Bend right over and touch your toes and I'll show you where the argon goes

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Study Details New Prostate Cancer Treatment

ABC News Nov 28

CHICAGO (Reuters) - About a third of men with prostate cancer could benefit from a selective procedure in which the tumor is frozen and killed without impotence as a likely side effect, researchers said on Tuesday.

"When men are diagnosed with prostate cancer, often they have to decide between 'watchful waiting' -- doing nothing and hoping the cancer does not grow quickly -- or choosing one of several treatments, all of which are the equivalent of launching a Scud missile on the prostate, and often cause side effect such as impotence, incontinence and bowel problems," said Gary Onik of Florida Hospital Celebration Health in Celebration, Fla.

"There has been no middle ground choice. Our preliminary research suggests focused cryosurgery is an effective treatment and could provide that middle ground for some men," he added.

The new technique would be appropriate for men with prostate cancer where the gland is affected by only one tumor -- about 35 percent of all cases, the report said. In such men about one quarter to three quarters of the gland is frozen but one of two nerves running alongside the prostate and which control erections is spared.

Onik said the procedure has been done so far on only nine men, seven of whom maintained their potency years later. By comparison only 20 to 50 percent of men who undergo surgical removal of the prostate where one nerve is spared remain potent, he said.

A report on the research was presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.

The technique involves the insertion of probes into the gland. The probes are cooled well below freezing with argon gas which freezes the tumor. The tissue is allowed to thaw and then frozen and thawed again, causing it to die.

The prostate is a walnut-sized gland which produced fluid for semen. It is the leading site for cancer among men in the United States.

-- (lars@indy.net), November 27, 2001

Answers

I guess that would be a freezin' ass procedure now wouldn't it?

Brr... Makes me cold just thinking about it...

Sniffin' at the ice... (do I know you?)

The Dog

-- The Dog (dogdesert@hotmail.com), November 27, 2001.


All joking aside, this IS a big one for men who have had prostate cancer. My brother is one of them and he...well...he hasn't been able to "perform" since his prostate was removed. If my memory serves, he's only 57 years old. That's pretty young to "lose it".

On the way to the airport, SO said he was going to see a urologist. He said, "In case you didn't notice, my libido is WAY down." LOL. We spent a whole day shopping for food for the company, two days cooking, had the grandson barf all over the carpet, spent an evening taking Lucky to the hospital, and the guy's worried about his libido? Twice in THAT week was enough for ME. It's not like we'd had time to engage in night-time nekkid hat skulking. We were dead tired from the events of the days.

-- Anita (Anita_S3@hotmail.com), November 27, 2001.


I think of nekkid hat skulking as an aphrodisiac and foreplay all rolled into one.

But seriously, a feller has to have his priorities.

-- capnfun (capnfun1@excite.com), November 27, 2001.


I think of nekkid hat skulking as an aphrodisiac and foreplay all rolled into one.

Heh. I do too. We were just so "thrown" by all that had happened that we didn't even consider that we now had BLINDS on the windows!

His contract finally ends [after another extension] right before Christmas. Daughter #2 called me today and she's flying in on the 16th and staying until the 23rd. [I could hardly contain my excitement, and she knew it.] I'm gonna do the whole thing again...food, a Christmas tree, etc., BEFORE Christmas, just for her and my other daughter [although I'm trying to get my son to fly in, as well.] He may be home before they leave. That's kindof up in the air right now. It's okay, though. It's hard for me to balance time between the kids and SO. I'm still jumping up and down with this news.

-- Anita (Anita_S3@hotmail.com), November 27, 2001.


I'm not even going to comment. ;)

-- Pammy (biting@my.tongue), November 27, 2001.


Prostate cancer is nothing to laugh about. That is what took my father-in-law...

Sounds like the holidays are a rather stressful time at your household, Anita...

Scratchin' an itch...

The Dog

-- The Dog (dogdesert@hotmail.com), November 27, 2001.


Only when she decides to cook!

-- Jack Booted Thug (governmentconspiracy@NWO.com), November 28, 2001.

OK OK OK....

I understand that prostate cancer kills more men than breast cancer kills women. Why am I not seeing the Hollywood stars with their ribbons for prostate cancer at the Oscars? Why are men second class citizens? We need a ribbon guys! What color should our ribbon be? Yellow, or brown?

57 and cant get it up huh? Jesus, I would rather be dead myself.

-- Uncle Deedah (unkeeD@yahoo.com), November 28, 2001.


"Why are men second class citizens?"

Cause we fart and chuckle about it : )

-- capnfun (capnfun1@excite.com), November 28, 2001.


What color should our ribbon be? Yellow, or brown?

Why...brown of course..with yellow corn and tan peanuts on it..heh!

-- Peg (the lunch l@d.y), November 28, 2001.



That was a hell of a visual there, Peg, and before breakfast as well...

scratchin' an itch...

The Dog

-- The Dog (dogdesert@hotmail.com), November 28, 2001.


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