Prostate Cancer is a disease that affects more than 200,000 men a year in America. Although there are many treatments for this disease, many men find their cancer resistant to common treatments.

As more research has been done on the causes of prostate cancer and the signs of prostate cancer, more patients are aware of the symptoms of prostate cancer. Thankfully, with advancements in medical technology that have improved how prostate cancer is diagnosed, more patients are being diagnosed earlier, and treatments are more effective than ever.

These advancements include new immunotherapy treatments. Immunotherapy is a treatment that utilizes your body’s immune system to fight cancer more effectively, and the results are encouraging. A popular example of this kind of treatment is Provenge.

What is Provenge?

Provenge is a prostate cancer treatment. It is the first therapeutic cancer vaccine to receive FDA approval in the U.S. for patients with advanced prostate cancer. Although the FDA approved it in 2010, some doctors have successfully used this immunotherapy since 2003 for clinical trials. Provenge (also known as sipuleucel-T) is a treatment that utilizes the patient’s immune system to identify and target prostate cancer cells.

How Does Provenge Work?

Provenge works by using the patient’s immune system. Therefore, each treatment dose is manufactured specifically for each patient. This treatment involves collecting the patient’s immune cells in a procedure called leukapheresis; then, those cells are grown in a laboratory in the presence of a protein that stimulates the immune cells to recognize prostate cancer cells. This process fully activates the patient’s immune cells to help the entire immune system fight the disease. As a result, Provenge is a safe and effective personalized vaccine therapy.

Patients appreciate that Provenge works differently than chemotherapy or hormone therapy. It’s programming your body to recognize and remember prostate cancer cells and help them fight the disease more effectively. And it has a lasting effect over time. Read more about how Provenge works here.

Are There Any Side Effects?

While side effects are rare, Provenge’s most common side effects include chills, fatigue, fever, back pain, headaches, nausea, and joint pain. However, because Provenge is made from your immune cells, the infusion can cause reactions, so it’s always best to work with high-quality medical professionals like the talented staff at North Georgia Urology Center.

If you experience signs of heart attack, lung problems, trouble breathing, chest pains or changes in blood pressure, dizziness, nausea, weakness, or swelling, you should contact your doctor immediately. Or if you develop signs of infection such as a fever over 100°F. When you work with us, we will inform you of what to do in the case of an adverse reaction, and we will answer any questions you may have.

Is Provenge Right For Me?

Only you can decide if a medication is right for your body. For example, Provenge is most effective for castrate-resistant men with prostate cancer or those with testosterone levels less than 50 ng/dL. It’s commonly prescribed to those who have disease progression on hormone therapy; it’s also helpful for men diagnosed with metastatic disease and not taking drugs for cancer-related pain. Since its approval by the FDA in 2010, 40,000 men have taken Provenge.

How Do I Find Out More?

Contact us today if you have questions about prostate cancer treatment or if Provenge suits you. Our caring staff at North Georgia Urology Center is unparalleled. We put patient care as our top priority and work hard to stay on the cutting edge of technology to find the most effective treatments for our patients. We want the very best for you; that’s why we focus on whole-patient care. If you have questions or want to learn more, contact us today.