Posted on August - 30 - 2010
Biopsies taken to diagnose prostate cancer commonly cause temporary erectile dysfunction and, in some cases, lingering urinary problems, according to a new study.
The findings, reported in the Journal of Urology, highlight the fact that even the tests for diagnosing prostate cancer can have side effects.
And men who are undergoing prostate biopsies — as well as those considering prostate cancer screening — should be aware of those risks, experts say.
This is especially important for men facing the prospect of multiple biopsies, since the risk of side effects appears to be related to the number of needle sticks used.
For the study, German researchers followed 198 men who had been randomly assigned to undergo one of three forms of biopsy to check for suspected prostate cancer: a standard biopsy, where a needle was used to take no more than 10 tissue samples; a 10-sample biopsy along with the use of a periprostatic nerve block to lessen any pain from the procedure; or a “saturation” biopsy, where 20 tissue samples were taken.
Saturation biopsies may be done in some cases where the doctor suspects a man has a particularly elevated risk of having cancer — such as a man who has had a negative biopsy in the past yet has persistently suspicious findings on PSA screening tests.
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Posted on August - 27 - 2010
NEW YORK — New research shows older men’s sex hormone levels depend on both race and geographical location, casting further doubt on the criteria for “male menopause.”
More than a million testosterone prescriptions are being written in the U.S. every year, experts say, and many go to middle-aged and older men with stunted libido and depressed mood presumably caused by low levels of the male sex hormone.
But there is no consensus about what these symptoms — sometimes called “male menopause” or “low T” — mean, or when testosterone levels are too low in the first place. (S
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Posted on August - 26 - 2010
ICON
NIAGARA FALLS, Ont. — Canada’s doctors wrestled with the idea of calling for a ban on mixed martial arts matches at their general council meeting Wednesday, but in the end, supported it with a clear majority.
The wording of the original motion — brought to the Canadian Medical Association’s national conference by doctors from British Columbia — was changed several times before it was finally put to a vote Wednesday morning.
It first called for a ban just on mixed martial arts fighting, and after two sessions of debate on Tuesday and Wednesday, it eventually called for the CMA to advocate a ban on “mixed martial arts prizefighting.”
Eighty-four per cent of delegates at the meeting, which is known as the medical profession’s parliament, supported the motion.
The outgoing president of the CMA, Dr. Anne D
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Posted on August - 24 - 2010
Hair loss can be quite a problem especially in today’s society where hair loss is viewed as aging. However, you need to remember that hair loss doesn’t only occur in old men. For many years, young people to have suffered from hair loss and have been ridiculed by their friends because of their situation. If you are already experiencing hair loss and are still relatively young, you may want to start using hair loss products which can prevent and even reverse hair loss.
Today, thanks to modern medical research and the advances in technology, there are now products available that can stop and even reverse hair loss. Wit
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