EFN

A drug on the market for reducing benign prostatic hyperplasia is now being touted by experts from the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Urological Association to decrease a man’s chances of prostatic cancer by 25% according to a May 2008 study. The drug Finasteride, also known as Proscar, has shown significant improvement in men over 55 of contracting prostate cancer. The problem is the drug is very costly at $2-3 a pill and some health insurance companies do not recognize it as a drug for helping elarged prostate. The drug in small doses is also prescribed for male pattern baldness and this may have something to do with the insurance companies reluctance to pay for the drug as it is also used for cosmetic purposes.

Finasteride has a few side effects such as erectile dysfunction and has been linked with depression and incontinence. Experts believe the benefits far out weigh the side effects in lowering a man’s risk for prostate cancer. But the question of having an otherwise healthy individual take a drug is something each person would have to answer on their own. The cost and side effects may not be worth it. But if there is a family history of prostate cancer in one’s family, taking the drug could help you feel like you are doing something to help prevent it happening to you.