Hollywood actor Dennis Hopper has announced that he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. The 73 year old screen legend has cancelled his upcoming engagements to concentrate on treatment. He is being treated at the University of Southern California. Sam Maydew, Hopper's manager and the person who announced the diagnosis, did not reveal the star's prognosis, only saying "We're hoping for the best."

The American Cancer Society estimates that 192,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year. For more information about prostate cancer, please visit About.com's prostate cancer site.

The use of medicinal marijuana has always been a controversial topic, but when the U.S. Attorney General set forth guidelines urging more states to be more lenient of medicinal users, it has become a hot political topic. Despite it's strong support from the medical oncologic community, some people strongly oppose medicinal marijuana. They claim it is highly addictive and a gateway drug

I certainly believe that marijuana is addictive and can be a gateway drug for those who use the drug recreationally. People with cancer, however, do not use marijuana to get high. The goal is to control the pain, relieve the nausea, and hopefully stimulate the appetite.  It is certainly difficult to completely understand the stress, frustration, and decline of the quality of life that people with cancer endure without experiencing it for yourself  or witnessing a loved one go through it. I have known several cancer patients who used medicinal marijuana legally and have found immense, immediate relief. They only required one medication (medicinal marijuana) to combat treatment side effects instead of 4-5 pharmaceutical drugs.

With that being said, how do you feel about medicinal marijuana?

Poll: Do you think it is acceptable to smoke marijuana for medicinal purposes?

• Absolutely
• No. A drug is a drug, regardless of how it is used.
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A new study claims that adult survivors of childhood cancer experience suicidal ideation at an increased rate, especially if they were experiencing ill mental or physical health. The study, published in the Oct 19 edition of the  Journal of Clinical Oncology, compared 9,126 childhood cancer survivors to 2,968 of their siblings who had not had childhood cancer. 7.8 percent of childhood cancer survivors reported having suicidal thoughts, while only  4.6 percent of the sibling control group having suicidal thoughts.

How Does This Affect You?

If you are a childhood cancer survivor or know someone who is, it is important to receive follow-up care, as many adult survivors do not receive proper follow-up screenings. These medical evaluations are important, as they can identify and help to relieve any underlying symptoms or causes that may be related to suicidal thoughts. More studies certainly need to be done, but this study sheds light on childhood cancer survivorship and how treatment during childhood may affect patients into adulthood.

Legendary composer, Andrew Lloyd Webber, has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. The 61 year has been admitted to a London hospital to undergo treatment, according to several news reports. Fortunately, the cancer was detected at an early stage, when treatment is usually less aggressive.

• Prostate Cancer Basics
• Prostate Cancer Symptoms