(part one)     Recently, I saw a new patient in consultation who had recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer.  This patient, a retired researcher with a PhD in mechanical engineering, was confused and concerned about his treatment options, and felt he was being pushed toward technology that has not been proven.  Specifically, he was unable [...]

   (part two)     Last week, I initiated a discussion regarding robotic surgery, and whether or not this new, shiny, glamorous technology really lives up to the billing that it is getting.  One thing that I always try to keep in mind when discussing cancer treatment with patients is their goals.  For most patients with [...]

Stereotactic Radiosurgery was introduced over 50 years ago by Dr. Lars Leksell.  The concept was the delivery of a precisely focused beam of radiation to a specific area of the brain located in 3-Dimensional space.  The first commercial unit available utilized a gamma source, utilizing Cobalt-60 as it’s radioactive source, thus the name Gamma Knife. [...]

Post lumpectomy radiotherapy was found to reduce the risk of local recurrence of breast cancer for many years, largely based on studies performed by a cooperative group known as the NSABP and also some European studies. Now we know that in addition to reducing the risk of local recurrence, post lumpectomy radiotherapy also reduces the chances [...]

Several times a week, I am asked “Is there a test that I can take that will tell me my risk of developing cancer?” The answer is typically no, except for a few test that can look at a genetic pre-disposition to develop some cancers such as breast cancer. However, this may change in the future due [...]

Candy- and fruit-flavored cigarettes are now illegal, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said this week. The ban is the first move by the FDA to enact the anti-tobacco initiatives outlined by the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, signed into law by President Obama in June of this year. Big Tobacco for years [...]

Years ago, physicians would not hesitate to prescribe hormone replacement therapy to women who were going through menopause. However, over the past 10 or so years, the risk associated with hormone replacement therapy, such as an increased risk of developing breast cancer, have cut back on the use of this class of drugs. If a woman is [...]