1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, according to a recent article published by the American Cancer Society. The number of men surviving prostate cancer is increasing, but many of the survivors are forced to live with the unpleasant side effects of treatment, including impotence and incontinence.
A new drug may reduce the risk of prostate cancer in some men by as much as 23 percent, but the side effects of the drug may outweigh the potential benefits. The drug, known as Avodart, works by lowering production of the hormone DHT. Hormones like DHT spur cancer growth, so reducing them may help to prevent prostate cancer.
The drug was tested in a trial involving 6729 men. Half were given Avodart, and the other half were given a placebo. In the group taking Avodart, 659 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer, whereas 859 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer in the placebo group. Gerald Andriole, MD, the leader of the study, stated that Avodart "may potentially offer many thousands of men a way to reduce their risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer."
But the side effects of the drug include an increased risk for heart problems, lower sexual desire, and impotence. Patients taking Avodart were much more likely to be diagnosed with higher-grade prostate cancers as well. "These drugs represent a double-edged sword in the realm of prostate cancer prevention," Dr. Andriole said.
According to the American Cancer Society, men should discuss the possibility of prostate cancer screening, and potential treatments like Avodart, with their doctor beginning around the age of fifty. If an individual's risk factor is higher, then the discussion should happen earlier.
