I am 72 years old and have a rising PSA after radiation was given to me 2 years ago. Am I a good candidate for intermittent hormonal blockade?
Patients who have a lot of disabling or uncomfortable side effects from continuous hormonal therapy and who have a low metastatic load—that is, not a lot of cancer—are reasonable patients for this technique. Patients who have PSA rising only after radiation or radical prostatectomy, or who have either failed, refused, or are not candidates for a salvage procedure are possibly good patients for this approach. Several recent randomized trials have demonstrated similar times to progression and overall survival in men treated with intermittent androgen blockade compared to those treated with continuous blockade, with similar or less toxicity in intermittently treated patients. The completion and analysis of the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) intermittent therapy trial will help to provide the definitive answer to the applicability of intermittent androgen blockade.
Patients who have a lot of disabling or uncomfortable side effects from continuous hormonal therapy and who have a low metastatic load—that is, not a lot of cancer—are reasonable patients for this technique. Patients who have PSA rising only after radiation or radical prostatectomy, or who have either failed, refused, or are not candidates for a salvage procedure are possibly good patients for this approach. Several recent randomized trials have demonstrated similar times to progression and overall survival in men treated with intermittent androgen blockade compared to those treated with continuous blockade, with similar or less toxicity in intermittently treated patients. The completion and analysis of several ongoing trials will help to provide the definitive answer to the applicability of intermittent androgen blockade.
Related Questions
- I remember reading a really good Alias fic a few months ago, but can recall where it was archived! Are there some good Alias archives youd recommend I check to see if its housed there?
- Im a 70-year-old man who has been told by my doctor that my PSA is now rising 3 years after my radiation for prostate cancer. Should I begin hormonal treatments sooner or later?
- Is Duffield Still Good Law, Given Intervening Supreme Court Precedent?
