Cancer of the prostrate is common in men after they attain a certain age. One of the best known methods for treating the prostate cancer is ADT or Androgen deprivation therapy which blocks the male hormone thereby preventing the cancerous cells of the prostate to thrive with its aid.

A new research study has now revealed that the ADT might be responsible for bone decay too.  A group of researchers associated with the University of Melbourne, Australia state that the study is the first one to take a look at the bone structure during the course of ADT therapy.  About 20% to 50% of all men diagnosed with prostate cancer are usually put on the therapy.  The study is due to be published by the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism which is brought out by the Endocrine Society.

The study involved observing 26 men who were undergoing the therapy. They were kept under observation for a period of one year by the researchers.  The lead author of the study, Dr. Emma Hamilton, said in a press release that they had taken the help of a new technology that could assess the micro-architecture of the bone structure.  The findings showed a decay of both  the cortical or the outer hard shell as well as the trabecular which is the inner spongy mesh of the bone.

This particular study comes just after similar findings were reported  by the University Health Network, Toronto.  The Canadian study included 19,079 men, all over the age of 55 who had been put on the ADT therapy.  These men were compared to others of similar age and medical conditions but not on the therapy.  The men were watched for over six years when the researchers found out that there had been a 45% increase in fractures among men who had been on the hormone therapy vis-à-vis the men who were not.

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2010/10/08/health-prostate-cancer-bone-fracture-density.html

A recent study revealed that men above the age of 55 with low scores obtained during the first screening procedure of prostate cancer detection have been found to benefit the least by repetition of the procedure.

The research study results published in ‘Cancer’ showed that for men with the lowest base level of PSA or Prostate Specific Antigen, a total of 24,664 of them would have to be checked and 724 prostate cancer cases treated in order to prevent just one death.  For men with the highest levels of PSA, on the other hand, the figures are much lower with 133 screenings and 60 cancer treatment for preventing a single death from prostate cancer.

The study results are important as they reveal how to screen patients in order to detect the indications of prostate cancer during its early stages. It also takes a look at the ways to avoid false indications, thereby making it possible to avoid a lot of unnecessary tests and treatment procedures. The research also tried to identify the patients for whom an additional screening would be beneficial. The results were based on the PSA levels of the individuals tested.

Otis Brawley, the Chief Medical Officer associated with the American Cancer Society of Atlanta said that the study results hinted that men above the age of 50-55 with low PSA levels are not likely to develop prostate cancers which are harmful or life threatening. He added that they have now realized the futility of intensive screening, especially for men who do not benefit from the treatment.

He also said that a man of 50-55, with low PSA levels can choose to wait for another 5 to 6 years before undergoing another PSA test. It may not be mandatory even then and he has the option of foregoing the additional PSA screening altogether.

Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-13/men-with-low-prostate-cancer-scores-benefit-least-from-repeating-the-test.html