Adam S. Kibel, MD
Professor of Urology and Genetics
Director of Urologic Oncology
Division of Urologic Surgery
Washington University
Generous support through the David H. Nickerson Foundation and the 2009 Par For The Cure Golf Tournament is enabling researchers to pursue projects to improve both understanding of prostate cancer and how they can better care for patients.
It is often unclear which prostate cancer patients require aggressive treatment and which can be safely monitored. Siteman researchers are addressing this by looking for new blood markers, ones that are superior to the PSA.
Siteman physician researchers are also collaborating with the Genome Center at Washington University to identify genetic markers of aggressive disease, potentially allowing physicians to identify young men who are at risk and help them decrease their chance of developing prostate cancer.
“Par For The Cure 2009” also helped Siteman open a new drug trial for patients with advanced prostate cancer. In the past, physicians have seen new drugs succeed in lengthening patients’ lives, with success measured in months. Thanks to your support, Siteman physician researchers are working to turn those successes into years and then decades of improved health and life.
Other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men. The 2009 American Cancer Society estimates for prostate cancer in the United States predict that about 192,280 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed and that 27,360 men will die of this disease.
About 1 man in 6 will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime. More than 2 million men in the United States who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point are still alive today. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men, behind only lung cancer. About 1 man in 35 will die of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer accounts for about 10% of cancer-related deaths in men. The 5-year survival rate refers to the percentage of patients who live at least 5 years after their cancer is diagnosed. These rates are used to create a standard way of discussing prognosis (outlook). more...
Our modern society is characterized by a lifestyle with low levels of exercise coupled with consumption of foods that are high in calories, fat, sugar, and salt. But your body still responds in the only way it knows, it stores excess food as fat to prepare for times of prolonged starvation. Of course, because prolonged starvation typically does not happen in modern society, this safety mechanism means that we just continue to gain weight and store more fat.
This excess fat, especially the fat around the middle of your body, has been associated with an increased risk of many diseases, including prostate cancer, and particularly aggressive prostate cancer. But you don't have to be 50 pounds overweight to suffer the ill effects of excess body fat. Body fat is actually an organ with functions. It secretes hormones and specialized proteins that can increase inflammation and oxidation in the cells of your body, two natural processes that are strong contributors to the development and progression of prostate cancer.
On May 1st 1996, David Nickerson lost a four year war with prostate cancer. He had overcome many significant challenges in his life. But he would be uncomfortable to hear any of that celebrated. You see for him it was never about Dave, it was always about others. Even as he lay on his deathbed, crippled by this terrible disease and the havoc it wrought, as visitors came he asked them all the same question: "What can I do for YOU?" more...
There is a limited space for the first Par For The Cure Golf Event at the TPC Course, Four Seasons Resort in Irving, Texas on April 24th, 2009. Register to play today:
For all sponsorships please contact Evie Nickerson.