Queensland

Prostate Cancer News The magazine is a publication of the Queensland Chapter, Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.

April 2011

Letter from the Editor, In February Cancer Council Queensland celebrated their 50th. Anniversary. Coinciding with this event they produced a “Queensland Cancer Atlas” which compared cancer survival rates in Queensland among those who lived in the South-East corner of the state versus the regional cities and environs versus “the bush”. The “Atlas” looks at cancer incidence and survival over a 10 year period in the various geographical areas between 1998 and 2007 and the results are not comforting for those who may be diagnosed with cancer and not living within commuting distance of a major city. If you’ve not seen the “Atlas” in the print or electronic media it can be viewed at www.cancerqld.org.au/cancer_atlas. The further you live from a major city, the higher are your chances of dying within 5 years of a cancer diagnosis. Part of the blame for this state of affairs is the abysmal Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme (PTSS) operating in Queensland. The travel and accommodation subsidies for those in rural areas who need to attend city treatment clinics still operate at 1987 levels; and they weren’t great then! This delays diagnosis and delays treatment because of the prohibitive costs involved, over and above the cost of treatment. $30/day for food and accommodation plus 15 cents/km to cover travel for a man who needs to spend 8 weeks in Brisbane receiving radiotherapy is just not realistic. And unless

you’re a concession card holder you pay for the first 4 days; not much incentive to come to the city for a specialist visit or biopsy. Also in February Queensland got a new Minister for Health, Geoff Wilson. How the new Minister will handle the portfolio remains to be seen but with a State election due in the next twelve months and Queensland Health not exactly flavour of the month, it’s a pretty fair assumption that he’ll be out to earn some brownie points. With a new Minister and an election, now is a perfect time to help get the PTSS out of the horseand-buggy era. Lobby your local state and federal MP’s, write to your local paper, make a nuisance of yourself on talk-back radio, raise the matter at Support Group meetings, write to the Minister for Health and the LNP’s Shadow Minister for Health, Mark McArdle, (address for both is C/- Parliament House, Alice Street, BRISBANE. QLD. 4000) and talk about it whenever you get a chance within community groups. At both individual and Support Group levels, become the squeaky wheel. Wishing You Low PSA’s and Good Heath. John Stead. Editor.

www.cancerqld.org.au www.prostate.org.au

T 1300 65 65 85 T 1800 22 00 99

May 05-08

Brisbane Truck Show www.truckandmachineryshow.com.au

May 07

Gold Coast Triathlon www.prostate.org.au

May 15

Ride the Range www.ridetherange.org.au

May 19-22

Sactuary Cove International Boat Show

May 26

Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea www.biggestmorningtea.com.au

Aug 20-21

Ride to Conquer Cancer www.qimr.edu.au

Sep

International Prostate Cancer Awareness Month www.prostate.org.au www.pcfa.org.au

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Resources: Web Links, Associated and Affiliated Groups.

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SPOTLIGHT ON Northern Rivers.

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Ian Gawler Workshop, Funding Your Event.

5 6 7 8 9 10

Laparoscopic or Robotic?

11 12 13 14

New Protein Treatment.

15 16

Research; Liquid Biopsies.



Canine Detection. Letter - ED and ADT. PCFA Report, SPOTLIGHT ON Mackay.

UQ Exercise Program 2011; Exercise and Cancer Progression.



Calendar of Events 2011 Cancer Council Queensland Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia

In this issue



[email protected]

The Queensland Chapter of the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia is grateful for the generous support of Cancer Council Queensland, in the printing of this magazine. The content of this magazine is selected by the Queensland Chapter of the PCFA. Cancer Council Queensland does not necessarily endorse, or otherwise, any content contained within this publication.

Short Cuts. Clinical Trials. Tomatoes-Super Food? MDV3100 Trial Update.

Travel & Medical Devices; Brisbane Program: Privacy: Contact Us: Disclaimer.

Resources

Cancer Council Queensland www.cancerqld.org.au Research to beat cancer and comprehensive community support services. Cancer Council Helpline Ph 13 11 20 8am-6pm Monday to Friday. www.cancerqld.org.au/cancerHelpline Andrology Australia www.andrologyaustralia.org Ph 1300 303 878 Andrology Australia is the Australian Centre of Excellence in Male Reproductive Health. HealthInsite www.healthinsite.gov.au Your gateway to a range of reliable, up-todate information on important health topics.

Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia www.prostate.org.au Phone 1800 22 00 99 Assistance with the experience of diagnosis and treatment for prostate cancer. Queensland Chapter www.pcfa.org.au Information, patient support materials, and contacts for advice on living with prostate cancer in Queensland. Cochrane Library www.cochrane.org Australians now have free access to the best available evidence to aid decision-making.

APCC Bio-Resource www.apccbioresource.org.au The national tissue resource underpinning continuing research into prostate cancer. Australian Prostate Research Centre – Queensland www.australianprostatecentre.org Research, collaborative opportunities, clinical trials, industry news. Mater Prostate Cancer Research Centre www.mmri.mater.org.au Comprehensive information for those affected by prostate cancer, including the latest research news.

Lions Australian Prostate Cancer www.prostatehealth.org.au The first stop for newly diagnosed men seeking information on the disease.

Prostate Cancer Support Groups in the Queensland Chapter There are 23 PCSGs in the Chapter with a total membership of approximately 3,300 men. Peer Support Group Contact Beenleigh Peter Keech Brisbane Peter Dornan Bundaberg Rob McCulloch Capricorn Coast (Yeppoon) Jack Dallachy Central Qld. (Rockhampton) Lloyd Younger Far North Qld. (Cairns) Jim Hope Gladstone Geoff Lester Gold Coast North John Caldwell Gold Coast Partners Maggie Angus Gold Coast Central (Evening Group) Alex Irwin Gympie and District Ray Cheasley Hervey Bay (Pialba) Ros Male Ipswich Terry Carter Mackay John Clinton Maryborough Leoll Barron Mount Isa Tony McGrady Northern Rivers (Alstonville) Pat Coughlan Northen Rivers (Lismore) Warren Rose Sunshine Coast (Maroochydore) Rob Tonge Toowoomba David Abrahams North Queensland (Townsville) Bob O’Sullivan Twin Towns & Tweed Coast Ross Davis Whitsunday (Proserpine) Dave Roberts The news sheet for any group should have the meeting details for its neighbouring groups.

Associated Support Groups Group Beaudesert Kingaroy

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Contact Carmen O’Neill RN Robert Horn

Phone 07 5541 9231 07 4162 5552

Phone 0407 070 194 07 3371 9155 07 4159 9419 07 4933 6466 07 4928 6655 07 4039 0335 07 4979 2725 07 5594 7317 07 5577 5507 07 5569 2021 07 5482 8879 07 4125 6701 07 3281 2894 07 4942 0132 07 4123 1190 07 02 6622 1545 02 6684 2201 07 5446 1318 07 4613 6974 0405 274 222 07 5599 7576 07 4945 4886

Sponsor Beaudesert Health/Gold Coast Toowoomba/Sunshine Coast

SPOTLIGHT ON Northern Rivers

Alstonville Daytime Prostate Cancer Support Group In May 2001, our first Support Group meeting was held at Alstonville Bowling Club. This was mainly due to the tireless efforts of Ivan Eichorn, the Convenor. The committee consisted of Ivan, Grahame Lester (Secretary), Byron Wilson (Treasurer) and Dick Logan. As most groups do, ours started from a need for men and their partners to find support and information relevant to their situation. Ivan has since passed away and is never far from our thoughts. Our Treasurer, Byron, still occupies the seat of treasurer and ensures we manage our funds practically and responsibly, including regular substantial donations to the Prostate Cancer Foundation od Australia (PCFA) for research and support. For a number of years our Convenor was Pat Coughlin alone. We recognised the need to look at succession planning and committee support as retired people are often the busiest. As a result we have developed a Co-Convenor model where Pat and Dave Hughes share the reins and shoulder the day-to -day running of the Group together. We believe this to be a great model as it allows freedom for either person to have a break and enjoy the group as participant, or just have a holiday. Dave is a Prostate Cancer Nurse locally so he can act as a guest speaker or information provider. Our Secretary Jennifer and

Committee Members (l to r) Bruce, Jennifer, Dave, Pat, Byron.

communication/IT person Bruce are about to retire after many years of service and will be difficult to replace. The daytime group meets monthly on Mondays and generally has about thirty members attend. Of course if we have giveaways or meals at meetings, then that number can swell to over fifty. As with all Support Groups our aim is to have a good time and catch up on how we are all going with our cancer journey and life in general. We have a fundraising committee headed by Bob Anderson and have raised many thousands of dollars in the past year alone. Community awareness is a key priority with members and last year we spent three days at the “Primex” agricultural show in Casino where some 30,000 men kick tyres. This way we speak to hundreds of men and their wives about detection and treatment options. We also run raffles and attend the local “Lismore Show”, have articles printed in the paper and talk on radio shows. We have heard about the Gold Coast “Partners Group” and are in the process of pinching the idea to get our gals together to support each other (and probably shop a bit). Our Group is also lucky to have loads of great local experts, from Nutritionists to Urologists and Physiotherapists, we’ve had them all regularly come and speak to us. We are a bit of an anomaly in that we are in Northern New South Wales but part of the Queensland Chapter. The fact is, we like it that way because from Daryl Hyland to Leon Matigian and Graeme Higgs, the organisational support is fantastic.

Some of the Members at Our February Meeting

SPOTLIGHT ON Lismore Evening Prostate Cancer Support Group The Committee of the Northern Rivers Prostate Group had been considering an evening group for some time. In 2009 the Committee requested Warren Rose to investigate if a Group could be formed. After some discussions with members and the Queensland Chapter Council and investigation of a venue, the inaugural meeting was held at Lismore Workers Club in August 2009. Warren Rose – Convenor (right), Carol Thurgate – Secretary, Craig Thurgate – Treasurer and Membership. Publicity is handled by Darellyn Sharman (not shown.)

After the first meeting it was decided to continue meeting for the remainder of 2009 on the first Wednesday of each month at 7pm and review the situation at the end of the year. At the end of 2009, the members requested that the Group continue as it was meeting their needs and the time and place was convenient. Membership in 2011

stands at 58 with attendance at meetings ranging from 15 to 35. The Support Group is open to men and their carers or partners. The daytime group meeting at Alstonville and the evening group cooperate on awareness activities on the Far North N.S.W. Coast. Members have worked together at Primex, Lismore Show, Bunnings barbecues and other events. The members at the February 2011 meeting spent time sharing their journeys.

Members at Our February Meeting

Report prepared by Warren Rose Convenor NREPCSG.

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IAN GAWLER BACK IN QUEENSLAND Many of you will know of Dr Ian Gawler, having attended one or more of his workshops or perhaps know of him through his books, CDs and/or DVDs or from reading his articles on overcoming cancer. As a 24-year-old veterinary surgeon and decathlete Ian had his right leg amputated to try and overcome highly malignant bone cancer. Recovery was short and within 12 months he was diagnosed with secondaries in the lymph nodes. Later the cancer began progressing to his pelvis and lungs. This occurred over 30 years ago and Ian Gawler’s story of recovery has become the stuff of legends. He went on to write a best-selling book, “You Can Conquer Cancer”, which has been reprinted 16 times and translated into 12 languages. Dr Gawler’s message for overcoming cancer includes relaxation and meditation, eating well, finding peace within, mind training and emotional health. This month Ian, together with his wife Dr Ruth Gawler, will be conducting 3 workshops for the general public and a special session for health professionals. They’ll be held at the Relaxation Centre of Queensland (details below) from Thursday 14th to Sunday 17th April. Details are as follows: • 14th April 7:15-10:00pm Medicine of the Mind. An experiential evening covering the essential steps to improve meditation and introducing the theory and techniques to connect positive thinking, meditation, mindfulness, contemplation and imagery and how to benefit from them. Cost is $35 per person.

• 15th April 10:00am - 4:00pm Lifestyle Coaching for Major Illness - Radiate Health in Body, Mind and Spirit This is a workshop for health professionals and practitioners; doctors, naturopaths, masseurs, counsellors, nurses, hospice staff, psychologists, etc. Cost is $150 per person. • 16th April 10:00am - 4:00pm The Mind That Changes Everything – How to Use Creative Imagery to Shape Your Life. A workshop to understand how your mind works based on both recent research and ancient wisdom. Techniques to overcome negative emotions and build and sustain a healthy, positive state of mind. Cost $95 per person. • 17th April 10:00am - 4:00pm Major Illness – Lifestyle and Healing for All People. Finding a way back to good health and peace of mind and staying that way. Treating the body as an integrated whole: emotions, mind, spirit, conventional medicine, complementary and natural therapies, nutrition, how we think, emotional healing and meditation. Cost $95 per person. • Bookings for Dr Gawler’s workshops or more information on the programme can be obtained from: Relaxation Centre of Queensland. 15 South Pine Road, ALDERLEY, QLD, 4051 Phone (07) 3856 3733 e-mail: [email protected]

FUNDING YOUR EVENT Many Prostate Cancer Support Groups hold fundraising and awareness events throughout the year. The FEB11 edition of Andrology Australia’s “Time to Talk Tackle” offers the following tips to cover some of the expenses involved in running such a programme while at the same time publicising the event throughout the local community.

will be of benefit to them. It’s a good idea to have a document that outlines all these aspects to leave with any potential sponsor to consider. Even if the businesses or clubs you approach are unable to donate to your event, it’s a great way to start getting the word out to your local community.

Holding a men’s health community event will, more often than not, involve some outlay. Whether it’s venue hire, catering or promotions there’s a number of expenses that can come up when running an event. This month we look at options to help fund your event.

Grant Schemes

Sponsorship Gaining sponsorship can be a good way to reduce the costs of your event. Approaching local businesses and clubs (sporting clubs, Lions, Probus, etc.) is a good way to gain support. Support could range from anything to providing cash or goods (such as catering) or even agreeing to promote your event by displaying your advertising material. In return you can offer to promote their involvement in any promotional material you might distribute; on posters or in ‘showbags’ at the event. Before you start approaching potential sponsors, you need to be clear about what the event is, what its aims are and how their involvement

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There are a number of grants available for community events from different bodies all around Australia. Typing “community grants Australia” Google brings up a wealth of results from both Government and private funding bodies. Applying for grants requires a lot of forward planning as funding allocations can be decided months before events take place. Grant applications will generally need to include a thorough outline of what you want to do and include things like a projected budget. Local councils also often provide funding for community events. Sometimes it can be financial assistance through a scheme, or it could be support in the form of a reduced rate (or even free) for venue hire. Check with your local council to see what they offer.

PROSTATECTOMY – LAPAROSCOPIC OR ROBOTIC ASSISTED LAPAROSCOPIC? Dr Troy Gianduzzo specialises in Robotic and Laparoscopic Prostatectomy and Prostate Brachytherapy at the Wesley Hospital in Brisbane. He has had extensive experience in these disciplines, both in Australia and overseas where he underwent Fellowship training in the UK between 2004/2006 in laparoscopic urology and endourology plus oncology and in the USA in 2006/2007 in laparoscopic urology. He trained under Dr Christopher Eden in the UK and Professor Inderbir Gill in the U.S.A., both of who are world leading authorities on laparoscopic surgery. Dr Gianduzzo was the first internationally trained urologist in Queensland to offer laparoscopic (key-hole) radical prostatectomy. The Wesley Hospital is the only hospital in Queensland that can offer a full range of mainstream Dr Troy Gianduzzo options for treating localised prostate cancer. These include surgery (radical prostatectomy) via open, laparoscopic or robotic, low-dose (seed or LDR) brachytherapy, external beam radiotherapy with or without the addition of high-dose (HDR) brachytherapy and active surveillance. This enables the Wesley to give a tailored approach to treatment to suit the patient’s individual needs. Whilst Dr Gianduzzo’s talk concentrated on laparoscopic an robotic prostatectomy he did offer some general comments about surgery in general.

OPEN

ROBOTICS

PDE5 inhibitors [Viagra, Levitra, Cialis]) are 62% at 3 months rising to 67% at 6 months and 80% at 9 months, however these figures relate to men who were regularly able to achieve normal erections prior to surgery. For men who were having difficulty in this area prior to surgery, and there will be a large number who fall into this category because of age or other medical issues, a prostatectomy will not improve this situation and may exacerbate it. The current procedure for performing an open prostatectomy has been virtually unchanged since 1983. Instruments and techniques have been refined which improves outcomes but the operation is much the same. Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, or key-hole surgery, became a mainstream alternative to open surgery in 1998 and robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy followed in 2000. The robot-assisted operation was originally designed to give surgeons with minimal laparoscopic experience the ability to perform laparoscopic surgery. Advances in the robotic units have assisted surgeons to make the transition from open surgery to robotic/laparoscopic but experience and training in minimally invasive radical prostatectomy is important and an open surgeon should go through a learning curve of up to 250 cases of robotic to become proficient in the technique. There are some differences in the approach to open versus laparoscopic. With open it’s usual to begin at the base of the prostate and detach the urethra, then work upwards peeling the nerves and blood vessels away from the prostate and finally removing the prostate from the bladder. With laparoscopic/robotic it’s usual to start at the top of the prostate and sever it from the bladder, then work downwards peeling away the nerves and blood vessels and finally detach the urethra.

LAPAROSCOPY OPEN APPROACH

The operating surgeon will always try to carry out the procedure to maximise the “trifecta” outcomes. These are positive margin rates, continence and potency (preservation of erectile function). Whether open, laparoscopic or robotic, the outcomes of all three are similar in terms of erections, continence and cancer control but the latter two will give quicker recovery times and less blood loss, reducing the need for or number of transfusions. The results are dependent on the surgeon’s experience and, prior to selecting a surgeon, it’s always a good idea to enquire about the particular surgeons outcomes in terms of positive margins, pad free rates and erections. Dr Gianduzzo quoted his figures for continence (no pads) following laparoscopic radical prostatectomy as 67% of patients free of pads at 3 months rising to 86% at 6 months, 91% at 9 months and 100% at 18 months. His potency figures (achieve intercourse with or without

LAPAROSCOPIC ROBOTICS

Continued...

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PROSTATECTOMY – LAPAROSCOPIC OR ROBOTIC ASSISTED LAPAROSCOPIC? Continued... In both laparoscopic and robot-assisted prostatectomies the operation is carried out via small incisions in the abdomen through which the surgeon can pass the instruments. The work area is “inflated” with an inert gas to give a better view of proceedings.

With robotic-assisted the surgeon sits at a console away from the operating table and his hands remotely operate the instruments. The surgeon has a magnified three-dimensional view of proceedings and the robotic units can compensate for and vibration or hand shaking.

ROBOTIC

With laparoscopic surgery to surgeon stands beside the patient on the operating table directly manipulating the instruments. The technique requires considerable skill as the surgeon needs to work as though operating through a mirror. To move an instrument to the right, the surgeon must move to the left and the surgeon’s view is more two dimensional than three.

LAPAROSCOPIC RADIAL PROSTATECOMY

In the above slide the surgeon can be seen (slightly left of centre) sitting at the console whilst the patient lies on the operating table attended by theatre staff. When considering treatment options for surgery it’s important that the prospective patient realises that the outcomes for all three surgical approaches, laparoscopic, robotic and open prostatectomies, are similar in terms of cancer control, continence and preservation of potency. Laparoscopy and robotics offer quicker recovery and less blood loss but the outcomes of all three are dependent on the training and experience of the surgeon. Further information about Dr Gianduzzo’s work can be found at www.troygianduzzo.com.au

DOGS CAN SNIFF OUR PROSTATE CANCER IN URINE SAMPLES Big News Network.com 08FEB11 Dogs can sniff out chemicals released in urine by prostate tumours, thus opening up a new method for their early detection. These chemicals have distinct odours that dogs can pick up, says a new study, led by Jean-Nicolas Cornu of Tenon Hospital and colleagues in Paris. Cornu’s team trained a Belgian Malinois, a shepherd breed used for detecting bombs and drugs, to identify urine from patients with confirmed prostate cancer and urine from healthy men, the journal European Urology reports. After about an year of training, the dog was put to the test. The dog completed all the runs and correctly designated the cancer samples in 30 of 33 cases, according to a Tenon Hospital statement. Of the three cases wrongly classified as cancer, one patient was re-biopsied and a prostate cancer was diagnosed. The sensitivity and specificity were both 91 percent. This study shows that dogs can be trained to detect prostate cancer by smelling urine with a significant success rate.

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR - PRESERVING ERECTILE FUNCTION DURING ADT Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a major side effect of almost all prostate cancer treatments, including androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) or hormone therapy. After being diagnosed with locally advanced prostate cancer I was put on ADT for two years commencing in Dec 2008. I then embarked on learning as much as possible about ADT. The first really important piece of information I received was at a Feb 2009 Support Group meeting. Speaking was Dr Michael Gillman, a GP who specialises in men’s health and in particular erectile dysfunction. An important message received that night was the importance of our nocturnal erections (see the second reference below). The second was in Sept 2009 when after a talk she gave, Sylvia Burns from Cancer Council Queensland told me quite plainly that after two years of ADT my erections were very unlikely to return. I wondered “why does ADT cause ED”? The prostate is directly impacted by treatments such as surgery or radiotherapy and therefore the veins and nerves that cling to the outer part of the prostatic capsule and are responsible for erections are also impacted. But ADT is different, there’s no physical interference with the prostate. Articles on this subject mention that castrate levels of testosterone will inhibit good erections but they rarely mention the loss of those important nocturnal erections or why this loss occurs. It occurred to me that there was very likely a link between ADT causing a loss of all erections and the onset of ED. I then thought “can anything be done to preserve erectile function whilst on ADT”? How often do I need erections to keep everything in reasonable working order? This is quite different to penile rehabilitation following surgery where the aim is to correct damaged nerves and veins as well as preserve the smooth muscle. Being a regular gym user I’m aware that muscles generally do not need a lot of exercise to keep them healthy but they do need regular exercise. I decided that as long as I managed an erection about every third day it might be enough, even though it’s a long way short of what my body used to do automatically. I’ve kept at this regime for the past 18 months and I can report that my erections are the same as shortly after I began ADT over 2 years ago. They have not deteriorated and can be occasionally good enough for normal penetrative sex even though I still have castrate levels of testosterone. Can it be that simple? It certainly seems to be working for me. In Feb 2011 I attended another presentation by Dr Gillman. He currently does a lot of penile rehabilitation work with surgery patients but he now also emphasises that he uses the same techniques for radiotherapy and ADT patients. He recommends that men should achieve at least two erections per week but for men with very low testosterone levels the PDE5 drugs (Viagra, Levitra and Cialis) seldom work. I hope the above will be useful for men starting an ADT journey who hope to preserve their erectile function. Below I’ve listed various

websites I’ve found useful during my ADT research. Dr John Mulhall from the Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (first website) explains that you shouldn’t delay to let things settle down before getting blood back into erectile tissue. He prefers really firm erections because it stretches the smooth muscle. I found this was often impossible but don’t let it put you off, fresh blood flowing into the penis is always beneficial regardless. In the second video Dr Mulhull states that “Erectile tissue is a muscle and when muscles are not used they undergo a form of atrophy. As men, we get three erections every night of our lives during dream sleep. The purpose of these erections is to protect that muscle and endothelium. If you go 6 months without erections that muscle will undergo atrophy and we cannot go back and fix it.” Erectile Process For a description of the erection process and ED see this John Mulhall video “Sexual Health Problems in Men with Cancer – Sloan Kettering” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQlGVT7HiF8 Nocturnal Penile Tumescence (NPT) Tumescence just means swelling so this is the medical term for erections during sleep. For a good article on NPT see “Psychophysiologic Correlates of Nocturnal Penile Tumescence in Normal Males” http://www.psychosomaticmedicine.org/cgi/ reprint/48/6/423.pdf A Simple Test for NPT (stamp test) This article tells you how to test for NPT and shows the effect of radiation on NPT and on normal erections. see “Simple stamp test aids erectile dysfunction assessment” http://www.urosource.com/ home/conference-reports/conference-reports/view/article/simplestamp-test-aids-erectile-dysfunction-assessment/?tx_ttnews%5Bb ackPid%5D=79&cHash=bb12835c1d490b90c9f2b26a6fd32382 All Prostate Cancer Treatments Increase Risk Unfortunately all treatments for prostate cancer greatly increase the risk of erectile dysfunction; see “Quality of life three years after diagnosis of localised prostate cancer”, http://www.bmj.com/ content/339/bmj.b4817.full.pdf “Another video”, by Dr John Mulhall, describes the procedures which produce erectile dysfunction “Cancer Treatments Can Cause Erectile Dysfunction”, http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=o7GmTZITJ5s Impact of long term ADT on Sexual Function Here is a quote on the subject. “Clinical evidence documents the negative impact of androgen ablation on sexual desire and activity, nocturnal erections, and erectile function in a dose– response relationship”. See “Impact of Androgen Deprivation on Male Sexual Function” http://www.springerlink.com/content/ mn30268071504mg6/ Euan Perry, (07) 3103 5135, Feb 2011.

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PCFA REPORT The PCFA Office in Brisbane is functioning normally again following the January floods although many of our neighbours and sponsors are still having a tough time of it. We were delighted to accept a cheque for $18,644 from the Queensland Country Women’s Association to go towards prostate cancer research and awareness programmes. This money was raised through the efforts of all the Queensland CWA Divisions throughout 2010. A great effort, more so because last year was a tough time for many of the State’s rural areas.

Runaway Bay. APP2011 followed from 18th. to 20th. March. This is The Pharmacy Guild of Australia’s annual conference and it was held at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre. At the end of the month the CMSF Conference (Conference of the Major Superannuation Funds) was held at the same location. A golf day was held at the Paradise Springs Colonial Golf Club to coincide with the CMSF event, organised by Roger Large. In between these last two events the Queensland Chapter of PCFA held their Conveners’ Conference and Workshop in conjunction with Cancer Council Queensland. This was held at the Cancer Council head office in Brisbane. In April we have two fundraising/awareness and existing community partnership events; the Toowoomba Rangers Rugby Union at Toowoomba on the 16th. and the Rumble Ride beginning from the Ironbark Inn at Barcaldine on the 24th. May will be a busy month with the Brisbane Truck Show at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre from the 5th. to the 8th., the Gold Coast Triathlon on the 7th., Pedal for Prostate at Miami on the Gold Coast on the 15th., Ride the Range (details above) and the 2011 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show from the 19th. to the 22nd.

Queensland PCFA Manager Graeme Higgs Accepting the CWA Cheque

The University of Southern Queensland’s Ride the Range was scheduled for the 27th. February but due to the flood devastation in the Lockyer Valley and road damage this has been postponed until Sunday 15th. May. “The Ride”, in support of PCFA, will start at 5:30am at Toowoomba’s Picnic Point and participants can select one of two options. A 60km ride to Helidon and return or a 100km ride to Gatton. Both finish at the Picnic Point start. Further details are available at www.ridetherange.org.au Sponsors’ events in March included the 2011 ARL Masters Carnival, from the 10th. to the 12th, an awareness and fundraising event which was held at the Runaway Bay Junior Leagues Club at

The Truck Show is a biennial event and is the largest show of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. We have had an awareness booth there for the past few shows and the booth always does good “business”. Ditto the annual Boat Show. Following the resignation and departure of PCFA CEO Andrew Giles in February I’ll be carrying out some extra-curricular duties until a new CEO is appointed and works out what’s what. Therefore please excuse me if I’m a little slow or vague in responding to requests. My capable sidekicks, Alison and Courtney, will only be too happy to try and help. Graeme Higgs – Manager PCFA Queensland.

NEW INSIGHT ON WEIGHT GAIN AFTER PROSTATE CANCER THERAPY Many men with prostate cancer will get treatments to block male hormones like testosterone in an effort to keep their cancer from spreading. There are several recognised side-effects associated with those therapies, including hot flushes, loss of interest in sex, erectile dysfunction, bone loss, mood changes and weight and body composition shifts. Body composition is a loss of muscle and bone mass with an increase in fat mass. Now a new study shows that the weight gain, about 9 pounds (3.5kg) on average, associated with a form of hormone therapy called androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) appears to level off after the first year of treatment. It’s a finding that experts say is useful in helping doctors and patients who are trying to manage that extra girth which studies have shown may increase the risks of diabetes and heart disease. The study is published in the March issue of the British Journal of Urology International.

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SPOTLIGHT ON Mackay 2011 is well underway and the Mackay Prostate Cancer Support Group will be 11 years old in July. Following a trip to Dubbo in May 2000 Daryl Hyland (who lived in Mackay at that time) with the support of Dr. Sanjeev Bandi, started the Mackay Group in July of that year. The Group currently has a membership in excess of 200 and meets, as it did when the Group commenced, at bi-monthly meetings on the second Thursday of the even months. The meetings commence at 7:30 pm and are held at the Mackay Mater Hospital. Meetings average 30-40 and a guest speaker makes a presentation on a topic of interest. In 2010 the Mackay Group continued to grow which in one way is not a good thing as it means more men are being diagnosed with, and subsequently are having treatment for, prostate cancer. Although we have grown substantially over the past 5-10 years on the back of the coal industry, I have noticed within my short time as Convener that many of our Group already know each other and, in some cases, are or have been neighbours, friends and/or business associates. What a small world we live in. Recently through my involvement with work and as Convener I have come in contact with several men, mostly in their early to mid 40’s who have been diagnosed and have had or are awaiting surgery. I have made contact with these chaps and hope that sharing the experience has made a difference to their approach to treatment. Throughout the past year, the Mackay group has had some interesting guest speakers with topics ranging from exercise before and after treatment to the future direction of prostate cancer treatments.

the Mackay Mater Hospital. These were greatly appreciated. The Mackay Group is very fortunate to have two dedicated members (Noel and Graeme) who work tirelessly in a fundraising role and their enthusiasm is a challenge to all of us to do more. Mackay Iona West Church established a “Men’s Work Shed” in early 2010 and I delivered a presentation to a group of interested men in “The Shed” on a very rainy Saturday morning. Trish Sorbello has maintained her high level of involvement with Prostate Cancer Support despite having some medical issues of her own to deal with. Trish continues to deliver talks to community groups. I had the pleasure of attending a talk to 40 or so men from Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) Hay Point. The talk was well received and many questions followed prior to a morning tea being served. Again to prove the small world we live in, I was approached after the meeting by my neighbour whose father was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. We fielded a team in the golf day challenge in support of the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA) which was held at the Mackay Golf Club. Again this was a great success and a fun day was had by all. 2010 finished with a Christmas Party which was well attended despite the prospect of storms and the recent rain. In 2011 the Group had their first meeting of the year on the 10th February at the Mater Hospital. Guest Speaker for the night was Dr. Andrew McLaughlan, a radiologist. We attended the Conveners’ Conference and Workshop in Brisbane at the end of last month and, at this stage, have the following planned for the year: • Relay for Life - May 14th & 15th. • Pink in the Valley Charity Day (Breast Cancer / Prostate Cancer) August 12th to 14th. • Men’s Health Day (Sarina Lions Club) -TBA. • Business Golf Day (held every month on a Sunday) - November.

Sarina Lions Club Men’s Health Information Night conducted by the Mackay Group including (l to r) Mary Ahern, Ron Ahern, Joe Sorbello, Trisha Sorbello, Beth Westcott, Warrick Westcott, Chris Bartlem, Claire Bartolo, Joe Bartolo.

The 2010 “Relay for Life” was well attended and all had a great night as well as despatching the odd kilo or two. There was a last minute change to the venue due to early wet weather making the normal venue unavailable, so congratulations to Cancer Council Queensland and all the teams who made the effort the day before and on the evening. Planning for this year’s “Relay for Life” is high on our agenda and we hope to have a greater rollout and set a higher target for our fundraising as well as promoting prostate cancer and awareness. Donations made to the Mackay Group throughout the year allowed us to purchase 2 new syringe drivers for St Catherine’s Palliative Care Unit at

• Community meeting at Moranbah to gauge interest in the formation of a Support Group in the area. I have had talks with the Community Advisor for BMA to garner their support. One of our goals for 2011 is to be more visible in the community and to encourage men to take a more proactive approach to their health. It’s about time men took a leaf out of the female approach to health and took every opportunity to learn more about their health, not hide behind their fears, and have more regular check-ups. Remember diagnosis of an illness in the early stages is a good thing as it allows you to do something about it. Not knowing is the problem. On behalf of the MPCSG I extend our gratitude and thanks to PCFA , Cancer Council Queensland and Members of the Queensland Chapter Council for their continued support and hard work towards not only finding a cure for cancer, but also towards the men already diagnosed with this disease. John Clinton - Convenor MPCSG.

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UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND TAKING APPLICATIONS FOR 2011 EXERCISE PROGRAMME FOR PROSTATE CANCER SURVIVORS Once again the University of Queensland School of Human Movement Studies are taking applications for their 2011 Exercise Clinics for prostate cancer survivors. There are two separate programmes. The first is a clinic for prostate cancer survivors. Men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer are invited to become part of this free programme which offers a health appraisal and personalised, one-on-one, exercise sessions. The clinic is based at the University of Queensland’s St. Lucia campus and runs every Thursday from 5th. May to 16th. June 2011, with morning and afternoon sessions available. Applicants can nominate to attend between 10:30-11:30 or 1:30-2:30. The initial session will include a health assessment to measure aerobic fitness, body composition, blood pressure, flexibility and strength and these will again be assessed in the final session. Additional exercise sessions can be programmed for participants to complete on their own if they so desire. The second programme is a “Prostate Cancer & Exercise Study” for men who have been on hormone therapy (androgen deprivation therapy or ADT) following their prostate cancer diagnosis for at least two months or more and expect to remain on hormone therapy for the duration of the study (12 months). The Study participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups and will undertake two supervised exercise sessions of approximately one hour per week. To be eligible to enter this second programme applicants must not have metastatic bone disease, osteoporotic fractures or be taking bone medication such as bisphosphonates, must not have a problem that would inhibit exercise such as musculoskeletal, neurological or cardiovascular disorders and not have been participating in resistance training (strength or weight training) for the previous three months.

As with the first programme, participation will take place at the University of Queensland’s St. Lucia campus and, if driving, parking fees accumulated during the study times will be reimbursed. Alternative travel to UQ’s St. Lucia campus could be by ferry (the UQ “CityCat” terminal is approximately 100m from the School of Human Movement Studies building) or by bus from the Brisbane CBD. Historically, research into the benefits of exercise and cancer survival has predominantly involved women and breast cancer with few studies examining improvements in health and quality of life for men diagnosed with prostate cancer. It is well established that exercise is an effective therapy and studies carried out to date involving men receiving hormone therapy have produced positive results. Those in the training groups within these trials showed significant improvements in muscle strength, cardiovascular health, balance and functional performance. For prostate cancer survivors not on hormone therapy the benefits of a structured exercise programme can offset or assist delaying a range of chronic conditions such as Type II Diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and arthritis. A study by Stacey A. Kenfield and colleagues from the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology in January this year, found that among men with prostate cancer physical activity appears to be associated with lower overall mortality risk. The study followed 2,705 men diagnosed with non-metastatic prostate cancer from 1990 to 2008. To apply to enter either of these two programmes or receive further information, please contact Kate Bolam by ‘phone (07-3346 9710) or via e-mail on [email protected].

EXERCISE COULD DECREASE PROSTATE CANCER PROGRESSION The Harvard School of Public Health and the University of California San Francisco researchers, in a new study has found that physical activity is linked to a decreased risk of overall mortality and death from prostate cancer. The study reveals that men who had more strenuous activity had the lowest risk of dying from the disease. This study is the first in men with prostate cancer that assesses physical activity after diagnosis in connection to prostate cancer specific mortality and overall mortality. According to Stacey Kenfield, head researcher of the study and researcher at Harvard, their findings advocate that men can

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decrease their risk of progression from prostate cancer after diagnosis by adding physical activity to their daily routine. This comes as good news for men living with prostate cancer who are in question of what lifestyle practice to follow to better their chances for cancer survival. In the United States, prostate cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer diagnosed in men. One in six men will be affected in their lifetime. There are more than two million men in the United States and sixteen million men worldwide who are survivors of prostate cancer. Continued...

The study consisted of 2,705 men diagnosed with the cancer in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study over an 18-year span. Participants reported the amount of average time each week they had done physical activity. The activity included walking, swimming, bicycling and other outdoor forms of sport.

overall health even if it is in a small amount such as 15 minutes each day of walking, jogging or other activity. Strenuous activity of three hours or more a week could be greatly beneficial for prostate cancer as well as for overall health. Exercises which could be beneficial include:

The findings revealed that both strenuous and non-strenuous activity did provide benefits for overall survival. This was in comparison to men who had walked 90 minutes a week or less at an easy pace. Men who had walked at a normal to very-brisk pace for 90 minutes or more each week had a 46% less chance of dying from any cause. Vigorous activity defined as more than 3 hours a week, was linked to a decreased prostate mortality. Men that did vigorous activity had a 61% decreased risk of prostate cancer specific death in comparison to men who did less than one hour each week of vigorous activity. According to the researchers their findings suggest that men with prostate cancer should participate in some physical activity for their

Regular aerobics of moderate to vigorous have been shown to slightly reduce risk factors linked to colon polyps and colon cancer in men. Weight lifting and weight training can strengthen and stretch the body. It provides strengthening for muscles and bones, prevents injury and promotes overall health. Aikido, a Japanese form of martial arts is an overall programme for fitness, flexibility and relaxation. It’s a great way to obtain a vigorous workout. Debbie Nicholson – AllVoices 07JAN11.

PROSTATE CANCER CAN BE MADE TO KILL ITSELF BY NEWLY FOUND PROTEIN Fiona Macrae – Daily Mail 01FEB11 Scientists have made a breakthrough in the battle against prostate cancer. They have pinpointed a protein that stops cancerous cells from growing and even drives them to kill themselves.

stop it to spreading from other parts of the body where it can be deadly. It’s early stages yet, but if further studies confirm these findings, then FUS might be a promising target for future therapies. FUS slows the cancer cells right down when grown in controlled conditions. So ultimately what we hope is a cure will be somewhere down the line.’

A drug that boosts levels of the protein, called FUS, could stop the disease from spreading around the body, saving many of the 10,000 lives lost to the disease each year. The research, at Imperial College London, could also help doctors more accurately distinguish the more common, slower-growing forms of the disease from the more aggressive, faster-growing types.

FUS is also linked to the severity of the disease, with prostate cancer tending to be more severe in men with lower levels of the compound, the journal Cancer Research reports.

Such a test could save thousands of men from gruelling and unnecessary treatments. Doctors currently use a variety of techniques, including blood tests, biopsies, microscopy and scans, to determine who are most at risk and how they should be treated. But the results are not wholly reliable – meaning that many men are subjected to unnecessary surgery and radiotherapy, both of which carry a high risk of incontinence and impotence. Now researchers at Imperial College have shown that FUS, which occurs naturally in cells, can stem the growth of prostate tumour cells in a dish – and trigger a series of reactions that leads to their death. When they boosted the amount of FUS, more cells died, suggesting that a drug that boosts levels in patients could be of real benefit.

Researcher Greg Brooke described FUS as a ‘crucial link’ in the progression of the disease. He added: ‘The next step is to investigate whether FUS could be a useful test of how aggressive prostate cancer is. Then we might look for ways to boost FUS levels in patients to see if that would slow tumour growth or improve response to hormone therapy. If FUS really is a tumour suppressor, it might also be involved in other cancers, such as breast cancer, which has significant similarities with prostate cancer.’ Dr Helen Rippon, of the Prostate Cancer Charity, which part-funded the study, said: ‘This provides us with an important clue.’ But she added: ‘It is important to remember that this is a laboratory study, looking at how prostate cancer cells respond in a lab rather than in the human body, meaning that it will still be some time before men affected by prostate cancer will see any direct benefit.’ Prostate cancer is the most common form of the disease among British men. Each year 36,000 men are diagnosed with the condition, which kills one man every hour.

Dr Charlotte Bevan, the study’s senior author, said: ‘These findings suggest that FUS might be able to suppress tumour growth and

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Short Cuts Gene Test Spots High-Risk Prostate Cancer - A four-gene signature accurately distinguished high-risk prostate cancer from low-risk disease in a series of experiments involving mice and human tumour specimens. In studies involving archived human prostate cancer specimens, the test demonstrated 83% accuracy for identifying cancers that led to fatal metastatic spread. Combining the test result with Gleason score increased the accuracy to 90%, researchers reported online in Nature 04FEB11. Expert says boys must be offered cancer jab - The immunisation programme that protects girls against the virus linked to cervical cancer should immediately be extended to boys to prevent other cancers, a leading epidemiologist says. Sydney Morning Herald 08FEB11. Report finds global cancer burden will keep rising if preventative measures are not widely adopted (HealthDay News) – More than 300,000 U.S, cancer cases could be prevented annually with changes in diet, physical activity and alcohol intake, according to a report released 04FEB11 by the World Cancer Research Fund. In addition, another report published online in A Cancer Journal for Clinicians notes that cancers associated with lifestyles and behaviours related to economic development will keep increasing in developing nations if preventative measures are not widely adopted. Post-Prostatectomy Radiotherapy Has Not Increased Despite Recent Research Linking the Therapy to Improved Survival (HealthDay News) – Recommendations for post-prostatectomy radiation therapy (PPRT) have not increased despite the recent presentation of studies reporting its association with improved biochemical disease-free survival (bDFS). Karen E. Hoffman MD of the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and colleagues evaluated the use of PPRT after two recent trials found that it improves bDFS. They reviewed records of 21,917 men who underwent prostatectomy for NOMO cancer with adverse pathological features (based on pT category) between 2000 and 2007. The research was published in the JAN11 issue of The Journal of Urology. Prostate cancer ‘gene test’ hope - 09FEB11 – Experts believe they can develop a genetic screening test that can tell doctors which men with prostate cancer need aggressive treatment. Early trial results for Cancer Research UK suggest men with high levels of cell cycle progression (CCP) genes have the most deadly tumours. The CCP test could potentially save men with milder forms of the disease from unnecessary treatment. Large-scale studies are now needed, the Lancet Oncology journal reports. Testicular cancer deaths double with after-40 diagnosis – 09FEB11 NEW YORK (Reuters) – Men diagnosed with testicular cancer at 40 years of age or older have twice the risk of dying from the disease as younger patients, according to a study of nearly 28,000 men. This was true even when initial treatment and the extent of the disease were taken into account, according to findings published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. No Link Between Vitamin D Levels and Prostate Cancer – 15FEB11 – Vitamin D levels do not affect men’s chances of developing prostate cancer, according to new research published in the journal Cancer Causes and Control. In a detailed review, funded by Cancer Research UK, scientists from the University of Bristol looked at all the available evidence and found there was no link between the amount of Vitamin D in men’s blood and the risk of prostate cancer. High Need for Palliative Care Among Cancer Patients – Even though surveys of healthy adults have suggested that most individuals would prefer to die at home, that does not seem to be the reality. More than 50% of Americans with serious illnesses die in acute care hospitals, and the vast majority of Medicare beneficiaries (>90%) will be hospitalised during the year preceding their death. Therefore, palliative care has become an integral aspect of care provided by acute care hospitals, say researchers in a study published online 24JAN11 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Diagnosis of Cancer of Unknown Primary Origin Lethally efficient, it kills more than three-quarters of the 3,000 Australians it affects each year, typically within three months. Treatment usually makes little difference and there is no screening test for worried families. Doctors do not specialise in it, patient-support groups do not exist and there are no ribbon-day fundraisers or celebrity sufferers. Most people have never even heard of it. Sydney Morning Herald 24FEB11. When PSA Is Not High, Velocity Can Mislead – A change in the level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), known as PSA velocity, is not a good predictor of prostate cancer. In fact, in the absence of other indications, such as a positive digital rectal examination or a high PSA level, there is no evidence to support prostate biopsy in men with a high PSA velocity, according to a new analysis. These findings appear to contradict a body of evidence that supports the relation between PSA velocity and prostate cancer, but “this contradiction is more apparent than real,” note the authors. The study was published online in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute 24FEB11. Denosumab superior to zoledronic acid in preventing skeletal events in prostate cancer (HealthDay News) – Denosumab prevents skeletal-related events for longer than zelodronic acid in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer with bone metastases. Karim Fizazi MD, PhD, from the University of Paris Sud in Villejuif, France, and colleagues compared the efficacy of denosumab and zoledronic acid in preventing skeletal-related events in 1,901 patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer with bone metastasis. In this Phase III study, 950 men received denosumab and 951 men received zoledronic acid. The patients were followed up for an average 12.2 and 11.2 months, respectively. The research was published online in The Lancet 25FEB11. Above Information Sourced from Cancer Daily News

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CLINICAL TRIALS Most of the current therapies and treatments used to combat disease and patient care started life as clinical trials. Clinical trials represent the progression of research to application of that research to humans and may include such things as new drugs, new surgical techniques and new methods of treatment such as vaccines, radiotherapy, supportive, palliative, cryotherapy, laser, diagnostic techniques, alternative or complementary products, combinations or extensions of existing therapies, etc... Patients who participate in clinical trials are often able to access cutting edge technology which may not be available for many years or receive treatment that is not yet an option, perhaps due to cost or health policy guidelines. For those participating in trials the level of patient care is often more rigorous than would normally be the case. The downside is that new treatment methods or drugs could have unknown risks associated with their use and, in some trials, the patient may be prescribed a placebo or standard treatment rather than the new product or technique being tested and neither the patient nor the prescribing doctor will be aware of this. With many clinical trials, most often in the Phase III stage, the participants are randomly selected to receive the trial product or treatment method and others will be selected as “controls” and will just receive the standard treatment or none at all (a placebo). These can be “double blind” trials, where neither doctor nor patient knows whether they’re receiving the trial product or “single blind” trials where the patients are not aware if they’re getting the “real thing” but the doctor is aware. Clinical trials are generally classified as one of four phases. Phase I trials test “first time in humans” drugs and treatment techniques. They are used to evaluate the safety, rather than the efficacy, of new drugs and to demonstrate the lack, or otherwise, of harmful side effects and risks associated with the use of the product. Whilst the trial products may have already undergone extensive laboratory and animal testing, because of the possible unknown problems when used for the first time in humans the trials are generally limited to a small number of participants and these may be patients who have had the standard therapies to treat their disease but these have proved to be unsuccessful. Phase II trials continue to monitor safety aspects but primarily evaluate the effectiveness of the trial product. Information gathered during this phase may well determine whether or not it’s worth proceeding with testing. Participants in Phase I and II trials are rarely randomised and all receive the product under test. Phase III trials look at the effectiveness of the outcomes of the Phase II studies and compare the results with other treatments being used to treat similar ailments. Patient numbers are usually large and the participants are generally randomised into various groups to accurately compare the efficacy of the test product against others already in use. Phase IV trials are used to monitor long-term effects, to look at usage conditions that may affect health outcomes, to gather information that could be used for product registration (e.g. the PBS) and possibly assist pharmaceutical companies with the marketing and positioning of a new drug. By the time a Phase IV trial is underway the test product will have been approved for use. It is possible to skip some of these phases. For instance an existing, approved drug may be being tried in a new application so it will not be necessary to go through the Phase I (safety in humans) stage. Clinical trial protocols are always examined by an ethics committee and must be approved by the committee before a trial begins. The ethics committee members are independent of research teams. Before entering a trial a patient is informed of all possible known risks and side effects that may occur. Trial procedures are free-of-charge to participants and, indeed, in many trials patients will be compensated for out-of-pocket expenses. At any given time within Australia there are a number of clinical trials looking at new therapies and drugs to improve the lot of men with prostate cancer. Depending on whether a patient meets the criteria for inclusion in the trials, potential participants can register for future trial participation or join trials. This is best done through the patient’s specialist doctor but details of Australian trials can be found by going to one of the following websites and following the prompts:

• www.australiancancertrials.gov.au • www.anzctr.org.au

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TOMATOES HELP WARD OFF PROSTATE CANCER TheMedGuru 03JAN11 Choosing to eat tomatoes not only reduces a man’s risk of developing prostate cancer but also shrinks the existing tumours, claims a new Italian study. Researchers theorise that the secret may lie in lycopene, the powerful anti-oxidant that makes tomatoes red. Lycopene helps neutralize harmful free radicals that are implicated in various kinds of cancer, cardiovascular problems, macular degeneration and other age-related illnesses. However, the benefit was strongest for prostate cancer. Experiment on laboratory rats In a bid to assess the prostate cancer-fighting properties of tomatoes, the researchers at the University of Naples conducted an experiment on rodents. For the purpose of the study, the researchers fed laboratory rats implanted with prostate cancer cells, with either a normal diet or that containing 10 percent tomato powder. The tomato powders were made from whole foods so the effects of eating the entire vegetable could be assessed as a nutritional supplement. The investigators noted that the animals fed on tomato powder exhibited slow progression of the disease and also had lower rates of prostate cancer. In contrast, those fed on a normal diet displayed no such benefits. Joanna Owens, from Cancer Research Britain disagrees and stated, “This study doesn’t provide enough evidence that tomatoes can reduce the risk of prostate cancer or prevent progression of the disease in humans “Other risks such as age, family history and ethnicity are likely to play a much greater role than diet alone.” The study has been published in the journal ‘Cancer Prevention Research.’

Other health benefits of tomatoes: • Tomatoes, technically a fruit but classified as a vegetable, not only tickle the taste buds but also offer many health benefits. Tomatoes, best known as a rich source of lycopene are also low in calories, sugar, sodium, fat and are an excellent source of many essential vitamins and minerals. • Nicotinic acid in tomatoes helps reduce blood cholesterol that protects against heart disease. • It helps in cases of congestion of liver as well as dissolving gallstones. Tomatoes are a natural antiseptic that helps fight various infections. • It is a good blood purifier and daily consumption of tomatoes helps in improving skin texture and colour. • Tomatoes rich in vitamin K, and are important to bone health. The fibre in tomatoes aids healthy digestion and helps to improve constipation. It is also known to aid weight loss. • Tomatoes contain lutein which may help prevent macular degeneration and to improve vision. • Research indicates, tomato has anti-clotting properties much like aspirin and reduces the risk of blood clots and stroke.

MDV3100 - GOOD NEWS EXPECTED FOR LATE STAGE PROSTATE CANCE THERAPY Market Wire 14FEB11 SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Medivation, Inc. (NASDAQ: MDVN) and Astellas Pharma Inc. today announced that new, long-term, followup data from the Phase 1-2 trial of MDV3100 in patients with advanced prostate cancer will be presented in a poster session at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s Genitourinary Cancers Symposium (ASCO-GU) in Orlando, Fla. MDV3100 is a novel, tripleacting, oral androgen receptor antagonist. The abstract (#177), titled “Antitumor activity of MDV3100 in preand post-docetaxel advanced prostate cancer: long-term followup of the Phase 1-2 study” will be available tomorrow, Tuesday, February 15, at 6:00 p.m. ET on the ASCO website at www.

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ASCO.org. The full poster (poster board #A71) will be presented on Thursday, February 17, from 4:50 - 6:20 p.m. ET during the General Poster Session B: Prostate Cancer in the Exhibit Hall at the Orlando World Center Marriott. The poster will include the most up-to-date data from this trial and will expand upon the results originally submitted in the abstract. “We look forward to presenting promising new efficacy data from the Phase 1-2 trial of MDV3100,” said Lynn Seely, M.D., chief medical officer of Medivation. “As part of these data, we will be sharing results of median time to prostate specific antigen (PSA) progression. We will be presenting PSA progression data calculated using three distinct reporting criteria: the criteria specified in the

Phase 1-2 trial protocol; the most recent published PSA reporting consensus criteria (the Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials Working Group 2, or PCWG2, criteria)(1); and an older commonly used reporting method (the Prostate-Specific Antigen Working Group 1, or PSAWG1, criteria)(2).” About the Medivation/Astellas Collaboration In October 2009, Medivation and Astellas entered into a global agreement to jointly develop and commercialize MDV3100. The companies are collaborating on a comprehensive development program that includes studies to develop MDV3100 for both early-stage and advanced prostate cancer. Subject to receipt of regulatory approval, the companies will jointly commercialize MDV3100 in the U.S. and Astellas will have responsibility for commercializing MDV3100 outside the U.S. Medivation received a $110 million up-front payment upon entering into the collaboration agreement, and is eligible to receive up to $335 million in development milestone payments, up to $320 million in commercial milestone payments, 50% of profits on sales in the U.S., and tiered, double-digit royalties on sales outside the U.S. About MDV3100 MDV3100 is an investigational therapy in clinical development for advanced prostate cancer. In preclinical experiments published in Science in April 2009(3), the novel, triple-acting, oral androgen receptor antagonist provided more complete suppression of the androgen receptor pathway than bicalutamide, the most commonly used anti-androgen. MDV3100 slows growth and induces cell death in bicalutamide-resistant cancers via three complementary actions -- MDV3100 blocks testosterone binding to the androgen receptor, impedes movement of the androgen receptor to the nucleus of prostate cancer cells (nuclear translocation) and inhibits binding to DNA. In the preclinical experiments published in Science, MDV3100 was superior to bicalutamide in each of these three actions.

About Prostate Cancer Prostate cancer is the second most common non-skin cancer among men in the world and it is the sixth leading cause of cancer death among men worldwide. Patients whose prostate tumors have stopped responding to, or are growing despite the use of, active hormone treatment strategies are considered to have advanced prostate cancer. These patients have a poor prognosis and few treatment options. About Medivation Medivation, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the rapid development of novel small molecule drugs to treat serious diseases for which there are limited treatment options. Medivation aims to transform the treatment of these diseases and offer hope to critically ill patients and their caregivers. Together with its corporate partners Pfizer and Astellas, Medivation currently has investigational drugs in Phase 3 development to treat advanced prostate cancer, mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease and Huntington disease. For more information, please visit us at www.medivation.com. About Astellas Pharma Inc. Astellas Pharma Inc., located in Tokyo, Japan, is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the health of people around the world through provision of innovative and reliable pharmaceuticals. Astellas has approximately 16,000 employees worldwide. The organization is committed to becoming a global category leader in Urology, Immunology & Infectious Diseases, Neuroscience, DM complications & Metabolic Diseases and Oncology. For more information on Astellas Pharma Inc., please visit our website at www.astellas.com/en.

Partnership Invests Millions in ‘Liquid Biopsies’ Imagine doctors being able to find common cancers just by testing a little bit of blood. Sure would beat getting poked with a sharp needle, right? Well today Johnson & Johnson and Massachusetts General Hospital announced a $30 million investment by the company in a partnership that aims to develop technology that could detect even a few cancers cells floating in a person’s blood.

Scher notes in the NCI piece that plucking the cancer cells from blood is just the start. Researchers have to show that the test results have prognostic value.

Mass General’s Dr. Daniel Haber, one of the test’s inventors, told the Associated Press, “This is like a liquid biopsy.” The experimental test uses a plastic chip whose microscopic inner surfaces are covered in antibodies to grab cancer cells from the blood. Those cells can be analyzed in detail as well as counted. Some early research has shown the approach has promise. It could, if all goes well, help doctors detect cancer and also to tailor treatment. But developing cool technology is one thing—making sure that it makes a difference in patient care is another.

But the company discontinued a once highly touted genetic test to help surgeons figure out if breast cancer had spread to lymph nodes. The test, called GeneSearch, never caught on. It was expensive and gave quite a few false alarms. Surgeons weren’t convinced it was so much better than what they had been doing.

The National Cancer Institute put together a lucid explanation of how the chips work, and also a cautionary note after a 2009 conference on the subject. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s Dr. Howard

J&J’s Veridex unit already sells a test called CellSearch to help guide treatment of metastatic forms of breast, prostate and colorectal cancer.

Update: In an e-mail, a spokesman for Veridex said the collaboration with Mass General is “is just beginning,” so there are “no details about what this future system will look like,” except that it will be small enough to sit on a lab bench and will be able to zero in on the biology of rare cells. Scott Hensley NPR (Zero) 03JAN11.

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AIR TRAVEL AND MEDICAL DEVICES A corespondent from the U.S.A. has written about problems encountered whilst using a catheter and leg bag and the need to comply with the volume of liquids allowed on flights. This can create difficulties if you happen to encounter a ‘super efficient’ security officer or it could be embarrassing if you are subject to a “pat down” and the bag has not been emptied. For anyone in this situation and contemplating air travel, particularly international travel to North America and Europe, ensure the bag is empty before going through the security check and be prepared for a possible short delay if security wants further details about your situation. For those interested in this area, whether it concerns medical devices, medications or medical conditions, a good starting point is a visit to www.tsa.gov/travelers/index.shtm.

Brisbane PCSG - 2011 meeting program

- Cancer Council Queensland, 553 Gregory Terrace, Fortitude Valley.

Evenings at 7pm (Even months).

Mornings at 9.30am (Odd months).

April 13

May 11

“Dr Jane Howard, Sex Therapist “Sex, Relationships and Prostate Cancer”.

“Dr Bob Webb RBWH - Hyperbaric Medicine; Managing the Side-Effects of Treatment”.

Partners of Men with Prostate Cancer meet on the 4th Wednesday of each month between 6pm and 8pm at Cancer Council Queensland’s Gregory Terrace building. Members come together to share, learn and support each other in a warm open environment. Light refreshments are provided and there is parking underneath the building. For more information ‘phone Karen Ward on (07) 3356 8106.

Contact Details

Queensland Prostate Cancer News Mail: PO Box 201, Spring Hill Qld 4004 Email: [email protected] Phone: via Cancer Council Helpline 13 11 20 Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and Queensland Chapter Council Mail: 1/145 Melbourne Street, (P.O. Box 3420) South Brisbane Qld 4101 Email: [email protected] Phone: 07 3166 2140.

Disclaimer Council (ie. the Council of the Queensland Chapter) accepts no responsibility for information contained in this magazine. Whilst the information is presented in good faith, it may contain information beyond the knowledge of Council and therefore cannot be taken to be the opinion of Council.

Important privacy information You have received this magazine because you have provided your contact details to Cancer Council Queensland or to a Prostate Cancer Support Group (PCSG). The primary purpose of collecting your contact details was to enable support, resources and information to be offered to you as a person affected by or interested in prostate cancer. Your contact details are held in th e local office of Cancer Council Queensland. Cancer Council Queensland ensures compliance with the Privacy Act, and does not use or disclose your details except as you might reasonably expect. You may access your details and you may request that we correct or amend (ie. update) or delete your details.

LAST WORD

The information in this magazine is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read here.

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Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Mr Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. His birth records have been lost in bureaucratic red tape but he will be remembered for his simple teachings, a few of which I list here: don’t spend more than you earn; life isn’t always fair; maybe it was my fault; know to come in out of the rain; adults, not children, are in charge; Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for attempting to discipline children when the parents had failed to do so and took a beating when defending yourself from an intruder in your own home meant the intruder could sue you for assault. His will to live declined rapidly as criminals received better treatment than their victims. Mr Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust, his wife Discretion and his children Responsibility and Reason. Four stepbrothers survive; I Know My Rights, I Want It Now, Someone Else Is To Blame and I’m A Victim. It’s unlikely he’ll RIP. London Times Obituary (abbr).

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