Detecting Prostate Cancer: New PSA Test Goes Pro!

Reported October 2011

WASHINGTON, D.C (American Health Newswire) --The PSA test is the only available FDA approved screening method to identify prostate cancer in men. But, the test has been controversial for years because it's not always accurate - causing some men unnecessary biopsies and needless treatment. We'll tell you about a better, more accurate test for prostate cancer.

When Dan Zenka learned he had prostate cancer, his doctor let him know how serious the diagnosis was.

"He indicated that mine was a more aggressive form or appeared to be a more aggressive form of prostate cancer," Dan Zenka, Prostate cancer patient told American Health.

Dan knows a lot about prostate cancer, he's senior vice president of communications at the Prostate Cancer Foundation. He's well aware that one in six men will be diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime.

"I knew the chances were good that I might be hearing those very words someday myself," Zenka said.

The PSA test is the most common way to screen for prostate cancer. But the test can result in a high number of false positives and false negatives - causing unnecessary treatments and missed diagnoses. Now, urologists say that a new test, called the pro PSA test, better detects aggressive cancer and reduces false positives.

"The pro PSA test is more accurate than anything that is currently available," William Catalona, M.D., a urologist at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine told American Health.

PSA or prostate specific antigen is found in the blood. High levels of PSA could indicate prostate cancer. The new test measures a more specific form of PSA in the blood.

"That specifically is a better marker for prostate cancer than the other forms of PSA that have been previously developed," Dr. Catalona said.

The new test measures blood levels of three different types of PSAs. Combined with annual biopsies, or tissue samples, it was about 70 percent accurate in singling out the aggressive tumor. The pro PSA level is turning out to be a more valuable predictor for prostate cancer.

"It can give you a more accurate estimate of whether or not he has prostate cancer, and whether or not the prostate cancer is one of those that would be potentially life threatening," Dr. Catalona added.

The test could mean less unnecessary and painful biopsies, while letting doctors focus more on aggressive forms of the disease. Dan is focusing on his treatment with the help of others.

"There's a great deal of comfort in speaking with other patients understanding that you're not alone," Zenka explained.

Coming together to fight against the disease.

The test is currently being used in clinical trials and is awaiting approval by the U.S Food and Drug Administration. It is already approved for use in Europe. Researchers say the new test will focus on the detection of more life-threatening prostate cancers and reduce unnecessary biopsies in men 50 years of age and older.

Healing Heel Pain: Plantar Fasciitis

(American Health Newswire) -- Two million Americans suffer from plantar fasciitis. One out of 10 people experience it in their lifetime -- making it the most common cause of heel pain. So, what can you do to not only treat it, but prevent it?
 
Walking. Our feet average 115,000 miles of it in our lifetime. That's four-times around the globe. But, with overuse, our feet can develop heel pain often caused by plantar fasciitis -- an inflammation of the tissue on the bottom of the feet.

That's what happened to Michelle Mehr. She ruptured her plantar fascia playing competitive Ultimate Frisbee and couldn't exercise for a year.

"It was challenging for me. I don't like to be inactive," Michelle told American Health.

"So, people will wake up first thing in the morning, and their first few steps, they'll have some discomfort in their heel, and usually for the first week or two, they write it off and say this is going to get a little bit better, and they'll stretch maybe, but usually the symptoms don't go away," Christine Panagos, PT, SCS, CSCS, a board-certified sports physical therapist at Providence Sports Care, told American Health.

Before spending money on pricey custom-made orthotics, experts recommend trying over-the-counter inserts first. Another tip? Have someone look at how you're running to make sure you're not overpronating and putting yourself at risk.

Early intervention includes a good balancing and stretching program.

Here are two you can try at home. First is the hip abduction. Next, try clambshells. Stack your hips in a fetal position and raise.

"So, we want to prevent that foot from rolling inward and that arch from collapsing," Panagos explained.

If a stretching program doesn't help after six weeks, you may be referred to an orthotist for custom-made orthotics. That's what got Michelle back on track. 

Athletes like Michelle and people who are either overweight or stand for long periods of time are most prone to plantar fasciitis. Wearing old, worn out shoes is another culprit. Make sure to replace yours every three to six months.

Fighting Breast Cancer on Your Lunch Break

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN (American Health Newswire) -- Each year, 230 thousand people arediagnosed with breast cancer. One in six of those will die, but if detected early, a new treatment from Sweden could have patients in and out of the hospital and cancer-free on their lunch break.

For 17 years, Gunilla Pilo (guh-nilla pee-low) enjoyed a challenging career planning dinners for the Nobel Prize held each year at city hall in Stockholm, Sweden.


"It's a grand festivity. The most prestigious dinner of all I think," Gunilla Pilo told American Health.
But after retiring last year, she faced a bigger challenge. Doctors found a cancerous tumor in her breast.

"It was a shock," Gunilla said.

She enrolled in a research study on a new technique to kill breast tumors known as preferential radio frequency ablation or PRFA , the brain child of professor Hans Wiksell.

"As soon as you have it done,  you can say to the patient that now the tumor cannot spreadanymore," Hans Wiksell , a Professor of Medical Technology at  Karolinska Institute in Sweden, explained.

The goal is to catch it at an early stage.

"We find that 50-60 percent of cancers are smaller than 10 millimeters. They are smaller than your little fingernail, and those women, if we can get them to go through minimally invasive therapy instead of surgery, it will help them a lot," Karin Leifland, M.D., Ph.D., a  mammography physician and head of the Unilabs Mammography Department at Capio S:t Göran´s Hospital in Stockholm, said.

Here's how it works, doctors place a thin electrode guided by ultrasound into the tumor. The tumor is then heated to 167-degrees, killing it and leaving the surrounding tissue unharmed.

"The DNA and other things inside dies, so it could not live anymore, it could not divide anymore," Wiksell said.

The non-invasive surgery can be done in an hour, with no scars and no recovery time.

"You could do it at your lunch time and then go back and work afterwards. You don't really feel anything," Gunilla said.

Because of PRFA, Gunilla's now cancer-free and enjoying the beauty around her. 

Researchers at Karolinska University and Saint Goran Hospital in Sweden are continuing their study of PRFA with elderly women who, because of their age, are often not fit for surgery. So far, the PRFA technique has worked 100-percent of the time for this population.

The American Health Foundation will celebrate its 13th Annual "Senior Achievement" Awards
Luncheon on Friday, November 11, 2011 (11.11.11.) at Benevenuto's Restaurant, in Boynton
Beach, Florida.  The event honors five outstanding volunteers/staff whose service to the community inspires, enriches and contributes to the "good" of many.  All of our past honorees represent a wide spectrum of volunteer and staff effects including mentoring the children, wildlife and environment, health and medical care and everything in between.