If you have been to this web site previously, you can find links to
most of the new additions at
the What's New
page. See also News for the latest announcements
related to HRPCa.
Home Page
of HRPCa.org
This
web site has been developed and is being maintained as a service to
men, women, and their caregivers who are fighting hormone-refractory
prostate cancer (HRPCa) also referred to as androgen-independent
prostate cancer (AIPC) and more recently defined as castrate-resistant
prostate cancer (CRPC).
This
web site and the on-line support list are managed, written, and maintained
by patients who are not medical professionals. We do not guarantee accuracy
of information or success in the treatments discussed here. We urge
you to involve your physician in the use of information gained here.
See also
About Us.
Who We Are
Almost all the writing on this web site
is done by
men fighting HRPCa or by women whose loved ones fought or are fighting prostate cancer. This web
site is associated
with the HRPCa e-mail support group (see
e-mail support group).
INTRODUCTION to Hormone
Refractory Prostate Cancer
Because
there are differing opinions on what HRPCa means, we use a simple working
definition. Simply put, we define it as advanced
prostate cancer that has resulted in 3 consecutive PSA rises while the
individual is still on hormone therapy. The issue of the definition
is discussed in detail in
Definition of HRPCa.
A
diagnosis of HRPCa is a serious development for the family fighting prostate
cancer. It often comes accompanied by a grim prognosis that adds an
emotional burden. All of the individuals working on this web site have
been through this experience. Without exception, they have chosen to
reject defeat and to fight this disease with their time, their ingenuity,
their resources, and their computers.
What
we have learned by sharing our experiences and our research efforts
is that there are many choices open to the man with HRPCa. These choices
can extend survival and maintain quality of life. First, there are lifestyle
issues to consider. Next, there is a fairly clear
set of therapies that
should be considered by everyone. In addition, there are a number of
clinical trials that can be considered. These options continue to grow
in number as we watch the literature of allopathic medicine and alternative
therapies.
This
web site does not offer a cure, nor any guarantees of remission. It
offers a process of managing this stage of the disease. It offers a
forum for learning from other fighters and the opportunity for helping
others in their fight. It offers the benefit of working with a committed
team to find better solutions inside and outside traditional medicine.
Fighting
HRPCa means learning as much as you can about your body, the disease,
and the therapies. Start your education by reading the section
What
to do first. If you are HRPCa, subscribe to the on-line support list.
By these two steps, you can begin the process of coming to terms with
HRPCa.
Every prostate cancer fighter needs a medical team. We believe in building our teams
with doctors who respect the fact that we are in charge of our own
treatment program. We respect those doctors for their expert input and
compassionate care. We believe that the best way to use the information
gained here is to share it with your doctors to arrive at the
best decisions.
