Researchers make ‘significant discovery' in treating prostate cancer — what it means for patients
A team of Swedish researchers has discovered that a drug traditionally meant for Type 2 diabetes shows immense promise in keeping prostate cancer at bay.
A team of Swedish researchers has discovered that a drug traditionally meant for type 2 diabetes shows promise in keeping prostate cancer at bay.
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The research — which was published in the journal Molecular Cancer — was based on studies on mice, as well as a retrospective study of 69 prostate cancer patients with type 2 diabetes, all of whom experienced a lack of cancer recurrence while using the drug.
'This is a significant discovery,' Lukas Kenner, a visiting professor at Sweden's Umeå University, said in a press release.
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'For the first time, we have clinical observations showing that prostate cancer patients with diabetes who received drugs targeting the protein [PPARy] remained relapse-free during the period we followed them.'
Pioglitazone — a common anti-diabetic drug — not only slowed down the growth of cancer cells but also hampered their ability to grow back.
'The findings are very promising, but further clinical studies are needed to both confirm the results and to investigate whether the treatment can also be used in patients with prostate cancer who do not have diabetes,' Kenner said.
It's the latest in a series of advances targeting prostate cancer — the second most common cancer among men in the US, after skin cancer.
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'This is a significant discovery,' Lukas Kenner said.
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A UCLA study found that an AI tool identified prostate cancer with 84% accuracy, compared to 67% by physicians, highlighting the potential of AI in improving diagnostic precision.
A new at-home saliva test analyzes DNA for genetic markers associated with prostate cancer, offering a more accurate alternative to traditional blood tests and aiding in earlier detection.
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And — following the shocking news that former President Joe Biden has an 'aggressive' form of prostate cancer — one Manhattan doctor is offering free PSA blood tests at his Midtown East office through the end of June.
While the overall five-year survival rate for prostate cancer is as high as 97%, studies have shown that men who avoid prostate cancer screening appointments are 45% more likely to die from the disease.
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Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
'I know I'm not taking it for the right reasons': The hidden dilemma of Ozempic
The last thing Chevese Turner needed was medication to help her lose weight. Twenty years into recovery from binge eating disorder and atypical anorexia, she was done trying to whittle her physique into something it didn't want to be. But after developing diabetes a few years ago, her doctor prescribed Mounjaro, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, or GLP-1, that helps curb diabetes. A side effect of the medication? Weight loss. Knowing that, Turner, who lives outside Washington, DC, hesitated. "I don't want to start getting into this mode where I'm like, 'Yay, I'm losing weight,'" said Turner, 57, the CEO of the Body Equity Alliance, an advocacy and coaching organization. Part of her recovery from BED included learning to eat intuitively and letting her body tell her when it was hungry. Cautiously, she started taking the drug. But, even at a low dose, Mounjaro eliminated her desire to eat, which caused her to drop pounds. This worried her. "I still have a therapist, and I do everything I can to make sure that I keep in strong recovery," she said. Her endocrinologist, who had prescribed the medication, didn't understand her concerns. "She said, 'You don't have to eat lunch.' And I was like, 'No, I need to eat lunch and dinner and breakfast and snacks.' She just doesn't get eating disorders at all." Ozempic is hitting eating disorder centers hard About one in eight adults is taking a GLP-1, such as Ozempic and Mounjaro, designed for diabetes, and Zepbound and Wegovy, marketed for weight loss. The medications marked a historic breakthrough in obesity medicine, providing a treatment for people with a complex medical condition that wasn't just diet or bariatric surgery. The drugs work by mimicking GLP-1, a natural hormone that helps regulate blood sugar, delay digestion, and signal fullness to the brain. Culturally, doctors say GLP-1s helped to shift a narrative, to help society understand obesity as a medical condition like any other, not a failure of willpower. But, while originally intended for people with type 2 diabetes or chronic obesity, these drugs have been co-opted by those seeking weight loss — even if it's not medically necessary. Experts warn that these medications can trigger new eating disorders, worsen existing ones, and complicate recovery. Brittany Lacour, the national director of clinical assessment intake at Eating Recovery Centers, with programs across the country, said the number of people who had come into ERC already on a GLP-1 went from 11 in 2023 to 31 in 2024. So far, there have been 14 cases in 2025, including a 14-year-old child. "We are seeing people who are coming into treatment with a relapse or new onset, and most of them are presenting with restrictive eating patterns, like anorexia," said Dr. Elizabeth Wassenaar, the regional medical director of Eating Recovery Center of the West. She's also seeing an increase in atypical anorexia, a form of anorexia nervosa where someone is significantly restricting calories but is of average or above average weight. Dr. Joel Jahraus, the vice president of medical services at Monte Nido, a national eating disorder treatment provider, has seen a 25% to 33% increase in patients already on GLP-1 medications when they enter treatment. Most, if not all, of them have a binge eating disorder. "A year ago there was no one presenting for an intake on a GLP-1, and then it increased to a couple a month going back 6 months," he said. These days, Monte Nido gets about three to five patients a month who are on a GLP-1. But, Jahraus added, patients often hide their GLP-1 use from the person doing the intake, typically bringing it up only when they show up on-site for actual admission. Doctors attribute their reticence to shame, embarrassment, and the fear that their medications might be taken away from them. "The effect of these meds can go absolutely contrary to the goals of eating disorder treatment, so it's important to figure that out," Jahraus said. "If they are low body weight and have no other indication for use, such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease, there is no place for the GLP-1 meds because the medication causes further weight loss. If they are normal or above normal body weight, we go through a process to gauge if they'll be successful at stopping their eating disorders, but that comes after treatment is initiated." 'I'm not taking it for the right reasons, but I feel that I need to' For two decades, Rose, 32, who lives outside Boise, Idaho, wrestled with restrictive eating and bulimia, cycling in and out of residential and nonresidential treatment programs. Anything that would help her shed the 100 pounds she gained when pregnant with her son and quiet the "food noise" — the obsessive thoughts about meals, calories, exercise, and weight that relentlessly plagued her — was enticing. So when she was diagnosed with diabetes three years ago, she finally had a "legit" medical reason to ask her internist for a prescription for Ozempic. She was elated. Her endocrinologist, dietician, and therapist were not. For people like Rose, with a history of restrictive eating, the inability to be in tune with their body could be disastrous. Still, Rose managed to persuade her internist to give her a prescription. He nervously agreed, but with strict conditions: She had to eat at least 1,500 calories a day, not exercise compulsively, and not lose more than two pounds a week. "As long as I was meeting those goals and all else was OK, I could stay on it," said Rose, who is on disability. (For privacy reasons, she requested anonymity.) Within days of starting the drugs, which she injected into her abdomen, she noticed a shift. She needed less insulin, and sometimes didn't need any. But more importantly, she no longer spent hours ruminating on food and weight. And her hunger disappeared. "It actually freaked me out," she said. "I wasn't intentionally restricting, but I had to force myself to remember to eat." Her daily caloric intake plummeted to about 850 calories and then 350, which she tracked with MyFitnessPal. She did an hour of cardio every day and regularly took laxatives and diuretics, all of which she hid from her team. Because, of course, she liked the weight loss. She couldn't help herself. As she put it, "I know I'm not taking it for the right reasons, but I still feel that I need to." Routine screening for eating disorders risk does not occur in many medical settings, including those where GLP-1 drugs are prescribed Dr. Doreen Marshall Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen, the CEO of Novo Nordisk, which makes Ozempic and Wegovy, addressed the question of eating disorders in an interview with Bloomberg in June 2024. He said the company was focused on educating physicians "to understand what is approved for type 2 diabetes, what is approved for obesity, what is the mechanism, and how should they be used," adding, "We have to also trust that the physicians, they do what is right for their patient, and they should — for sure — not prescribe for people living with eating disorders." "Patient safety is Lilly's top priority, and we actively engage in monitoring, evaluating, and reporting safety information for all our medicines. If someone is experiencing any side effects while taking any Lilly medication, we encourage them to speak with their healthcare provider," a spokesperson for Eli Lilly, the maker of Mounjaro and Zepbound, said in a statement to NBC. Taking GLP-1 drugs without medical supervision is risky. According to a recent report in Annals of Internal Medicine, in 2022 and 2023 about 24,500 emergency room visits were linked to semaglutide, Ozempic's active ingredient, primarily because of severe gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In 2023, a Louisiana woman sued Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, the makers of Ozempic and Mounjaro, accusing them of not disclosing the risk of serious gastrointestinal issues caused by the drugs. (The case is still pending.) As of May 1, there have been 1,809 lawsuits pending against the makers of GLP-1 drugs. Almost everyone who stops taking the medications regains about two-thirds or more of the weight they lost on them — a widely accepted statistic that can make it hard for someone with an eating disorder to quit the drugs. But we don't yet have solid evidence on the long-term impacts of these drugs on health. "In our population, people take it to a new level," Jahraus said. "They don't understand the risks involved. What are you going to do when you stop taking the medication for whatever reason, and you gain back two-thirds of the weight you lost? To an eating disorder patient, that's a disaster." Labels for Wegovy and Zepbound warn of side effects such as nausea and vomiting, but they say nothing about eating disorders, which affect nearly 1 in 10 people in the United States, according to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. Anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. Doctors fail to recognize eating disorders in people with larger bodies Another issue is that many doctors aren't properly trained in eating disorder treatment. "People are often surprised to learn that routine screening for eating disorders risk does not occur in many medical settings, including those where GLP-1 drugs are prescribed," said Dr. Doreen Marshall, the CEO of the National Eating Disorders Association. Many general medical practitioners receive limited or no training or education on eating disorders." This is especially true when it comes to patients with larger bodies, who may suffer from BED or atypical anorexia. Many doctors see a heavier patient and assume they simply need to lose weight, but that's not always true. "We're prescribing for higher-weight people what we diagnose as eating disorders in thin people," said Deb Burgard, a psychologist and eating disorders specialist who's one of the founders of the Health at Every Size framework of care. "The breathless hype about a drug that aims to starve people is that it starves people seemingly without a protest from the starving body," Burgard added. "From our bodies' point of view, starvation is a disaster, no matter the source." How do you stop? In an ideal world, Chevese Turner would eliminate Mounjaro, but the world doesn't bend to our whims. Her diabetes is under control, and that's important. Still, she remains vigilant so she doesn't fall back into her old habits. She began setting a timer to remember when to eat, which she had done in the early stages of her recovery. "I had worked so hard for a long time to become an intuitive eater, and my whole self has changed because I'm in recovery and I eat intuitively," she said. "It's just a totally different relationship with food and body. So I had to start going back to the very beginning of what I did in my recovery, and that was set timers to remember to eat." They would be devastated if they knew why I'm really taking it Rose, who asked a relative to get her Ozempic, saying it was for diabetes As for Rose, she has lost about 45 pounds since starting Ozempic. After her insurance stopped covering it, she began paying $1,000 a month out of pocket for a similar drug, Rybelsus, that a family member — believing she wanted it for her diabetes — helped her procure. "They would be devastated if they knew why I'm really taking it," she said. She has had regular appointments with her endocrinologist but never discussed her GLP-1 use. In mid-May, she ran out of Rybelsus and didn't refill it; it was too expensive. Around this same time, she landed in the hospital with low potassium, which doctors blamed on her overuse of diuretics. If she had her way, she'd go back on Ozempic to lose another 45 pounds. She's thinking about buying some online, which won't require a doctor's prescription. This, of course, is dangerous in its own right, as unregulated or unlicensed vendors have been selling fake Ozempic online or in medical spas. In June 2024, the World Health Organization warned about falsified batches of Ozempic; the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy identified thousands of websites illegally selling fraudulent weight-loss drugs. Worldwide, 42 people were hospitalized after taking fake injections, according to the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System. Some people died. Rose knows she's playing with fire. Still, she isn't ready to give up the drug. "I feel like I'm doing better than I have in a while, but the thoughts of wanting to lose weight or take Ozempic don't ever go away." Read the original article on Business Insider Solve the daily Crossword
Vogue
an hour ago
- Vogue
First Came Ozempic Face. Now People Are Dealing With Ozempic Hair and Muscle Loss
Ever since Ozempic flooded the mainstream consciousness, the controversial weight loss drug of choice has come with some well-documented downsides. Many have dealt with the infamous Ozempic face, which experts describe as rapid weight loss to the face and loss of elasticity in the skin, causing one to look much older. 'Ozempic face can look gaunt, deflated, and saggy,' New York-based facial plastic surgeon Dr. Jennifer Levine once told Vogue. 'Think raisin as opposed to grape!' Now, people are noticing that Ozempic and similar GLP-1 drugs (Mounjaro, Wegovy, Rybelsus, and Zepound, to name a few) are affecting their hairline and possibly weakening their muscle strength. So what gives? Why is this happening? Though some studies link these drugs to hair loss, experts still say it is not a direct side effect of GLP-1s like Ozempic or other medications like Mounjaro. Marisa Garshick, MD, board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology, explains that it's actually more of an indirect result of rapid weight loss, nutritional deficiencies, or stress on the body. 'Telogen effluvium is a type of hair shedding that may be noticed a few months after the body experiences some type of change or stress,' says Dr. Garshick (it's akin to the dramatic hair shedding some saw in the months post-COVID-19). 'People on GLP-1s may not actually notice hair shedding or thinning for several months after they are on it.' As for muscle loss—that's just a general side effect of losing weight, regardless of whether the impetus is diet, exercise, surgery, or a medication like Ozempic. Holly Lofton, MD, director of the medical weight management program at NYU Langone Health, tells Vogue that experts see medications like Wegovy and Zepbound are causing the same—and sometimes more—amount of muscle loss as one might experience through more traditional weight loss methods. Studies show that 25 to 30% of the total weight loss caused by calorie restriction and exercise comes from lean body mass, which includes muscles. So if someone were to lose 20 pounds, she says around 5 to 6 pounds of that might be muscle that is lost. Studies on medications like Wegovy and Zepbound show patients can lose roughly 15 to 22% of their total weight, with about 25% of that weight loss being lean muscle mass. 'These drugs are not necessarily muscle-sparing,' she says. 'However, because people tend to lose more total weight on these medications, the absolute amount of muscle loss can be greater (unless we intervene with resistance training and adequate protein intake).' What can you do about it? There are a few things you can do to treat hair and muscle loss that you might experience when on these medications. Dr. Garshick says that it is normal to shed about 50 to 100 hairs a day, so you should only be concerned if you notice significantly more hair falling out or if your hair loss persists longer than three to six months. If that is the case, she recommends seeing a board-certified dermatologist to be properly evaluated. 'Since telogen effluvium is considered a temporary process, once the weight stabilizes, it is possible the hair loss will slow down and hair regrowth will resume and normalize even without doing any specific intervention,' she says. 'While this process can take six to 12 months, providing reassurance that it can get better on its own is often sufficient.' She says getting bloodwork done to see if there are hormonal changes or nutritional deficiencies that can be addressed through diet (making sure you are consuming enough protein is key) or the use of oral supplements like Nutrafol or Wellbell. You can also turn to thickening and volumizing shampoos, like the Nioxin Hair Fall Defense Shampoo or the Vegamour GRO Revitalizing Shampoo, and leave-in products like the Virtue Flourish Density Booster, to help increase hair density. For more intense treatments, you can inquire about platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy to stimulate hair growth.
Health Line
an hour ago
- Health Line
GLP-1 Drugs May Cause Dehydration, Experts Say, Especially In Extreme Heat
Experts say people who take GLP-1 weight loss medications should stay hydrated, particularly when temperatures are high. The mechanisms of GLP-1 drugs that help reduce appetite, as well as their side effects, may lead to dehydration. Dehydration can cause symptoms such as dizziness and a dry throat, as well as potentially lead to cramps and even seizures. Dehydration could be a potential side effect of taking GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Mounjaro. Experts say dehydration can easily occur as people lose weight with GLP-1 drugs, as their hunger and thirst impulses are tamped down by these medications. 'Dehydration is a serious risk when taking GLP-1 medications,' Kais Rona, MD, a bariatric surgeon of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in California, told Healthline. 'A reduction in hunger drive may be associated with a reduction in thirst drive as well. Patients can develop dehydration rather quickly while taking these medications.' Rona and other experts emphasize that dehydration is not a direct result of taking the GLP-1 drugs. Rather, dehydration develops because of the medication's mechanisms to lower the body's desire for food and consequently liquids. Here's what you need to know about staying hydrated while taking GLP-1 drugs, particularly during rising temperatures. GLP-1 side effects may cause dehydration Common side effects from GLP-1 drugs, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, can exacerbate dehydration. 'These medications work by reducing appetite and slowing down gut function, which not only result in a reduction in food intake, but a reduction in fluid intake as well,' Rona explained. 'Furthermore, the most common side effects associated with GLP-1 medications are gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, constipation, and vomiting.' These symptoms, he added, may exacerbate dehydration. 'GLP-1 drugs slow gastric emptying, leading to early satiety, and making you less likely to drink adequate fluids regularly,' said Michael Snyder, MD, a bariatric surgeon and an obesity specialist at FuturHealth. 'They can also increase the risk of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and other GI side effects — all of which can be made worse by dehydration.' Jessica Crandall Snyder, a registered dietitian and a medical advisor to FuturHealth, noted the issue is even more important in warmer weather. 'GLP-1s can interfere with your body's natural hunger and thirst cues, meaning you might not feel thirsty even when your body needs fluids,' she told Healthline. 'They may also impact thermoregulation, making it harder for the body to cool itself effectively. In hot weather, that could increase the risk of overheating or even heat-related illness.' Zhaoping Li, MD, a professor of clinical medicine and the chief of the Division of Clinical Nutrition at the University of California Los Angeles, said GLP-1 drugs can also cause people to urinate more often. That can also lead to dehydration. 'You need to be careful,' Li told Healthline. Health dangers from dehydration Dehydration occurs when the body doesn't adequately replace the fluids it loses when sweating and urinating. You can also become low on fluids if you have an illness, especially one that causes fever. People who are more likely to become dehydrated include: athletes older adults people working in hot weather infants and young children people with chronic conditions people who live at high altitudes The symptoms of dehydration include: increased thirst dry mouth fatigue dizziness dry skin headache In more serious cases, dehydration can cause a rapid heart beat and rapid breathing. Li said a person who is dehydrated may also develop low blood pressure. 'In addition, as you urinate, you can lose calcium, potassium, and salt,' she said. Dehydration can lead to cramps and even seizures, especially if there is electrolyte imbalance. Rona said there are a variety of serious ailments that can also be produced by dehydration. 'Dehydration can result in significant electrolyte abnormalities, which may present as vague symptoms such as confusion, decrease in energy levels, fatigue, or muscle spasms,' he said. 'Inadequate hydration can also worsen constipation, which is a common side effect of the medication. Lastly, severe dehydration can lead to blood pressure abnormalities as well as kidney injury, which can sometimes result in permanent kidney damage if not addressed urgently.' Tips to stay hydrated On their website, officials at Reviv Lounge, a weight loss treatment center in Wisconsin, discuss the importance of hydration while taking GLP-1 medications. 'Water is essential for nearly every function in your body, but it plays a particularly crucial role when you're actively trying to lose weight,' they say. They also note that when the body is low on fluids, it can hold onto excessive sodium, which can cause bloating and water retention. Staying hydrated is key to maintaining overall health. A 2023 study concluded that hydration can also help with healthy aging. In general, it's recommended that males drink 13 cups of water per day and women drink nine cups of water per day. Experts interviewed by Healthline agreed it's important to stay hydrated while taking weight loss medications. 'It is very important to prioritize hydration when taking a GLP-1 medication,' said Rona. 'Water with or without natural flavors and electrolyte-based fluids are the preferred sources of hydration. It is important to reduce the intake of sugary beverages as well as carbonated beverages, which can sometimes exacerbate the gastrointestinal side effects of the medication,' he added. 'It is critical to know your hydration needs and keep track of your intake,' Michael Snyder noted. 'This is the same as we recommend for anyone following a dietary regimen, but more so if you are on GLP-1 medications, since they can notably affect hydration status.' Jessica Crandell Snyder shared some practical advice for people taking GLP-1 medications. 'Start with a comprehensive plan, not just the medication. Stay hydrated and drink electrolyte-rich fluids if you're experiencing GI symptoms,' she said. 'If you are nauseated, take small, frequent sips of cold beverages. Continue to prioritize high protein meals and stay in close communication with your healthcare provider, especially in the early weeks or if digestive symptoms persist. GLP-1s are powerful tools, but they're most effective when supported by lifestyle shifts,' she recommended. What to know about GLP-1 medications GLP-1 medications fall into two categories. Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy contain the active ingredient semaglutide. Ozempic and Rybelsus are used for type 2 diabetes. While Ozempic is often prescribed off-label for weight loss, Wegovy is approved by the FDA for weight loss. Mounjaro and Zepbound contain the active ingredient tirzepatide. Mounjaro has been approved to treat type 2 diabetes, while Zepbound has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for weight loss. In the past three years, numerous studies have lauded the weight loss benefits of GLP-1 drugs. In addition, researchers have reported that GLP-1 drugs can help: reduce the risk of some cancers reduce the risk of a heart attack curb addictive behaviors such as smoking and alcoholism reduce rheumatoid arthritis flare-ups However, these GLP-1 drugs can produce side effects. Among them: nausea and vomiting diarrhea constipation abdominal pain indigestion Li said it's important to drink plenty of fluids and consume enough protein when taking GLP-1 drugs. In fact, a recent study reported that protein can help prevent muscle loss caused by GLP-1 drugs. 'They are plenty of reasons for people to take weight loss medications, but you need to be careful,' Li said.
