ATLANTA (July 21, 2010) – According to the Office of Minority Health, Asian/Pacific Islander men are 40 percent less likely to have prostate cancer than white men. However, prostate cancer remains the fourth leading cause of cancer death according to the Centers for Disease Control. Since this is less prevalent among men of Asian descent, it is not surprising to learn that most Southeastern Asian countries may not offer the latest in treatment options. Aloi Imran Hioe, Radiotherapy Clinics of Georgia’s first patient from Indonesia, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1998. Aloi, then 64, went for a routine doctor’s visit to his family physician, but limited by options available in Indonesia, endured a family struggle, a search for a cure and a transcontinental trip to Radiotherapy Clinics of Georgia, a division of Radiotherapy Clinics of Georgia.
Aloi and his wife Amardina (Dina) Ji were shopkeepers from Malang, the second largest city of the East Java province in Indonesia with a population of approximately 780,000. They lived modestly, selling carpets and upholstery from local factories to their friends and neighbors. They went about their days happily, until one fateful day in 1998 when Aloi’s doctor found irregularities in his urine. Unable to get the proper screens and tests, Aloi was urged to fly to Jakarta to get a PSA (prostate specific antigen) screen. Again limited by the availability of technology and skill in Jakarta, he was then sent to Singapore for a biopsy. Anxious and concerned, Aloi and Dina waited to hear the results of his tests. With a PSA score of 18 and positive results from his biopsy, the couple was given a devastating diagnosis. Aloi had prostate cancer.
“The doctor in Singapore said we needed to have a big operation to remove the cancer,” explained Dina. “But not only was it a big operation, it would be a big risk and my husband was afraid. This was a very dark and nervous time for our family.”
They spent the next year and a half discussing at length with all their family and friends what would be the best option for Aloi. He did not want surgery, but the family knew little of other treatment options. Fortunately for Dina and Aloi, their daughter-in-law found Radiotherapy Clinics of Georgia online. She read about ProstRcision®, seed implant followed by external beam radiation, and felt this could be the answer for which they had all been hoping.
“We didn’t know anything about seed implantation because this type of treatment was not available in Indonesia. It was never suggested or even considered,” said Dina. “We discussed the possibility for a very long time, because it would require us to travel to Georgia in the United States – very far from our home. We would be in a foreign country with a different language and everything would be very strange for us.”
To continue their research, Dina and Aloi called Radiotherapy Clinics of Georgia and spoke with one of their radiation oncologists. He explained the details of ProstRcision®, the treatment plan and how they would need to finance their care since insurance was not an option.
Financing treatment was only one obstacle among many which Dina and Aloi faced while deciding their future. After much thought, concern and discussion, two years following his diagnosis, Dina and Aloi decided to embark from Malang, East Java, Indonesia to Decatur, Ga. in 2000.
Aloi and Dina came for three months with their son-in-law, who flew from Oklahoma to translate, and stayed at the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge. Aloi received ProstRcision®, the unique seed implantation procedure which is only available at Radiotherapy Clinics Of Georgia, rested for three weeks and then underwent 7 weeks of external radiation.
“The people [at Radiotherapy Clinics Of Georgia] were very kind, helpful and friendly,” said Dina. “Our days were filled with activities so we wouldn’t feel lonely or afraid. It felt more like a holiday because there was always something to do, and we made so many friends!”
“They took us to the Coca Cola museum, to baseball games and helped us relieve the stress and anxiety from all the treatment. At home we do not have anything like that, because in our home country when you go to the cancer clinic – it is constantly chemotherapy and stress.”
After returning to Indonesia, Aloi continued to fill out his questionnaire every six months as instructed and received regular PSA screens. Now, 10 years later, Aloi’s PSA score is .05 ng/ml, which is less than the Radiotherapy Clinics Of Georgia definition of cure of <0.2 ng/ml. Aloi is considered cancer free.
The couple currently lives in Jakarta with their son, and often tells others about their experience with ProstRcision® and Radiotherapy Clinics of Georgia.
“It is a pity our friends are afraid to come to the United States. The heartbeat here is very different from the western world–they fear the language and are also afraid of traveling so far away from home,” explained Dina. “But we continue to tell them about the new technology available at Radiotherapy Clinics of Georgia. We give all the papers we receive from Radiotherapy Clinics Of Georgia to our doctors and our friends. And we tell them this is the best way to find a cure for prostate cancer: there is no knife, no risk and no painful surgery. However, most importantly, we tell them going to Radiotherapy Clinics of Georgia and receiving ProstRcision® cured my husband–he is now free from cancer.”
Aloi was the first patient to travel from Indonesia to receive ProstRcision® at Radiotherapy Clinics of Georgia. He is one among many patients and alumni who have traveled from all over the world to receive treatment from Radiotherapy Clinics of Georgia. For more information on Radiotherapy Clinics of Georgia and ProstRcision® please visit rccancercenters.com.
Newswise (7/20/2010)— Prostate cancer advances when tumors become resistant to hormone therapy, which is the standard treatment for patients, and begin producing their own androgens.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found that blocking one of the enzymatic steps that allow the tumor to produce androgens could be the key in halting a tumor’s growth.
The findings, appearing online and in the August issue of Endocrinology, suggest that this step might one day provide a new avenue of therapy for patients with end-stage prostate cancer. Health care experts estimate that more than 2 million men in the U.S. have prostate cancer, with more than 27,000 deaths related to the disease in 2009.
“We were able to block the androgen response, which is a central pathway for tumor progression,” said Dr. Nima Sharifi, assistant professor of internal medicine and the study’s senior author.
End-stage prostate tumors typically are treated with hormones that suppress the levels of the androgens, or male hormones like testosterone, that cause prostate cancer cells to grow. Eventually, however, the tumors become resistant to this therapy and resume their growth.
Using prostate cancer cell lines, Dr. Sharifi and his colleagues found that the hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is converted by the tumors into androgens. By blocking the enzyme 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3βHSD), which is responsible for the first enzymatic step that is required to convert DHEA to androgens, researchers were able to shut down the tumors’ lifeline.
“Enzymes in general can make great drug targets, so this process conceivably could be targeted for the development of new treatments for end-stage prostate cancer, which has limited therapeutic options right now,” said Dr. Sharifi, an investigator in UT Southwestern’s Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center. “The goal would be to develop a drug that targets that enzyme to be used for the advanced, incurable stage.”
No standard treatments currently target this enzyme, but there is proven clinical evidence that this pathway is central to driving tumor progression.
Other UT Southwestern researchers participating in the study were lead authors Dr. Kristen Evaul, postdoctoral researcher in internal medicine, and Rui Li, research assistant in internal medicine; Mahboubeh Papari-Zareei, research associate in internal medicine; and Dr. Richard Auchus, professor of internal medicine.
The study was supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Prostate Cancer Foundation, the Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, the Burroughs Wellcome Fund and the Charles A. and Elizabeth Ann Sanders Chair in Translational Research.
Visit http://www.utsouthwestern.org/cancercenter to learn more about clinical services for cancer at UT Southwestern.
ATLANTA (July 16, 2010) – Radiotherapy Clinics of Georgia (RCOG) has announced the details of their Prostate Cancer Lecture Series presented by the physicians of RCOG in August. These courses enable the public to become better educated about prostate cancer treatment options.
All Prostate Cancer Lecture Series courses are offered free to the public and begin with a light dinner at 5 p.m. followed by a lecture at 5:30 p.m. Classes are presented at the Radiotherapy Clinics of Georgia Auditorium located at 2339 Lawrenceville Highway, Decatur, GA 30033.
Prostate Cancer Lecture Series courses to be presented in August include:
For more information on the Prostate Cancer Lecture Series or to RSVP for a specific class, please call 404-633-5606, ext. 320. For more information on RCOG, please visit rccancercenters.com.
ATLANTA (July 16, 2010) – Second only to skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in men. In 2009, there were an estimated 192,280 new cases of prostate cancer in the U.S. and more than 5,000 new cases in Georgia. According to the American Cancer Society, Georgia ranks 6th in highest estimated deaths caused by prostate cancer with approximately 800 deaths in 2009. Prostate cancer is a serious concern for the state of Georgia and Radiotherapy Clinics of Georgia (RCOG), a center of excellence in radiation treatment for cancer, is proud to support the Georgia Prostate Cancer Coalition in their statewide license plate initiative to build prostate cancer awareness.
“When detected early, prostate cancer is curable,” said Philip Shrake, M.D., Medical Director of Radiotherapy Clinics of Georgia – Gwinnett County. “Prostate cancer awareness is an important issue. Men should consider PSA (prostate specific antigen) screenings, a simple blood test, by age 45 — earlier if there a family history. Becoming aware of your treatment options and undergoing regular prostate cancer screenings with both PSA testing and a DRE (digital rectal exam) is important.”
The license plate initiative is dedicated to building awareness throughout the state. $25,000 is needed to create a special Prostate Cancer specific license plate for residents of Georgia so Radiotherapy Clinics of Georgia is partnering with the Georgia Prostate Cancer Coalition to help raise funds.
“In support of this initiative, RCOG is hosting a ‘Prostate Cancer Awareness’ Motorcycle Ride,” said Dr. Shrake. “Proceeds will go to Georgia Prostate Cancer Coalition and the license plate initiative. We hope to have a large group of prostate cancer survivors, patients and supporters join us Sept. 25, 2010 rain or shine, to ride from Killer Creek Harley-Davidson in Roswell, GA.”
The registration is $25 for each motorcycle rider (and includes a t-shirt) and $10 for each passenger. For more information and to register, contact Toni Karasik at tkarasik@rccancercenters.com or 678-965-4756 Ext. 115.
Radiotherapy Clinics of Georgia encourages residents to donate and help make the Georgia Prostate Cancer license plate initiative a reality. For more information on Radiotherapy Clinics of Georgia, please visit rccancercenters.com.
ATLANTA (July 19, 2010) – Radiotherapy Clinics of Georgia (RCOG) is proud to present a new program for their patients, survivors and friends titled, “Lifestyle Café.” The Lifestyle Café, implemented by Toni Karasik, Alumni Coordinator for RCOG, is a way to educate, energize and build prostate cancer awareness within the local Georgia community with unique Thursday evening dinner events held monthly in the Decatur Auditorium located at 2339 Lawrenceville Highway Decatur, GA 30033 from 5 until 6:30 p.m. The first Lifestyle Café will be July 22, 2010 from 5 until 6:30 p.m. and will feature Nick Lore, an RCOG former patient or alumni and author of, “Roll the Window Down, It’s Raining.”
Nick Lore, born in Newnan, Ga. and a resident of Berkley Lake, Ga. was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2002. As a high profile mortgage banker for several years, Nick led a fast paced, successful career; but following his prognosis, decided it was time to take an extended break and devote time to his health and his family. After a four year battle, he was cured of prostate cancer in 2006 and has been cancer-free ever since. It was a result of this struggle and his confrontation with mortality that Nick began keeping a daily journal– in hopes of one day sharing his story. “Roll the Window Down, It’s Raining” is a chronicle of his fears, trials, tribulations and triumphs. Thursday, July 22, he will openly discuss his fight with cancer and take questions from the audience on his experience.
Come hear first hand, the compelling testimonial of Nick Lore’s triumph over prostate cancer with valued treatment from Radiotherapy Clinics of Georgia. Seating is limited. Please RSVP to tkarasik@rccancercenters.com or call 678-965-4756 Ext. 115. The event will include a light dinner and a book signing.
For more information about Lifestyle Café other upcoming events, please contact Toni Karasik at tkarasik@rccancercenters.com and for more information about Radiotherapy Clinics of Georgia, visit rccancercenters.com.
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