A trial program at Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital is offering patients with advanced prostate cancer new hope.
Yachtsman Rob Lewis was diagnosed with prostate cancer after he woke up one morning in excruciating pain.
The 71-year-old initially put the pain down to a racing injury but medical scans would reveal his cancer was metastatic.
READ MORE: Body-worn cameras to enter NSW hospitals after rise in assaults
“That took the wind out of my sails, essentially,” he told 9News.
With his treatment options limited, Lewis was offered a place in a drug trial for advanced cases of prostate cancer.
After just three months on the trial doctors discovered his cancer was “undetectable”.
“The really remarkable thing as well is this was a treatment he’s tolerated really well, it’s had minimal side effects,” oncologist Dr Megan Crumbaker said.
“So it’s the whole shebang I guess.”
Lewis was one of 162 men to take part in the trial, which is being lead by Professor Louise Emmett, and funded by Movember and the federal government.
READ MORE: International inspectors warn abandoned Australian Antarctic base poses ‘clear risk’
During the trial 79 participants were given enzalutamide while 83 were given enzalutamide on top of radiation treatment Lutetium-PSMA-617.
Emmett found patients on the combination therapy had an improved response to the treatment and experienced fewer side effects.
Her interim findings have been published in volume 25, issue 5, of The Lancet Oncology.
READ MORE: Daughter of former All Black charged with alleged hit and run death
“It’s about taking it from a lethal disease, where patients have severe symptoms, to a chronic disease where they can go out and live their lives with minimal symptoms,” Emmett said.
The treatment is most suitable for patients diagnosed with aggressive and advanced prostate cancer, but it’s extremely costly.
Currently there is no funding for Lutetium-PSMA-617 in Australia.
Emmett and Lewis are hoping to see that change.
“We would love to see [Lutetium] available to more patients,” Emmett said.
”It should be available to everybody. It’s just a game changer,” said Lewis.
After four years on the drug trial Lewis said he has a new lease on life.
“You appreciate so much more, you appreciate the things you can do so much more,” Lewis said.
“I can look after my grand-daughter a few days a week.”
links to content on ABC
9News
