“I am writing this letter to thank Dr Bowden, Dr Conway and all of your team for the specialised radiation therapy that you have provided on the TRANSFORM trial and are continuing to provide in the treatment of my prostate cancer,” wrote Ian.
TRANSFORM trial provides new lease on life for Ian
In the lead-up to Christmas 2023, Icon patient Ian wrote a heartfelt letter to radiation oncologists, Dr Patrick Bowden and Dr Paul Conway.
“There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that as a result of the treatment I have been fortunate to have received from you and your team, that my life has been extended far beyond what I could have expected.”
Ian was diagnosed with prostate cancer 11 years earlier in December 2012.
“After I retired in 2009, I decided that it would be wise to have an annual medical checkup,” says Ian.
“I had absolutely no symptoms prior to my diagnosis and according to Dr Google, my prostate-specific antigen (PSA) reading at the time of diagnosis, which from memory was 4.0, was within the bounds of normal for a person of my age.
“I had a radical prostatectomy in February 2013. I was advised that there were clear margins around the prostate, however once my PSA levels started to rise seven months following surgery, it was the opinion of my urologist that the cancer had spread through my seminal vesicles.
“My PSA continued to rise, and I was sent for a seven-week course of radiation therapy in early 2015 directed to the area of the prostate in the hope of killing off any residual cancer cells.
“Just prior to the course of radiation therapy, my PSA reading had been 0.14 and following this treatment my PSA had risen to 0.25 in April 2015 and to 0.33 by June that year, so it was obvious that the radiation therapy had not been successful.
“It was around October of 2015 when my PSA had risen to 0.40 that I was told about the possibility of joining the TRANSFORM trial, using a combination of PSMA/PET scans followed by sessions of stereotactic radiation therapy directed at spots found on the scans.
“I was sent for scans in November 2015, which found three spots identified on my rib, hip and spine. I was subsequently accepted onto the TRANSFORM trial in January 2016,” added Ian.
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From February 2016 to now, Ian has had five sessions of stereotactic radiation therapy around 18 months apart.
“Not only has my life been extended through the TRANSFORM trial, but my quality of life has been excellent, which in turn has enabled me to continue to act as primary carer for my wife, who has ongoing mobility and health issues,” said Ian.
“And I am still able to enjoy my hobbies, including reading military biographies, gardening and collecting militaria.”
Standard treatment options for men living with metastatic prostate cancer include hormone therapy and chemotherapy, which are often associated with negative side effects.
The TRANSFORM trial has found that stereotactic radiation therapy can delay progression to these more toxic treatments for more than two years.
Icon is proud to invest in research in our cancer centres that contributes to advancements in cancer care and provides the best care possible, to as many people as possible, like Ian.
Ian hopes his story will serve as a reminder for other men to undergo regular PSA tests, especially if there is a family history of prostate cancer.
“I only found out within the last two years that all the males on my mother’s side of our family have had, or currently have, prostate cancer. Had I known this back in 2009 I am sure I would have had a far better outcome,” said Ian.
“My mother’s younger brother who was a doctor, emigrated with his family from the UK to New Zealand in the mid-1950s and died from prostate cancer. His two sons, my cousins, have also been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
“My mother’s older brother, who lived in the UK, also had prostate cancer but died from a combination of old age and throat cancer. His two sons, one who served in the British Diplomatic Corps, died from bowel cancer but had had prostate cancer, which supposedly had been successfully treated.
“The second son who has just recently retired as a GP has been diagnosed with prostate cancer but is on a watch and wait basis.”
To find out more about prostate cancer, visit https://iconcancercentre.com.au/cancer/prostate/
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Download your free Prostate Cancer Treatment Guide
Be informed, feel empowered. Our free guide will help you make decisions about your, or your loved ones, care.
Prostate Cancer
Learn more about prostate cancer in Australia, including signs and symptoms, stages and frequently asked questions.
Understanding treatment
There are many different treatment options for prostate cancer. Find out more about common treatments for prostate cancer here.