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UCLA Urology News
News - Urology at UCLA
The UCLA Department of Urology provides cutting edge diagnosis and treatments, and supports a staff of renowned physicians, surgeons and researchers. 
Demonstrating continued excellence in the field of Urology, the UCLA Department of Urology along with its varied Centers of Excellence, is often the subject of stories in newspapers, magazines, and journals. The Department also frequently issues news releases to keep the community informed on the latest developments in urology, the treatments available at UCLA, and various milestones within the Department. We include here a collection of recent stories, and an archive of older articles, for your further information.
Best in the West and No. 4 in the Nation
UCLA Urology ranks as one of the top four in the nation by U.S.News & World Report for the 20th consecutive year. Nationally, UCLA ranked in the top 20 in 14 of the 16 specialty areas. Article on health.usnews.com »
Bladder Cancer Recurrence High, Better Follow-Up Care Needed
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| Dr. Saigal | Dr. Chamie |
Jun 17, 2013
Dr. Christopher Saigal and Dr. Karim Chamie cancernetwork.com -- Recent studies suggest patients with bladder cancer are not receiving optimal care or the follow-up surveillance as recommended by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). The question of optimal treatments for subtypes of bladder cancer is difficult to address without understanding the natural history of bladder cancer.
Article on cancernetwork.com »
OC Dad Celebrates First Father's Day Since Kidney Transplant
Jun 17, 2013
Dr. Jeffrey Veale on KNBC, CNN en Español -- Orange County dad Joe Felix was hooked up to a dialysis machine last Father’s Day. He was in desperate need for a new kidney, and finally received one from a complete stranger. The whole exchange was filmed as part of a documentary for TakePart.com.
Story on nbclosangeles.com » | Story on YouTube.com » | Kidney Transplant Program »
Bladder Cancer Recurrence and Mortality Could Decline with Better Treatment Compliance
Jun 04, 2013
Dr. Karim Chamie on newsroom.ucla.edu -- Researchers at UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center led by Dr. Karim Chamie have found that more intense surveillance and treatment of bladder cancer in the first two years after diagnosis could reduce the number of patients whose cancer returns after treatment and lower the disease's death rate. The study was published online ahead of press today in the journal Cancer.
Article on newsroom.ucla.edu »
Hold Your Horses, Older Men!
May 20, 2013
Dr. Timothy Daskivich on dailyrx.com -- Prostate cancer less likely to cause death in older men than underlying conditions. One of the challenges of managing prostate cancer is measuring how aggressive it is. Because a man is diagnosed with prostate cancer doesn’t necessarily mean it needs to be treated. New research findings may make treatment decisions easier for men over the age of 60. Older men, particularly those with underlying conditions such as heart disease or diabetes, need to think carefully about treating prostate cancer at all. These gentlemen may not want to undergo treatment because their other conditions (co-morbidities) are more likely to cause death than the prostate cancer.
Article on dailyrx.com »
Additional Coverage: examiner.com » | medicalxpress.com » | scpr.org » | healthland.time.com » | uclahealth.org »
UCLA Medical Center’s Kidney Transplant Chains Focus Of New Web Documentary
May 17, 2013
Dr. Jeffrey Veale on bhcourier.com -- Imagine undergoing the removal of a kidney to save the life of a complete stranger. For many people, it’s a difficult scenario to envision. But a compelling documentary paints the picture of just such a tale. It chronicles a life-saving kidney transplant chain initiated by Karen Willis, who made the decision to donate after giving careful thought to the idea of helping a complete stranger. Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center has been a significant player in kidney transplant chains, in which donors who want to give to a medically incompatible loved one or friend are matched with another, compatible recipient, whose original donor is also paired with another concordant recipient, and so on.
Article on bhcourier.com » | Kidney Transplant Program »
Dr. Bill J. Releford to Speak at UCLA Symposium on Improving Health of African American Men
May 10, 2013
Dr. Bill J. Releford to Speak at UCLA Symposium -- Joins Other Thought Leaders to Discuss Reducing Health Disparities Through Innovative Community Barbershop Outreach Programs. In spite of significant advances in medicine, African Americans overall experience higher rates of many chronic, and often life-threatening diseases. The UCLA Department of Urology has invited four thought leaders, including Dr. Bill J. Releford, DPM, to speak at a symposium on innovative barbershop-based community outreach programs that seek to reduce health disparities among African American men. The free symposium will be held on May 14 from 8 a.m. until noon at the Tamkin Auditorium, Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center at 727 Westwood Plaza in Los Angeles.
Article on sfgate.com » | Register for the free symposium » | Event details »
Most Men With Erectile Dysfunction Don't Seem to Get Treatment
May 06, 2013
Dr. Jacob Rajfer on consumer.healthday.com -- In a study of 6 million ED patients, 75 percent either didn't receive or fill prescriptions. Never mind the commercials with men talking freely to their doctor about their erectile dysfunction, taking a prescription for treatment to the pharmacy and settling in for a romantic evening. Despite a wide range of treatment options, most men with erectile dysfunction (ED) don't get treated, according to a new study. "To conclude from this study that three-fourths of the men who carry a diagnosis of ED are not treated doesn't fit with what we see in clinical practice," said Dr. Jacob Rajfer, a professor of urology with the David Geffen School of Medicine, at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Article on consumer.healthday.com »
Scientists ID New Kidney Cancer Subtypes, Clearing Way for Personalized Treatment
Apr 16, 2013
Dr. Allan Pantuck on newsroom.ucla.edu -- Researchers with UCLA's Institute of Urologic Oncology and department of urology have classified kidney cancer into several unique subtypes, a breakthrough that will help physicians tailor treatment to individual kidney cancer patients, moving cancer care one step closer to personalized medicine. Their findings are the result of 10 years of UCLA research on kidney cancers at the genetic and molecular levels, with scientists conducting chromosomal analyses in an effort to identify what mutations may be causing and affecting the behavior of the malignancies. Thousands of tumors removed at UCLA have been studied, said Dr. Allan Pantuck, a professor of urology and director of genitourinary oncology at UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Article on newsroom.ucla.edu » Additional Coverage: healthcanal.com » | doctortipster.com » | eurekalert.org » | health.universityofcalifornia.edu »
Physicians from UCLA Urology Named to 2013 Best Doctors in America List
Mar 26, 2013
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| Dr. Belldegrun | Dr. Rajfer | Dr. Reiter | Dr. Rodriguez |
Drs. Belldegrun, Rajfer, Reiter & Rodriguez on newsroom.ucla.edu -- In further recognition of the UCLA Health System's reputation for world-class patient care, more than 200 UCLA physicians have been named to the prestigious Best Doctors in America list for 2013. The national list, which is compiled every two years by Boston-based Best Doctors Inc., is based on an in-depth, impartial peer survey of doctors working in a variety of specialties. Only the top 5 percent of physicians in the country receive this honor. "Earning a place as one of the Best Doctors in America is a singular honor," said Dr. David Feinberg, president of the UCLA Health System. "This is a testament to our physicians, who provide excellent patient-centered care. We are grateful to our gifted and dedicated medical team throughout the UCLA Health System, which goes the extra mile every day to save lives and deliver compassionate care to patients in our community, one patient at a time."
Article on newsroom.ucla.edu »
U.S. News and World Report Names Top Doctors: Spotlight on the Chair of UCLA Urology
Mar 26, 2013
Dr. Mark Litwin on health.usnews.com -- Mark S. Litwin, M.D., M.P.H., Chair of UCLA Urology and Professor of Urology in the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, ranks in the highest percentile of Top Doctors in the nation according to the annual U.S. News & World Report. Top Doctors is the best referral system a patient could ask for. Physicians from around the country identify the best experts in their fields for patients to receive excellent care and superior outcomes. This is a powerful resource for patients in need of finding the best doctors to battle a disease and/or seek out a second and or third opinion on treatment options. In collaboration with U.S. News & World Report, Castle Connolly Research interview “leading specialists, chairs of clinical departments, presidents of medical affairs to identify top specialists” around the country as well as request previous year’s Top Doctors to make nominations. As Chair of UCLA Urology, Dr. Litwin leads an exceptional group of physicians and scientists dedicated to innovative urologic care and compassionate treatment of patients and their families. UCLA Urology consistently ranks #4 in the nation in the U.S. News & World Report annual survey, which is a mark of Dr. Litwin’s commitment to personalized, patient-centered care. Dr. Litwin and his team practice at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center ranked #1 in California and #5 nationally.
Rankings on health.usnews.com »
Patients Should Decide What the End of Life is Like, Study Says
Mar 20, 2013
Dr. Jonathan Bergman on latimes.com -- Finding out what dying patients want and treating them accordingly leads to happier patients who are in less pain and who use fewer healthcare dollars, UCLA researchers said Tuesday. “You can improve care while reducing costs by making sure that everything you do is centered on what the patients want, what his or her specific goals are and tailor a treatment plan to ensure we provide the specific care he or she wants,” Dr. Jonathan Bergman, a Robert Wood Johnson clinical scholar at UCLA, said in a statement.
Article latimes.com » | Additional Coverage: health.usnews.com » | healthleadersmedia.com » | scrubsreport.com » | examiner.com » | fiercehealthcare.com » | medicalxpress.com » | news-medical.net » | medicalnewstoday.com »
Steve Garvey To Auction Memorabilia For Prostate Cancer Awareness
Mar 12, 2013
Dr. Mark Litwin on CBS -- STUDIO CITY (KCAL9) — Former Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres first baseman, Steve Garvey, along with the Chair of UCLA Urology Dr. Mark Litwin stopped by KCAL9 Tuesday to discuss Garvey’s battle with prostate cancer.
View CBS KCAL9 Story »
Monterey Hospital Among Doubters of Popular Robotic Surgery System
Mar 05, 2013
Dr. Jim C. Hu on montereyherald.com -- Nearly five years ago, Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital trumpeted the arrival of the county's only da Vinci surgical robot. Hospital officials predicted the cutting-edge device would revolutionize minimally invasive surgery. With four arms, a 3-D camera and tiny surgical implements on swiveling "wrists" wielded by a surgeon at a control panel, the robot could minimize incisions, pain, blood loss, complications and recovery time for patients.
Article on montereyherald.com » Additional Coverage: dailybulletin.com » | pasadenastarnews.com »
Affordable Care Alone May Not Be Enough to Help Latinos Overcome Cancer Care Barriers
Mar 05, 2013
Sally Maliski on newsroom.ucla.edu -- A combination of financial, cultural and communication barriers plays a role in preventing underserved Latino men with prostate cancer from accessing the care and treatment they need, according to a new study by researchers at the UCLA School of Nursing. "We found that an array of obstacles compromise access and frequently result in negative outcomes," said Sally L. Maliski, associate dean of academic affairs at the UCLA School of Nursing and senior author of the study.
Article on newsroom.ucla.edu »
Dodgers' Steve Garvey is Battling Prostate Cancer, Has Surgery at UCLA
Feb 22, 2013
Dr. Mark Litwin on latimes.com -- Former Dodgers first base great Steve Garvey, a 10-time All-Star and 1974 National League MVP, is battling prostate cancer. Garvey said that his prostate was removed at UCLA Medical Center in October after his cancer was diagnosed the previous month and that he now hopes to devote a considerable amount of his time to prostate cancer awareness. Garvey said he has been on the UCLA board of neurology for eight or nine years where he knew urology department chairman Dr. Mark Litwin, who performed his operation.
Article on latimes.com »
End-of-life Care Gains Increasing Prominence
Jan 16, 2013
Dr. Jonathan Bergman on oncologypractice.com -- From Hollywood to Washington, care at the end of life increasingly is part of the national conversation. As more than 70 million baby boomers (Americans born between 1946 and 1964) approach the end of their life spans, the cultural, clinical and socioeconomic impacts of end-of-life care have become high-profile topics. The French film "Amour," which depicts the challenges faced by an octogenarian couple after the wife has a series of strokes, has received an Academy Award Best Picture nomination. The Institute of Medicine will convene a panel of experts on Feb. 22-24 in Washington to examine the state of end-of-life care. The goal of the IOM Committee on Transforming End of Life Care is to produce a consensus report by 2014 to address end-of-life care.
Article oncologypractice.com »
MRI-Ultrasound Fusion Provides a Better Visual for Obtaining Prostate Biopsy
Jan 03, 2013
Dr. Leonard Marks on oncologynurseadvisor.com -- Ground-breaking research demonstrates that prostate cancer can be diagnosed using image-guided biopsy. These findings may end a 25-year era of blind biopsy. Traditionally, prostate cancer has been found only by blind biopsy using transrectal ultrasound to sample the prostate, which is a procedure that dates back to the 1980s. Unlike most tumors, prostate cancer is the only major malignancy diagnosed without actually visualizing the tumor as the biopsy is obtained.
Article oncologynurseadvisor.com » | Targeted Prostate Biopsy at UCLA »
UCLA Urology Dept. Announces $4.6 Million Donation
Jan 02, 2013
Dr. Mark Litwin on Southwest Riverside News Network -- The estate of a late University of California Board of Regents member and former May Co. department store executive and his wife gave the UCLA’s Department of Urology $4.6 million, it was announced today. The money from the estate of Frank and Dorothy H. Clark will go to support research at the Clark Urology Centers at UCLA’s Westwood and Santa Monica campuses. Mark Litwin, chairman of the urology department, said the estate is scheduled to donate a similar amount next year.
Article on ucla.edu » | Article on swrnn.com » Additional Coverage: Article on Canyon-News.com
New Targeted Biopsy: Prostate Cancer Diagnosis Easier, Less Painful
Dec 23, 2012
Dr. Leonard Marks on empowher.com -- For doctors, finding prostate cancer during a biopsy is akin to finding a needle in a haystack while blindfolded. Leonard Marks, MD, University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) professor of urology and director of the UCLA Active Surveillance Program says “amazingly, prostate cancer is being diagnosed today almost exactly same way it was 25 years ago” using a technique known as the “blind biopsy”.
Article on empowher.com » | Targeted Prostate Biopsy at UCLA »
Daughter Donates Kidney to Save Father’s Life
Dec 18, 2012
Dr. Jeffrey Veale on ktla.com -- WESTWOOD, Calif. (KTLA) — In the truest spirit of holiday giving, a daughter has given her father the most precious gift of all — a new kidney and a new chance at life. Luis Ramirez and his wife moved to the United States from Mexico so their children could have a better future. Ramirez never learned to read or write English, but he managed to launch a successful landscaping business and raise six children. One of those children, Graciela, has now given her father the ultimate gift, donating a kidney to keep him alive. “If they would have said we don’t need your kidney, we need your heart, your life. I wouldn’t even think about it twice,” Graciela said. “I would give him my life in heartbeat.”
Article on ktla.com » | Article PDF Version » | Kidney Transplant Program »
FAQ: 18 Things You Should Know About Prostate Cancer
Dec 14, 2012
Dr. Mark Litwin on Southern California Public Radio -- This week, Governor Jerry Brown made headlines with the announcement that he is undergoing radiation treatment for “localized” prostate cancer. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that prostate cancer is the most common cancer found in American men of all races. Even so, there's a lot of confusion about biopsies and treatment options. So we spoke with Stuart Holden, M.D., director of Louis Warschaw Prostate Cancer Center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and Mark S. Litwin, MD Chair of the Department of Urology at UCLA and compiled answers to these 18 Frequently Asked Questions about prostate cancer.
Article on scpr.org » | Article PDF Version » | Prostate Cancer Treatment at UCLA »
Targeted Biopsy Marks Major Advance in Prostate Cancer Research - NBC News Video
Dec 14, 2012
Dr. Leonard Marks on nbclosangeles.com -- Doctors now can see what they're looking for, rather than taking random samples. One prostate needle biopsy is unpleasant enough. But Don Buck has had two of them. He did it because his PSA levels, which can indicate prostate cancer, had shot up dramatically – from 2 to 13. In the traditional procedure, doctors insert a needle into the prostate, take random tissue samples, then send those to the lab to see if there is cancer. But nothing turned up for Buck. "At that point I was thinking, I’m doing okay," Buck said. "I’m a very healthy guy, the biopsies are coming back negative. I thought, well, perhaps there’s something wrong with the PSA test." Then, his wife convinced him to go to UCLA Medical Center to get another biopsy -- a new type of biopsy that is targeted, not blind, according to UCLA Urologist Leonard Marks.
Article on nbclosangeles.com » | Video NBC News Story » | Targeted Prostate Biopsy at UCLA »
California’s Brown Has Prostate Cancer, Doctor Says
Dec 12, 2012
Dr. Mark Litwin on bloomberg.com -- California Governor Jerry Brown is being treated with radiation for early prostate cancer, one of the most common forms of the disease affecting American men. Brown, a 74-year-old Democrat, will continue a full work schedule during the treatment, which will be completed the week of Jan. 7, according to a statement released by his office. “For men in Governor Brown’s age group, prostate cancer is the most frequent tumor that we find,” Mark Litwin, chairman of the urology department at the University of California, Los Angeles, said in an interview.
Article on bloomberg.com » | Prostate Cancer Treatment at UCLA »
The AP story also appeared in dozens of outlets nationwide, including KNX 1970AM, KPCC 89.3FM, the Los Angeles Times, Bloomberg, Salon, ABCNews.com, New York Daily News, CBS Sacramento, Fox News and the Seattle Times.
Magnetic Resonance Ultrasound Fusion Biopsy May Improve Prostate Cancer Diagnosis
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| Dr. Marks | Dr. Sonn |
Dec 11, 2012
Dr. Leonard Marks and Dr. Geoffrey Sonn on news-medical.net -- Diagnosis of prostate cancer remains imperfect. Current methods of prostate biopsy are limited by over detection of slow-growing tumors and under detection of clinically relevant cancers. Investigators at the University of California-Los Angeles Department of Urology have found that a new technique of targeted biopsy in a clinic setting, using local anesthesia, may improve diagnosis and aid in selecting which patients are suitable for active surveillance and which need focal therapy (noninvasive techniques for destroying small tumors within the prostate).
Article on news-medical.net » | Targeted Prostate Biopsy » | Active Surveillance »
Prostate Cancer Now Detectable by Imaging-guided Biopsy
Dec 10, 2012
Dr. Leonard Marks on medicalxpress.com -- Ground-breaking research by a UCLA team of physicians and engineers demonstrates that prostate cancer can be diagnosed using image-guided targeted biopsy. Traditionally found only by blind biopsy, a procedure that dates from the 1980s, prostate cancer now appears detectable by direct sampling of tumor spots found using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in combination with real-time ultrasound, according to the UCLA study released Dec. 10, 2012 early online for the January 2013 issue of The Journal of Urology®. The study indicates that the MRI and ultrasound fusion biopsy, which is much more accurate than conventional blind biopsy, may lead to a reduction in the numbers of prostate biopsies performed and allow for early detection of serious prostate cancers.
Article on medicalxpress.com (PDF) » | Targeted Prostate Biopsy » | Active Surveillance »
Additional Coverage: Science Daily, Asian News International, Examiner.com, KPCC 89.3FM, NBCNews.com, Doctor's Lounge, HealthDay News, Urology Times
Prostate Cancer Now Detectable Using Imaging-guided Biopsy, UCLA Study Shows
Dec 10, 2012
Dr. Leonard Marks on newsroom.ucla.edu -- Groundbreaking research by a team of UCLA physicians and engineers demonstrates that prostate cancer — long identifiable only through painful, hit-or-miss biopsies — can be diagnosed far more easily and accurately using a new image-guided, targeted biopsy procedure. Traditionally, prostate tumors have been found through so-called blind biopsies, in which tissue samples are taken systematically from the entire prostate in the hopes of locating a piece of tumor — a technique that dates back to the 1980s. But the cancer now appears detectable by direct sampling of tumor spots found using magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, in combination with real-time ultrasound, the researchers say.
Article on newsroom.ucla.edu » | Targeted Prostate Biopsy » | Active Surveillance »
Targeted Prostate Cancer Biopsies Might Improve Care: Study
Dec 10, 2012
Dr. Leonard Marks on ivillage.com -- A new, highly targeted form of biopsy could be an advance in prostate cancer care, a new study suggests. Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, say prostate tumors can be diagnosed using "image-guided targeted biopsy" -- the direct sampling of tumors in tissue using both MRI and real-time ultrasound. The UCLA team say this targeted form of biopsy is much more accurate than conventional "blind" biopsies that do not enable doctors to actually see the tumors. They suggested the new procedure may improve early detection of prostate cancer and result in fewer biopsies overall.
Article on ivillage.com » | Targeted Prostate Biopsy » | Active Surveillance »
The Patient I Couldn’t Heal
Nov 26, 2012
Dr. Alan Kaplan on salon.com -- As a surgeon, I take pride in my surgical work. But even the most careful doctors have painful lessons to learn. I take pride in closing surgical incisions. After a cold blade opens the skin and the internal work is done, the only thing the patient sees, or knows, is their incision.
Article on salon.com »
Testicular Cancer Awareness featuring Mark S. Litwin, M.D., M.P.H.
Nov 18, 2012
Dr. Mark Litwin on Fox 11 News -- Testicular Cancer Awareness featuring Mark S. Litwin, M.D., M.P.H. | UCLA Urology. Mark S. Litwin, M.D., M.PH., Chief of Urology at UCLA, and Testicular Cancer Survivor, Jonathan Sommers, speak to Fox 11 News about testicular cancer symptoms and how to check for testicular cancer.
View Patient Story Video »
Patients Waiting for Kidneys: Lives Changed by Live Donor Chains
October 31, 2012
Dr. Jeffrey Veale on empowher.com --In the United States, 94,293 people were on the waiting list as candidates for a kidney as of 11:55 am EST today, according to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network. An individual would require a kidney transplant if she has kidney failure.
Article on empowher.com »
Living on the kindness — and four kidneys — of donors
October 18, 2012
Patient of Dr. Jeffrey Veale on latimes.com -- David Trujillo, 29, has gotten new leases on life from family members and a stranger. With the latest transplant, he is determined to make the most of the lease.
David Trujillo's torso is a web of scars. Shunts in his arms, hoses in his stomach, garish gashes left from biopsies and scalpel incisions. In the summer when he goes shirtless, people often stare. Sometimes, to lighten the mood, he'll say he was bitten by a shark. In reality, his body tells the tale of multiple bouts of kidney failure. David recently received yet another transplant. No. 4. He is 29 years old.
Article on latimes.com »
Are Minorities Getting Their Fair Share of Kidney Transplants?
September 19, 2012
Dr. Jeffrey Veale on Examiner.com -- A multi-center study—the largest of its kind—led by UCLA transplant surgeon Dr. Jeffrey Veale set out to determine whether minorities were getting their fair share of kidney transplants. The investigators reviewed a series of chain transplantations performed from February 2008 to June 2011 at 57 centers nationwide.
Article on Examiner.com » | Additional Coverage: Donate Life | Red Orbit | Renal Business | Science Codex
Doctors Take Aim At Epidemic Kidney Stones With Lasers
September 10, 2012
Dr. Charles Scales on NPR -- The nation is in the midst of a kidney stone epidemic. New research shows 1 in 10 American men and 1 in 14 women has had one. And prevalence of kidney stones has shot up in recent years. Experts had thought the disorder was increasing, but a study published this summer still surprised many by the steepness of the curve. "I'm not sure that people expected a near-doubling of kidney stones in the United States over the past 15 years," says Charles Scales, a urology researcher at University of California, Los Angeles, who led the study.
Article on npr.org »
Radio Covers Kidney Stone Study
August 19, 2012
Dr. Charles Scales on Sound Medicine -- What is the relationship between kidney stones and obesity?
An Aug 19 Sound Medicine radio show covered a study showing that as rates of obesity and diabetes have risen in the U.S., the incidence of kidney stones has also increased significantly. Study author Dr. Charles Scales, Jr., a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation/U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Clinical Scholar in urology and medicine, was interviewed.
Article & MP3 on soundmedicine.iu.edu »
Choosing ‘Watchful Waiting’ for Prostate Cancer
July 23, 2012
Dr. Leonard Marks on nytimes.com -- When Eddie Carrillo, a Los Angeles contractor, was found to have prostate cancer at the age of 52, his primary care doctor and his urologist both urged him to have his prostate removed. But after hearing about a “watchful waiting” program on talk radio, Mr. Carrillo decided to simply monitor his disease rather than treat it.
Article on nytimes.com » | Watchful Waiting »
Questioning Surgery for Early Prostate Cancer
July 18, 2012
Dr. Leonard Marks on nytimes.com -- A new study shows that prostate cancer surgery, which often leaves men impotent or incontinent, does not appear to save the lives of men with early-stage disease, who account for most cases, and many of these men would do just as well to choose no treatment at all. "I think this is game-changing," said Dr. Leonard Marks, a professor of urology at the University of California, Los Angeles, who was not involved in the study. "What this study does is call attention to the fact that there are a lot of prostate cancers that are diagnosed today that are not dangerous."
Article on nytimes.com » | Active Surveillance for Cancer of Prostate »
Surgery Unneeded for Most Early-stage Prostate Cancer, Study Says
July 18, 2012
Dr. William Aronson on latimes.com -- Most patients diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer will live just as long if they simply watch their cancers rather than have them surgically removed, according to the results of a landmark clinical trial that could upend the medical approach to a disease that affects 1 in 6 men. The study, which focused on cancers still confined to the prostate, should reassure patients who want to avoid distressing side effects of surgery — such as urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction — but still protect their lives, cancer experts said.
Article on latimes.com » | Active Surveillance for Cancer of Prostate » | Article on The New England Journal of Medicine »
Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center One of Best in the U.S.
July 17, 2012
Ronald Regan UCLA Medical Center on examiner.com -- Los Angeles residents are fortunate to have one of the nation’s best hospitals right in their own backyard at Ronald Regan UCLA Medical Center. On July 17, UCLA announced that once again it had achieved a top rating from U.S. News & World Report. The medical center was ranked among the top five American hospitals, the best hospital in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, and the best hospital in the state of California. In addition, for the 23rd consecutive year, it was rated as the best hospital in the western United States. The results of the U.S. News & World Report survey are published in its August edition.
Article on examiner.com » | Story on uclahealth.org »
New Update of Urologic Diseases Report
June 25, 2012
Dr. Christopher Saigal on Oncology Times -- The Urologic Diseases in America report, developed by UCLA and Rand Health with funding support from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, has been revised and re-released. “We address issues related to costs of care, technology trends, access to care, and disease burden in this report and its ancillary studies,” the report's co-editor, Christopher Saigal, MD, Associate Professor and Director of Health Services Research in the UCLA Department of Urology, said in an email interview.
Article on journals.lww.com »
Obesity Linked to Huge Jump in Kidney Stone Problems
June 24, 2012
Dr. Charles Scales on Detroit Free Press -- The number of Americans suffering from kidney stones has almost doubled since 1994, researchers report, and the obesity epidemic is the most likely reason why. About 1 in 11 Americans now develops kidney stones, according to scientists from the University of California, Los Angeles and RAND Corp. In contrast, only 1 in 20 Americans developed kidney stones 18 years ago. "Kidney stones are becoming a very common health condition in the United States," said lead researcher Dr. Charles Scales Jr., a clinical scholar in the David Geffen School of Medicine departments of urology and medicine at UCLA. They are more common than heart disease, stroke and diabetes, he said.
Article on freep.com »
How to Avoid ED After Prostate Surgery
June 13, 2012
Dr. Jim C. Hu on modernmedicine.com -- Men undergoing robot-assisted surgery for prostate cancer should look for a physician who has performed at least 1,000 surgeries and who actively seeks to improve and enhance his surgical skills to help ensure a successful post-surgery recovery of erectile function, according to a recent study. "It would be helpful for men who seek a surgical cure for their prostate cancer to appreciate the nuances required by a surgeon to successfully protect erectile function," said lead author Jim Hu, MD, of UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine.
Article on modernmedicine.com »
5 Cancers Men Should Worry About -- and What They Can Do
June 10, 2012
Dr. Christopher Saigal on Men's Health on msnbc.com -- No man is invincible, especially when it comes to health. Learn to detect and defend against the cancers most likely to attack men, and you'll be able to take the disease head-on if it strikes--and increase your chances of beating it.
Men's Health on msnbc.com »
Same Gene That Stunts Infants' Growth Also Makes Them Grow Too Big
May 27, 2012
Dr. Eric Vilain on eurekalert.org -- Discovery of mutation ends UCLA doctor's 20-year quest The Caterpillar got down off the mushroom and crawled away in the grass, remarking as it went, 'One side will make you grow taller, and the other side will make you grow shorter.' -Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll UCLA geneticists have identified the mutation responsible for IMAGe syndrome, a rare disorder that stunts infants' growth. The twist? The mutation occurs on the same gene that causes Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, which makes cells grow too fast, leading to very large children.
Article on EurekAlert.org » Additional Coverage: sciencecodex.com | sciencedaily.com | rttnews.com | news-medical.net | emaxhealth.com
Prevalence of Kidney Stones Doubles in Wake of Obesity Epidemic
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| Dr. Chris Saigal | Dr. Charles Scales |
May 23, 2012
Dr. Charles D. Scales & Dr. Chrisopher Saigal -- The number of Americans suffering from kidney stones between 2007 and 2010 nearly doubled since 1994, according to a study by researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and RAND. "While we expected the prevalence of kidney stones to increase, the size of the increase was surprising," says Charles D. Scales, Jr., MD, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation/U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Clinical Scholar in the departments of urology and medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Article on EurekAlert.org » Additional Coverage: Newsroom.ucla.edu » | MSNBC | US News & World Report | Bioscience Technology | HealthDay News | Asian News International | Renal Business News | Nephrology News & Issues | NPR (Audio) | Urology Times | Modern Medicine | MedPage Today | Consumer Affairs | iVillage.com
PSA Test: the Real Problem is the Rush to Treatment, Doctor Says
May 23, 2012
Dr. Mark Litwin on latimes.com -- The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force declared earlier this week that the PSA test should not be a routine screen for men of any age. But some doctors, including Dr. Mark Litwin, chair of urology at UCLA, say the issue is not about screening but, rather, the way that prostate cancer is handled in this country.
Story on latimes.com »
Comprehensive Report Documents Impact of Urologic Diseases on American Public
May 18, 2012
Dr. Christopher Saigal on newsroom.ucla.edu -- Urologic conditions like urinary tract infections, kidney stones, and prostate cancer are a major economic burden on Americans, resulting in health care costs of close to $40 billion annually, according to a newly released national report that charts the demographic and economic impact of urologic diseases in the U.S.
Story on newsroom.ucla.edu » Additional Coverage: Examiner | Sacramento Business Journal | Houston Chronicle | NewsBlaze | CNBC-TV | KCOY-TV | WFMJ-TV | WLBT-TV | WFIE-TV | WXOW-TV | KCAU-TV | WHTM-TV | WISTV | KSWO-TV
Unneeded Erection Pills Can Mess With Users' Heads
May 17, 2012
Dr. Jacob Rajfer on myhealthnewsdaily.com -- Young men who take erectile dysfunction drugs for fun may damage their sex lives, a new study suggests. Nearly 6 percent of the sexually active college men involved in the study reported taking drugs for erectile dysfunction (ED) without a prescription. Yet an analysis of these students' sex lives unveiled a paradox: The more ED drugs men took, the worse they felt.
Article on myhealthnewsdaily.com » Additional Coverage: Asian News International
Want to Avoid ED Following Prostate Cancer Surgery? Find an Experienced, Gentle Surgeon
May 16, 2012
Dr. Jim C. Hu on medicalxpress.com -- Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed non-skin cancer in the U.S., and radical prostatectomy, the surgical removal of the prostate gland, remains the most popular therapeutic option, accounting for half of treatments. The procedure, however, is not without possible side effects, primarily erectile dysfunction and incontinence.
Article on medicalxpress.com » Additional Coverage: EurekAlert.org
Caffeine Not Tied to Worsening Urinary Incontinence
April 27, 2012
Dr. Larissa Rodriguez on reuters.com -- By Andrew M. Seaman (Reuters) - Women with urinary incontinence who also enjoy their regular cup of coffee or tea don't have to worry about the extra caffeine making their condition worse, suggests a new study. The new research stands in contrast to the common recommendation that women with leaky bladders stay away from caffeinated foods and beverages.
Article on reuters.com » Additional Coverage: Hartford Courant | HealthZone | Toronto Star | WNWN Radio (Missouri) | Yahoo! News Canada
Warren Buffett Has Prostate Cancer, Sees No Danger
April 18, 2012
Dr. Mark Litwin on reuters.com -- By Ben Berkowitz (Reuters) - Berkshire Hathaway Inc Chief Executive Warren Buffett said he has stage 1 prostate cancer but his condition "is not remotely life-threatening or even debilitating in any meaningful way." Buffett, the world's third-richest man, will begin a two-month treatment consisting of daily radiation treatments starting in mid-July, he said in a statement on Tuesday.
Article on reuters.com »
Less Invasive Prostate Removal Shown to Be Safer for Patients Than Traditional Surgery, Large Study Says
April 18, 2012
Dr. Jim C. Hu, on PRNewswire-USNewswire -- For the first time ever, surgeons who operate on men with prostate cancer have results from a large study to backup what many suspected all along: minimally-invasive methods to remove the prostate pose fewer post-surgical complications, present less need for blood transfusion and allow men to leave the hospital sooner.
Article on prnewswire.com »
Living Kidney Donations Favor Some Patient Groups: Study
April 09, 2012
Reuters -- People in the United States who receive a kidney from a live donor who is not a relative tend to be white, highly educated and live in wealthier neighborhoods, according to a study that calls for wider outreach to promote living donation.
Article on reuters.com »
Fewer Deaths, Complications with Robotic Bladder Cancer Surgery, but Cost is Higher
April 02, 2012
By Rachel Champeau -- With technological advancements opening the door to less invasive medical procedures, robotic-assisted surgery is becoming increasingly popular, despite being more expensive than traditional surgery. Robotic-assisted surgical removal of the bladder due to cancer is a new approach to the traditional "open" — or more invasive — operation called a radical cystectomy.
Article on newsroom.ucla.edu »
Dr. Hu Joins UCLA Urology Faculty
Mar 28, 2012
Jim C. Hu, MD, MPH, will join the UCLA urology faculty in April 2012. Dr. Hu has been appointed as professor and Henry E. Singleton Chair in Urology, director of minimally invasive urology, co-director of the UCLA Center for Advanced Surgical and Interventional Technology, and director of the Urology Procedures Unit.
Article on modernmedicine.com »
N.Y. Times Showcases Massive Kidney-Exchange Chain
Feb 19, 2012
Dr. Jeffrey Veale -- N.Y. Times Showcases Massive Kidney-Exchange Chain
The Feb. 19 New York Times ran a front-page article on the longest paired U.S. kidney exchange chain to date, involving 30 kidneys and 60 people across the country. Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center’s kidney transplant team handled 16 of the patients, the largest number of all hospitals participating. Dr. Jeffrey Veale, assistant professor-in-residence of urology and director of UCLA's donor exchange program, was quoted. The story also featured UCLA patients and Dr. Peter Schulam, now chair of urology at Yale School of Medicine. The Denver Post, Honolulu Star-Advertiser, MSNBC and Oregon’s Bend Bulletin syndicated the article, and additional coverage appeared in ABC News, BBC News, Chicago Sun-Times, Huffington Post, and others.
California Dialogue on Cancer spotlights the Improving Access, Counseling & Treatment for Californians with Prostate Cancer (IMPACT) Program
Jan 26, 2012
Dr. Mark Litwin on cdoc-online.org -- The California Dialogue on Cancer (CDOC) is a coalition of cancer control leaders from throughout the state. CDOC was formed to design and oversee the comprehensive cancer control planning process in California. The article on IMPACT can be found in their Winter 2012 newsletter.
CDOC Newsletter »
