Provenge Approval

CHICAGO -- Dendreon released some data related to its prostate cancer drug Provenge ahead of a data presentation here at the American Urological Association.

The data show that Provenge, the company's immunotherapy for prostate cancer, extended survival in a clinical trial by a median 4.1 months, reducing the risk of death by 22.5% in a 500-person study.

A press release from the AUA also states that the number of patients who are alive three years after treatment is 38% greater among those who received Provenge.

That difference is "marginal" in terms of statistical significance, says Donald Berry, a biostatistician at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

It's been over thirty years since a drug of this type has been approved by the FDA, so this is pretty major news.

Have a good Wednesday.
Blessings,
Rick

One Man's Experience With Proton Beam Therapy

"It is something to muse that there is no pain, discomfort, sickness, or other malaise associated with this. No one can look at me and know that I ever had cancer, or that I have been treated with radiation for the past 7wks."

The way I put it was:
I thought: "No cutting, no freezing, and no stabbing! No pain! No radioactive pellets in my prostate! No catheter!
Minimal side effects! No Recovery Time! Medicare covers it! Comparable history for outcome to other treatments!" ... it was then that it occurred to me: "This sounds too good to be true!"

BUT IT IS TRUE!!!

Have a good Monday.
Blessings,
Rick