Vol. 2, No. 4

April 2003

Jerry Bylander, Editor  jerryby@texoma.net

FEATURE ARTICLES

The Managing Director's Column
To our members and friends:  I prepared for radiation therapy for advanced CaP by reviewing  the medical records from my prostatectomy.  I did this in cooperation with my oncologist.  The operation was done in Houston five years ago.  I was told before the operation that my spring biopsy showed an aggressive cancer with undifferentiated nuclei.  This pathology seemed to me suggest a Gleason Score of 9 or 10.  Afterwards I was told that my cancer was within the margins and and there was none in the lymph nodes.  Three years later, I was told that my cancer was in the seminal vesicles, and, in my doctor's experience, always spread.  When I asked about my Gleason Score, he told me that we had the pathology results from the actual organ and didn't need the Score.  I have plotted my PSA since the operation and it has doubled every year from about 0.03 ng/ml (or whatever the units are) to its present 1.5.  At our year ago March US Too! Texoma meeting, the speaker insisted  that I start radiation right away, but the MDA protocol suggested waiting until my November 2002 visit.  Then I learned at the November visit that they had changed the protocol, and I should have had radiation 2 years before.  Anyway, reviewing  this week, my MDA records dated February 1967, I found my Gleason Score recorded as 7 (4+3) and that the cancer had invaded the lower colon.  It was also in the vesicles.  I am now doing radiation of the bed.  What is to be learned from this?  I think first, that prostate cancer research and associated treatments are rapidly advancing.  What is best practice changes frequently today in the light of new research.  Secondly, that one should try to review his* personal records with his oncologist.  Third, since I had used a local doctor for various blood tests and checkups in cooperation with MDA, I probably should have had him get my records, and then reviewed them with him as an alternative.  I know it is difficult to closely question your doctor, but if one is tactful, it is possible.  It's your life.  I hope the above suggests some ways in which you can help him with your treatment.

*  "His" used rather than a nonsexist term since only men have prostates.  
Remember you are an important part of our support group. USTOO! Texoma
needs you.
See you at our next meeting.

Dr. Jerry Bylander, Managing Director, USToo! Texoma

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Next Meeting


"Understanding how our new modulated beam x-ray machine can help with your cancer therapy"

Tuesday Evening, March 18, 2003
TMC Munson Cancer Center
Denison, Texas

6:30 PM - Social & Coffee
7:00 PM - Program

Speaker:   William J. Hittson, M.D.  TMC, Denison

TMC has just received a new modulated beam x-ray machine.  The addition of modulation to radiation treatment of cancer can reduce tissue damage away from the cancer.  Dr. Hittson will fill us in on how we can benefit from this machine which is one of only two in Texas.*  He will also answer your questions about therapy choices and their prognosis.  At the end he will take a few minutes  to discuss what prostate cancer treatments he sees coming down the pike.  He will remain afterwards to discuss your particular questions.  Members who have had radiation, brachiotomy, or radical prostatectomy will be on hand to discuss their outcomes with you.

Speaker: Dr. Hittson did his residency at UTMC Galveston    He is well qualified to discuss the applications of  TMC's  radiology systems.

*  The other is at MD Anderson Cancer Clinic; another is to be installed at the Sherman Branch of Texas Cancer Center shortly.

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Last Meeting  "What are  your  questions and  Concerns  About  Prostate  Cancer?"
Date & Time: Tuesday, March 18,  2003, 7:00 PM
Place: Wilson N. Jones, North Senior Health Center
Attendance: Est. 10 attendees


Old Business

None.

New Business

 None.

Program:   "What are  your  questions and  Concerns  About  Prostate  Cancer?"

Dr. Michael Hilz, Urologist, (New address) 300 N. Highland, Sherman

Speaker:  Dr. Hilz is board certified by the American Board of Urology.  He received his MD and did his Residency at UTMD-Galveston.   He is well qualified to discuss your options.

Program:  This meeting was in the nature of a personal doctor's visit where Dr. Hilz  answered our specific questions about prostate cancer, therapy choices and their prognosis.  He also answered our questions about therapy choices and their prognosis.  A number of our members also discussed their therapies and outcomes.

The meeting adjourned about 9 PM.

Henri Plunkett, Program Chair/by the Editor

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Other Important Events
The Surprise Challenge, the fourth annual "Move it For Dad" benefit for prostate cancer awareness, Sat, October 4, 2003, Sun City Grand Surprise, AZ, $15 registration. More info: www.sw-prostatecancer.com

Your organization's meetings listed here.  Contact the Editor at jerryby@texoma.net

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Editor's Notes

Random thoughts from your editor

This month's contributions are from Program Chair and Board Member Henri Plunkett

TESTOSTERONE THERAPY REVERSES PROSTATE GROWTH, LOWERS PSA

LATEST FINDINGS ON VITAMIN E MAY AID RADIATION THERAPY

NEWS YOU CAN USE

TESTOSTERONE THERAPY REVERSES PROSTATE GROWTH, LOWERS PSA

There has been controversy as to whether testosterone replacement therapy in aging men might cause prostate disease.  Critics point to the fact that high levels of a testosterone metabolite (DHT) causes increased prostate gland growth and might increase prostate cancer risk.  On the other side of the argument is the fact that aging men have very low levels of testosterone, but epidemic rates of benign prostate enlargement and prostate cancer.  A study published earlier this year [Int J Androl 2002 Apr 25(2):119-25] helps validate this position.  The study was based on the observations that the gradual decrease in testosterone levels in middle-aged and older men coincides with increases in the abnormal growth of the prostate gland.  The study examined 207 middle-aged and older men who had clinical symptoms of age related testosterone deficiency.  The patients were divided into two groups, one treated with daily doses of 80 milligrams of oral testosterone therapy, while the other received 120 milligrams each day.  The patients were then examined for prostate enlargement, as well as a various hormone levels.  In response to testosterone therapy, levels of lutenizing hormome (LH) were noticeably lower in all patients in the first group, and most in the second group. The explanation for this is that the pituitary gland releases LH to prompt the testes to produce testosterone.  When there is a deficiency of testosterone in the blood, the pituitary pumps out large amounts of LH in a futile attempt to stimulate late hormone production.  One of the benefits of testosterone therapy is to reduce excess secretion of LH. In this latest study, scientists have found that prostate gland growth was reduced or reversed, and that PSA levels declined in testosterone-supplemented men whose LH levels were also lowered.  These findings suggest that testosterone [therapy] in middle aged and older aged men with some clinical features of age-related androgen deficiency can retard or reverse prostate growth......... reference at the MALE HORMONE MODULATION protocol located at www.lef.org.

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 LATEST FINDINGS ON VITAMIN E MAY AID RADIATION THERAPY

According to an article in the January 2003 issue of Life Extension, 
scientists have discovered that vitamin E may help ease the side effects 
of radiation therapy for cancer patients, while bolstering the 
sensitivity of cancer cells undergoing this type of treatment.  They 
state that in a recent study [J Am Coll Nutr 2002 Aug 21(4):339-43], 
researchers compared the effect of d-alpha-tocopheryl succinate (vitamin 
E) in easing the cellular damage induced by radiation in both normal and 
cancer cells.  The scientists treated three normal human fibroblast cell 
lines in vitro, as well as three human cancer cell lines for several 
hours before radiation exposure.

It was determined that similar levels of vitamin E enhanced chromosomal 
damage caused by the radiation in both the cervical cancer and ovarian 
cancer cells, but not in the normal cells.  These findings suggest that 
Vitamin E  may enhance the effectiveness of radiation therapy for cancer 
patients, while protecting normal cells from the toxicity that also 
results.

A German study was also cited [BR J Cancer 2001 Jan 5 84 (1): 
87-9], the researchers even made the suggestion that Vitamin E may be a 
powerful cancer preventive because it helps inhibit the explosive 
cellular growth that accompanies cancer.  Other experts sited [Free 
Radic Biol Med 1996; 22 (7): 1145-51] suspect that the efficacy of 
vitamin E in stalling cancer cell growth does not lay in its antioxidant 
properties, but instead may be related to one of its roles within these 
cancer cells, such as the regulation of enzymes involved in cellular growth.
The use of antioxidants during cancer radiation therapy remains 
controversial, but Life Extension will be publishing an in-depth report 
on the subject very soon.- John Martin, Life Extension, Jan.2003.  
This is a new development worthy of our close attention.  Adjuvant 
therapies are primarily andogen deprivation; I think this information is 
useful in the setting of our April's meeting at TMC on the study of IMRT 
radiation therapy given by Dr. Hittson.

Henri Plunkett

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News You Can Use

You can find news you can use at the USToo International web site: http://www.ustoo.org/.  Check it out for the latest references.

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Jerry Bylander - Newsletter Editor

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