Some Prostate Drugs May Do Harm

THURSDAY, June 29, 2017 -- Popular hormone-based drugs for treating an enlarged prostate could increase men's risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease or stroke, a new study suggests.

A group of German men taking the drug Avodart (dutasteride) for three years wound up with higher blood sugar and cholesterol levels than men taking another class of prostate medication that does not affect male hormones, the researchers reported.

Stroke Rates Drop for U.S. Men, But Not Women

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 9, 2017 -- The overall rate of strokes is declining in the United States, but appears to be going down mostly in men, a new study finds.

"Our findings suggest that the decreases in rates of stroke over time are primarily driven by decreased stroke rates in men," said lead researcher Dr. Tracy Madsen.

'Observation' Best Option for Most Low-Risk Prostate Cancer

THURSDAY, July 13, 2017 -- Men with early stage prostate cancer who have surgery to remove their tumor do not live longer than those who receive no treatment at all, a long-running clinical trial has concluded.

At the same time, nearly one in three men who had the surgery wound up with long-term complications, such as urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction, said lead researcher Dr. Timothy Wilt. He is a clinical investigator with the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System.

Are Big Men More Prone to Aggressive Prostate Cancer?

THURSDAY, July 13, 2017 -- The larger a man, the greater his risk of getting and dying from aggressive prostate cancer, a new study suggests.

Every additional 4 inches of height increased a man's chances of being diagnosed with high-risk prostate cancer by 21 percent, and their odds of dying from prostate cancer by 17 percent, researchers found.

Little Evidence That Vasectomy Raises Prostate Cancer Risk

TUESDAY, July 18, 2017 -- For men who have had or might undergo a vasectomy, there is good news: A major study finds scant evidence that the procedure raises their risk of prostate cancer.

"At most, there is a trivial association between vasectomy and prostate cancer that is unlikely to be causal," concluded a team led by Dr. R. Jeffrey Karnes, of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.