New Prostate Cancer Immunotherapy now available, close to home at Sierra Nevada Cancer Center
Submitted by Carson Now Reader on Tue, 01/01/2013 - 10:16pm
Seventy-two-year-old L. Brown of northern Nevada first learned he had prostate cancer back in 1995. “I tell people who are diagnosed, there is no need to panic, although I certainly did, at least 52 times or more,” he said laughing. “I’ve learned this is something you can control and live with because it is manageable. “
Brown has been through surgery and radiation. Now, he is hoping to manage the disease by undergoing an immunotherapy treatment called, PROVENGE®(sipuleucel-T). It is a breakthrough treatment option for certain men with advanced prostate cancer that uses immunotherapy to stimulate a patient’s own immune system to recognize the cancer cells in the body and attack them.
Brown started his treatment at Sierra Nevada Cancer Center in Carson City, Nevada in early December. He finished his treatment in time for Christmas. Only a handful of providers in northern Nevada offer the PROVENGE Immunotherapy treatment. “My urologist is the one who recommended Dr. (Jorge) Perez. I did some checking on him and he comes with a very excellent reputation and is well respected among his colleagues,” said Brown.
While some experience side-effects, the most common being flu-like symptoms, Brown said he never experienced any side-effects. “I felt fine. I would usually go out and have a great meal afterwards.”
The treatment takes approximately one month or less. Brown had his blood drawn at a center in Sacramento where his white blood cells were pulled from his blood. Those cells were sent to the makers of PROVENGE, Denderon, where prostate specific proteins were added to the cells to “train” them to fight the cancer cells. Three days later, the “trained” cells were slowly infused back into Brown.
“I expect this will keep me healthy for several years, in time for the invention of the next new weapon against this disease,” he said.
Brown remains as active as ever even maintaining his outdoor job in the Carson City area. “I feel great. I hope my experience can help someone else out there decide what is best for them in fighting this disease.”
For more information about PROVENGE, visit www.sierranevadacancercenter.com or call 1-775-883-3336.
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