A groundbreaking trial program at Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital is providing patients with advanced prostate cancer a renewed sense of hope.
Yachtsman Rob Lewis, 71, was blindsided by a prostate cancer diagnosis after waking up in excruciating pain, initially attributed to a racing injury.
Despite limited treatment options, Lewis joined a drug trial for advanced prostate cancer, leading to an undetectable cancer status in just three months.
Oncologist Dr Megan Crumbaker praised the treatment’s minimal side effects and Lewis’s remarkable response to it.
The trial, led by Professor Louise Emmett and funded by Movember and the Australian government, involved 162 men with advanced prostate cancer, showing promising results.
Professor Emmett’s research, published in The Lancet Oncology, highlighted that combined therapies offered improved treatment responses with fewer side effects.
The trial is a game-changer for aggressive prostate cancer patients, but the expensive nature of Lutetium-PSMA-617 poses a challenge, as the treatment lacks funding in Australia.
Emmett and Lewis advocate for broader access to the treatment, emphasizing its life-changing potential for patients.
After four years on the trial, Lewis appreciates life more and cherishes the ability to spend time with his grand-daughter.