The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has stopped a study exploring the possibility that Vitamin E and/or Selenium might prevent prostate cancer.

Last year the recommendations were modified to limit Vitamin E to 200 IU per day to prevent increased risks of strokes and heart attacks, and to preferably stop it altogether. Selenium had been recommended to no more than 100 mcg per day (rather than 200) due to the worry that prostate cancers might actually grow faster if present. Same for Zinc above 70 mg per day.

The current multi-institutional study seems to reflect not only a failure of Vitamin E and Selenium to prevent prostate cancer, but a distinctly possible increased risk in men with family histories of prostate cancer. In addition, Selenium may cause diabetes.

Stick with lycopenes (tomato products), anti-inflammatory medicines, pomegranate juice, and soy proteins.

Erectile dysfunction following Brachytherapy (radioactive seeds implanted into prostate) is commonly quoted to cause ED in 20-25% of men within 2 years after treatment. However, Dr. John Mulcahy, leading ED authority, reports in Urology Times of a French study presented at this year’s American Urology Association. As many as 71% of patients followed for 4 years experienced some form of ED.

My preferred site for HIFU treatments is Puerto Vallarta, Mexico for its clean, private, new bilingual hospital (San Javier) located 5 minutes from the airport and hotels. The local staff work well with the International HIFU crew and American physicians, and the process is now fine tuned and routine.

The scheduled treatment weekends in Puerto Vallarta for 2010 are:

Jan 15-17
Feb 26-28
Mar 26-28
Apr 16-18
May 14-16
Jun 18-20
July 16-18
Aug 20-22
Sept 17-19
Oct 15-17
Nov 12-24
Dec 10-12

Future dates will be posted as they are designated.

Again from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, as reported in the Urology Times newspaper, androgen ablation was reported at the American Urology Association meeting this year to impair concentration, spatial ability, multitasking and other cognitive capacities. The researchers suggest patients be advised of this effect, and further study, including brain imaging, be pursued. The study was published in the July 28 online edition of the journal Cancer.

Earlier this year an increased risk of cardiovascular events was associated with Hormone Therapy.