By Carol L. Kornmehl, M.D., FACRO Prostate cancer is a common diagnosis in men, especially in the older population. Other medical problems, such as heart disease, are also frequent in this age group. Hormone therapy is a helpful treatment for many men with prostate cancer and aspirin is protective for those with heart disease. Since many of these men are diagnosed with both heart disease and prostate cancer, it seems intuitive that they should take…
Read More...Pounding the Pavement: Getting a Move on the Side Effects of Prostate Cancer Treatment
By Carol L. Kornmehl, M.D., FACRO Prostate cancer is one of the most common malignancies to affect men. Prostate cancer cells tend to thrive on testosterone, the male hormone. By altering the hormonal milieu and reducing the amount of testosterone the body produces, cancer cells “starve” and die. This measure can increase the man’s survival. Hormonal therapy, also known as ADT (androgen deprivation therapy) is a mainstream treatment for prostate cancer. It should be noted…
Read More...Radiation Therapy: A Beneficial Treatment for People who Undergo Total Hip Replacements
By Carol L. Kornmehl, M.D., FACRO On September 17, 2007, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine underwent a single radiation treatment to his hip area the morning of his hip replacement surgery. The purpose was to prevent the recurrence of a medical problem he incurred, after his shattered hip and thighbone were operated on after an automobile accident he sustained last April. The condition is called heterotopic ossification (hereafter referred to as HO). The role of…
Read More...Prostate Cancer Treatment and Heart Disease
By Carol L. Kornmehl, M.D., FACRO Many men with prostate cancer are treated with hormones that block the effects of testosterone, the primary male sex hormone. This is because many prostate cancers thrive on testosterone. By depriving them of testosterone, the prostate cancer cells “starve” and die. This treatment is called androgen suppression therapy. Usually, it is men with aggressive prostate cancer and those with prostate cancers that cause the prostate gland to enlarge who…
Read More...The Value of Exercise During Radiation Therapy for Breast and Prostate Cancer
By Carol L. Kornmehl, M.D, FACRO Complementary medicine integrates non-Western treatment methods into mainstream medical practice. Examples include light exercise, guided imagery, massage, yoga, reiki, tai chi, acupuncture, music therapy, and art therapy. In the oncology area, these modalities can help to reduce side effects and thereby enhance a person’s physical and/or emotional tolerance to treatment. People thus feel better during what might otherwise be a very difficult period of cancer treatment. Fatigue is a…
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