Prostate cancer

I’m involved in prostate cancer basic research and new drug development. Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in Veterans. About 35,000 Veterans with prostate cancer receive treatment in the VA system.

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Veterans in VA. It accounts for nearly a third of cancer diagnoses. Prostate cancer is often found early and cured with treatments such as surgery or radiation. But some patients’ cancer spreads and becomes life-threatening.

Integrative oncology combines complementary practices like yoga and acupuncture with conventional cancer care. A primary goal is to help prevent or lessen side effects from chemotherapy and surgery.

Genetic testing looks for variations in a person’s genes. Finding gene variations can help with decisions about cancer treatment. Finding gene variations can also help to understand why cancer developed and how best to find cancers early or to prevent them altogether.

The theme of this year’s National VA Research Week, May 17–21, is “One Team, One Mission,” reflecting the nationwide focus of VA researchers on improving Veterans’ health care and quality of life.

The researchers conducted a systematic review of 67 studies to compare the effectiveness of watchful waiting versus radical prostatectomy, along with several other treatments. The review is one of the first studies to look at very long-term results.

Today at age 56, Atkinson is fighting another battle—this time a case of aggressive prostate cancer. Thanks to treatment at the VA Portland Health Care System, his condition has improved dramatically in recent months through precision oncology—the molecular profiling of tumors to identify targetable alterations that can be treated therapeutically. Most recently, his PSA level had plummeted to 0.2, after a high of 115 in December.

Conversely, the researchers concluded that men with prostate cancer and PTSD may have been at lower risk of death from non-suicidal causes due to favorable physical health resulting from greater health care use and early diagnosis of localized—or low-risk—cancer.

Across the U.S., Black men are disproportionally diagnosed with prostate cancer and are more likely to die from the disease than their white counterparts.

VA teamed up with the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) to encourage men (and their families) to better understand prostate cancer risk and taking proactive measures to protect their health.

Dr. Donald Gleason, who served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, devised the scoring system in the 1960s while working at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System.

VA researchers will be testing the prostate cancer drug degarelix for treating nearly 200 COVID-19 patients at VA medical centers.