New Drug that Delivers Targeted Radiation Minimizes Pain and May Extend Prostate Cancer Survival

Cancer Treatment Centers of America at Midwestern Regional Medical Center among the first hospitals in the region to offer the breakthrough treatment

CHICAGO, Sept. 17, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A new treatment for advanced prostate cancer has been shown to minimize pain and extend life for prostate cancer patients with advanced disease that has spread to the bones.  The targeted radiation treatment, a radiopharmaceutical drug known as Xofigo, is injected into the body to precisely deliver radiation while minimizing damage to healthy tissue.  Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) at Midwestern Regional Medical Center (Midwestern) is among the first hospitals in the region to offer the breakthrough treatment.

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"To date there have been limited treatment options for prostate cancer with bone metastases," said Bernard Eden, MD, medical director of radiation oncology at CTCA at Midwestern.  "This is an important progression because Xofigo delivers a strong defense that helps improve quality of life and lengthen life for men fighting advanced stage prostate cancer."

Xofigo or radium-223 dichloride is an alpha emitter that mimics calcium and binds to the bone where cells are rapidly dividing.  It is administered through an intravenous line during an outpatient procedure and takes less than 10 minutes.  The drug destroys cancer cells while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue since it only travels a short distance in the body.  Patients typically receive up to six Xofigo treatments over a six-month period, along with blood work and monitoring in between.  Side effects of the drug are minimal.

In 2013, nearly 30,000 men will die from the disease, and an estimated 239,000 new cases are expected according to the American Cancer Society.  As prostate cancer progresses, many men reach a point where hormone therapy is no longer effective in managing the disease. This type of cancer, known as castration-resistant prostate cancer, carries the highest threat and is responsible for most prostate cancer deaths.

For men fighting advanced prostate cancer, the new advancement offers hope for improved symptoms and more time.

"I was diagnosed with prostate cancer at a young age, a time when I was busy with my construction business and my family. As my cancer advanced, the pain and fatigue I was feeling became increasingly difficult to manage, both mentally and physically," said William Childers, a CTCA patient from Manteno, IL.  "I was eager to receive this new treatment because I am hopeful it will make some of the pain go away while also slowing down my cancer."

CTCA at Midwestern began offering Xofigo this month and Childers was the first patient to be treated. 

"While Xofigo is not a cure, it is an important tool in our arsenal that comes with few side effects and an opportunity for significant benefits," said Eden.  "An important part of our job is helping patients realize improved quality of life."

CTCA at Midwestern offers advanced treatments for primary and metastatic prostate cancers.  Each patient is seen by a multidisciplinary team, which includes a radiation oncologist, medical oncologist and experts trained in oncology rehabilitation, naturopathic medicine, mind body medicine and nutrition.  This team works together to understand the individual needs of each patient and provide advanced, fully integrated treatments.  For more information about prostate cancer treatments at CTCA at Midwestern, visit www.cancercenter.com/prostate-cancer/.

About Cancer Treatment Centers of America^®
Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Inc. (CTCA) is a national network of hospitals focusing on complex and advanced stage cancer.  CTCA offers a comprehensive, fully integrated approach to cancer treatment and serves patients from all 50 states at facilities located in Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Tulsa.  Known for delivering the Mother Standard^® of care and Patient Empowerment Medicine^®, CTCA provides patients with information about cancer and their treatment options so they can control their treatment decisions. CTCA at Midwestern Regional Medical Center (Midwestern) is nationally recognized for providing innovative and individualized cancer care and has been designated by the National Quality Measures for Breast Centers Program (NQMBC^®) as a Certified Quality Breast Center of Excellence™, ranking the hospital among the top centers in the country for quality breast cancer care. CTCA at Midwestern is the only Certified Breast Center of Excellence in Illinois.  As a member of the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) the hospital also offers a Stem Cell Transplant and Cell Therapy program that provides a full spectrum of transplantation services and advanced treatment options for hematologic cancers. CTCA at Midwestern is proud to use the latest technology to offer advanced treatment for cancer and is currently one of only a few hospitals in the nation to combine recent advances in brain mapping and navigation to perform minimally invasive brain surgery on hard to reach brain tumors.  CTCA enjoys an array of relationships with payers, networks, and employers. For more information about CTCA, go to www.cancercenter.com.

SOURCE Cancer Treatment Centers of America