FDA Approves First Prostate Cancer Vaccine
Last Thursday, the FDA approved the first ever prostate cancer vaccine, Provenge. It is for advanced prostate cancer and the first vaccine not to prevent cancer, but to treat it. The ideal candidate for this vaccine is someone who has prostate cancer that has spread but is not experiencing any symptoms. This vaccine could extend a man’s life anywhere from four and a half months up to a year. This vaccine could be the start of something great for disease and cancer in general.
Provenge has the benefits that typical treatments like chemotherapy, hormone therapy and radiation gives without the side effects. In fact, the only side effect noted in patients were mild flu-like symptoms. It is important to understand, however, that this vaccine is not for people who have not contracted prostate cancer and is not preventative. It is only approved to treat advanced prostate cancer in men who have few or no symptoms and it is not a cure. The goal is to extend the life of the people who have the disease.
This vaccine is made from each individual’s white blood cells. The cells are then treated with Provenge and put back into the patients body. This allows the body to kill off cancer cells and leaves normal cells in tact.
The drawback to this vaccine is that it is likely to be expensive since you have to donate your cells. An estimate of $75,000 dollars for the full regimen is expected. There is still question over whether or not insurance companies will pay for it yet.
Further studies will be conducted to see if this vaccine is helpful to an earlier stage of prostate cancer. 
Sir,
It would be great if the company which developed this technology is gets aid from WHO and the cost to customer is brought to 50% of what is quoted today.Get as many people to try it and generate the data which will be useful for other types of cancers as well.
Hats off to the scientists who worked on it.