Movember: Tips About Prostate Cancer

Movember is the movement during the month of November that brings awareness to prostate cancer and men's health.  Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and the second most common cause of death from cancer.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, in 2010 over 196,000 men in the United States were diagnosed with prostate cancer and 28,560 men in the US died from prostate cancer.  This positive approach can lower a man's risk for the disease:

• a diet high in soy products, vegetables, fish and nuts can help prevent the disease
• being active makes one healthier overall and boosts the immune system and also decreases chances of the disease
• regular, routine examinations by a physician lead to early detection and treatment and increases survival rate

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

Movember: Tips About Prostate Cancer

Movember is the movement during the month of November that brings awareness to prostate cancer and men's health.  Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and the second most common cause of death from cancer.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, in 2010 over 196,000 men in the United States were diagnosed with prostate cancer and 28,560 men died from the disease.
Lower a man's risk by:

• a diet high in soy products, vegetables, fish and nuts
• being active boosts the immune system 
• regular, routine examinations by a physician lead to early detection and treatment, and increases survival rate. 

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

Dramatic Decline in Cancer Deaths

Cancer Rates Reach New Milestone in the U.S.

Cancer mortality rates have reached a new milestone in the United States--deaths from cancer have dropped 20% since their peak in 1991, according to the American Cancer Society.

Credit for the dramatic decrease in colorectal, female breast, and prostate cancer are due to early detection and treatment.  Declines in lung cancer deaths can be attributed to reductions in smoking. Half of the estimated new cases of cancer for today's male population are expected to be found in the prostate, lung and bronchus, and colorectum.  The same is estimated for women, with half of new cases expected to be involving breast, lung and bronchus and colorectum.
Statistics for the ten leading cancer types for the estimated new cancer cases can be found at www.chemotherapyadvisor.com

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., 
Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics
(661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com
5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309 (Map)

Pinning Down Prostate Cancer Risk

The British Medical Journal has recently published a controlled study of over 21,000 men between the ages of 40 and 55, to determine the association of PSA scores during that age range and subsequent risk of prostate cancer metastasis and mortality.  They found that PSA concentration can be used to predict long term (up to 25 or 30 years) risk of metastasis or death from prostate cancer.   They found that testing before the age of 45 was not diagnostic.  They found that, for those with below average PSA scores before age 55, screening was necessary only every 10 years.  They found that the group with the highest scores before age 55 required closer and more frequent screening to enable the disease to be treated as soon as possible.

Source:  www.bmj.com

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

Pinning Down Prostate Cancer Risk

The British Medical Journal has recently published a controlled study of over 21,000 men between the ages of 40 and 55, to determine the association of PSA scores during that age range and subsequent risk of prostate cancer metastasis and mortality.  They found that PSA concentration can be used to predict long term (up to 25 or 30 years) risk of metastasis or death from prostate cancer.   They found that testing before the age of 45 was not diagnostic.  They found that, for those with below average PSA scores before age 55, screening was necessary only every 10 years.  They found that the group with the highest scores before age 55 required closer and more frequent screening to enable the disease to be treated as soon as possible.

Source:  www.bmj.com

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

Men's Cardiovascular Fitness in Middle Age and Cancer Risk

A 20 year study reported at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting documents that cardiovascular fitness in middle-aged and older men is a strong independent predictor of the risk of developing lung and colorectal cancer and is a definite predictor of mortality rates from lung, colorectal and prostate cancer.

The Cooper Center Longitudinal Study followed over 17,000 men and measured their fitness by walking on a treadmill.  The treadmill exercise test was more predictive than body weight.  Significant reduction in cancer risk and cancer mortality rates were noted  with increased fitness level.

For more detailed information, see:  www.chemotherapyadvisor.com

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

Skin Cancer Contributes To Other Cancers

A study of 153,612 participants by researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School found:

• 36,102 non-melanoma skin cancers, due to UV exposure
• for women in the skin cancer group, there was a 20% greater risk of developing another form of cancer other than melanoma (breast and lung) over a 25 year period, compared to those without prior skin cancer
• for men in the skin cancer group, there was an 11% greater risk of developing prostate and lung cancer over the same time period, compared to those without prior skin cancer

While the association between non-melanoma skin cancers and other cancers exists, researchers have yet to determine the nature of the connection.  However, protecting oneself from UV exposure has far-reaching benefits.

Source:  A. Sifferlin, healthland.time.com

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

Harvard's Tips For Coping With Prostate Enlargement

After the age of 25, the male prostate gland begins to enlarge.  This natural process is called benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH.  The enlargement, in itself, does not lead to cancer.  50-60% of men may never develop any symptoms, but the most common are: hesitant or weak urination, urgency or leaking, incomplete emptying, or more frequent urination.

Harvard Health Publications reports on the treatment of the condition, from various medications to surgery, and also offers lifestyle changing tips to reduce symptoms:

• stress reduction through regular exercise and relaxation techniques
• taking the necessary time to void completely when urinating
• adjust medication intake in consultation with your physician
• reduce evening fluid intake, especially caffeine and alcohol

Source: Harvard Medical School 2014 Annual Report on Prostate Diseases

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc.,
Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics
(661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com
5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

Chronological Age vs. Apparent Age

Christie Brinkley is 61 years old, but looks much younger!  And we all know someone who looks a lot older than they really are.

In the initial interview and examination of patients, a medical and dental history is discussed, and we always make an assessment of what a patient's apparent age is in relation to their chronological age.  Those patients who look, act and feel younger than their actual age usually respond more favorably and often more quickly to treatment.

New research is showing that "ageism" is affecting the treatment of cancer patients.  The data suggests that some elderly oncology patients are being under-treated because of their age.  The studies assert that older patients with several different tumor types (including rectal, prostate, and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma) are not receiving optimal care because they are being judged by their chronological age rather than by their overall level of fitness.

These findings are suggested by retrospective analysis of 14,909 patients using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database, and other studies of thousands of patients, all of which show lack of preoperative radiotherapy or chemo-radiotherapy in the treatment of patients over the age of 55.  This lack of optimal care reduces their survival rates.

Source:  CancerTherapyAdvisor

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate American Board of Prosthodontics
(661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com
5060 California Ave., #170
Bakersfield, CA 93309