GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — 3.3 million American men live with prostate cancer, according to Zero Prostate Cancer. That makes it the most commonly diagnosed cancer for men in the U.S.
There is a fairly new treatment for those with prostate cancer called Pluvicto. It was FDA-approved in 2022. Now, BAMF Health in Grand Rapids offers the treatment option.
"It's a very specific radiation method that is injected in the vein that seeks out a unique protein that is over-processed on prostate cancer cells," said Brandon Mancini, Medical Director of BAMF Health. "It delivers radiation therapy really focally to these cells with very little radiation to surrounding tissue. It's kind of a treatment of the future."
Pluvicto is offered to prostate cancer patients who have used other treatments in the past. Mancini said there are plans to move it earlier in treatment plans in 2025.
William Frazier was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2020. He had his prostate removed, and the cancer spread to his bladder and liver. He had radiation and chemotherapy.
"It just wasn't working," said Frazier.
He finished his sixth and final treatment of Pluvicto Tuesday, hopeful for a positive outcome. He should know sometime in October how it worked.
"I've been told by two doctors that without treatment, it would take about a year, little over a year, and it would get me," said Frazier. "I'm going on my fourth year now, so that's pretty good deal."
In that time, Frazier has been skydiving and flew in a vintage plane. He also has spent a lot of time with his grandchildren.
"If I hadn't had a blood test, I wouldn't know I have this cancer," said Frazier.
He encourages men to check their prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. Mancini said it's a routine blood test for men beginning around the age of 50.