Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men. It is even more common as men age. It affects almost 1 in every 8 adult men. The American Cancer Society reports 270,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer each year. Also, nearly 35,000 men will die from prostate cancer. Prostate cancer research is bringing new hope. There are new prostate cancer treatments. These are very effective. Many men have excellent results from them, especially if the cancer is caught early.
There are two main types of treatment for prostate cancer: radiation therapy and surgery. Both treatments are equally effective at curing the disease. But each treatment has different side effects. One treatment may be a better choice for a given person. This is based on a number of factors. So, it is important for all men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer to meet with both a urologist and a radiation oncologist. They can discuss the treatment options and make the decision that’s best for them.
Clinical trials have made new cutting-edge treatments in reach for most people now. However, many Hispanic and Black men do not join clinical trials. This is for a number of reasons. This means that Hispanic and Black men with prostate cancer are losing out on a chance to get some of the best treatments. It also means researchers don’t get to learn how these new treatments are working in Hispanic and Black individuals.
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At UCLA, we want to make sure you have the chance to join a clinical trial if you have been diagnosed with prostate cancer. We offer many clinical trials for all stages of prostate cancer. You can call 855-731-6040 to learn more. You will be connected to an English or Spanish-speaking assistant. They can guide you to the best trial for you based on your medical status.
One new and exciting clinical trial is for men newly diagnosed with medium risk prostate cancer. It uses new molecular blood tests to tailor your radiation treatment. That way you get the best treatment based on your disease. All men will receive state-of-the-art care. This can include non-invasive real-time MRI-guided prostate radiotherapy with an advanced hormone therapy medicine.
That treatment is known to help prevent prostate cancer from coming back. How long men will take the hormone therapy (6 months vs 12 months) will depend on the results of your molecular blood test. This study is called the HEATWAVE trial. It is just one of many clinical trials open to Hispanic and Black men with prostate cancer in Los Angeles. For more information about this trial, please contact our clinical trial coordinator Maria Casado (Email: [email protected]).
Many patients are concerned that they may not be able to get in a clinical trial. That is both because of their health insurance status as well as travel concerns. Help is near. All patients in California have access to the IMPACT Program. This program allows all men with prostate cancer to access the latest clinical trial testing and treatments. These are happening at many California hospitals. This includes UCLA.
It does not matter what type of health insurance a person has. UCLA also has support for travel and parking vouchers for patients who join in our trials. How do you get more information about using the IMPACT program to get care at a hospital that has prostate cancer clinical trials? You can reach out to Ericka Maldonado-Aviles, Program Manager at IMPACT (Email: [email protected], Phone: 1-800-409-8252, Website: https://caimpact.org/).
Participating in clinical trials is very important. Not only for you as the patient, but also for your community and to advance science. Without clinical trials, we can’t improve our treatments. Your being a part of a clinical trial empowers you and your community. You will get treatments guided by the latest advances in medicine. If you or your loved ones receive a new diagnosis of prostate cancer, we hope you will consider joining in a clinical trial!
Dr. Luca F. Valle is an Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology at UCLA.
