New Chemoprevention Recommendation for Prostate Cancer
by Adam Clark (LIVESTRONG Staff)
New Chemoprevention Recommendation for Prostate Cancer One of the scientific goals in cancer control is to prevent certain cancers with medication, particularly for individuals who may be at a higher risk of developing particular cancers. This is a promising new area of medical research called Chemoprevention. The concept rises from research that shows that certain cell growth can managed by novel drugs which prevent the cells from progressing into cancerous cells. The NCI and other groups are investigating several of these compounds, and yesterday, the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Urological Association released a a new recommendation that healthy men who are regularly screened for prostate cancer should talk with their doctors about using a new chemoprevention drug called 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, or 5-ARI for short. 5-ARI was tested in the NCI Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial and the results showed that the drug may reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer in men by up to 25%. However, not all men need to take the drugs and it is important to remember that drugs come with other risks and side effects. So the recommendation is for these men to talk with their doctor to see if they would benefit from taking the drug . In order to help individuals educate themselves and prepare to talk with their doctors about this treatment, the American Society of Clinical Oncology has developed a web-based decision aid tool that includes charts and diagrams explaining. the risks and benefits of taking these drugs
