Wellness Corner

Prostate cancer is the second leading cancer among men in terms of both how common it is (second only to skin cancer) and how fatal it is (second only to lung cancer). There had been some hope that a form of hormone replacement therapy could be used to reduce the threat of prostate cancer but a new study now shows that this particular form of treatment appears to be unsuccessful for the treatment of this disease.

"Although not standard or sanctioned by major groups or guidelines, an increasing number of clinicians and patients have turned to primary androgen deprivation therapy (PADT) as an alternative to surgery, radiation, or conservative management, especially among older men." (source)

The new study now indicates that moving forward with this form of alternative treatment for prostate cancer in aging men is not the best course of action. For the time being this means a return to the more common methods of treatment including surgery or radiation. Additional studies completed in the future could provide a more comprehensive solution to prostate cancer treatment which may include some alternative form of hormone replacement therapy.

Question of the Day: Why doesn't hormone replacement therapy work as a treatment for prostate cancer in aging men?

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