*******************

February 2007                                           NEWSLETTER

                                                                                                                                                      Howard Waage  (688-0423) ----Editor

******************************

Dr. Larry Lachman will speak at our February Meeting !!!!

      We are honored to have Dr. Larry Lachman, a Licensed Clinical Psychologist speak to our support group. Dr. Lachman himself is a cancer survivor having been diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1997 at the young age of 39.  He is a therapist who specializes in working with cancer patients and their families and his specialty is "psycho-social oncology," This is the field of study that focuses on how a diagnosis of cancer impacts a patient and his/her family emotionally and socially. It also examines how emotions and behaviors affect the course of cancer and its treatment.

Where:   Our meeting will be in the Bennett & Suzy Katz Cancer Resource Center on the 2nd Floor of the

                two-story redwood Education Building behind Santa Cruz Dominican Hospital.

When:   Tuesday, February 27th, 2007 7:00 PM  For more information: Please call-The Bennett and Suzy

               Katz Cancer Resource Center at Dominican Hospital (831) 462-7770

SUPPORT GROUP FOR MEN WITH ADVANCED PROSTATE CANCER

The Advanced support group is for men diagnosed with prostate cancer which has spread outside the prostate or who have experienced a recurrence after primary treatment. Our purpose is to address the special problems and issues of men with advanced prostate cancer.  This group meets every TWO months on the second Monday of the month, at the Katz Cancer Resource Center at Dominican Hospital. If you have any questions, please contact Julie Batz at 724-2701. Refreshments provided. 2007 MEETING DATES: MONDAY, 5 – 7PM  February 12th

SUPPORT GROUP FOR WIVES & PARTNERS OF MEN WITH PROSTATE CANCER

This group is for women to share information with each other, learn more about prostate cancer, and how to cope with the impact of the disease individually and within the family in a supportive, caring and confidential environment. This group meets every TWO months on the second Monday of the month. (same time as the men’s Advanced Prostate Cancer Meeting). For more info or questions, contact Julie Batz at 724-2701. 2006 MEETING DATES: MONDAY,

5 – 7PM February 12th. Katz Resource Center Rm. E (upstairs) - Refreshments provided.

….PROSTATE CANCER IN THE NEWS..…

Prostate Cancer Experts Against Overtreatment  By Rebecca Vesely

SAN FRANCISCO-January 13, 2007 -- Over-diagnosis and over-treatment of men with early prostate cancer prompted an international meeting of experts Friday and today to address what some in the field are calling a crisis in care. "In the context of industrialized medicine, this is a very big dilemma," said Dr. Peter Carroll, chair of the urology department at the University of California, San Francisco, which hosted the conference.

Prostate cancer is the second most common form of cancer among men after skin cancer, and is the second biggest cancer killer in men after lung cancer. Some 234,000 new cases and 27,350 deaths are expected in 2007, according to the American Cancer Society. But in many cases, prostate cancer is slow growing and does not require treatment. Still, millions of men choose treatment such as radiation and surgery. "Unlike many other cancers, the phenomenon of prostate cancer is that a man can have a large reservoir of non-progressive disease for many years," Carroll said. "But in medicine, there's a strong financial incentive to treat people."

Over diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer is attributed to a blood test called a prostate-specific antigen test. The higher a PSA level, the more cancer is present, and findings are typically followed up with a biopsy and other tests.

More than 90 percent of patients diagnosed with prostate cancer in the United States receive follow-up treatment. Only about 8 percent receive what is called "active surveillance" or "watchful waiting" -- checking PSA levels and other factors frequently and sometimes modifying diet and lifestyle to keep the cancer in check.

Researchers said the psychology of cancer plays a big role in the demand for treatment. "There's major psychological relief from being cured of cancer, even if maybe we didn't need to cure it," said Dr. Eric Klein, surgery professor at the Cleveland Clinic. "That can't be understated."

But around the country and the world, physicians are starting to change the language they use around prostate cancer, referring to it more as a chronic condition than the big "C" of cancer and encouraging some patients -- especially the elderly, but increasingly younger men too -- to refrain from treatment. "The first step is to beat back the hysteria of cancer," said Dr. Peter Albertsen, surgery professor at the University of Connecticut.

The introduction of the PSA test -- especially among insured, affluent, older men -- created the demand for treatment, he said. "I began seeing men in their 80s being put on the operating room schedule, and I thought, 'Does this make any sense?'" he said.

In recent studies, between 20 percent and 54 percent of prostate diagnoses were considered indolent -- or slow growing -- and most did not require treatment. By contrast, about 20 percent of prostate cancers were diagnosed as aggressive upon the first screening. "With the knowledge that we are over treating maybe 50 percent of the men, something needs to be done," said Dr. Fritz Schroder, urology professor at Erasmus University in the Netherlands. Other men, mostly the uninsured or low-income, are not getting the PSA test and are disproportionately dying from the disease, Carroll said.

Although various tests can detect the severity of the cancer, there's no guarantee even a slow-growing cancer won't eventually be life-threatening, though newer testing, such as genetic markers, are on the horizon. Pilot programs in Canada and the United States that emphasize active surveillance of the disease have indicated that no one left untreated with indolent disease later died from the cancer.

In one study of active surveillance, about 25 percent of patients with slow-growing disease were reclassified as higher risk upon subsequent follow-up, said Dr. Laurence Klotz, professor of surgery at the University of Toronto. There was no indication that patient care was compromised.

Klotz questioned the findings of a landmark study of 44,000 men published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in December that indicated that elderly men had better outcomes if treated for prostate cancer rather than through "watchful waiting." The study found that the treated men were 30 percent less likely to die than those who waited. But some have criticized the study because it was based on medical records and the treated men may have been healthier in ways not reflected in the data. "To me, this is a misleading article that will make our job more difficult," Klotz said.

In the San Francisco Bay Area, researchers are testing lifestyle and diet changes in men with early prostate cancer to see whether healthier habits can stave off cancer growth and, in turn, treatment therapies. Unpublished results of a study by UC San Francisco and the Preventative Medicine Research Institute in Sausalito presented at the conference suggests lifestyle changes work.

In the study, 93 men with early-stage prostate cancer switched to a vegan diet, exercised three hours per week and practiced stress- management, such as yoga or meditation, for one hour per week. They also participated in a group counseling session once per week. After one year, the men had PSA levels similar to another group that chose conventional treatment.

In a two-year follow-up, presented at the conference, nearly all the men chose to continue with the diet and exercise program on their own. They had an average 95 percent rate of personal adherence to the program, and they had similar PSA scores as those who chose conventional treatment. What's more, those who chose conventional treatment reported a decline in mental health, physical and social functioning and sexual function.

"The men realized how much better they were feeling and they were energized to continue with the lifestyle changes," said Joanne Frattaroli, post-doctoral researcher at the Preventive Medicine Research Institute, who lead the study.

Source: Oakland Tribune http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_5007436?source=rss

Tomato-broccoli diet effective in halting prostate cancer By Mike Burns

January 17, 2007 - Having tomatoes and broccoli in your diet is the most effective way of fighting prostate cancer, according to a study conducted by American researchers. Researchers at the University of Illinois conducted the study on two groups of mice, which were implanted with prostate cancer cells. One group was given a diet containing 10 percent broccoli powder and 10 percent tomato powder. Other groups of rats were given either tomato or broccoli powder alone or a supplemental dose of lycopene, or finasteride, which is widely prescribed for men with enlarged prostates. The remaining group of rats was castrated.

When the tumor cells were weighed after a period of 22 weeks, the researchers found that the cells in the group that had been given the combination of broccoli and tomatoes had shrunk the most than that of other groups.

Says John Erdman, University of Illinois food science and human nutrition professor, "When tomatoes and broccoli are eaten together, we see an additive effect. We think it's because different bioactive compounds in each food work on different anti-cancer pathways."

Meanwhile co-author of the study Kirstie Canene-Adams believes that those who have slow growing cancer should include tomatoes and broccoli in their diets. "To get these effects, men should consume daily 1.4 cups of raw broccoli and 2.5 cups of fresh tomato, or 1 cup of tomato sauce, or 1/2 cup of tomato paste. I think it's very doable for a man to eat a cup and a half of broccoli per day or to put broccoli on a pizza with 1/2 cup of tomato paste", she added.

The details of the study appear in the January 15 issue of Cancer Research.

Source :http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/21143.html

Diet & Lifestyle - Dattoli Cancer Foundation    

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men, and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men. Despite its high prevalence, our understanding of the causes of this disease and how to prevent it remains limited. However, there is a growing body of evidence to link diet and nutrition in the cause and prevention of prostate cancer, as well as many other cancers.

We know that there is a link between diets high in saturated and total fat and an increased risk of prostate cancer. Likewise, there is a link between diets high in fiber, phytoestrogen (“phyto” is Greek for plant) and lycopenes (another “phyto” chemical), and other nutrients and a decreased risk of prostate cancer.

If you are committed to maintaining a healthy lifestyle in order to prevent prostate cancer, or have just completed your treatment for prostate cancer, the following diet guidelines can help keep your body strong and your immune system at its best.

Guidelines for Diet, Vitamin Supplements, and Lifestyle:  Eat a low fat, high fiber, nutrient rich diet - Maintain a healthy weight - Exercise at least 30-45 minutes several days a week, as tolerated - Incorporate relaxation techniques in your daily life - Choose health enhancing supplements

    * Include 5-10 servings of nutrient rich fruits and vegetables every day. Consume many servings of vegetables as they are high in fiber and phytonutrients, low in calories, and contain less sugar than fruit. In particular, choose tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, dark leafy greens, carrots, melons, berries, citrus, apricots, and grapes.

    * Cabbage family members (broccoli, cauliflower, onions, radishes, horseradish) have been shown to be very beneficial for cancer patients.

    * Eat at least 3 servings of whole grains daily. Limit white starches and increase whole grains, such as whole wheat breads and crackers, wheat pasta, brown or wild rice, whole grain cereals, wheat pita bread, brown rice cakes, barley, oats, millet, quinoa, spelt.

* Eat more cold water fish for their high omega 3 polyunsaturated fat content. Choose wild salmon, haddock, halibut, cod, pink tuna, herring, sardines, and arctic char. You may also include flounder, shellfish, grouper, or snapper although they do not contain high levels of omega 3 fats. Avoid King mackerel, shark, and albacore tuna due to their high mercury contents.

    * Eat more cold water fish for their high omega 3 polyunsaturated fat content. Choose wild salmon, haddock, halibut, cod, pink tuna, herring, sardines, and arctic char. You may also include flounder, shellfish, grouper, or snapper although they do not contain high levels of omega 3 fats. Avoid King mackerel, shark, and albacore tuna due to their high mercury contents.

    * Avoid foods high in sugar content. They create blood sugar swings which effect energy. Also, high sugar foods are generally low in nutrients. Sugar depletes the immune system by slowing the action of your white blood cells. Some researchers believe that sugar feeds cancer cell growth. It is thought that sugar causes inflammation, mineral deficiency, excess anaerobic intestinal bacteria, elevated insulin levels, and creates an acidic environment in the body.

    * Choose healthy, monounsaturated fats such as olive oil, avocado oil, and hazelnut oil. Avoid canola and vegetable oil, flax oil or flax seed.

    * Many nuts (almonds, pistachios, macadamias, hazelnuts, cashews, pine, and pumpkin seeds), olives, and avocados are also a good source of monounsaturated fat. Avoid peanuts, walnuts and pecans.

    * Try to eat high fiber foods to reach the 25-30 gm/day recommendation. Fiber helps to detoxify the body by carrying wastes through the excretory system, slowing digestion for improved nutrient absorption, and slowing the response to excess sugar.

    * Avoid, or at least limit, dairy foods such as milk, cheese, yogurt, and ice cream. Instead, use non-fat dairy products (skim milk, non-fat cheese and ice cream). Or better yet, use the soy alternatives in their place. Try soy in the form of tofu, tempeh, miso, soy milk, yogurt, ice creams, soy cheeses, ground round, meatballs, and burgers. Their isoflavone content is believed to be beneficial for cancer prevention.

    * Drink 8-10 cups of water daily. Water helps to transport toxins out of the body. It is one of the most important aspects of healing. You can count decaffeinated beverages toward your water intake, such as flavored club soda, green and black teas, and herbal teas. Eliminate caffeine as it is an irritant and dehydrates cells. Green tea is high in antioxidant content so try to drink 2-3 cups daily.

    * Red wine in moderation (4 ounces daily) is beneficial; and so is dark chocolate (also in moderation)!

    * Take immune-boosting and detoxifying supplements as approved by your physician

Nutritional information provided by: Michael J. Dattoli, MD, Richard Sorace , MD, PhD, Dattoli Cancer Center & Brachytherapy Research Institute, Sarasota, Florida

Pamela Mathis, M.Ed., R.D., L.D. Registered and Licensed Dietician Sarasota & Bradenton Offices

Charles “Snuffy” Myers, Jr., MD, Editor-in-Chief, The Prostate Forum Newsletter - www.prostateforum.com

******************************

Fair Use Notice: This newsletter may contain copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owners. We believe that this not-for-profit, educational use constitutes a fair use of the copyrighted material (as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law). If you wish to use any copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

+++++

The Santa Cruz County Prostate Cancer Support Group does not endorse any provider, organization, product or individual.  All medical decisions should be made with the advice and consultation of medical professionals.

Our newsletter serves over 260 members. Many THANKS to the American Cancer Society for assisting with the printing and mailing of this newsletter and the Katz Cancer Resource Center for allowing us to use their facility for our meetings and library materials.