Prostate cancer remains a significant health concern, affecting approximately 1 in 8 men, according to Dr. Phillip Koo, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at the Prostate Cancer Foundation. In a recent educational initiative sponsored by Novartis, Dr. Koo and patient advocate Bill, who has lived with prostate cancer for 18 years, addressed frequently asked questions about PSMA testing and its role in improving patient outcomes.
The journey begins with screening. Dr. Koo emphasized that a simple blood test measuring prostate-specific antigen (PSA) has been used for decades to detect the disease early, offering the best chance for successful treatment, including a cure. He advises men to talk to their doctors about when to get this test.
For those unfamiliar with PSMA, Dr. Koo explained that it is a biomarker that can be visualized using a PET scan. This imaging technique helps determine whether prostate cancer cells have spread to other parts of the body, a crucial factor in deciding next steps in care. "PSMA is so important with regards to detecting disease and also determining the appropriate treatments that patients should receive down the road," he noted. Encouragingly, over 80 to 90% of prostate cancer patients express this biomarker, making it a highly relevant target for many.
Bill shared his personal experience, highlighting how he took charge after his diagnosis by seeking knowledge. He discovered PSMA testing through his own research and brought it to his doctor's attention. "I took that to my doctor, and we decided that that would be a great course of action in our attack plan to this disease," he said. After undergoing the PSMA scan, Bill felt empowered: "It helped me understand truly where I am in this journey and the status of our disease based on the PSMA results, and knew it was going to give me a leg up on moving forward with treatments."
The results led to a collaborative discussion with his oncologist, where they crafted a personalized action plan. Bill emphasized the importance of being an active participant in one's healthcare: "Information is power, and when you ask the questions and insist upon getting the right answers you want until you do get them is key to your success."
Dr. Koo stressed that patients must speak up and be heard. To have informed conversations, they should educate themselves about PSMA testing, as knowing one's PSMA status is vital to cancer care. He encouraged men to visit GetYourScan.com to learn more about the PSMA scan and how to advocate for it.
This initiative underscores the growing importance of precision medicine in oncology. By identifying the specific characteristics of an individual's cancer, PSMA PET imaging enables more targeted and effective treatment strategies, potentially improving outcomes and quality of life for many patients. As prostate cancer remains a common diagnosis, greater awareness of such diagnostic tools could lead to earlier, more informed decisions and better management of the disease.
