How One Man Battled Cancer With The Help Of His Son (NAPSA)—When one family member is diagnosed with cancer, the others usually do their best to provide emotional support, while leaving the medical care to a physician. Dr. Ron Israeli, however, has had a unique opportunity, providing both emotional and medical care to his father. “When one of your prostate cancer patients is your own father, it changes the way you deal with patients,” said Dr. Israeli, director of urologic oncology at Staten Island University Hospital and chief of urologic oncology at Cabrini Medical Center. After his father, Ken, was diagnosed with prostate cancer, Dr. Israeli, following several conversations with his father, took over the management of his care. Prostate canceris the presence of cancerous cells in the prostate and is the most common non-skin cancer. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), more than 230,000 American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year, and more than 30,000 will die of the disease. “T was diagnosed with prostate cancer over 15 years ago and I thought the sky had fallen in on me,” said Ken Israeli. “I was very scared but having my son for emotional and medical support has been very reassuring. I’ve certainly trusted his medical opinion, like when he suggested I try hor- ay Hormone therapy is increasingly used to treat prostate cancer. mone therapy for the management of my advanced prostate cancer.” With recent advances in screening and diagnostics, many prostate cancers are caught early and treated with surgery and hormone therapy or manipulation. Prostate cancer cells require male hormones (such as testosterone) to grow. Hormone therapy decreases production of testosterone by the testicles so that cancercell growth slows down. “When a twice a year injection of ELicarp (leuprolide acetate for injectable suspension) became available, dad made the switch to this more convenient treatment,” noted Dr.Israeli. Today, Ken, 78, is in remission, and his son continues to monitor his health and he undergoes regu- lar checkups. “Being in the best shape possible will help you deal with cancer and its treatment,” add Dr. Israeli. “It’s important to develop healthy eating habits and get regular exercise.” If you are diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer, talk to your doctor to learn more about the treatment options available. Additional information can be found online at www.eligard.com. How It Works Male hormones, such as testosterone, stimulate the growth of prostate cancer cells. The goal of hormonal therapy is to lower the body’s level of male hormones and thereby shrink or slow down the growth of prostate tumors. Most of the body’s testosterone is made by the testicles; ELIGARD prevents the testicles from producing testosterone. As with other luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH)agonists, the first shot of ELIGARD will make testosterone levels rise temporarily. However, within two to four weeks, ELIGARD causes testosteronelevels to fall. In most cases, the level of testosterone that results from ELIGARD is the samelevel or lower as that achieved by orchiectomy. In the United States, ELIGARD is available in one-month (7.5 mg), threemonth (22.5 mg), four-month (30 mg) and the first and only sixmonth (45 mg) extended-release formulations. ee ee ee ee ee eee eee BE ee eee eee eee eee eee eee eee Editor’s Note: Important Safety Information: ELIGARD is a prescription drug, given by injection, for the management of advanced prosiate cancer. However, there is no knowneure for prostate cancer. ELIGARD should not be used by women, children, or anyone who is allergic to the drug leuprolide acetate or any of the ingredients of ELIGARD. ELIGARD, like other drugs in tts class, causes a temporary increase in testosterone during the first two weeks of treatment. Patients may experience worsening of symptoms or new symptoms during the first weeks of treatment, including bone pain, nerve damage, blood in the urine or difficulty urinating. The most commonside effects are hot flashes, injection site pain (including burning and stinging), fatigue and testicular atrophy. Full prescribing information, including clinical trial information, safety, dosing, drug-drug interactions, and coniraindications, is available at www.eligard.com.
