Hope for Metastatic Prostate Cancer

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- After skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. When caught early, it can often be cured. But when it spreads, most patients will die within five years. Now a new treatment approach could lengthen their survival and become a first line treatment.

For Mike Price, that means tinkering with his 1929 model "A" hotrod.

Price told ABC30, "It's kind of fun to drive. It scoots along pretty good. It's like a roller skate on steroids."

But, when Price was diagnosed with prostate cancer over a decade ago, he didn't know how long he'd have to enjoy his hobby.

Mike Price underwent radiation, but six years later the cancer came back and spread to his lungs. He enrolled in a new clinical trial that studies the effects of a chemotherapy drug along with standard hormone therapy.

Price told ABC30, "So oh my god, here we go, let's get 'er done."

Kathryn Bylow, MD, medical oncologist at the Medical College of Wisconsin, says results from the just published study could change the way metastatic prostate cancer is treated.

Bylow told ABC30, "This kind of outcome is even more than I could have hoped for."

Men who received docetaxel and hormone therapy lived an average of 17 months longer than those who didn't.

Bylow told ABC30, "I think it's staggering. I sent emails to everyone I could think of once I saw the results of this trial."

While Mike says chemo wasn't easy, he's feeling and looking better now.

"It came back and I'm enjoying it. The right color too. Antique blonde," Mike told ABC30.

What's most important to his wife is that he's cancer free.

Bylow says this is the biggest breakthrough for patients with advanced metastatic prostate cancer that she's seen in decades. Six treatments are given about three weeks apart, making treatment last about 18 weeks.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS REPORT, PLEASE CONTACT:

Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin

Clinical Cancer Center

414- 805-4621

handerson@mcw.edu