Diacor News and Opinion

Researchers from UCLA have discovered that the growth of prostate cancer cells slowed down in men that ate a low-fat diet supplemented with fish oils, compared with men who ate a Western diet which was high in fat. Men who ate the low-fat diet for four to six weeks before their prostate removal had a significantly lower growth rate of their prostate cancer cells. Researchers also found that men who ate the low-fat diet were able to alter their cell membranes in both healthy and cancerous cells. However, further tests were needed. To view the abstract and purchase the full article, please click here.

According to a University of Rochester analysis, men age 75 and older are diagnosed with late stage and more aggressive forms of cancer more often than younger men, leading to more deaths. This study is relevant in light of the findings of a government panel which determined that healthy men 50 and older should not be routinely tested for prostate cancer because the test does not save lives and can lead to over-treatment. To view the abstract and gain access to the article, please click here.

September is National Prostate Awareness month, and United States President Barack Obama has issued a statement on the topic. More than 240,000 males will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year. He encourages all men, particularly those at a higher risk for cancer, to talk with their doctors about how they can reduce their chances of getting prostate cancer. For a link to the statement, please click here.

According to a new study published in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology•Biology•Physics, adding hormone therapy to radiation therapy for men with intermediate and high risk prostate cancer can reduce the overall survival rate of men. Researchers found that over a span of 5 years, men with heart conditions who received hormone therapy had a 31.8% mortality rate, compared to the 19.5% mortality rate of those who did not receive hormone therapy. For more information, please click here.

In a new study published in the ACS Journal Analytical Chemistry, researchers have found that the common PSA blood test for prostate cancer can also be used to detect breast cancer in women. Scientists have found that the prostate specific antigen measured in the test is also a biomarker for breast cancer in women. However, levels of PSA in health women are very small, so ultra-sensitive tests are needed. For more information, please visit the ACS Journal's website at pubs.acs.org.

In a recent study in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association of Cancer Research, researchers found that men who took part in brisk walking could delay or even prevent progression of their disease. However, men who walked at a quicker pace for three hours a week were found to have a larger benefit than those who walked at a slower pace for less than three hours a week. To see the full article, please visit http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/.

Researchers at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, will present a poster at this year's American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting noting that from their observations, breast and prostate cancer patients who regularly exercise during and after cancer treatment report having a better quality of life and being less fatigued.  According to Dr. Walker, Division Director of Breast Services in the Department of Radiation Oncology, "using exercise as an approach to cancer care has the potential to benefit patients both physically and psychologically, as well as mitigate treatment side effects." 

The abstract of the study is available online at http://www.ASCO.org.