A Landmark Study on Palliation of Bone Mets PainWhen a primary cancer such as cancer of the breast, prostate or lung spreads to the bone (bone mets), treatment strategies become complex. In today’s world of oncology, better systemic chemotherapies can add months and even years to a patient’s life; in addition, local cancer control of […] KEEP READING
What You Should Know About CartilageOne of the most fascinating components of the human body is cartilage, an incredibly versatile material. Trying to describe cartilage is like the six blind men who try to figure out what an elephant is: “The elephant is like a pillar,” said the man who touched his leg. “Oh no! […] KEEP READING
How Stress Makes Essential Tremor WorseEssential tremor (ET) is the most common form of uncontrollable rhythmic shaking, though it is sometimes misdiagnosed as Parkinson’s disease. The involuntary trembling results from abnormal communication between certain areas of the brain (cerebellum, thalamus, and brain stem). It is estimated that 10 million Americans suffer from ET, though many […] KEEP READING
Determining the risk level of localized prostate cancer (PCa) at the time of diagnosis is often closer to an art than a science. Is it low risk, favorable intermediate risk, unfavorable intermediate risk, or high risk? Precision matters, because it determines the treatment plan’s projected probability of success. If the treatment isn’t aggressive enough, there’s […] CONTINUE
In early August, 2024 several medical news services trumpeted the news that Artificial Intelligence can detect prostate cancer (PCa) on MRI with the same accuracy as radiologists: “AI model matches radiologists at detecting prostate cancer on MRIs” (Radiology Business, Aug. 7) “AI model as effective as radiologists in detecting prostate cancer on MRI” (MedPage Today, […] CONTINUE
No radiologist was born knowing how to interpret MRI scans of the prostate gland. They must be trained to interpret images, and the rate at which they improve is called their learning curve. According to Rosencrantz et al. (2017), At a basic level, by seeing many cases, radiologists experience innate self-directed visual learning, even without […] CONTINUE
When a person is born, is their IQ fixed for life? IQ stands for intelligence quotient, and is a standard measure of mental performance. Is it fixed, or can it be taken to a new level as the person develops? This question has sparked all manner of research with infants, young children, school-age kids, etc. […] CONTINUE
Let’s start with the hypothetical case of Robert. He considers himself lucky in life because good things have come his way. He has a happy marriage, nice kids, a decent job, and he’s healthy. He follows the principles of the Mediterranean diet, doesn’t smoke, and has an occasional glass of wine. He does cardio workouts […] CONTINUE
No one is perfect, including radiologists who read and interpret multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) prostate scans. However, some are better than others. Studies show that experienced readers are generally more accurate than less experienced readers. In fact, based on the number of MRIs reviewed over time as well as continuing education (conferences, training workshops, classes, etc.), […] CONTINUE
What’s the secret to the perfect treatment plan for prostate cancer (PCa)? It’s YOU, it’s YOUR tumor and YOUR anatomy. No two patients have identical disease in identical bodies. Thus, the perfect treatment plan is the one tailor-made for YOUR PCa. Therefore, it’s essential that your doctor has as much accurate information as possible about […] CONTINUE
These days it seems like the pace of living is continually ramping up. As one blogger expresses, “We live in a culture of hurry, which assumes that doing something more quickly is always better than doing it more slowly. At the root of that is a veneration of productivity: the more quickly you can do […] CONTINUE
Two academics teamed up to write an elegant review of four areas in which Artificial Intelligence (AI) is making increasing contributions to the world of prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis and treatment planning. One hails from the East Coast, the other from the West Coast. First, Dr. James B. Yu is a radiation oncologist in Hartford, […] CONTINUE
When it comes to making decisions, do you consider yourself a head or heart person? According to a psychology article, “… a heart-based thinking style is intuitive (‘follow your heart’), whereas a head based thinking style is rational (‘use your head’).”[i] Both styles are among the many traits that are part of being a well-rounded […] CONTINUE
