread beyond the prostate gland. Of the men, 1,982 were taking anticoagulants.

Those taking aspirin or other drugs to reduce clotting were far less likely to have the prostate tumors pop up elsewhere in their bodies and were less likely to die, Choe's team said in materials published ahead of the meeting.

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Does Cancer Affect Testosterone Levels in Men?

Tue, 26 Oct 2010 15:58:52 +0000

It's been known for a while that hormone levels drop in women treated for cancer. Now a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology is showing similar effects in older men. MSNBC Health reports:

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Lots of Useful Info on Prostate Surgery

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 11:53:58 +0000

Jennifer Heisler, the About.com Guide to Surgery, just put up some terrific articles about prostate surgery. Take a look for detailed information on the types, risks, results, and side effects of prostate surgery, as well as answers to frequently asked questions. Tell us what you think.

Female to Male HIV Transmission Higher During Pregnancy

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 19:47:23 +0000

Studies have clearly shown that pregnant women are at an increased risk for HIV infection. Now, a new study shows that men are at a higher risk of HIV infection from a woman if she is pregnant. A study out of the University of Washighton in Seattle and presented at the International Microbicides Conference reveals that because of biological changes of the female body during pregnancy, pregnant women are more infectious than if they were not pregnant. Over a thousand couples in which the male was HIV positive and over 2200 couples in which the female was positive were studied over a two year period. The results showed that both male to female and female to male transmission were increased during pregnancy. This fact is important because in many couples condom use during pregnancy is not seen as necessary because the female is already pregnant. This type of thinking could lead to an increase in new infections over the course of time.

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Hip Pain - Should You Be Concerned?

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 08:20:48 +0000

LT had no idea that the mild pain in his left leg was something to be concerned about. It started innocently enough. Some vague discomfort in the left leg, especially in the groin area. Later, the pain became a bit more severe and started to involve the hip. Soon walking became difficult and the pain became unbearable. That's when LT decided to see his doctor. After a battery of tests LT was told he had a degenerative bone and vascular disease of the hip known as avascular necrosis or AVN. What is AVN and how is it treated? Let's examine this problem a little closer.

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Understanding AIDS Phobia

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:57:04 +0000

There are two diseases that strike fear in most everyone; "cancer," and "AIDS." And that fear is completely rational and understandable. But in the matter of AIDS, what happens if that fear takes control of your life? What if you fear the possibility of being infected with HIV so much you are unable to go on with your day to day life? When you fear the potential of infection or fear that you have already been infected even in the face of a handful of negative HIV tests, you may be suffering from a real condition called AIDS phobia. After 14 years of caring for people living with HIV and counseling those who think they have been infected, I've seen that AIDS phobia is real and have also seen how people can better manage their fears.

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Erectile dysfunction may predict cardiac events

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 10:05:42 +0000

A recent study published in the journal Circulation found patients with erectile dysfunction (ED) who were treated with telmisartan, ramipril, or both were at greater risk for cardiovascular events than other patients on the same medications.

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Senators Ask FDA to Rethink Ban on Gay Men Blood Donation

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 12:57:20 +0000

A group of US Senators led by Senator John Kerry, is urging the Food and Drug Administration to lift the ban preventing gay men from donating blood. The ban was put into place at the height of the HIV scare at a time when the disease was not well understood and the technology to detect HIV in donated blood was just not reliable. The thought behind the ban was that even though donated blood and blood donors are tested, those people who are infected but have yet to develop HIV antibodies could get by the screening system allowing HIV contaminated blood to enter the national blood supply. This along with the increased probability that a gay man would have been exposed to HIV led the FDA to ban gay men from donating. People opposed to the ban argue the technology is more advanced and the screening techniques much more accurate. The FDA however argues that even straight people are required ti wait a year after having sex with a prostitute before they can donate. The group of Senators hope that the national donated blood shortage will push the FDA into easing the gay donation ban. Time will tell.

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FDA approves generic version of Flomax

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 10:31:56 +0000

Men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) will soon have a cheaper option for treating the condition.

The FDA has approved the first generic version of Flomax (tamsulosin). The generic drug works the same as the brand name, and has similar potential side effects, such as kidney problems, decreased libido, diarrhea, and more.

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Happiness is good for the heart

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:12:25 +0000

Don't worry, be happy!

According to a recently released study in the European Heart Journal found people with positive personality traits like happiness, contentment and enthusiasm had a ...

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