Prostate cancer: Short-course radiation as effective as longer-term treatments at HealthBulance.

Radiation therapy for prostate cancer used to involve weeks or months of repeat visits to a clinic for treatment. Today, radiation delivery is moving toward higher doses given with fewer sessions over shorter durations. Results from a clinical trial show that the two types of therapy offer the same long-term benefits. 2024-12-05

Abnormal results on a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening test for cancer are typically followed by a systematic biopsy. But systematic biopsies can be problematic, and researchers are seeking alternatives. A large European study provides encouraging evidence favoring a different approach that uses MRI instead of biopsy. 2024-11-08

Tonsil stones are small white or yellow deposits on the tonsils. They develop when bacteria, saliva, food particles, and debris from cells lining the mouth get trapped in tiny indentations on the tonsils. While usually harmless, they can cause bad breath and sore throats. 2024-10-21

The specialized cells of our immune systems help to keep us healthy and free of infectious diseases. Immunotherapies teach those same cells to recognize and destroy cancer. Researchers are reporting promising results with a different method that involves engineered cells studded with receptors that bind to specific targets on cancer cells. 2024-09-16

Androgen deprivation therapy can slow or control prostate cancer, and adding a second class of drugs improves survival when the disease is in advanced stages. But all drugs that block testosterone have challenging side effects, and a review of studies showed that cardiovascular risks worsen when these drugs are given together. 2024-07-26