Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.
This week on Health Watch, we’re talking about preventing, detecting and treating cancer. Prostate cancer is the second-most common form of cancer in men, after skin cancer. Studies have shown that the drug finasteride can reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer by 25 percent. This is the only drug proven to reduce the risk for prostate cancer.
But there are some drawbacks with finasteride. It can cause impotence and loss of sexual desire, and it may not be effective enough in lowering cancer risk to make it worth the cost or the lifestyle effects for some men. Dr. Yair Lotan, a urologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says this is an issue men need to discuss with their doctors on a case-by-case basis. Men at lower risk for prostate cancer may not think the drug is worth it, while those at high risk may see more potential benefit.
Visit http://www.utsouthwestern.org/urology to learn more about UT Southwestern’s clinical services in urology.
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March 2008
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