Alkaline Phosphatase
An alkaline phosphatase (ALP) test measures the amount of the enzyme ALP in the blood. ALP is made mostly in the liver and in bone with some made in the intestines and kidneys . It also is made by the placenta of a pregnant woman.
The liver makes more ALP than the other organs or the bones. Some conditions cause large amounts of ALP in the blood. These conditions include rapid bone growth (during puberty), bone disease (osteomalacia or Paget's disease), or a disease that affects how much calcium is in the blood (hyperparathyroidism), vitamin D deficiency, or damaged liver cells.
If the ALP level is high, more tests may be done to find the cause.
Why It Is Done
A test for alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is done to:
Check for liver disease or damage to the liver. Symptoms of liver disease can include jaundice, belly pain, nausea, and vomiting. An ALP test may also be used to check the liver when medicines that can damage the liver are taken.
Check bone problems (sometimes found on X-rays), such as rickets, osteomalacia, bone tumors, Paget's disease, or too much of the hormone that controls bone growth (parathyroid hormone). The ALP level can be used to check how well treatment for Paget's disease or a vitamin D deficiency is working.
How To Prepare
An alkaline phosphatase test is often done at the same time as a routine blood test. You do not need to do anything before having a routine blood test.
If you are having a follow-up ALP test, you may be asked to not eat or drink for 10 hours before the test. The ALP level generally goes up after eating, especially after eating fatty foods.
Many medicines may change the results of this test. Be sure to tell your doctor about all the nonprescription and prescription medicines you take.
Talk to your doctor about any concerns you have regarding the need for the test, its risks, how it will be done, or what the results will mean. To help you understand the importance of this test, fill out the medical test information form(What is a PDF document?).
How It Is Done
The health professional drawing your blood will:
Wrap an elastic band around your upper arm to stop the flow of blood. This makes the veins below the band larger so it is easier to put a needle into the vein.
Clean the needle site with alcohol.
Put the needle into the vein. More than one needle stick may be needed.
Attach a tube to the needle to fill it with blood.
Remove the band from your arm when enough blood is collected.
Put a gauze pad or cotton ball over the needle site as the needle is removed.
Put pressure to the site and then a bandage.
One Patient's Experience with AlphaPhosphatase S
First, the prostate specific antigen (PSA) is a substance expressed by a healthy prostate gland. It is easily measured in the blood steam. While arguments rage about its use to diagnose the presence of prostate cancer in the beginning, there is little argument about its reliability to follow the post-treatment progress of men like me. Usually, a climbing PSA means an increase in the tumor population. Next, alkaline phosphatase (ALP). “ALP S” can be measured in the blood stream as part of a routine liver function test known as CMP (complete metabolic panel). Bone-specific ALP is measured from a separate blood specimen. It is believed to reliably track tumor progression in the skeleton during treatment, even when other indicators may be less reliable.
Comparing the values of these indicators from February 9, just after we started chemotherapy with Taxotere, with those from August 11, 75 days after starting Zytiga, we see disappointing increases in both ALPs and rocket-sled behavior from the PSA. What might this mean? Answer: we really don’t know.
There are several possibilities, but the bottom line at this point is: the September test must show some “benefit” from the Zytiga or I go back on chemotherapy - this time with a similar drug called Jevtana - and hope we can bring the three indicators back to the pre-Zytiga levels of early June
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Sunday, July 31, 2011
We at the Men’s Health Network, a member and the convener of the Prostate Cancer Roundtable, were dismayed by your July 7 editorial “Extremely Expensive Cancer Drugs,” which questioned whether a new prostate cancer treatment, Provenge, was worth the cost.
As noted, Provenge’s median survival is 4.1 months, meaning that half of patients live beyond that point — some far beyond. We have fought to make sure that innovative treatments like Provenge are within reach for all patients, regardless of ability to pay.
Late-stage prostate cancer was for many years a forgotten cancer. Thousands of men without access to life-extending treatment died prematurely. Now, because of innovative advancements, we have an arsenal of drugs and therapies that improve survival and quality of life, with more on the way.
Health care dollars being spent to extend the lives of men with prostate cancer are not a waste. Just ask the survivors and their spouses, partners and families.
SCOTT T. WILLIAMS
Washington, July 12, 2011
The writer is vice president of the Men’s Health Network.
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As noted, Provenge’s median survival is 4.1 months, meaning that half of patients live beyond that point — some far beyond. We have fought to make sure that innovative treatments like Provenge are within reach for all patients, regardless of ability to pay.
Late-stage prostate cancer was for many years a forgotten cancer. Thousands of men without access to life-extending treatment died prematurely. Now, because of innovative advancements, we have an arsenal of drugs and therapies that improve survival and quality of life, with more on the way.
Health care dollars being spent to extend the lives of men with prostate cancer are not a waste. Just ask the survivors and their spouses, partners and families.
SCOTT T. WILLIAMS
Washington, July 12, 2011
The writer is vice president of the Men’s Health Network.
Sign In to E-Mail
Reprints
Get 50% Off The New York Times & Free All Digital Access.
More Headlines From Around the Web
Sponsored Links
Caring.com
Alzheimer's Activities: How Making Lemonade Can Trigger Hidden Memories
Health Central
My Fingers Are Numb, Should I Call the Doctor?
The Stir By CafeMom
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Prostate Cancer Risks for Men inBreastCancerFamilies
THE "NEW" PROSTATE CANCER INFOLINKEntries RSS | Comments RSS Follow The "New" Prostate Cancer InfoLink news blog on TWITTER or FACEBOOK.
Copyright © 2008-11 Prostate Cancer International, Inc.Prostate cancer and prostate cancer-specific survival of men from breast cancer-prone families
Posted on July 26, 2011 by Sitemaster
i1 Votes
An Australian research team has used data from 148 men from 1,423 families identified through the Kathleen Cunningham Consortium for Research into Familial Breast Cancer (kConFab) to assess the risks associated with prostate cancer in males from breast cancer-prone families, and most particularly from those families in which the BRCA2 gene mutation is prevalent.
Although it is well understood that there is a strong association between the presence of the BRCA2 gene mutation and the risk for development of prostate cancer, the consequent clinical presentation of prostate caner in such men, and their treatment-related outcomes, have not previously been thoroughly characterized.
kConFab is a multi-center research consortium that identifies and studies families at high risk for breast cancer from across Australia and New Zealand. Thorne et al. were able to search the kConFab database to identify 148 male patients who met the following three criteria:
They had all been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
They were all confirmed as either a carrier or a non-carrier of a family-specific BRCA pathogenic mutation.
Comprehensive clinical and treatment data were available on all 148 men.
Detailed analysis of the clinical and familial data from these 148 male prostate cancer patients established the following:
The men all had high risk of disease progression, irrespective of mutation status.
Carriers of the BRCA2 mutation had an increased risk of overall and prostate cancer-specific mortality (hazard ratio [HR] = 4.5; P = 8.9 × 10-5) by comparison with non-carriers.
For both carriers and non-carriers of the BRCA2 mutation given first-line treatment with curative intent, long-term survival outcomes were relatively poor (when compared to the survival outcomes of men from non-breast cancer-prone families
Serum PSA readings taken prior to diagnosis in 90 percent of these men, after age adjustment, were above clinical significance.
Based on the D’Amico risk stratification criteria
77.5 percent of the carriers of the BRCA2 mutation had high-risk disease
58.7 percent of non-carriers also had high-risk disease.
BRCA2 mutation status was an independent prognostic indicator of overall survival.
Thorne et al. conclude that:
If diagnosed with prostate cancer, all men in breast cancer-prone families are at significant risk of developing an aggressive form of the disease.
This information should be made clear by genetic counselors and medical professionals in discussions about cancer risk with men in such families, whether the individual is a carrier or a non-carrier of a BRCA gene mutation.
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Copyright © 2008-11 Prostate Cancer International, Inc.Prostate cancer and prostate cancer-specific survival of men from breast cancer-prone families
Posted on July 26, 2011 by Sitemaster
i1 Votes
An Australian research team has used data from 148 men from 1,423 families identified through the Kathleen Cunningham Consortium for Research into Familial Breast Cancer (kConFab) to assess the risks associated with prostate cancer in males from breast cancer-prone families, and most particularly from those families in which the BRCA2 gene mutation is prevalent.
Although it is well understood that there is a strong association between the presence of the BRCA2 gene mutation and the risk for development of prostate cancer, the consequent clinical presentation of prostate caner in such men, and their treatment-related outcomes, have not previously been thoroughly characterized.
kConFab is a multi-center research consortium that identifies and studies families at high risk for breast cancer from across Australia and New Zealand. Thorne et al. were able to search the kConFab database to identify 148 male patients who met the following three criteria:
They had all been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
They were all confirmed as either a carrier or a non-carrier of a family-specific BRCA pathogenic mutation.
Comprehensive clinical and treatment data were available on all 148 men.
Detailed analysis of the clinical and familial data from these 148 male prostate cancer patients established the following:
The men all had high risk of disease progression, irrespective of mutation status.
Carriers of the BRCA2 mutation had an increased risk of overall and prostate cancer-specific mortality (hazard ratio [HR] = 4.5; P = 8.9 × 10-5) by comparison with non-carriers.
For both carriers and non-carriers of the BRCA2 mutation given first-line treatment with curative intent, long-term survival outcomes were relatively poor (when compared to the survival outcomes of men from non-breast cancer-prone families
Serum PSA readings taken prior to diagnosis in 90 percent of these men, after age adjustment, were above clinical significance.
Based on the D’Amico risk stratification criteria
77.5 percent of the carriers of the BRCA2 mutation had high-risk disease
58.7 percent of non-carriers also had high-risk disease.
BRCA2 mutation status was an independent prognostic indicator of overall survival.
Thorne et al. conclude that:
If diagnosed with prostate cancer, all men in breast cancer-prone families are at significant risk of developing an aggressive form of the disease.
This information should be made clear by genetic counselors and medical professionals in discussions about cancer risk with men in such families, whether the individual is a carrier or a non-carrier of a BRCA gene mutation.
Share this: Facebook
t
Monday, July 18, 2011
Support for Provenge, a Prostate Cancer Dug
Provenge, a Prostate Cancer Dug
CloseLinkedinDiggMySpacePermalinkTo the Editor:
We at the Men’s Health Network, a member and the convener of the Prostate Cancer Roundtable, were dismayed by your July 7 editorial “Extremely Expensive Cancer Drugs,” which questioned whether a new prostate cancer treatment, Provenge, was worth the cost.
As noted, Provenge’s median survival is 4.1 months, meaning that half of patients live beyond that point — some far beyond. We have fought to make sure that innovative treatments like Provenge are within reach for all patients, regardless of ability to pay.
Late-stage prostate cancer was for many years a forgotten cancer. Thousands of men without access to life-extending treatment died prematurely. Now, because of innovative advancements, we have an arsenal of drugs and therapies that improve survival and quality of life, with more on the way.
Health care dollars being spent to extend the lives of men with prostate cancer are not a waste. Just ask the survivors and their spouses, partners and families.
SCOTT T. WILLIAMS
Washington, July 12, 2011
The writer is vice president of the Men’s Health Network.
CloseLinkedinDiggMySpacePermalinkTo the Editor:
We at the Men’s Health Network, a member and the convener of the Prostate Cancer Roundtable, were dismayed by your July 7 editorial “Extremely Expensive Cancer Drugs,” which questioned whether a new prostate cancer treatment, Provenge, was worth the cost.
As noted, Provenge’s median survival is 4.1 months, meaning that half of patients live beyond that point — some far beyond. We have fought to make sure that innovative treatments like Provenge are within reach for all patients, regardless of ability to pay.
Late-stage prostate cancer was for many years a forgotten cancer. Thousands of men without access to life-extending treatment died prematurely. Now, because of innovative advancements, we have an arsenal of drugs and therapies that improve survival and quality of life, with more on the way.
Health care dollars being spent to extend the lives of men with prostate cancer are not a waste. Just ask the survivors and their spouses, partners and families.
SCOTT T. WILLIAMS
Washington, July 12, 2011
The writer is vice president of the Men’s Health Network.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
American Cancer Society on PSA Screening
The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends that men have a chance to make an informed decision with their health care provider about whether to be screened for prostate cancer. The decision should be made after getting information about the uncertainties, risks, and potential benefits of prostate cancer screening. Men should not be screened unless they have received this information.
The discussion about screening should take place at age 50 for men who are at average risk of prostate cancer and are expected to live at least 10 more years.
This discussion should take place starting at age 45 for men at high risk of developing prostate cancer. This includes African Americans and men who have a first-degree relative (father, brother, or son) diagnosed with prostate cancer at an early age (younger than age 65).
This discussion should take place at age 40 for men at even higher risk (those with several first-degree relatives who had prostate cancer at an early age).
After this discussion, those men who want to be screened should be tested with the prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test. The digital rectal exam (DRE) may also be done as a part of screening.
If, after this discussion, a man is unable to decide if testing is right for him, the screening decision can be made by the health care provider, who should take into account the patient’s general health preferences and values.
Men who choose to be tested who have a PSA of less than 2.5 ng/ml, may only need to be retested every 2 years.
Screening should be done yearly for men whose PSA level is 2.5 ng/ml or higher.
Because prostate cancer grows slowly, those men without symptoms of prostate cancer who do not have a 10-year life expectancy should not be offered testing since they are not likely to benefit. Overall health status, and not age alone, is important when making decisions about screening.
Even after a decision about testing has been made, the discussion about the pros and cons of testing should be repeated as new information about the benefits and risks of testing becomes available. Further discussions are also needed to take into account changes in the patient's health, values, and preferences.
The discussion about screening should take place at age 50 for men who are at average risk of prostate cancer and are expected to live at least 10 more years.
This discussion should take place starting at age 45 for men at high risk of developing prostate cancer. This includes African Americans and men who have a first-degree relative (father, brother, or son) diagnosed with prostate cancer at an early age (younger than age 65).
This discussion should take place at age 40 for men at even higher risk (those with several first-degree relatives who had prostate cancer at an early age).
After this discussion, those men who want to be screened should be tested with the prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test. The digital rectal exam (DRE) may also be done as a part of screening.
If, after this discussion, a man is unable to decide if testing is right for him, the screening decision can be made by the health care provider, who should take into account the patient’s general health preferences and values.
Men who choose to be tested who have a PSA of less than 2.5 ng/ml, may only need to be retested every 2 years.
Screening should be done yearly for men whose PSA level is 2.5 ng/ml or higher.
Because prostate cancer grows slowly, those men without symptoms of prostate cancer who do not have a 10-year life expectancy should not be offered testing since they are not likely to benefit. Overall health status, and not age alone, is important when making decisions about screening.
Even after a decision about testing has been made, the discussion about the pros and cons of testing should be repeated as new information about the benefits and risks of testing becomes available. Further discussions are also needed to take into account changes in the patient's health, values, and preferences.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Mediterranean Diet Fundamentals
The Mediterranean diet has been shown to reduce the risk of death from both heart disease and cancer, lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, control weight, lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and even reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Convinced?
Here are the 11 foundations of the Mediterranean diet to help you get started:
Get lots of exercise
Don’t eat alone: share your meals with family and friends. Savor and enjoy your food and your company. Eat slowly
Enjoy generous amounts of fruits, vegetables, and legumes
Consume healthy fats such as monounsaturated fats (olive and canola oils) and omega-3 fatty acids
Use herbs and spices instead of salt to flavor foods
Eat small portions of nuts
Drink red wine, in moderation
Consume very little red meat (the traditional Mediterranean diet is practically vegetarian)
Eat shellfish or fish at least twice a week
Eat locally grown, seasonal foods and avoid processed foods
Practice portion control—small portions of high-quality food
Prostate Benefits of The Mediterranean Diet
A study published in the October 2009 issue of Maturitas noted that men and women who reported eating foods closest to the Mediterranean diet were about 10 to 20 percent less likely to die of heart disease, cancer, or any other cause. The Mediterranean diet was also associated with having a preventive effect on cancer and on reducing the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and obesity.
Data gathered from more than 10,000 cases showed that certain elements of a Mediterranean diet were associated with reduced cancer risk, including monounsaturated fats, fish (and omega-3 fatty acids), and whole grain foods, while frequent red meat and refined grain intake were directly related to some cancers. (Bosetti 2009)
University of Melbourne researchers looked at prostate cancer mortality among Greek men in Greece and those who had migrated to Australia and found that the migrants had retained their low risk for the disease and their diet. The researchers also noted that the Mediterranean diet is rich in foods that may protect against prostate cancer, including legumes, soy foods, and those high in vitamin E, lycopene, and selenium. (Itsiopoulos 2009)
In addition, studies have shown that men who follow the Mediterranean diet have a decreased risk of impotence/erectile dysfunction. Read more on ED and Diet
Filed Under
Here are the 11 foundations of the Mediterranean diet to help you get started:
Get lots of exercise
Don’t eat alone: share your meals with family and friends. Savor and enjoy your food and your company. Eat slowly
Enjoy generous amounts of fruits, vegetables, and legumes
Consume healthy fats such as monounsaturated fats (olive and canola oils) and omega-3 fatty acids
Use herbs and spices instead of salt to flavor foods
Eat small portions of nuts
Drink red wine, in moderation
Consume very little red meat (the traditional Mediterranean diet is practically vegetarian)
Eat shellfish or fish at least twice a week
Eat locally grown, seasonal foods and avoid processed foods
Practice portion control—small portions of high-quality food
Prostate Benefits of The Mediterranean Diet
A study published in the October 2009 issue of Maturitas noted that men and women who reported eating foods closest to the Mediterranean diet were about 10 to 20 percent less likely to die of heart disease, cancer, or any other cause. The Mediterranean diet was also associated with having a preventive effect on cancer and on reducing the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and obesity.
Data gathered from more than 10,000 cases showed that certain elements of a Mediterranean diet were associated with reduced cancer risk, including monounsaturated fats, fish (and omega-3 fatty acids), and whole grain foods, while frequent red meat and refined grain intake were directly related to some cancers. (Bosetti 2009)
University of Melbourne researchers looked at prostate cancer mortality among Greek men in Greece and those who had migrated to Australia and found that the migrants had retained their low risk for the disease and their diet. The researchers also noted that the Mediterranean diet is rich in foods that may protect against prostate cancer, including legumes, soy foods, and those high in vitamin E, lycopene, and selenium. (Itsiopoulos 2009)
In addition, studies have shown that men who follow the Mediterranean diet have a decreased risk of impotence/erectile dysfunction. Read more on ED and Diet
Filed Under
Mediterranean Diet Fundamentals
The Mediterranean diet has been shown to reduce the risk of death from both heart disease and cancer, lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, control weight, lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and even reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Convinced?
Here are the 11 foundations of the Mediterranean diet to help you get started:
Get lots of exercise
Don’t eat alone: share your meals with family and friends. Savor and enjoy your food and your company. Eat slowly
Enjoy generous amounts of fruits, vegetables, and legumes
Consume healthy fats such as monounsaturated fats (olive and canola oils) and omega-3 fatty acids
Use herbs and spices instead of salt to flavor foods
Eat small portions of nuts
Drink red wine, in moderation
Consume very little red meat (the traditional Mediterranean diet is practically vegetarian)
Eat shellfish or fish at least twice a week
Eat locally grown, seasonal foods and avoid processed foods
Practice portion control—small portions of high-quality food
Prostate Benefits of The Mediterranean Diet
A study published in the October 2009 issue of Maturitas noted that men and women who reported eating foods closest to the Mediterranean diet were about 10 to 20 percent less likely to die of heart disease, cancer, or any other cause. The Mediterranean diet was also associated with having a preventive effect on cancer and on reducing the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and obesity.
Data gathered from more than 10,000 cases showed that certain elements of a Mediterranean diet were associated with reduced cancer risk, including monounsaturated fats, fish (and omega-3 fatty acids), and whole grain foods, while frequent red meat and refined grain intake were directly related to some cancers. (Bosetti 2009)
University of Melbourne researchers looked at prostate cancer mortality among Greek men in Greece and those who had migrated to Australia and found that the migrants had retained their low risk for the disease and their diet. The researchers also noted that the Mediterranean diet is rich in foods that may protect against prostate cancer, including legumes, soy foods, and those high in vitamin E, lycopene, and selenium. (Itsiopoulos 2009)
In addition, studies have shown that men who follow the Mediterranean diet have a decreased risk of impotence/erectile dysfunction. Read more on ED and Diet
Filed Under
Here are the 11 foundations of the Mediterranean diet to help you get started:
Get lots of exercise
Don’t eat alone: share your meals with family and friends. Savor and enjoy your food and your company. Eat slowly
Enjoy generous amounts of fruits, vegetables, and legumes
Consume healthy fats such as monounsaturated fats (olive and canola oils) and omega-3 fatty acids
Use herbs and spices instead of salt to flavor foods
Eat small portions of nuts
Drink red wine, in moderation
Consume very little red meat (the traditional Mediterranean diet is practically vegetarian)
Eat shellfish or fish at least twice a week
Eat locally grown, seasonal foods and avoid processed foods
Practice portion control—small portions of high-quality food
Prostate Benefits of The Mediterranean Diet
A study published in the October 2009 issue of Maturitas noted that men and women who reported eating foods closest to the Mediterranean diet were about 10 to 20 percent less likely to die of heart disease, cancer, or any other cause. The Mediterranean diet was also associated with having a preventive effect on cancer and on reducing the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and obesity.
Data gathered from more than 10,000 cases showed that certain elements of a Mediterranean diet were associated with reduced cancer risk, including monounsaturated fats, fish (and omega-3 fatty acids), and whole grain foods, while frequent red meat and refined grain intake were directly related to some cancers. (Bosetti 2009)
University of Melbourne researchers looked at prostate cancer mortality among Greek men in Greece and those who had migrated to Australia and found that the migrants had retained their low risk for the disease and their diet. The researchers also noted that the Mediterranean diet is rich in foods that may protect against prostate cancer, including legumes, soy foods, and those high in vitamin E, lycopene, and selenium. (Itsiopoulos 2009)
In addition, studies have shown that men who follow the Mediterranean diet have a decreased risk of impotence/erectile dysfunction. Read more on ED and Diet
Filed Under
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