Just checking in

Hi ejc61. When diagnosed indolent cancer doesn't show up on MRI, it's a good sign. I see you had OncoDX. You might look into the period of time the score covers. For the Decipher test, I know that the risk of mets refers to a 5-year period. You might ask about the possible benefit of another test after your next biopsy, assuming it finds only G6 lesions.

Another avenue for investigation is prevention/slowing of progression. You can look up studies on PubMed or Google Scholar. For example, 5-alpha-reductases like finasteride have been shown to lower the risk of getting indolent PCa by about 25% and they do lower the risk of high-grade lesions. I don't what the evidence is for them slowing progression. The same goes for aspirin and statins, which seem beneficial in prevention.

Also you might have a look at Prostate Cancer Prevention (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version at the NIH website. It's regularly updated with the latest research. (There is a less technical Patient Version linked there also.)

I take a number of phytochemical supplements. There is very strong evidence that many have an effect on PCa cells in vitro when the active principles are put in direct contact with the cancer cells. The question, however, is one of bioavailability when chucking them down by mouth. My personal philosophy is that I accept the small chance they are beneficial; however, I don't want to ignore them only to find out in 10 or 15 years that some of them actually do work as supplements. And, while true prevention would be wonderful, I'll settle for anything that slows cancer growth and progression. Some plant supplements are known not to work, and others (like lycopene), may be beneficial, but are toxic in doses that aren't very large -- so do you homework! Others have murky results: one study on pomegranate found no overall beneficial effect, but did find that 25% of the men had a genotype that did respond to it. (The other day I saw a study that concluded any benefit from tomatoes/lycopenene may be lost with a Western diet -- oh well.)

If you do investigate phytochemicals, stick to the published literature and ignore the ads. The British randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of Pomi-T (pomegranate + broccoli extract + tumeric curcumin + green tea extract) did reduce the BCR rate and shrinkage of lesions was seen for some subjects. I took it for a number of years, but decided it was cheaper to buy individual capsules of these ingredients (and the doses would be higher as well). I think Pomi-T was first formulated for this study and commercialized afterwards.

If you do "just" cross the line into needing treatment, you could look into focal therapies, although I don't think the evidence in their favor is that solid. One study a few years ago concluded that they bedy be usef in clinical studies.

Djin

DjinTonic said...
Hi ejc61. When diagnosed indolent cancer doesn't show up on MRI, it's a good sign. I see you had OncoDX. You might look into the period of time the score covers. For the Decipher test, I know that the risk of mets refers to a 5-year period. You might ask about the possible benefit of another test after your next biopsy, assuming it finds only G6 lesions.

Another avenue for investigation is prevention/slowing of progression. You can look up studies on PubMed or Google Scholar. For example, 5-alpha-reductases like finasteride have been shown to lower the risk of getting indolent PCa by about 25% and they do lower the risk of high-grade lesions. I don't what the evidence is for them slowing progression. The same goes for aspirin and statins, which seem beneficial in prevention.

Also you might have a look at Prostate Cancer Prevention (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version at the NIH website. It's regularly updated with the latest research. (There is a less technical Patient Version linked there also.)

I take a number of phytochemical supplements. There is very strong evidence that many have an effect on PCa cells in vitro when the active principles are put in direct contact with the cancer cells. The question, however, is one of bioavailability when chucking them down by mouth. My personal philosophy is that I accept the small chance they are beneficial; however, I don't want to ignore them only to find out in 10 or 15 years that some of them actually do work as supplements. And, while true prevention would be wonderful, I'll settle for anything that slows cancer growth and progression. Some plant supplements are known not to work, and others (like lycopene), may be beneficial, but are toxic in doses that aren't very large -- so do you homework! Others have murky results: one study on pomegranate found no overall beneficial effect, but did find that 25% of the men had a genotype that did respond to it. (The other day I saw a study that concluded any benefit from tomatoes/lycopenene may be lost with a Western diet -- oh well.)

If you do investigate phytochemicals, stick to the published literature and ignore the ads. The British randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of Pomi-T (pomegranate + broccoli extract + tumeric curcumin + green tea extract) did reduce the BCR rate and shrinkage of lesions was seen for some subjects. I took it for a number of years, but decided it was cheaper to buy individual capsules of these ingredients (and the doses would be higher as well). I think Pomi-T was first formulated for this study and commercialized afterwards.

If you do "just" cross the line into needing treatment, you could look into focal therapies, although I don't think the evidence in their favor is that solid. One study a few years ago concluded that they bedy be usef in clinical studies.

Djin

Thanks for that information Djin.
For my quirky habits, I do take a tspn of turmeric, 1/2 tspn of ginger every day and 6 oz of Pom juice. My wife has been a vegetarian for about 20 years, so I was always a partial vegetarian, i.e. not relying on meat. I've transitioned to vegetarian since my dx in 2017. I will eat fish maybe 3-4 times a year, so I guess I'm a pescatarian.

You are to be commended for staying PROACTIVE with your ACTIVE surveillance approach ...

Looking at your health data, you are visiting the lab every few month like CLOCKWORK!

Commendable & consistent!

CYCLONE ~~~ # Iowa State University