A decision aid for teaching limitations of prostate cancer screening.

There is minimal research regarding men's knowledge of the limitations of prostate cancer screening. This study measured knowledge of prostate cancer screening based on exposure to one of two decision aids that were related to prostate cancer screening (enhanced versus usual care). The sample consisted primarily of low income (54%) African-American men (81%) (n=230).

Assessment of American urologists' approach to hormonal management of prostate cancer.

Objectives: To examine how American urologists are treating patients with prostate cancer who may benefit from hormonal therapy. Hormonal therapy has been shown to improve survival in patients with prostate cancer in an increasing number of clinical situations.

Methods: Questionnaires consisting of four case scenarios were sent to 1000 randomly selected American urologists.

A critical review of maximal androgen blockade for advanced prostate cancer.

For over 60 years, the primary treatment for metastatic prostate cancer has been androgen ablation. Medical or surgical castration eliminates most, but not all androgen production, with a small contribution still coming from the adrenal gland. When castration fails, secondary adrenalectomy can provide some palliative benefit.

Maximum androgen blockade: a clinical update.

Maximal androgen blockade (MAB) therapy for metastatic prostate cancer has advanced in recent years with the discovery of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists (LHRH), the development of LHRH analogues, and the discovery of antiandrogens. Of 36 studies of MAB therapy performed from 1980 to 1991, 3 showed a statistically significant increase in survival with MAB versus castration alone. Because of the large number of studies showing no benefit from MAB, a meta-analysis was performed on 27 studies.

[Usefulness and positioning of MAB therapy for prostate cancer].

Prostate cancer is a relatively slow-growing disease compared to other cancers, and the patients tend to be older. Taking into consideration therefore life expectancy of the patients and risks of recurrence and progression, conservative treatments (mainly hormonal therapy) are often applied for early cases, as well as radical treatments (total prostatectomy and radiotherapy). Particularly in Japan, many patients start treatment with hormonal therapy alone, in both early and advanced cases.

Critical review of complementary therapies for prostate cancer.

Despite its prominence as the most frequently diagnosed solid tumor among men in the United States, relatively little is known about the etiology of prostate cancer. Furthermore, research into treatment strategies for prostate cancer continues to lag behind research for the other most common cancers. At the same time, however, the popularity of complementary therapies among prostate cancer patients continues to grow.

Attitudes and use of complementary medicine in men with prostate cancer.

Purpose: Patients with cancer are increasingly incorporating complementary therapies into the overall treatment. We determine the prevalence and patterns of use of complementary therapies among patients with prostate cancer.

Materials And Methods: Patients attending 6 urology institutions for prostate cancer management completed a self-administered questionnaire on complementary therapy.