Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men (after skin cancer). Depending on the stage of your cancer, the management options may include: Non-metastatic prostate cancer may be treated with: Watchful waiting. Active surveillance. If the ... [Read More]
Conventional Treatments
In this section, you will learn about various conventional cancer therapies, pharmaceutical drugs, procedures and tests that are either innovative or merely interesting topics that Dr. Lawenda wants to share with patients.
Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation (APBI)
Whenever possible, I offer my patients with early stage breast cancer a very short, 5-day radiation technique, at Northwest Cancer Clinic, called “accelerated partial breast irradiation” (APBI). If eligibility criteria are met, APBI is a great ... [Read More]
Reduce Risks of Metastases From Cancer Surgery or Biopsy
Can cancer surgery or biopsies cause tumor cells to metastasize or become more aggressive? Yes. But before you say to yourself that I won't have these done, it's VERY important to know that: Surgery on tumors that have not spread distantly can be ... [Read More]
Breast Cancer Radiation Treatment: “DIBH” Deep Inspiration Breath-Hold
If you need radiation for breast cancer ask your radiation oncologist, if they can treat you with a technique that may be able to significantly lower the amount of radiation dose to your lung and/or heart. This technique is called "DIBH" or "deep ... [Read More]
The Most Personalized Approach To Picking Cancer Drugs
Functional drug sensitivity assays use a sample of living tumor tissue (from a biopsy of your tumor) to help predict which drugs will be most effective in killing your cancer. The development, validation and clinical implementation of these assays is ... [Read More]
Prostate Cancer Treatment
Dr. Brian Lawenda’s lecture on Prostate Cancer Treatment at the 2018 UsToo International Prostate Cancer Pathways for Patients & Caregivers Conference (June 23, 2018). TOPICS: Consensus Based Guidelines for Treatment MRI ... [Read More]
Optimizing Our Health
Dr. Brian Lawenda's introductory lecture at the 2018 UsToo International Prostate Cancer Pathways for Patients & Caregivers Conference (June 23, 2018). The topics discussed are relevant to both men and women and those with and without ... [Read More]
Antibiotics Reduce The Effectiveness of Immunotherapy
Taking antibiotics while receiving immunotherapy (specifically "checkpoint inhibitors") dramatically reduces the effectiveness and survival rate of patients undergoing these types of cancer treatment. A 2018 study found that patients who took ... [Read More]
Improve The Effectiveness of Immunotherapy With β-Blockers
A study published in 2017 reported on the potential effects of taking a cheap blood pressure medication while also being treated with immunotherapy for metastatic melanoma. Their results were so exciting, that they have led to a clinical trial of ... [Read More]
Dr. Lawenda Discusses a 5-Day Breast Radiation Technique
The majority of patients with early stage breast cancers choose breast conserving treatments for their breast cancer. This involves removing the tumor through a procedure called a "lumpectomy." In order to reduce the risk of recurrence within the ... [Read More]
Beta-Blocker Pills Reduce Melanoma Recurrence
Patients who were prescribed an inexpensive blood pressure medication after their diagnosis of melanoma had an 80% reduction in recurrence risk versus those prescribed a placebo. This is a dramatic result, and one that will need to be confirmed in ... [Read More]
Dr Lawenda Discusses Radiation Therapy For Benign Conditions
KNDU/NBC TV "Living Well" Show: Dr. Lawenda Discusses Radiation Therapy For Benign Conditions (September 2, 2017) In most cases, radiation therapy is not the first treatment option we recommend in the management of benign (non-cancer) ... [Read More]
Dr. Lawenda Discusses Brain Tumor Management
KNDU/NBC TV "Living Well" Show: Dr. Lawenda Discusses Brain Tumor Management (August 19, 2017) In most cases, patients with brain tumors have time to gather information about their condition (workup, staging, treatment, surveillance.) In this ... [Read More]
Dr. Lawenda Discusses Colorectal Cancer Care
KNDU/NBC TV "Living Well" Show: Dr. Lawenda Discusses Colorectal Cancer Care (August 12, 2017) In most cases, patients with colorectal cancer have time to gather information about their condition (workup, staging, treatment, surveillance.) In this ... [Read More]
Complementary Therapies For Chemotherapy Neuropathy
"Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy" (CIPN) effects the lives of up to 40% of cancer patients who receive chemotherapy. CIPN symptoms can be so bothersome that we have to lower our treatment doses or stop treatment all ... [Read More]
Absolute Risk: The Most Important Statistic You Need To Know
Before you get too excited about the next sensationalized media headline or drug advertisement proclaiming a new "practice changing breakthrough" in cancer treatment, read this. Almost weekly, there seems to be yet another announcement of a new ... [Read More]
Dr. Lawenda Discusses The Importance Of Second Opinions In Prostate Cancer Care
KNDU/NBC TV "Living Well" Show: Dr. Lawenda Discusses The Importance Of Second Opinions In Prostate Cancer Care (July 29, 2017) In most cases, a new diagnosis of prostate cancer doesn't need to be treated (or even screened in the first place.) ... [Read More]
Dr. Lawenda Discusses The Importance Of Second Opinions In Breast Cancer Care
KNDU/NBC TV "Living Well" Show: Dr. Lawenda Discusses The Importance Of Second Opinions In Breast Cancer Care (July 15, ... [Read More]
Dr. Lawenda Discusses Cancer Pain Management
KNDU/NBC TV "Living Well" Show: Dr. Lawenda Discusses How He Manages Cancer Pain (June 16, 2017) https://vimeo.com/222211611 ... [Read More]
Dr. Lawenda Discusses A Better Way To Choose Cancer Drugs
KNDU/NBC TV "Living Well" Show: Dr. Lawenda Discusses How Oncologists Choose Cancer Drugs (June 3, 2017) https://vimeo.com/220555064 Most of us in oncology like to say that we practice “personalized” medicine. What we mean by ... [Read More]
A Non-Invasive Painless Skin Cancer Treatment
If you have had skin cancer in the past, you were likely treated with surgery to remove it. If you are diagnosed with another skin cancer in the future, be aware that there is a new, state of the art therapy that is: Non-invasive Painless ... [Read More]
Dr. Lawenda Discusses Colon and Rectal Cancer
KNDU/NBC TV "Living Well" Show: Colorectal Cancer (March 11, 2017) https://vimeo.com/208164143 ... [Read More]
Dr. Lawenda Discusses Skin Cancer
KNDU/NBC TV "Living Well" Show: Skin Cancer (March 4, 2017) https://vimeo.com/207148249 FACTOID: Non-melanoma skin cancers are by far the most common type of cancer, and if you have already had prior skin cancer, your ... [Read More]
Dr. Lawenda Discusses Clinical Trials
KNDU/NBC TV "Living Well" Show: Clinical Trials In Cancer Care (February 25, 2017) https://vimeo.com/205973956 Resources to help you find clinical trials: Clinicaltrials.gov is the main website I use to find clinical trials for patients. ... [Read More]
Dr. Lawenda Discusses Precision Medicine in Cancer Care
KNDU/NBC TV "Living Well" Show: Dr. Lawenda Discusses Precision Medicine in Cancer Care (November 19, 2016) https://vimeo.com/192488371 ... [Read More]
Dr. Lawenda Discusses Immunotherapies
KNDU/NBC TV "Living Well" Show: Dr. Lawenda Discusses Immunotherapies- One Of The Hottest Topics In Oncology (December 10, 2016) https://vimeo.com/195338861 ... [Read More]
Dr. Lawenda Discusses Stereotactic Radiation Therapy
KNDU/NBC TV "Living Well" Show: Dr. Lawenda Discusses Stereotactic Radiation Therapy (December 17, 2016) https://vimeo.com/196369607 ... [Read More]
Dr. Lawenda Discusses The Human Papilloma Virus “HPV”
KNDU/NBC TV "Living Well" Show: Dr. Lawenda Discusses The Human Papilloma Virus "HPV" (February 11, 2017) https://vimeo.com/203918995 ... [Read More]
Dr. Lawenda Discusses The Multi-Disciplinary Treatment of Breast Cancer
KNDU/NBC TV "Living Well" Show: Dr. Lawenda Discusses The Multi-Disciplinary Treatment of Breast Cancer (January 7, 2017) https://vimeo.com/198713495 ... [Read More]
Make Your Body Less Conducive To Cancer With Integrative Oncology
It is NOT a new concept that if you can make your tissues less conducive to cancer growth you will have a much greater shot at beating cancer. One of the greatest minds in the history of modern medicine (Dr Stephen Paget) eloquently noted this in ... [Read More]