| In July, 2008, British researchers claimed to have won | | | | Institute of Cancer Research and the Royal Marsden |
| a major victory for prostate cancer treatment. | | | | Hospital in Britain, the symptoms of prostate cancer |
| According to recently release reports, a new drug, | | | | occurring in patients with advanced stages and/or |
| abiraterone, may be used to treat as many as 80% | | | | with untreatable forms of the disease have shown |
| of patients suffering from advanced forms of | | | | significant regression. The news offers hope for |
| prostate cancer. | | | | thousands of men who contract prostate cancer |
| Researchers worldwide involved in the treatment of | | | | worldwide each year. |
| prostate cancer are cautiously optimistic, and | | | | Prostate cancer is usually diagnosed in men in the |
| welcoming what may arguably be the best news in | | | | later life stages. The disease often has few |
| prostate cancer treatment research in the past 15 | | | | symptoms early on, which is a contributing factor to |
| years. It is thought that larger clinical studies now | | | | its reaching advanced stages before being detected. |
| need to be conducted to determine important side | | | | By the time men reach the ages of 40 (higher risk) |
| effects of the new drug's use, as well as the level of | | | | or 50, it is recommended that they receive annual |
| its benefits versus the possible drawbacks of the | | | | prostate checkups. Annual checkups should include |
| drug treatment. | | | | both physical exams as well as blood tests, to |
| Abiraterone is a drug manufactured by Cougar | | | | effectively screen for the disease. |
| Biotechnology Incorporated, and currently being | | | | The American Cancer Society estimates 186,320 new |
| investigated for use in treatment of prostate cancer. | | | | cases, and 28,660 deaths will result from prostate |
| It works to block the production of testosterone, | | | | cancer in the US in 2008. The Society further states |
| which enhances the growth and development of | | | | that prostate cancer is the second leading cause of |
| prostate cancer, by inhibiting an enzyme involved in | | | | cancer death in men in the nation. |
| the formation of testosterone. | | | | One in six men will get prostate cancer in his lifetime, |
| In drug trials of abiraterone, it appears that the drug | | | | while one in thirty-five men will die from the disease. |
| may reduce the levels of prostate specific antigen | | | | Death from prostate cancer is currently on the |
| (PSA), as well as shrink prostate cancer tumors. It is | | | | decline, a fact thought to be due to advances in |
| currently being tested on 1,200 men worldwide. | | | | prostate cancer treatment and early detection. |
| In the trials of the new drug conducted at the | | | | |