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In the journals

Men with intermediate-risk prostate cancer may benefit more from a shorter duration of hypofractionated radiation therapy (HRT) than from standard radiation therapy. With both types of radiation therapy, the total amount of radiation is given in multiple sessions over a set period. Compared with standard radiation therapy, HRT uses larger doses over a shorter period of time.

A study in the Nov. 4, 2017, European Urology Focus analyzed data of 3,553 men with prostate cancer, 65% of whom had intermediate-risk prostate cancer. The men were randomized to get either a one-month program of HRT or the standard radiation treatment regimen given over two months. After an average of five to six years, the intermediate-risk men who had HRT were less likely than men who got standard radiation therapy to have their prostate cancer return.

A newly approved drug called apalutamide is giving hope to thousands of men confronting a tenacious problem after being treated for prostate cancer. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels should plummet to zero after surgery, and to near zero after radiation therapy, but in some men, they continue rising even when there’s no other evidence of cancer […]

Men with prostate cancer that has spread outside the gland now have several newer drug options available for treatment, and research has found that taking any of them is likely to improve survival duration.

Depending on how you define the term, prostatitis affects 9% to 16% of men at some point in their lives. The term prostatitis, which means inflammation of the prostate, refers to a group of syndromes characterized by urinary problems such as burning or painful urination, urgency, and trouble voiding; difficult or painful ejaculation; and pain in the perineum or lower back. Although it causes some of the same symptoms as BPH and can occur at the same time, prostatitis is a separate condition.

Treating chronic prostatitis

If you have chronic prostatitis, treatment is highly individual and will depend on the type of symptoms that you have. Fortunately, there are many options, and with some trial and error, you may find one that works for you.

Urinary incontinence is more common in women, but men experience it too, particularly as they get older. Whether it’s urge incontinence or stress incontinence, there are strategies and treatments that can help.

The male hormone testosterone contributes to normal brain function, and some research links memory loss in older men to testosterone declines that occur naturally with aging. However, testosterone is also like jet fuel for prostate tumors, causing them to grow faster, so during cancer treatment doctors will often give hormonal therapies that suppress its activities […]

On call

Q. I seem to bruise more frequently as I get older. Even when I have not bumped into anything, I see bruises on my arms. What causes that, and should I be worried?

A. Easy bruising is a common issue for many older men. That's because of a combination of less subcutaneous (fat) tissue and more fragile blood vessels.

Health care, living situations, end-of-life decisions. Address them now so you can focus on living your life.

ÌýImage: © ChristianChan/Thinkstock

General Dwight Eisenhower once said that plans are nothing, but planning is everything. This sage advice from the man who orchestrated the largest military invasion in history can apply to your life too. His point was that life happens and things change, but you always need to work toward your goal.

For many older men, this means addressing some unpleasant realities like advancing age, financial challenges, and yes, even death.

As men live longer, more face the challenge of difficult-to-control high blood pressure.

ÌýImage: © KatarzynaBialasiewicz/Thinkstock

High blood pressure, or hypertension, remains a common health issue for a majority of older men.

In fact, approximately 54% to 67% of men ages 65 and older suffer from the condition, which occurs when your systolic pressure (the top number on a blood pressure reading) is 140 mm Hg or higher, and your diastolic pressure (the bottom number) is 90 mm Hg or higher, according to the American Heart Association.

In the journals

Smoking causes lung cancer � no surprise there. But a new study found that high dosages of vitamin B6 or B12 supplements were associated with three to four times the lung cancer risk in male smokers compared with smokers who did not take the supplements. The results were published in the Aug. 22, 2017, Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Researchers examined information from more than 44,000 men ages 50 to 76. At enrollment, the men reported on their smoking history and their B vitamin supplement use over the previous 10 years. In the study, high intake of B vitamin was classified as 20 milligrams (mg) of B6 per day or 55 micrograms (mcg) of B12. (The recommended daily intakes for men ages 51 and older are 1.7 mg for B6 and 2.4 mcg for B12.)