NEW YORK, Dec. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — Androgen deprivation
therapy has often been prescribed as a prostate
cancer treatment for low-risk prostate
cancer patients. This therapy for treating
prostate cancer had previously been blamed for increased risk
of cardiovascular disease and heart conditions. However, this
hormone treatment for prostate cancer has now become more
controversial due to its two potential side effects, diabetes and
obesity, which are risk factors for colorectal cancer. “Androgen
deprivation therapy is overused, and now may be even more dangerous
than previously thought,” said Dr. Samadi, a robotic
prostatectomy expert, as well as the Vice Chairman, Department
of Urology, and Chief of Robotics and Minimally Invasive Surgery at
The Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City.

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The University of Michigan study, which appears in the December
issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, found that
androgen deprivation therapy, delivered via injections or surgical
castration, resulted in a 30 to 40 percent increased risk for
colorectal cancer. However, the absolute risk is small, with no
more than a 2.5 percent absolute risk of colorectal cancer over a
five-year period.

“When treating late-stage prostate cancer that has spread beyond
the prostate gland, it’s effective,” said Dr. Samadi, “When coupled
with radiation, it can be very beneficial in treating locally
advanced prostate cancer.” However, the study showed that as a
primary therapy for lower-risk or localiz

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