Prostate Cancer Canada Network

In The News

Well-Done Meat Consumption May Increase Prostate Cancer Risk
Research into the dietary habits of about a thousand men from the Cleveland area has found that a high consumption of meats, especially of red meat prepared by grilling, is positively associated with an increased risk of developing aggressive prostate cancer. This particular study, which was led by Dr. John Witte of the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), has a number of limitations, but it does add support to other investigations connecting meat consumption with cancer risk.

Toronto researchers speculate regarding a link between prostate cancer and oral contraceptive use
Very preliminary and speculative research, designed to spark further inquires, suggests that there may be a connection between oral contraceptive use and rising rates of prostate cancer. One theory is that the widespread use of birth-control pills in various populations may result in a higher level of estrogen in the environment, which might, in turn, increase prostate cancer risk.

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Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a systemic or system-wide treatment that uses medication to destroy cancer cells. Unfortunately, these drugs also affect healthy cells, especially cells that multiply quickly, such as blood cells. Healthy cells, however, do have the capability of regenerating whereas cancer cells do not.

Chemotherapy is usually given intravenously (through the vein), but some chemotherapy drugs can be delivered in pill form as well.

Usually, chemotherapy is used to treat a recurrence of prostate cancer or metastatic prostate cancer that is resistant to hormone therapy. (See hormone resistant or hormone refractory prostate cancer.) In other words, chemotherapy is traditionally the treatment of choice when other local and systemic treatments have failed to cure or control prostate cancer. Some clinical trials, however, are investigating whether administering chemotherapy at earlier stages of the disease may be beneficial. Still, chemotherapy does not provide a cure, and it is used today mainly to slow the prostate cancer's spread, to prolong life, and to relieve the pain associated with the late stages of this disease. New chemotherapy drugs are being produced and tested constantly, and old ones are being used in different ways. The future may provide better options for men with recurrent prostate cancer that no longer responds to hormone treatment.

BENEFITS AND SIDE EFFECTS

Benefits

Some chemotherapy drugs can slow down the progress of prostate cancer and prolong life for a short while.
Chemotherapy can relieve or prevent some of the pain caused when cancer spreads.

Side Effects
Because blood cells multiply quickly, they are affected by chemotherapy, which targets fast growing cells. Consequently, men undergoing chemotherapy experience decreased white and red blood cells and decreased platelets. These low blood counts can make men on chemotherapy more prone to infections, tired and perhaps anemic, and more prone to bleeding and bruising. Men will have regular blood tests before chemotherapy, and, if their blood counts are too low, they will not receive treatment. Also, chemotherapy patients are asked to watch for infections by monitoring their temperatures and reporting any sores that do not heal.

Men on chemotherapy may also experience a thinning or loss of hair.
Sometimes, the drugs cause nausea, vomiting, or cramps. Medication is available that usually prevents this side effect.
Food may taste differently, and you may develop mouth sores. Special mouthwash can help minimize this side effect if you experience it.

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