Joel Nowak and Shane Norris discuss his unusual Covid Pandemic Journey with a new prostate cancer diagnosis.  Shane, a well-respected music producer and gig worker, joined with other New Orleans artists to raise funds for out-of-work musicians.  As he began to create a fund raising vehicle he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.  Shane shares the experience he had navigating the Covid pandemic as he searched for the prostate cancer treatment that he felt best suited his needs.  With financial support raised from a GO-Fund-Me project as well as help and guidance from a number of resources, including medical professionals, family and friends, Shane decided to become the first man in Louisiana to treat his prostate cancer with high intensity focused ultrasound – or HIFU. Despite Shane having to learn about prostate cancer and potential treatments and their possible side effects, in the middle of a pandemic, he and his colleagues managed to raise and distribute $400,000 to out-of-work New Orleans artists.   Some Important Additional Information: 1-  High Intensity Focal Ultrasound (HIFU) currently has a CPT code, and is covered by Medicare, with a deductible. HIFU is also covered by some private insurance carriers for both initial treatment and as a salvage therapy.  Please check with your insurance carrier (Medicare and private carriers) to confirm your specific coverages.  With the CPT code urology practices can now submit claims to private insurers which are evaluated for reimbursement on a case by case basis. 2-  Shane&apos;s personal experience with side effects from his HIFU treatment does not guarantee that others having HIFU will have the same experience.  Following HIFU patients may be required to have a catheter inserted for 3 to 7 days.  The risk of having the more common side effects of urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction seen in treating the entire gland are minimized due to HIFU&apos;s targeted nature of  tumor ablation.  Support the show (https://www.cancerabcs.org/new-page-2/)

Cancer ABCs From Surviving To Thriving - How to Thrive with Cancer

New Orleans Music Producer Shane Norris Diagnosed with Prostate Cancer During Covid Shares His Journey with HIFU Treatment

Radiopharmaceutical scans (PETS) are a vital tool in our fight against cancer. These special PET scans allow us to make earlier cancer diagnoses while a cancer is still contained in the original organ.   With an earlier diagnosis, treatments can still stop the cancer before it is able to move to other parts of the body, or become metastatic.  These special scans also are our best tools to evaluate whether our treatments are working, or if we have developed resistance to the treatments.  FDA approved treatments are limited, so we have  to take full advantage of them while they work.  Since most treatments will eventually stop working, we need to also have an immediate and accurate way to measure whether we are still benefiting from our treatments, or have developed resistance to them.Sadly, the future of these scans is in jeopardy.  The current insurance reimbursement schedule only supports the use of these scans for three years, after which reimbursement rates might not cover the costs, making these very important scans unavailable despite having been approved by the FDA.  Currently these scans could be looking  at a 3 year life, after which adequate reimbursement might disappear (as will the availability of the scan to patients). Cancer ABCs is working to change the law so that reimbursement of these scans will keep them affordable and available as we need them.  Join us and help us preserve the availability of these scans.  To learn more about this issue,  and to lend your support, reach out to us at info@CancerABCs.orgCancer ABCs would like to thank its podcast sponsors for their support of this podcast program.  Our sponsors include:Myovant/PfizerFoundation MedicineBayer DendreonSupport the show (https://www.cancerabcs.org/new-page-2/)

Understanding the Importance of Radiopharmaceutical Scans and Why They Might Not Be Available for Us When We Need Them

Joel T Nowak from Cancer ABCs discusses with Dr. Rana McKay, Associate Professor of Medicine at the Moores Cancer Center at the University of California in San Diego,  her recently published article that analysizes real world data that demonstrates that Provenge (sipuleucel-T), an immune therapy for castrate  resistant metastatic prostate cancer (mCRPC), can reduce the risk of death over and above the newer  hormone treatments that have been FDA approved . Dr, McKay evaluated a large medicare data base and determined that despite the addition of the many second generation hormone treatments like Zytiga and Xtandi,  Provenge continues to lower the risk of death for men with mCRPC.  Dr. Mckay also shared a peek into the future of additional immune therapies for prostate cancer as well as sharing information about the newly FDA approved part inhibitors.  Cancer ABCs would like to thank its podcast sponsors for their support of this podcast program.  Our sponsors include:Myovant/PfizerFoundation MedicineBayer DendreonSupport the show (https://www.cancerabcs.org/new-page-2/)

Survival with Provenge - Real World Data Along with A Peek Into the Future of Treatment

One of the most common question men with prostate cancer ask us at Cancer ABCs is if they can stop their hormone therapy (ADT) when they go on a second generation hormone treatment like abiraterone (Zytiga).A recent analysis of the SPARE Trial points us in the direction that it might be possible to halt ADT when you are taking Zytiga.  SPARE was a small trial which needs to be replicated by a larger trial before we can gain confidence in this conclusion. SPARE did not evaluate what, if any change. stopping ADT  when you are on Zytiga might have on survival, economic costs and the quality of life.  Support the show (https://www.cancerabcs.org/new-page-2/)

Is ADT Hormone Therapy Necessary When You Take Abiraterone Acetate aka Zytiga?

Men who have a local prostate cancer recurrence, or their PSA starts increasing, after having prostate cancer surgery (a radical prostatectomy), the treatment of choice is considered salvage radiotherapy (SRT). In the post prostatectomy setting, SRT may impose significant risks and complications.Potential complications or side effects can include incontinence, bladder neck contracture, bladder and bowel symptoms, needing secondary procedures, as well as secondary malignancies. Radiation should never be considered non-invasive, but it can halt the progression of the cancer. Therefore, reserving radiotherapy for those who will most benefit is of great concern.In this podcast Joel Nowak speaks with Mr. John Harrison who had salvage radiation and has experienced many of these side effects.  On two occasions John has used Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment which he describes as well as having a colostomy to allow his colon to  rest and hopefully heal.  In addition to having deal with radiation toxicities, he still has to be treated for his progressing prostate cancer.  John has just completed a Phase II Clinical Trial as well as using Lupron, aka Hormone Therapy (ADT). To date, John has had limited relief from his symptoms, but his cancer is under control. John shares his journey and experiences treating his side effects from both the surgery and the salvage radiation. Despite all of his symptoms he maintains a positive attitude and reminds us that his experiences are his and do not reflect what others might experience.John considers himself an outlier. As an outlier he offers some sage advice for all of us who are being treated for prostate cancer.  Support the show (https://www.cancerabcs.org/new-page-2/)

Dealing with Salvage Radiation Side Effects for Prostate Cancer- One Mans Extraordinary Journey

Genetic testing plays a major role and an ever increasing role in the management of many different cancers, including prostate cancer.  It also plays an increasing role in the identification of risks for cancer, so its important that we patients know the limits of a key federal privacy law that protects us when we do have a genetic test.In June, 2020, there was a  new set of recommendations on the use of genetic testing published by the International Philadelphia Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference that strongly endorses the testing of all men with metastatic prostate cancer to aid with treatment decisions and to assess eligibility for clinical trials. It is important that we understand that there are significant limits to the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) of 2008, which was written to protect against discrimination in employment and medical insurance for people with known genetic risk factors for diseases, including cancer.   Support the show (https://www.cancerabcs.org/new-page-2/)

Protect Yourself - Know the Limits of the Genetic Privacy Laws

Written Transcript at https://www.cancerabcs.org/transcript-racial-disparities-in-prostate-cancer-clinical-trialsJoel T Nowak interviews Emily Rencsok, an MD/PhD student at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.  They discuss the findings of a recent publication which she was the first author that analyzed 59 prostate cancer clinical trials based in North America and Europe.Overall, Rencsok and colleagues looked at 72 global phase 3 and 4 prevention, screening, and treatment clinical trials for patients with prostate cancer that enrolled patients between 1987 and 2016. Of the 72 trials, 59 had race data available; corresponding with a total of approximately 844,000 participants.When the researchers analyzed the diversity of enrollment over time, they found that the proportion of black men who were enrolled in prostate cancer clinical trials decreased from 11.3% in 1995 to 2.8% in 2014. Even further, the investigators found that the proportion of white participants in these clinical trials has primarily remained above 80% since 1990.Joel and Emily also discussed the Iron Man study that has been making strives to reverse this trend.  They also discussed implicit racial bias in both clinical trials and treatments offered to black black individuals (Rencsok EM, Bazzi LA, McKay RR, et al. Diversity of Enrollment in Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials: Current Status and Future Directions. Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention. doi:10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-19-1616.)Support the show (https://www.cancerabcs.org/new-page-2/)

Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials- The Continued Lack of Racial Diversity and the Iron Man Registry's Attempt to Reverse this Trend

Written Transcript at:https://www.cancerabcs.org/transcript-pc-treatment-in-the-covid19-eraJoel Nowak discusses how one doctor, Dr. Emmanuel Antonarakis from The Johns Hopkins Hospital has modified his prostate cancer treatments in the era of the coronavirus.  Joel shares how Dr. Antonarakis has moved to using telemedicine when possible, the changes he has made for his patients on hormone therapy (ADT), and how he  is using chemotherapy differently for those men who need it as well as how he is avoiding using chemotherapy when possible.Listening to this podcast will help you better understand the possible changes you too might be able to discuss with your own doctor about your own treatment.  It will help you ask better questions at your own medical appointments.Support the show (https://www.cancerabcs.org/new-page-2/)

Prostate Cancer Treatment in the COVID-19 Era

Dr. Tim Richardson talks with Joel Nowak talk about the real survival advantages that the immunotherapy known as Provenge (sipuleucel-T) offers to men, especially men who get the therapy while their PSA is low (Schellhammer data) and men with an African-American background.  Along the way, they also talk about what is immunotherapy, how it works, how Provenge is actually administered, its side effects and who should get the treatment and where in their treatment schedule would it be best to get the treatment.  Support the show

Understanding the Real Survival Advantages Provided By Provenge (Sipuleucel-T) for Men with Metastatic Prostate Cancer

Joel Nowak discusses why men who have a radical prostatectomy, or the surgical removal of their prostate gland to treat prostate cancer often suffer urinary incontinence.  Urinary incontinence negatively affects a man's quality of life so it is important that men know about their options so they can discuss them with their urologists.  Surgically induced urinary incontinence can be dealt with when you have an RP to treat your prostate cancer, learn about your options as well as the risks and the rewards.Support the show

Prostate Cancer Surgical Incontinence Solutions

Written Transcript at:https://www.cancerabcs.org/transcript-oncotype-prostate-sore-and-active-surveillanceMr. Anson Tharayanil, a Medical Science Liaison from Genomic Health rejoins Joel Nowak from Cancer ABCs to talk about another test for men diagnosed with low or favorable medium risk prostate cancer, the Oncotype DX Genomic Prostate Score.The test should be used along side the traditional measures we use like biopsy Gleason Grade and scans to help a man decide if he is a good candidate for Active Surveillance (AS) as opposed to having surgical or a radiation intervention.  Biopsies only sample 1% of a man&apos;s prostate gland, so as a stand alone measure it does not provide us with an accurate understanding of the aggressiveness of a man&apos;s prostate cancer.  When added to the other measures, we traditionally still fall far short of accurately knowing which prostate cancers need immediate treatment and which can be monitored.  Research shows that at least 20% of men who qualify for AS using the traditional measures if they go on and have surgery they find that their cancer is actually a lion in sheep&apos;s clothing, or is very dangerous. The Oncotype DX Genomic Prostate Score has been well validated and should automatically be used by any man who is trying to decide if they are a good candidate for Active Surveillance. Support the show (https://www.cancerabcs.org/new-page-2/)

Using the Oncotype DX Genomic Prostate Score to Decide if You Are A Candidate for Active Surveillance

Written Transcript at:https://www.cancerabcs.org/transcript-using-the-genomic-health-arv-7-test-when-you-arev-aking-xtandi-zytiga-or-erleadaIn this podcast Anson Tharayanil, a Meical Science Liaison from Genomic Health, Inc. talks with Joel Nowak about their test, the Oncotype DX ARV-7 Nucleus Detect Test for men with castrate resistant metastatic prostate cancer.  The test is used to determine if the second line hormone therapies like Xtandi, Zytiga and Erleada will be an effective treatment for men who have the diagnosis of prostate cancer that has left the gland (if they have metastases) and are no longer responding to the first line hormone (ADT) treatments like Lupron, Eligard, Prostap and Casodex.  Initially, Anson gives an explanation about what is castrate resistant metastatic prostate cancer so that everyone can clearly understand the disease process that happens as prostate cancer progresses.  Afterwards, he describes how the Oncotype DX ARV-7 Nucleus Detect Test works so that you can know if you are a candidate for any of the new second line hormone therapy drugs (Zytiga, Xtandi and Erleada). Anson also describes how it might be possible to re-sensitive some men who have stopped responding to thee drugs.  Support the show (https://www.cancerabcs.org/new-page-2/)

Using The Genomic Health ARV-7 Test When You Are Taking Xtandi, Zytiga or Erleada

Dr. Ken Pienta from The Johns Hopkins Hospital explains all about metastatic prostate cancer and how it spreads or metastasizes.  He Includes in his discussion how prostate cancer is staged, how cancer migrates from the prostate gland to distant sites that can then develop into tumors.  In this discussion He clarifies the  difference between local invasion and metastatic disease.  He also talks about the current reality of our scanning technology, including the  new Axumin and PSMA scans and how large, or how many cells, need to be present in a tumor in order for it to be visualized.  Dr. Pienta describes the current treatment issues surrounding oligometastatic prostate cancer (just a few tumors in the pelvic area) as well as the role of the tumor micro-environment in supporting the metastatic process.  He also shared two clinical trials, the TED1 and the TED2 Trials (Total Obliteration Disease Trials) which he is conducting for newly diagnosed men with five or less metastatic lesions.     Support the show

Learning About Oligometastatic and Metastatic Prostate Cancer and How Cancer Metastasizes

Mark Hall was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer with a PSA of 4,400 and a Gleason Score of 8.  Despite these terrible numbers he has been thriving the last four years with an undetectable PSA and a fantastic quality of life!Mark shares his journey, where under the guidance of Dr. Charles (Snuffy) Meyers he went through a heavy regime of hormone therapy treatments as well as the immunotherapy Provenge (sipuleucel-T).  Mark has been experiencing a profound four year remission of his probate cancer.  Mark attributes his remission to the Provenge treatment as well as Dr. Meyers guidance.  The Cancer ABCs podcast program receives support from Genomic Health, which transforms treatment decisions in cancer by delivering clinically actionable diagnostics.  Support the show

Mark Hall's Metastatic Prostate Cancer Journey with Dr. Snuffy Meyers and Provenge (sipuleucel-T)

Hearing that someone you know or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer is often scary.  Not only are you concerned about their health, but many of us are also not sure how to speak with them or offer them help.  We want to reach out to them, but we don't  know if we should talk about their cancer.  We also don't know how we can help them.  Joel T. Nowak, a five time Cancer Thriver offers some insights into how you can know how to talk to someone with cancer as wells how you can provide them with the help and support they really need. Support the show

How To Help A Person Diagnosed With Cancer

OUR MISSION To facilitate tangible improvements in the lives of people who have been affected by cancer(s), by providing them and their loved ones the necessary survival tools, education, support and advocacy so that they can become responsible for and take an active role in their own medical care and wellbeing. OUR GOALOur goal is to teach all people affected by cancer, including those with multiple cancers and/or rare cancers, to become CANCER THRIVERS.

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Cancer ABCs From Surviving To Thriving - How to Thrive with ...

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