It is important to keep a positive attitude. Advances in cancer treatment now allow patients with prostate cancer to live full and enjoyable lives. Maintain your hobbies and interests and look to family and friends for support. Many patients also seek advice from a therapist to manage any sexual side effects that may occur. As always, be sure to discuss all of your options with your doctor.

Support Groups and Resources:

US-TOO International Prostate Cancer Education & Support Network
www.ustoo.org

The Prostate Cancer Research Institute (PCRI)
www.prostate-cancer.org

American Cancer Society
Man to Man – Support for Survivors and Patients
www.cancer.org

PSA Rising
www.psa-rising.com

The National Prostate Cancer Coalition (NPCC)
www.pcacoalition.org

Prostate Cancer Education Council (PCEC)
Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
www.PCAW.com

American Urology Association
www.auafoundation.org
www.UrologyHealth.org

50 Hoops – National Cancer Awareness Basketball Tournament and Seminars
www.50hoops.org

VANTAS is indicated in the palliative treatment of advanced prostate cancer. VANTAS is contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to GnRH, GnRH agonist analogs, or any components in VANTAS. VANTAS is contraindicated in women and pediatric patients and was not studied in women or children. VANTAS, like other LHRH agonists, causes a transient increase in serum concentration of testosterone during the first week of treatment. Patients may experience worsening of symptoms or onset of new symptoms including bone pain, neuropathy, hematuria, or ureteral or bladder outlet obstruction. Cases of ureteral obstruction and spinal cord compression, which may contribute to paralysis with or without fatal complications, have been reported with LHRH agonists. If spinal cord compression or renal impairment develops, standard treatment of these complications should be instituted.

The most common systemic side effects were hot flashes (65.5%), asthenia (9.9%), implant site reaction (5.8%), testicular atrophy (5.3%), and renal impairment (4.7%). Five of the 8 patients had only a single occurrence of mild renal impairment (defined as creatinine clearance 30 and < 60 mL/min), which returned to a normal range by the next visit. The most common local side effects were bruising (7.2%), and pain/soreness/tenderness (3.6%).

Once serum testosterone concentrations at or below castrate level ( 50 ng/dL) were achieved, a total of 4 patients (3%) demonstrated breakthrough during the study. In one patient, a serum testosterone level of 63.1 ng/dL was reported at week 44; this patient's serum testosterone level returned to 8.1 ng/dL at the next reading. In another patient, a serum testosterone level of 3,340 ng/dL was reported at week 40. This aberrant value was possibly related to lab error. In two patients, serum testosterone rose above castrate level and the implant could neither be palpated nor visualized with ultrasound.

Response to VANTAS should be monitored by measuring serum concentrations of testosterone and PSA periodically, especially if the anticipated clinical or biochemical response to treatment has not been achieved.