Looks like Finasteride, sold as Propecia to combat male pattern hair loss, has been clinically proven to help prevent prostate cancer but there are still questions left to be answered about the drug.
This is the first medication that has demonstrated the ability to help prevent prostate disease, experts said. The American Cancer Society notes that more than 186,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year. Nearly 29,000 die of it. That is why such special attention is being paid to Finasteride.
While previous studies show that Finasteride reduces the overall likelihood of getting prostate cancer by 25%, some doctors are concerned that Finasteride may increase the risk of developing the deadliest types of tumors. However, the most recent analyses have nearly dismissed these worries. According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Urological Association, the drug’s benefits are a good enough reason for men to discuss Finasteride with their doctors.
Men suffering from hair loss who currently take Finasteride/Propecia should ask about continuing to take the drug to prevent prostate cancer. Researchers are studying a similar drug, Dutasteride, sold by GlaxoSmithKline as Avodart that is also used to treat enlarged prostates to see what its effects, if any, are on preventing prostate cancer.
Barnett Kramer of the National Institute of Health and the main author of the new recommendation, which was announced at the Genitourinary Cancers Symposium in Orlando said, there is still much to learn about Finasteride, and doctors have important answers that they need to find out.
Being diagnosed with any type of cancer, even early stage prostate cancer, can be devastating and scary. Surgery and radiation can cause serious and uncomfortable side effects, such as pain, impotence and incontinence.
Kramer stated that experts don’t know whether Finasteride will benefit all men. Only healthy men who have regular screenings and a PSA of less than 3.0 nanograms per milliliter were included in the most definitive study of the drug, which was published in 2003. Only men who meet this criteria should take Finasteride, according to Kramer.
The American Cancer Society recommends that doctors discuss prostate cancer screening with most men beginning at age 50. As with anything, we need to be advocates for our own wellbeing and should take up this important topic with our healthcare professional.
It is important that you talk to your doctor and get your regular prostate medical screenings, but one thing is for sure, Finsasteride does help many men with hair loss, and might just save some lives to boot.
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