Prostate Cancer Archives

Prostate Cancer What’s new in prostate and pancreatic cancer treatment?

September 30, 2026 Word for Word Media

Dr Daleen Geldenhuys updates us on the latest breakthroughs in prostate and pancreatic cancer treatment presented at the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting.

You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies

About ASCO The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is the world’s leading professional organisation for physicians and oncology professionals caring for people with cancer. The 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting took place in Chicago, Illinois from 29 May to 2 June. Prostate cancer treatment Groundbreaking and practice-changing results are kept for the plenary session. This year ASCO didn’t disappoint, and…

For the boys Prostate cancer screening

September 30, 2026 Word for Word Media

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Dr Mia Hugo educates us on the age at which men should start prostate cancer screening.

You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies

Prostate cancer represents a significant spectrum of disease, ranging from non-aggressive, slow-growing tumours to highly-aggressive disease with a high risk of metastases. After skin cancer, it’s the most diagnosed cancer in males globally. Since there are often no symptoms in its early stages, screening is the primary tool for early detection. However, deciding exactly when and who to screen requires balancing the benefits of catching aggressive cancers…

For the boys Stereotactic body radiotherapy

August 1, 2026 Word for Word Media

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Prof Duvern Ramiah educates us on the quiet revolution in prostate cancer treatment: stereotactic body radiotherapy.

Imagine being told that your prostate cancer can be cured. Now imagine being told that the treatment will require a trip to hospital every weekday for almost two months. For decades that was the reality for men receiving radiotherapy for prostate cancer. Thirty-nine treatments. Eight weeks. Countless journeys to the hospital. Time away from work, family, and the ordinary routines that make life feel normal. But what if the same treatment could be delivered in just five visits? That question has sparked…

Patient Stories Gavin Lee – My health, my right

April 1, 2026 Word for Word Media

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Gavin Lee recounts the uphill battle of getting his medical scheme to fund his radical cystoprostatectomy.

Gavin Lee (65) lives in Weltevreden Park, Gauteng with his wife. They have two sons and one grandson. In July 2025, Gavin noticed traces of blood in his urine; this prompted him to see his GP. A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test was done and proved to be elevated and Gavin was referred to an oncologist. Here further imaging was done, and an MRI detected a tumour in his prostate as well as in his bladder. Biopsies were done on both which confirmed two primary cancers: Stage…

For the boys Importance of genetic testing in prostate cancer

October 1, 2025 Word for Word Media

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Kusha Kalideen unpacks why genetic testing helps determine prostate cancer treatment, specifically with the use of the targeted drugs, PARPi.

You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies

Metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) is an aggressive, advanced form of prostate cancer associated with poor prognosis. While treatment options are limited, a class of cancer drugs, known as poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi), has shown improved survival and reduced disease progression in a subset of prostate cancer patients. As a result, PARPi have been approved for use…

Oncology Man Richard Melville – The long wait

August 4, 2025 Word for Word Media

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After four years of waiting for radiation, Richard Melville finally got it through a private-public hospital partnership. He tells us how the delay in treatment has affected his quality of life.

Richard Melville (71) lives in Randburg, Gauteng with his caregiver and spiritual son, Richard Taylor (34). In May 2021, Richard noticed he had slow urinary discharge, so he went to casualty at a private hospital. Various tests were done (prostate-specific antigen level test and digital rectal exam). Since he is a pensioner and doesn’t have medical aid, he was referred to Helen Joseph Hospital (HJH). Richard was admitted…

For the boys The benefits of support groups

August 4, 2025 Word for Word Media

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We learn about the benefits of support groups, specifically treatment specific support groups for prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is known to cause significant psychosocial distress, with 30-50% of men reporting a psychosocial burden due to their diagnosis, regardless of disease stage or progression.1 The initial diagnosis of cancer is usually highly stressful for men and their families. This is followed by the anxiety of deciding which is the best treatment option (in settings where options are available), followed by coping with side effects that are often highly embarrassing and frustrating for men. The subsequent ongoing monitoring further adds to the…

Oncology Man Prostate health on your plate

June 2, 2025 Word for Word Media

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Did you know prevention can start on your plate? Lailaa Cajee expands on prostate health on your plate.

You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies

Let’s be honest, when we talk about men’s health in SA, prostate health isn’t usually top of mind. But with prostate cancer ranking as one of the leading cancers affecting South African men, it’s time we changed the narrative. Believe it or not, prevention can start right on your plate. Small, consistent changes, rooted in local foods, can make a world of difference. You…

Oncology Man Rev Kosie Loots – Unapologetically open

July 31, 2024 Word for Word Media

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Reverend Kosie Loots shares how his faith, family, and friends pulled him through the toughest time of prostate cancer.

You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies

Reverend Kosie Loots (76) lives in Randburg, Gauteng with his wife, Christine. They have two children and three grandchildren. Regular check-ups I firmly believe that taking care of my physical health is essential. In 1978 I made a promise to myself and the Lord to visit my doctor every six months for regular check-ups. During these visits, my PSA count was consistently normal until the results from March…

Oncology Man Originator brands vs generics

July 31, 2024 Word for Word Media

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Comfort Maluleke, senior case manager at Campaigning for Cancer, offers guidance in understanding originator brands vs generics when navigating prostate cancer treatment.

You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies

Prostate cancer is a complex and challenging disease that places significant emotional and mental strain on patients. According to the 2019 National Cancer Registry, prostate cancer affects 1 in 15 men in SA. Navigating through the intricacies of the disease, understanding its progression, and selecting appropriate treatment options can be daunting. As a senior case manager, I assist patients and doctors to gain access to…

Oncology Man Diagnosis and radiation: what every man should know

July 31, 2024 Word for Word Media

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Dr Shivona Moodley, a radiation oncologist, explains the diagnostic process as well as the role of radiation in prostate cancer.

You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies

Prostate cancer is a malignant disease that starts in the prostate gland. Many patients are asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis and screening to detected early-stage disease, especially in high-risk populations, which often leads to curative treatments with good long-term quality of life. How is prostate cancer diagnosed? PSA testing Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein that is produced by the prostate and tested…

Kidney Cancer Louis Wilson – Life will carry on

July 31, 2024 Word for Word Media

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A year after Louis Wilson had brachytherapy to treat prostate cancer, he underwent cryoablation to treat a newly diagnosed primary kidney cancer.

You can listen to this article below, or by using your favourite podcast player at pod.link/oncologybuddies

Louis Wilson (74) and his wife, Pam, live in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. In February 2023, Louis was diagnosed with prostate cancer and treated with brachytherapy (where radioactive seeds are placed in the prostate gland). Louis says it did concern him when he heard the diagnosis but adds that prostate cancer is quite common in his circle of friends and all…