The number of proton beam therapy (PBT) centers continues to grow despite their high construction and operational costs, as well as the insurance barriers for patients to access this treatment. If cost was not a factor, most oncologists, ... [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]
Reduce Radiation Side Effects To The Bladder With Cranberry Extract
Many patients who receive radiation therapy to the pelvis for prostate, bladder, rectal, gynecologic and other cancers will develop temporary side effects from inflammation of the bladder (radiation cystitis.) Occasionally, some of these patients ... [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 Cancer Screening Controversies
KNDU/NBC TV "Living Well" Show: Why Is Cancer Screening Controversial? (April 22, 2017) https://vimeo.com/214695302 ... [Read More]
When To Start Androgen Deprivation Therapy After Prostate Cancer Treatment
The Question: When do you start androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in men who have had treatment to their prostate (prostatectomy and/or radiation therapy) and their PSA starts to rise again in the future? If we scan the patient (CT, MRI, etc) and ... [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]
Toxic Produce, Light Therapy, Ketogenic Diet And More
The 2016 "Dirty Dozen" and "Clean Fifteen" Lists Are Out EWG's "Dirty Dozen" for the first time rates strawberries as the #1 most toxic produce item. They are contaminated by pesticides linked to cancer, reproductive and developmental damage, ... [Read More]
Breast Cancer Risk, Curcumin, Vitamin D, Genetics And More
Breast Cancer Risk Can Be Determined From A Biopsy A landmark Harvard study found that the risk of breast cancer can be predicted by looking at the percentage of dividing cells from a routine breast biopsy. If this tissue analysis (called ... [Read More]
Resistance Exercise Beats Aerobic Exercise
I counsel patients all the time on the beneficial effects of physical activity on cancer outcomes: lower risk of developing cancer lower risk of cancer progression lower risk of cancer recurrence lower risk of dying from cancer may even ... [Read More]
Angelina Jolie Pitt Effect Highlights BRCA Mutation Testing and Preventative Surgery Options
Angelina Jolie came out publicly, in a 2013 New York Times Op-Ed article, explaining that she chose to undergo preventative bilateral mastectomies to reduce her risk of developing breast cancer after finding out she carried a BRCA gene mutation. ... [Read More]
Do You Have Prostate Cancer?
Listen up men. There is a great new tool now available to help you better understand your risk of having prostate cancer. Check out this simple to use risk calculator, created by the University of Texas Health Sciences Center. It takes only a few ... [Read More]
Dr Brian Lawenda’s Prostate Cancer Talk (Video)
Dr. Brian Lawenda reviews the basics of prostate cancer, covering such topics as: Discussion about prostate cancer risk factors and the use of integrative oncology to reduce these risks and hopefully improve cancer outcomes after a ... [Read More]
Dr Lawenda Discusses Cancer Screening and Risks (Listen)
Learn about some of the most common cancer screening recommendations and cancer risk factors in Dr. Brian Lawenda's, June 2014, 17-minute, interview on the Alan Stock Show (KDWN, AM 720). As always you'll also hear his plug on the importance of ... [Read More]
Hot Flashes During Prostate Cancer Treatment: Try Acupuncture
Gentlemen, if you are taking androgen blocking medications for prostate cancer you likely already know that the associated hot flashes are difficult to treat. Studies have found that therapies such as soy and anti-depressants don't work well in ... [Read More]
Probiotics May Be Useful During Radiation Therapy To The Prostate And Other Pelvic Organs
Your internal organs and tissues move as you breath and as your bowels and bladder fill and empty. If you are getting radiation therapy to one of these moving parts, ensuring accurate targeting is essential as radiation therapy is a very precise ... [Read More]
Do Fish Oils Really Boost The Risk Of Prostate Cancer?
Thousands of patients were anxiously calling their doctors last week after a new study found that fish oils might increase the risk of prostate cancer. Published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, the study found that high ... [Read More]
My New Favorite Prostate Cancer Supplement
If you have prostate cancer or are at risk of developing prostate cancer (essentially, everyone with a prostate) this should be of interest to you. Eating a diet rich in whole plant foods (vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts, legumes) has been shown to ... [Read More]
Sleep Your Way To Less Cancer
Not getting adequate sleep (particularly, at night) is now recognized as a risk factor for cancer. It seems that the preponderance of studies suggest that getting at least 6-7 hours of night time sleep is protective against cancer (as well as ... [Read More]
Time To Take Milk Off The Menu?
Attention milk-lovers: If you have had breast cancer, you may be better off steering clear of dairy fat. A new study conducted by scientists at Kaiser Permanente, the large U.S. health insurer, and published in the Journal of the National Cancer ... [Read More]
One Baby Aspirin Per Day Cuts Cancer Development, Metastases and Death!
Do you take an aspirin a day for aches and pains or other health reasons? It seems that many people do, and they might be inadvertently protecting themselves from cancer. A Willow Tree Gave Us Aspirin: The ancient Egyptians used the bark of the ... [Read More]
Penile “Rehab” During and After Prostate Cancer Treatment
One of the most common complications of radiation therapy and surgery (prostatectomy) for prostate cancer is erectile dysfunction (ED.) Studies report rates as high as 30-60% of men who undergo these treatments will develop ED as a result of ... [Read More]
Exercise and Cancer 101: Why You Should Just Do It!
Why is exercise so important: Exercise reduces your risk of developing cancer. Exercise during and after cancer treatment may reduce your risk of cancer recurrence and progression. Exercise improves quality of life in cancer patients and ... [Read More]
CoQ 10 may reduce the risk of developing melanoma and reduce recurrence
Reports indicate anticancer activity with higher blood levels of CoQ 10 (reduced risk of melanoma development, recurrence and progression.) Why do we rarely hear about this? Very few human studies have been conducted to confirm these findings. ... [Read More]
Would you change your lifestyle if you knew you had silent (occult) cancer cells hiding in your body?
I ask this question based on the fact that we know that cancer cells often spread early in the course of disease and they can remain silent (occult or hidden) for years. The Background: Among women with the earliest stage of invasive breast ... [Read More]
Vitamin E: Is it safe for men anymore?
In light of the recently reported SELECT study, many patients are asking this question. Here is my short response: The data from the recently reported SELECT trial show a 17% increased risk of developing prostate cancer with 400 IU's of ... [Read More]
Amazing anti-cancer compound derived from the French Lilac: Galega officianalis (metformin)
Metformin is a medication derived from the herb Galega officinalis (French lilac, also known as Goat's Rue or Italian Fitch) and has been used as a traditional botanical (tea infusion) for over 3,000 years to relieve polyuria (frequent urination) and ... [Read More]
Testosterone replacement therapy in men with prostate cancer: An oncologist’s perspective
"Does testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) increase the risk of my prostate cancer coming back?" It seems that this question is coming up more often these days among patients who have completed treatment for prostate cancer. The ... [Read More]
Smoking increases the risk of prostate cancer recurrence and death
One of the most important studies I have read on prostate cancer was published earlier this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health investigated the possible effects of smoking and ... [Read More]