28 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
This is an educational intervention study testing the effects of decision aids in promoting patient participation in early stage prostate cancer treatment decision making. The purpose of this study is to compare patient-physician communication between patients who receive a DVD that models patient communication strategies vs. those who do not receive a DVD. All patients will also receive a written decision aid that describes treatment options for early stage prostate cancer. The Investigators hypothesize that the DVD will: * increase patients' perceptions of the importance of their preferences to their decision making * increase patients' perceptions of their intention to discuss their values and preferences with their urologists and radiation oncologists * increase patients' actual engagement with their physician during the clinical encounter * increase the concordance between patient decision making preferences and actual decision making outcomes * increase long term satisfaction with decision on type of treatment selected * increase patient satisfaction with their decision and the decision making process * influence patient perception of his physician (e.g., trust) and of the diagnosis visit
The purpose of this study is to collect information on how patients and their partners/close allies make treatment decisions when they have been diagnosed with early stage prostate cancer.
This randomized phase II trial studies cholecalciferol and genistein compared to placebo in treating patients with early stage prostate cancer. Cholecalciferol and genistein may slow the growth of cancer cells and may be an effective treatment for prostate cancer.
This clinical trial is aimed at measuring the effect of vitamin D3 supplementation on serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in patients diagnosed with early stage, low-grade, low-risk prostate cancer (Gleason score less than/equal to 6; PSA less than/equal to 10; clinical stage T1C or T2a), who elect to have their disease monitored through active surveillance for at least one year.
The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of short-term intake of daily Dutasteride in patients with prostate cancer.
The purpose of this trial is to evaluate a short course of very focused (stereotactic) external beam radiation therapy for the treatment of early stage prostate cancer. The investigators will gather scientific information about the tolerance and side effects this type of radiation. The investigators will then compare these results with those of standard 8 week course of external beam radiation therapy to see if this study treatment is equally or more effective in treating prostate cancer.
Vitamin D promotes the differentiation of prostate cancer cells, maintains the differentiated phenotype of prostate epithelial cells, and can induce prostate cancer cell death, raising the possibility that vitamin D deficiency over time promotes the progression of subclinical prostate cancer to clinical disease. The investigators propose to conduct a clinical study aimed at measuring the efficacy of vitamin D3 (4000IU/day) supplementation in Veterans diagnosed with low-risk, early-stage prostate cancer, who elect to have their disease monitored through active surveillance. The successful completion of this proposed clinical study will allow us to determine whether correcting vitamin D deficiency in Veterans diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer will prevent progression of their disease and improve their prognosis.
RATIONALE: A multimedia educational program may help patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer and breast cancer reduce distress, make informed treatment decisions, and improve quality of life. PURPOSE: This randomized clinical trial is studying how well a multimedia educational program works in patients with early-stage prostate cancer or breast cancer.
RATIONALE: Participating in a therapy program may enhance communication and intimacy between men with prostate cancer and their partners. PURPOSE: This randomized clinical trial is studying how well therapy enhances communication and intimacy for men with early stage prostate cancer and for their partners.
The purpose of this study is to determine the most appropriate radiation implant dose for palladium-103 monotherapy. Radiation dose is related to potential cure. From previously published studies, it appears that the prescribed radiation dose can be reduced by 14-20% without any difference in potential cure (in this study, the dose is being decreased 10%). Although most patients tolerate brachytherapy well, complications to appear to be related to radiation exposure to normal structures (i.e. urethra, rectum and proximal penis). By reducing the prescribed dose, it is conceivable that fewer patients will experience side effects and complications.
We plan to test the effectiveness of a recently developed computer-based program that is designed to improve patient knowledge about prostate cancer treatments. It is also designed to help men clarify their values using a computer-based 'decision aid.' A decision aid gives patients tools to help them understand their own values and how these values may be related to their choice of different forms of therapy for prostate cancer. In order to test the effectiveness of the decision aid, men will be assigned on a chance basis to receive either 1) the computer program that includes the information about prostate cancer treatments alone, or 2) the computer program that contains both the information and the decision aid. We expect that men in decision aid group will be more active in their treatment decision and will have improved knowledge, quality of life, and satisfaction with the treatment decision relative to men who only receive the information.
RATIONALE: Measuring bone mineral density may help doctors predict whether prostate cancer will come back. It may also help the study of prostate cancer in the future. PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying whether bone mineral density affects cancer recurrence in patients with early stage prostate cancer.
RATIONALE: An individualized, computer-designed health program may promote changes in diet and physical activity and may improve quality of life in patients who have early-stage prostate cancer. PURPOSE: Randomized clinical trial to compare the effectiveness of an individualized, computer-designed diet and exercise-based counseling program with that of a standard counseling program in promoting health in patients who have early-stage prostate cancer.
Environmental factors such as diet and cigarette smoking may play a role in predicting the progression of early stage prostate cancer to advance disease. The goal of this project is to establish an observational cohort of patients with early stage prostate cancer who elect not to undergo radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy to evaluate risk factors which predict the transformation of early stage to clinically aggressive disease.
The primary objective of this study is to demonstrate that ultra-hypofractionation of prostate cancer does not increase urinary toxicity as defined by the EPIC-26 GU domain patient reported outcome.
Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common type of cancer in men and the second leading cause of death in American men. Those diagnosed with localized prostate cancer encounter three sources of psychological distress: 1) diagnosis itself, 2) treatment decision making, and 3) the often life-altering side effects of treatment. In addition, patients who choose to undergo active surveillance which focuses on monitoring cancer in lieu of treatment, experience distress related to living with cancer. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an established psychosocial intervention that has been used extensively for mental health treatment and has shown benefits for various chronic conditions. ACT is a behavioral intervention that focuses on tolerating distress and improving function. This pilot study is designed to test the feasibility of ACT for distress reduction and improved quality of life in patients recently diagnosed with early-stage, localized PCa.
The purpose of this study is to determine whether stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) with simultaneous boost (higher radiation dose) to areas within the prostate with more prominent cancerous growth (intraprostatic lesions) utilizing intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) planning techniques is a safe and effective treatment in patients with low- and intermediate-risk localized prostate cancer.
The purpose of this study is to see what side effects a type of radiation treatment called focal brachytherapy has in treating early stage prostate cancer. The study is also looking at how useful focal brachytherapy will be in treating prostate cancer. Additionally, the investigators would like to see how this type of treatment impacts quality of life.
RATIONALE: Telephone counseling by a nutritionist and a personal trainer may improve physical function and quality of life in patients who have early-stage breast cancer or prostate cancer. PURPOSE: Randomized clinical trial to compare the effectiveness of a home-based, diet and exercise-based counseling program with that of a standard home-based counseling program in promoting health in patients who have early-stage breast cancer or prostate cancer.
A UCSF PI-initiated study with a primary goal to improve decision quality, anxiety, and uncertainty, thereby increasing appropriate uptake of active surveillance and reducing over-treatment of low-risk prostate cancer. This study involves: completion of questionnaires through the secure website; consultation by a health coach to aid men with prostate cancer in making informed treatment decision (personalized coaching session(s)).
The primary purpose of this study is to determine if high doses of radiation using proton beam can be given safely with low and acceptable side effects. This study will also gather data to determine the ability of the proton beam to eradicate prostate cancer. Proton beam radiation is a very accurate kind of treatment that has been shown to affect less normal tissue than a regular radiation beam.
The purpose of this study is to assess quality-of-life of men with prostate cancer. "Quality-of-life" means how you feel about your life as a result of your disease and its treatment. The investigators hope that this questionnaire will help show how prostate cancer treatments affect quality-of-life. It will help doctors and future patients to make better treatment choices. Some men may wish to have a more demanding treatment with a higher risk of harmful effects. Others may prefer a treatment that will have the smallest effect on their quality-of-life. This questionnaire will help us measure these effects and decide which is the best treatment for a given patient.
RATIONALE: Physician-initiated smoking cessation strategies may be effective in getting early-stage cancer patients to quit smoking. PURPOSE: Randomized clinical trial to compare the effectiveness of a physician-initiated stop-smoking program with the usual care for patients receiving treatment for early-stage cancer.
The purpose of this randomized clinical trial is to learn if 'complex' cancer patients who receive care guided by a health system intervention, Primary Care Connect (PC2) have their risks of cardiovascular disease (CVD) managed better than those who receive usual care. This study focuses on "complex" cancer survivors who have higher CVD risk when diagnosed with cancer because they also have had a diagnosis of 1 or more chronic conditions (e.g., hypertension, diabetes, and/or hyperlipidemia) requiring medication management. This study also aims to learn about the ease of implementing the health system intervention from the perspectives of cancer teams, primary care teams, and complex cancer patients. The main questions the study aims to answer are: * Do patients enrolled in the PC2 arm remain connected to their primary care teams during active cancer treatment for chronic disease management compared to patients in usual care? * Do patients enrolled in the PC2 arm have better management of their chronic conditions during active cancer treatment compared to patients in usual care? * How do the care team and patients experience this change in care delivery related to their work and care experiences? This study will compare complex cancer survivors who receive care according to the PC2 intervention to usual care to see if PC2 works to improve cardiovascular risk management. Participants will: * receive educational materials about the study upon enrollment * complete on-line or written surveys at 4 times * Visit the clinic for check ups and test related to the study 4 times
This clinical trial evaluates the use of novel decision support educational materials and services using health coaches. The study includes men newly diagnosed with low-risk prostate cancer. A 160 men will be recruited. Half of the men will receive a call from a health coach before their initial consultation visit with their urologist to review their treatment concerns and questions. The other half will receive usual care provided by the urologist, such as educational materials and services provided by the urologist.
RATIONALE: Palliative care may help patients with advanced cancer live more comfortably. PURPOSE: This randomized clinical trial is studying an early intervention palliative care program to see how well it works compared to a standard care program in improving end-of-life care in patients with advanced lung , gastrointestinal, genitourinary, or breast cancer.
RATIONALE: Androgens can stimulate the growth of prostate cancer cells. Drugs such as aminoglutethimide or ketoconazole may stop the adrenal glands from producing hormones. Combining hydrocortisone with either aminoglutethimide or ketoconazole may be an effective treatment for prostate cancer. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of combining hydrocortisone with either aminoglutethimide or ketoconazole in treating patients who have localized stage IV prostate cancer.
Background: * Prednisone and docetaxel have been used successfully in treating patients with prostate cancer, either when used alone or in combination with other agents. Researchers believe that these anticancer effects can be increased by giving them in this specific combination. * A previous study at the National Cancer Institute combined docetaxel and prednisone with bevacizumab and thalidomide. The results of this study were promising; however, most patients in the study required a dose reduction of thalidomide because of its side effects. * Lenalidomide, a drug similar to thalidomide, may have less severe side effects. Based on previous studies, lenalidomide is well tolerated in patients with solid tumors when used alone or in combination with docetaxel, and it may be a good substitute for thalidomide. Objectives: * To determine if lenalidomide is an appropriate and effective substitute for thalidomide in treating prostate cancer. * To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of bevacizumab, lenalidomide, docetaxel, and prednisone as a prostate cancer treatment, and to study any side effects. Eligibility: - Men 18 years of age and older who have been diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer that has not responded to standard treatment, including surgical removal of the testicles or treatment with androgen (sex-hormone) suppressing drugs. Design: * Participants will have a complete medical history and physical examination before beginning the study. * Patients will be treated with 21-day cycles with a combination of four drugs: * (1) Docetaxel, which will be given into a vein for 60 minutes on the first day of each 21-day cycle. Patients will take dexamethasone (a steroid agent) before and after taking docetaxel. * (2) Prednisone, which will be taken by mouth daily. * (3) Bevacizumab, which will be given through a vein over 30 to 90 minutes on the first day of each 21-day cycle following the infusion of docetaxel. * (4) Lenalidomide, which will be taken by mouth during the first 2 weeks of each 21-day cycle. The dose of lenalidomide may be adjusted if side effects develop. * Patients will also receive enoxaparin, a subcutaneous injection administered daily, to prevent blood clots and/or pegfilgrastim, a subcutaneous injection on day 2 of each cycle, to improve white blood cell counts, as directed by researchers.