We at the Men’s Health Network, a member and the convener of the Prostate Cancer Roundtable, were dismayed by your July 7 editorial “Extremely Expensive Cancer Drugs,” which questioned whether a new prostate cancer treatment, Provenge, was worth the cost.

As noted, Provenge’s median survival is 4.1 months, meaning that half of patients live beyond that point — some far beyond. We have fought to make sure that innovative treatments like Provenge are within reach for all patients, regardless of ability to pay.

Late-stage prostate cancer was for many years a forgotten cancer. Thousands of men without access to life-extending treatment died prematurely. Now, because of innovative advancements, we have an arsenal of drugs and therapies that improve survival and quality of life, with more on the way.

Health care dollars being spent to extend the lives of men with prostate cancer are not a waste. Just ask the survivors and their spouses, partners and families.

SCOTT T. WILLIAMS
Washington, July 12, 2011


The writer is vice president of the Men’s Health Network.


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