Get In The G.A.M.E. (Get All Men Educated About Prostate CancerClinical Trials) Program Helps Men With Prostate Cancer Get The Information They Need AboutClinical Trials (NAPSA)—Anationwide campaign has been launched by the National Prostate Cancer Coalition (NPCC) called “Get in the G.A.M.E.—Get All Men Educated about Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials” to help men with prostate cancer understand that clinical trials may be an important option to con- sider. Talking with a doctor about clinical trials is particularly important for men with recurrent disease whoare at risk for or already suffering from bone metastases (spread of cancer to the bone). Clinical trials advance science in the areas of disease they study and in some cases provide access to poten- tial new therapies. “We’re conducting our Get in the G.A.M.E.—Get All Men Edu- cated initiative because a recent survey of prostate cancer patients shows that only a very small percentage of patients—about 12 percent of men with prostate cancer— know that clinical trials are an option,” said NPCC CEO Richard N. Atkins, M.D. “Clinical trials examine the safety and benefit of experimental drugs to find new treatments for prostate cancer aimed at extending and improving quality of life and ultimately a cure. It’s important for men to ask their urologist or oncologist about trials that may be helpful.” Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in America among men, with more than 218,000 new cases expected to be diagnosed in 2007. Approximately one in six men is diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime, and all men with prostate cancer are at risk to develop bone metastases. What many people don’t realize is that bone metastases are one of the most frequent causes of pain in people with cancer and may lead to severe skeletal complications, such as fractures, spinal cord compression resulting in paralysis, need for surgery to bone, and need for radiation to bone for pain palliation. The survey, Cancer Clinical Trials Awareness and Attitudes in Cancer Survivors, conducted by the Coalition of Cancer Cooperative Groups and Northwestern University, polled nearly 2,000 U.S. cancer survivors and found that as few as one in 10 cancer survivors reports ever being made aware of trial opportunities during treatment. For those patients whoreported participating in clinical trials, the survey found that 92 percent of participants had a positive experience with their clin- icaltrial. “This survey tells us that we need to do a better job of informing men about clinical trials that may makea difference in how their disease is managed in helping determine the potential benefit of new agents,” said Matthew Smith, M.D., Ph.D., assistant physician, division of hematology/oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Mass. “We are currently conductingclinical trials to evaluate the potential for an investigational therapy to prevent and treat the bone metastases in men with prostate cancer.” “Education about and, when appropriate, participation in clini- cal trials is so important—that’s why we are encouraging dialogue between men with prostate cancer, their families and their physicians,” noted Atkins. To learn more about relevant prostate cancerclinicaltrials, go to www.rising-psa.com or call (800) 536-8604 (hosted by Amgen, Inc.). Quick Facts: Prostate Cancer in the U.S. More than 218,000 new cases of prostate cancer are expected to be diagnosed in 2007. More than 27,050 deathswill occur due to prostate cancer in 2007. Approximately onein six menis diagnosed with prostate cancerin his lifetime, andall men with prostate cancer are at risk to develop bone metastases. Quick Facts: Bone Metastases More than 10 million people worldwide have bone metastases. Approximately 452,000 people in the United States suffer from cancer with metastases to the bone. Approximately 50-80 percentof all those diagnosed with carcinomaare predicted to have metastases to boneat thetimeof their death. Certain cancers, like breast, prostate, thyroid and lung, are morelikely to spread to the bone than others. Whythereis a need forclinicaltrials: Only a very small percentageof patients— about 12 percent of men with prostate cancer-— knowthat clinicaltrials are an option. As few asone in 10 cancersurvivors reports ever being made awareoftrial opportunities during treatment. Forthose patients who reported participating in clinicaltrials, the survey foundthat 92 percentofparticipants had a positive experience with their clinical trial. To learn more aboutrelevant prostate cancer clinical trials, go to www.rising-psa.com or call (800) 536-8604 (hosted by Amgen, Inc.). @ Get in the G.A.M.E.—Get All Men Educated about Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials has been made possible by financial support from Amgen, Inc.
