MEDIWATCH: April 2010

Monday, 26 April 2010

NEWS-Week Ending 2nd May

Risk For Prostate Cancer Increases With The Number Of Affected Family Members Germany-26th April

Wednesday, 21 April 2010

April-Music,Film and the odd joke spot.

Was it that long ago? Splendiferous weekend.

Hosted by the Prostate Cancer Foundation, this recent roundtable discussion among top experts addressed the growing controversy around PSA testing in men and provided clarity around what is currently the best available first-use tool in the process of diagnosing prostate cancer. The panel discussed who should be getting the PSA test, and what men and their physicians should know about using and interpreting results. The panel also previewed promising blood and urine tests still in development that may ultimately replace PSA testing and lead to more targeted treatment of aggressive prostate cancers.

Moving Beyond the PSA Debate, Part 1 from PCF on Vimeo.

Moving Beyond the PSA Debate, Part 2 from PCF on Vimeo.

Moving Beyond the PSA Debate, Part 3 from PCF on Vimeo.

Background
With research divided on the value of PSA testing, many men and their physicians are unclear on when or whether to get tested, and how they can protect their health. Experts estimate that overtreatment of prostate cancer costs $3 billion each year in the United States and takes a significant toll on men who experience side-effects from treatment. As our nation looks to reduce costs and improve the delivery of healthcare, leaders in the prostate cancer field are working to find ways to “overtreat less, and cure more” and are looking to genetics-, blood- and urine- based testing to replace PSA testing. Sustained research funding is critical to bringing these targeted tests to men and their physicians.

Monday, 19 April 2010

PCF Roundtable Addresses PSA Testing Controversy

April 19, 2010 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Prostate Cancer Foundation Roundtable Addresses PSA Testing Controversy

Panel to Give Clear Guidance to Men and Their Physicians on How to Use the PSA Test;

Experts Will Highlight Novel Tests That May Avoid Overtreatment

--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Prostate Cancer Foundation:

What:
This roundtable discussion among top experts will address the growing controversy around prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing in men. The panel will clear up confusion about who should be getting the PSA test, and what men and their physicians should know about using and interpreting results. The panel will also preview promising blood and urine tests still in development that may ultimately replace PSA testing and lead to more targeted treatment of aggressive prostate cancers.

Why:
With research divided on the value of PSA testing, many men and their physicians are unclear on when or whether to get tested, and how men can protect their health. Experts estimate that overtreatment of prostate cancer costs $3 billion each year in the United States and takes a significant toll on men who experience side-effects from treatment. Leaders in the prostate cancer field are working to find ways to “overtreat less, and cure more” and are looking to genetics-based testing to replace PSA testing. Sustained research funding is critical to bringing these targeted tests to men and their physicians.

Who:
Hosted by the Prostate Cancer Foundation, this roundtable will include:

•Ward “Trip” Casscells, M.D., Retired Assistant Secretary of Defense, and Professor of Medicine and Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center
•Jonathan W. Simons, M.D., CEO, Prostate Cancer Foundation
•Stuart Holden, M.D., Director of the Louis Warschaw Prostate Cancer Center, Cedars Sinai Medical Center
•Robert Getzenberg, Ph.D., Research Director, Johns Hopkins University Medical Center
•Stanley Frencher, M.D., M.P.H., UCLA and The Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program
•Leo Giambarresi, M.D., Director of Research at the American Urological Association Foundation
•Richard Steele, Prostate Cancer Survivor and Radio Host, Chicago Public Radio
Where:
Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2247
50 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, DC

When:
Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Prostate Cancer Foundation Roundtable Addresses PSA Testing Controversy

The Prostate Cancer Foundation Website

Australian Medical Journal

This article was highlighted by the very informative "The "New" Prostate Cancer InfoLink":

Med J Aust. 2010 Apr 5;192(7):393-6.

It's time to depolarise the unhelpful PSA-testing debate and put into practice lessons from the two major international screening trials.
Denham JW, Bender R, Paradice WE.

Prostate Cancer Trials Group, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia. jim.denham@newcastle.edu.au.

Abstract
Two recently reported large-scale trials conducted in the United States and western Europe have provided evidence that coordinated screening programs will not reduce mortality in countries or regions where prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing is already highly prevalent, but will reduce mortality in places where PSA testing prevalence is low. The trials also produce evidence that coordinated screening will cause over-diagnosis and over-treatment. The instigation of a national screening program should be delayed until a more specific marker for aggressive disease than PSA level becomes available. In the meantime, results of the two trials can be used to inform the development of regional testing policies in Australia. These policies should encourage regular PSA testing in regions with low testing prevalence, but must also embrace methods of dealing with over-diagnosis and over-treatment. "Active surveillance" programs (whereby men with early-stage cancers are monitored regularly by PSA testing and digital rectal examinations) and development of counselling services should be encouraged.

PMID: 20367587 [PubMed - in process]

It's time to depolarise the unhelpful PSA-testing debate and put into practice lessons from the two major international screening trials.

And from "The "New" Prostate Cancer InfoLink":

Some common sense about prostate cancer screening … from Australia
Posted on April 19, 2010 by Sitemaster

A new article in the Australian Medical Journal is titled, “It’s time to depolarise the unhelpful PSA-testing debate and put into practice lessons from the two major international screening trials.” We think this article makes a lot of sense.
After summarizing the key data from the PCLO trial and the ERPC trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine last year, Denham et al. make some forthright comments and suggestions. Obviously their comments are specific to the situation in Australia, but they also offer food for the rest of us to think about:

•The application of true national screening programs should be delayed until a more specific marker for aggressive prostate cancer is available.
•Data from the PCLO and ERPC trials can and should be used to “inform the development of regional testing policies.”
•Such “regional testing policies” should encourage the regular use of PSA testing in regions (and among population groups) where testing prevalence has historically been low, but must also embrace methods of dealing with the risks associated with over-diagnosis and over-treatment.
•“Active surveillance” programs (whereby men with early-stage and relatively low-risk cancers are monitored regularly by PSA testing and digital rectal examinations) and development of counseling services should be encouraged.

The “New” Prostate Cancer InfoLink strongly endorses this mindset. What the authors are saying is simple: “Don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater, but also don’t pretend that the problems defined by the two major screening trials (and which all knowledgeable clinicians and prostate cancer advocates are well aware of) don’t exist and have serious ramifications.”

Some common sense about prostate cancer screening … from Australia

NEWS-Week Ending 25th April(Updated-7 Posts)

Experts To Men: Controversy Aside, PSA Test Can Still Save Your Life USA-25th April

The Prostate Cancer Charity comments on new research which suggests that men in deprived areas are less likely to be treated for prostate cancer UK-23rd April

Scotland Rugby League to help tackle prostate cancer UK-23rd April

San Francisco firefighters: Increased risk for bladder cancer – Testing underway USA-20th April

Alan Shearer backs Sir John's brave cancer battle UK-20th April

Smooth Radio DJ,Mark Goodier-London Marathon for The Prostate Cancer Charity UK-20th April

One-stop prostate assessment clinic launched in Droitwich UK-19th April

Thursday, 15 April 2010

NEWS-Week Ending 18th April(Updated-2 Posts)

Warrington worst in North West for prostate cancer deaths UK-15th April

Expert urges men to take prostate cancer check-up UK-15th April

Wednesday, 7 April 2010

Mediwatch Distributors-South Korea

Himed Co. Ltd of South Korea now have a website,I haven't looked for a while so the site may be about six months old.

Himed Mediwatch Product Page

I will of course add this company to the main page found within the month of April 2009 under Distributors for Mediwatch Products