HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Prostate cancer pill that can extend lives launched

Support Forums
>
Prostate Cancer
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 9/21/2011 8:33 AM (GMT 0)
Prostate cancer pill that can extend lives launched
http://www.independent.ie/health/latest-news/prostate-cancer-pill-that-can-extend-lives-launched-2882611.html
Posted 9/21/2011 3:09 PM (GMT 0)
The FACTS don't warrant the hype...Today, there are a cornucopia of new drugs and treatments, all of them very expensive, that claim to extend the lives of PC victims by a few months...Nowhere is it discussed what the QUALITY of of life is during this very short, very expensive life extension..I'm not looking forward to an extra 5 months of hospice care and paying dearly for that privilege...
Posted 9/21/2011 3:14 PM (GMT 0)
You make a good point fairwind, not to mention that a lot of insurance companies will not pay the cost of these new drugs unless they can offer more than a few months of life expectancy. The hope is that with this continued drug research a drug will be found that will offer a cure for advanced PC rather than just a few months of longer life. For far too many this is the only hope they have.
Posted 9/21/2011 3:19 PM (GMT 0)
A true "cure" for cancer would destroy the medical profession....
Posted 9/21/2011 3:34 PM (GMT 0)
I think it would change the focus of certain elements of the medical profession somewhat, but it wouldn't destroy the profession. Even on Star Trek (original series), "Bones" McCoy was the chief medical officer and one of the 3 most important characters. As long as we're corporeal creatures, I think we'll always need doctors.
Posted 9/21/2011 3:41 PM (GMT 0)
This is outstanding progress and news for men and their families with castration-resistant PC (CRPC). A median extension of multiple months means, as we know, that the drug does not work on every single individual in the trial, but for other men it significantly adds longevity and quality to their lives. Regarding this drug in particular, the clinical trial was stopped short of the planned completion because the interim outcome was so successful.   Many of the men reported significant improvements in the quality of life, and some stopped taking the morphine that often accompanies the pain associated with PC mets to bones related to CRPC.   Another arrow in the quiver!!!   Great news!!!
Posted 9/21/2011 11:11 PM (GMT 0)
Very well put Casey

Excellent on pointing out what median extension means.

Go Medical Community Go! More advancements!
Posted 9/21/2011 11:18 PM (GMT 0)
thanks for posting this piece, jerry
Posted 9/21/2011 11:20 PM (GMT 0)
i agree with your point, fairwind. you have to balance out quality of live vs quantity, costs for such extensions, and what do you really end up with in the end of the process.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply