Radiotherapy Remains Valuable Prostate Cancer Treatment

While the use of post-surgical radiation in prostate cancer treatment is on the decline evidence suggests this important procedure delivers benefits that should not be overlooked. A new study published in the journal European Urology indicates that less than 10 percent of American patients at risk for recurrence are receiving postoperative radiotherapy within six months of surgery. This is despite the fact that about 30 percent of radical prostatectomy patients develop biochemical recurrence after surgery. For those who are diagnosed with more aggressive cancers, the rate of recurrence can climb to 60 to 70 percent.

Use of immediate, or near immediate, radiotherapy has long been the focus of debate among urologists and oncologists. Two schools of thought exist in relation to the use of this therapy immediately post-surgery and the likelihood of the development of side effects such as incontinence and erectile dysfunction. Urologists have long held that holding off and taking a wait-and-see approach is the way to go, but oncologists have counseled for more swift application of radiation to ensure cancer’s eradication while lowering recurrence risks.

While these two schools of thought have existed little evidence was available to support arguments on either side of the debate. Researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, however, have stepped forward with more quantitative proof that supports immediate care. Through two separate studies, researchers found that there is no significant reduction of side effect incidence when the wait-and-see approach is taken.

Radiotherapy following radical prostatectomy might seem like an unnecessary precaution to some, but the reality is this treatment can be vital for those at greater risk for recurrence. Men who undergo radical prostatectomy should be mindful of the benefits of this potential secondary treatment and should carefully consult with their doctors for the best treatment options in their particular case. While radiotherapy can present risks, recurrences may as well, and waiting may deliver no real benefit in avoidance of potential side effects.

Is Radiation Therapy Safe?

When a doctor recommends radiation therapy to help treat cancer, there is something inherently scary about this prospect. After all, radiation therapy involves targeting doses of cell-killing radiation right at the body. The procedure is recommended since it kills cancer cells so effectively, but the reality is cells around the cancer may also be damaged in the process.

When radiation is recommended, many patients are likely to find themselves wondering if the rewards are truly worth the risks. Chances are they’re also going to wonder if radiation is truly a safe route to take.

While the prospect of radiation does sound scary, advances in treatments are enabling clinicians to more effectively kill cancer cells while avoiding as much damage to other parts of the body as possible. Radiation therapy works by damaging the DNA of cancer cells so severely that they die. The desired end result is an eradication of the cancer or a shrinking of a tumor so surgery can be performed more effectively.

Radiation isn’t without its potential side effect risks, but the reality is a number of treatment breakthroughs have made this potentially life-saving therapy safer and more effective than ever before. Here are just a few of the advancements that are making a difference:

• Better positioning for breast cancer patients – Researchers have found that having patients lie face down during treatments can dramatically reduce collateral tissue irradiated during this therapy.

 • Use of spacing material for prostate cancer – A new spacer gel injection can effectively push the rectum out of the way of radiation beams during prostate treatments. This, in turn, can lower the amounts of radiation delivered to the rectum and reduce the likelihood of side effects.

 • Better precision – New imaging techniques, including Image-Guided Radiation Therapy, are helping clinician’s better target radiation to reduce auxiliary damage.

The bottom line is radiation isn’t without its risks, but it has become safer and more effective than ever before. Anyone facing a cancer diagnosis should carefully discuss their case and recommended treatments with their doctors to devise a strategy that’s meant to kill the cancer while minimizing side effect risks inasmuch as possible. Thus radiation therapy has emerged out as one of the most reliable cancer treatment options today.

A Little ‘Me Time’ is Time Well Spent During Cancer Treatments

When it comes to cancer the old saying that the cure is worse than the disease oftentimes fits. After all, surgery, radiation and chemotherapy treatments are grueling and they can take their toll on the body, mind and spirit. Since maintaining a positive attitude in the face of it all is important for battling this disease and so are those treatments, it’s wise to take time out to recharge the batteries. A little “me time” now and again can help with not only attitude, but also fatigue, pain and a host of other symptoms that tend to go along with this condition.

Here are just a few of the little “me time” indulgences that can help make enduring cancer treatment just a bit more bearable:

• Get a massage – As long as post-surgical concerns aren’t an issue, a massage is a great way to rest, relax and let go of some of the tension that tends to go along with battling illness. Massages are also excellent for helping alleviate little muscles aches and pains that can go along with extended treatments, especially if fatigue is an issue. 
• Consider acupuncture – While this might seem like an unusual recommendation, many cancer survivors says acupuncture helps with pain management and also nausea abatement – an important consideration during chemo treatments.
•  Meditate – This peaceful act is wonderful for clearing the mind while enabling it to focus on the positive. It’s also a great way to relax and unwind. Consider basic breathing exercises to help with any anxiety-related issues. Visualization techniques can also assist with maintaining that positive attitude that’s so important for beating any illness. 
• Have fun – As impossible as this might sound, just letting go and having a good time and a good laugh can make it all more bearable. Watch a funny movie with friends or family, go for a scenic drive, take a refreshing dip in a pool – whatever makes you happy and helps you unwind.

While cancer treatments will take up much of your life for a time, they shouldn’t dominate it entirely. Take some time out to rest, relax and recharge. A little “me time” can go a long way in helping you maintain a positive outlook.

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Talking to Your Doctor about Recurrence

Cancer diagnosis begins a whirlwind journey in which the patient is focused on eradicating disease, prolonging life, and improving quality of life. The goal is always to reclaim health and we will do anything that we have to do to achieve that goal. Recurrence of cancer is not something that we think about in the beginning; we are only focused on the immediate goal right in front of us - beating cancer.

Cancer survivors, however, are straddled with the uncertainty that comes with the potential for recurrence. To manage that uncertainty - which left unchecked only serves to degrade quality of life - it’s important to talk to your doctor about the plan for life after cancer.

There are different types of recurrence and they include - local recurrence in the same place as the original diagnosis, regional recurrence in the lymph nodes connected to the original location, and distant recurrence in other parts of the body.

The risk of recurrence differs for each patient and depends on the type of cancer and the treatment the patient received. It is important to discuss the possibilities with your doctor regarding the possibility of recurrence, what to look for, and what you can potentially do to lower your risk of recurrence - including eating healthy, exercising, seeing your doctor on a regular basis for follow-up care, and having the tests that are recommended.

In the end, there’s not much that can be done to prevent recurrence other than living a healthy life. Sacrificing your health to worry about the possibilities only serves to limit your quality of life instead of living your life to the fullest. If you find yourself struggling with the uncertainty associated with recurrence - enough so that you are finding it challenging to engage in your normal activities, then it may be helpful to see a psychologist or join a support group that can help you manage these emotions.

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Cancer and Anxiety

There are so many emotions that come along with a cancer diagnosis. Obviously someone who has been diagnosed with cancer feels scared of what is to come and overwhelmed with all the information coming at them all at once. As time moves on and a treatment plan is put in place and implemented, you will find that you are firmly on your journey as a reluctant cancer patient. The dust settles a little bit and you do what you need to do on a daily basis including treatments and trying to say in your routine as much as possible. So why do you still feel so anxious?

Anxiety is often as much a part of cancer treatment as anything else. There is a huge mental component of battling cancer and people will often find themselves depressed and/or anxious throughout the process - not just in the beginning when the diagnosis is still so new. Of course these are all normal feelings and definitely to be expected. But if anxiety begins to interfere with your day-to-day life, then it’s time to consult your doctor.

Some of the signs that your anxiety may need to be medically addressed include:

•    Trouble sleeping. You may have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up in the morning. Also, if you can’t stop sleeping then it may be due to depression rather than fatigue.

•    Eating issues. If you struggling with eating and it’s not due to the nausea associated with your treatment, then it may be anxiety induced.

•    Emotions those are hard to keep in check. Crying all the time, feeling fear throughout the day, anger, and more are all a part of cancer. But if they are interfering with your life, your work, or your relationships, it may be time to seek out help.

•    Lack of desire for activities that once brought you joy. If you are feeling joyless, hopeless, or without any passion for doing anything that would otherwise make you happy, then it may be time to talk to someone.

Anxiety is normal but if you are finding it difficult to get through the day, then there is help available. Talk to your doctor about the options available; there are many that will allow you to feel more comfortable.

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Making Time for Yourself

Receiving a cancer diagnosis is certainly scary. But for many people not knowing at all is better than hearing news they are not prepared to hear. As a result, there are many people who put off going to the doctor for necessary screenings and tests because they are terrified that the doctor will find something. In the end, of course, if they DO have cancer, what would have helped the most would have been early diagnosis and treatment. In fact, in the large majority of cases, cancer responds the best to treatment that happens in the earliest stages; which makes early diagnosis critical. And in some cancers like prostate cancer, early treatment can mean complete cure. However, if you take a highly curable cancer like prostate cancer and allow it to advance, you soon have an aggressive disease on your hands that has spread to other parts of the body and now requires equally aggressive treatment.

Making time for yourself means a lot of things including eating well, exercising, finding time to do things that bring you peace and joy. But it also means making the time for yourself that allows you to manage your own healthcare. As the New Year closes in, it may be time to make the commitment to make the time for your healthcare including:

•    Scheduling a physical if you haven’t had one in some time. Most of us don’t forget to take our children to the doctors for a yearly physical. But ask most adults how long it’s been since they’ve been to the doctor for a checkup, and they will struggle with the answer. Schedule a physical that will assess your overall health and includes standard lab work.

•    Scheduling cancer screenings. For women, that means mammograms, breast ultrasounds, and a pap smear to screen for cervical cancer. For men, that means a prostate exam. And for both men and women that means a colonoscopy and skin cancer screening. All of these screenings are recommended for particular age groups so talk to your doctor about what is appropriate for you.

•    Follow up on any issues. If you’ve been struggling with a particular symptom or condition now is the time to take control. Consistent management of any health issue is crucial so make a commitment to stay on top of it this year and work with your doctor to formulate a plan.

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The Organized Cancer Patient

There is an awful lot of feeling out of control when you are diagnosed with cancer. Suddenly your body doesn’t seem like your own and things are happening to you that you are not able to stop or slow down. Your life is suddenly taken over with doctors appointments, tests, and treatment procedures that were previously nowhere in our plans. It can feel like you have been kidnapped from your own life and your own body.

That’s why it’s so important for those undergoing treatment for cancer to maintain some semblance of control of their lives and bodies. Let’s face it - there are many details to manage when you are undergoing treatment and just staying organized with everything can seem like a small feat. But maintaining this organization can also go a long way towards keeping you mentally focused and feeling like an active participant in your own life. Try these tips for staying organized during your cancer care:

•    Keep doctor appointments, tests, treatments, and other procedures on a big central calendar that can be accessed by the entire family. It can help you to organize rides if you need them, schedule other activities around your treatment, and overall keep everyone on the same page regarding what the week holds for you.

•    Go over any insurance or healthcare related paperwork once a week or every two weeks. Undergoing any type of treatment means the mail begins to come fast and furious carrying a variety of information. When you’re feeling already overwhelmed, it can be tempting to throw that mail to the side and forget about it. There’s no reason that you should have to deal with it every day but setting a schedule that you and your family members stick to regarding bills and other paperwork connected to your treatment is a good idea for staying ahead of something that can easily get out of control if it’s ignored for too long.

•    Make a meal schedule. Many people undergoing cancer treatment experience fatigue and lack of energy, as well as sickness in some cases. You’re not always going to want to eat but it’s important that you have healthy meals and snacks at the ready to keep up your energy. Talk to family members about rotating the responsibilities of the house including cleaning and cooking so that general upkeep is being managed and it’s not on one person’s shoulders.

Staying organized just requires a little extra preparation and before long - once everyone is in a routine - things will run smoothly, allowing you to focus on getting healthy.

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