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| Prostate Cancer |
Some doctors recommend avoiding chemo for patients with prostate cancer. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can give doctors a clear picture of the prostate, and it can also show if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. A contrast dye is injected into a vein before the scan, so doctors can see the details more clearly. Magnetic resonance imaging uses powerful magnets and radio waves to produce a detailed image of the prostate.
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Xofigo
Xofigo is an injection of a radioactive substance called radium-223. This drug is approved for men with advanced prostate cancer that has spread to bone. It has not yet been studied for safety in women. It can cause harm to an unborn baby if given to a pregnant woman. During and after Xofigo, men should use contraception. Women who may become pregnant should use birth control during treatment. Patients should inform their healthcare provider if they become pregnant.
Patients with advanced prostate cancer who have not undergone chemo may be able to avoid this therapy. Although there is no cure for prostate cancer, the treatment helps patients live longer and have fewer side effects than traditional treatments. It is an alternative to chemotherapy and other forms of treatment. This treatment can be given once a month to patients. The side effects of chemo are common.
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Abiraterone
In clinical trials, abiraterone for prostate cancer patients who wish to avoid chemo has shown substantial improvement in overall survival and radiographic progression-free survival in the metastatic castration-resistant subtype of the disease. The treatment's success is independent of patients' pain level, Gleason score, or prostate-specific antigen. This treatment is considered the first-line treatment for men with mCRPC.
The combination of abiraterone acetate with prednisone demonstrated potential activity in the poor-prognosis setting. It also increased PSA response, and the median overall survival was longer than in historical controls. Further studies should examine its effects on metastatic prostate cancer and abiraterone acetate. However, the study's results are not conclusive, and the study will continue.
Abiraterone vs docetaxel
A recent study looked at abiraterone or docetaxel in men with metastatic prostate cancer. The results showed that abiraterone had better results in early-stage hormone-sensitive disease. However, some oncologists have an unfavorable bias toward abiraterone. Patients with more aggressive cancer may benefit from chemotherapy upfront.
The two drugs were initially used in different combinations. Initially, docetaxel was considered the standard of care for patients with metastatic prostate cancer. However, the study found that patients treated with abiraterone often progress within 1.5 years. Moreover, abiraterone and docetaxel are often used in combination, and abiraterone has better efficacy than docetaxel alone.
Abiraterone vs Xofigo
In a study, radium-223 plus abiraterone, and prednisone improved progression-free survival and overall survival in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer. However, both abiraterone and Xofigo had different off-target side-effect profiles. Abiraterone was shown to reduce bone-related events, whereas Xofigo has more side-effects.
Xofigo is an intravenous drug that is used for men with advanced prostate cancer. This drug is approved only for patients who have failed at least two previous treatment options, including testosterone therapy. The drug works by binding to minerals within the bone and delivering radiation directly to tumors. In a study involving Xofigo patients undergoing testosterone therapy lived longer after taking the drug. Its similar cousins are strontium-89 and samarium-153.
Xofigo vs Xofigo
There are some differences between Xofigo and chemotherapy for prostate cancer patients. Both medications are effective against cancer cells, but they have their disadvantages. Xofigo is a radioactive therapy, whereas chemotherapy is a non-radioactive treatment. Xofigo is more effective in preventing bone metastases than chemotherapy. In addition to reducing the risk of bone metastases, Xofigo is also more effective in patients with advanced prostate cancer, so it is a viable option for these patients.
Xofigo is given as an intravenous injection. The treatment involves the placement of an IV line in a vein, and a healthcare provider will give the medication to the patient through the line. The patient must first schedule an appointment with their healthcare provider, who may perform a blood test before administering the treatment. The healthcare provider will then ask about your medical history and your treatment goals to determine whether Xofigo is a good option for you.
GnRH agonists
Currently, GnRH agonists are not included in hospital formularies, primarily because of their high price. But starting in January 2015, the costs of these drugs will be transferred to the hospital's budget, changing how doctors select these medicines. As a result, formulary selection will be based on a new approach, focusing on quality of life and safety rather than price.
While GnRH agonists are the first-line therapy for patients with prostate cancer, the use of GnRH antagonists has emerged as an option. These drugs, which are not formulated for sustained release, may be superior to GnRH agonists for certain prostate cancer patients. In a phase II trial, GnRH antagonists were compared to degarelix, an oral alternative to an injection. The primary outcome measure in the relugolix study was the percentage of patients who achieved an effective castration rate over 25 weeks. Patients on relugolix were almost completely castrated after 25 weeks.