Prostate cancer is unfortunately the second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. Approximately 60% of the cases are diagnosed in men over the age of 65. The 5-year survival rate of prostate cancer is 31%. In 2018, 1,279,106 prostate cancer cases were registered globally, with France having the most out of every country. However, the death rate of prostate cancer dropped drastically from 1993 to 2017 as a result of regular screening and treatment advances. A brand new treatment vaccine was created not too long ago to treat metastatic prostate cancer. The vaccine works with your immune system in multiple ways to succumb the cancer cells in the prostate area. Realistically, prostate cancer cells grow because the immune system doesn’t detect them, or mistakes them for a normal cell. So, this vaccine would make sure the detection does not fail. Specifically, the vaccine is made up of man’s own cells and is vaccinated through a process called leukapheresis. Blood goes out through a needle in one arm, some white blood cells, platelets and red blood cells are withdrawn, and the rest of the blood is pumped back into the other arm. The returned cells are paired up with a protein that links prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP). The name of this vaccine is Provenge. It is important to remember that the vaccine will treat the cancer, not cure the cancer. This is something that people often get confused by. Treating will make the person live an easier life while still having prostate cancer. Fortunately, the vaccine is already working significantly well. Provenge has been shown to increase average survival by a few months, which is huge for a fairly new vaccine. Men with metastatic cancer will have Provenge slow down the cancer, but not stop it. The only real side effect of the vaccine are flu-like symptoms, which disappear in short time. Sources: https://www.pcf.org/news/immunotherapy-a-vaccine-for-prostate-cancer/#:~:text=Provenge%3A%20Provenge%20 https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/prostate-cancer/statistics#:~:text=Prostate%20cancer%20is%20the%20second,of%20screening%20and%20treatment%20advances. https://www.wcrf.org/dietandcancer/cancer-trends/prostate-cancer-statistics Abrar MuradAbrar Murad is a former member of our blog team here at Cancer Together. He worked on writing informative and powerful pieces to share with our community.
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