Propecia, the FDA, and High Grade Prostate Cancer

Posted by admin on January 23rd, 2012 at 10:22pm

Dear Dr. Rassman: I am a bit concerned about continuing with Propecia in light of the recent finding on the risk of high grade prostate cancer. At the FDA hearing in June of last year, the FDA statistician estimated that the risk of getting high grade prostate cancer using 5mg of Finasteride over a 7 year period was 1 in 200. I realize that Propecia is one fifth that, but even a 1 in 1,000 risk when it comes to an aggressive cancer seems, well, risky. If you told me that there was a 1 in 200 or 1 in 1,000 chance the plane I was about to board would crash, I would not board. So, my question is this: is there anything in the study you see that makes you think it’s safe to keep going with this drug? I believe you are reading things out of context. The FDA site states: “ The labels of all 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs) are being revised based on FDA’s review of two large studies examining whether these drug products (Proscar, Avodart) reduce the risk of prostate cancer. The studies did find an overall reduction in the risk of lower-grade forms of prostate cancer, but both studies also showed an increased risk of high-grade prostate cancer. As a result of these two studies, the labels of all FDA-approved 5-ARIs will be revised to include new information that these drug products may increase the risk of high-grade prostate cancer. The product labeling will also state that 5-ARIs are not approved for the prevention of prostate cancer .” [ Source ] I did a quick Google search and found prostate cancer statistics , unrelated to finasteride use. I found, “ the age-adjusted incidence rate was 156.0 per 100,000 men per yea r”. I know this is not exact, but if you consider in 7 years you can multiply 156 x 7 which will be 1092 cases for 100,000 men in 7 years. That is 1 in 92 in 7 years. For the statisticians out there, please correct my back of the envelope calculations. My point is: Propecia does not cause cancer. The studies that the FDA quotes and the media has latched on to point to how those men who ended up with prostate cancer while on finasteride had a higher grade prostate cancer than men who did not take finasteride… but the controversy of why this is, was not clear from the studies. A final point is that if you are concerned about the medication, you do not have to take it. It is an option I give to all my patients. This is one of the many reasons why a doctor should prescribe you the medication, because each and every patient is different and the prescribing doctor should be there to address all of these issues one on one with the patient. Tags: finasteride , propecia , cancer , prostate cancer , hairloss , hair loss Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):

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Propecia, the FDA, and High Grade Prostate Cancer

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