Salem Hospital introduces new treatment for metastatic prostate cancer
Ronald Thornhill was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2014. In the years that followed, the cancer metastasized, and he went through 28 rounds of radiation.
By 2025, Thornhill learned there was a tumor on his large intestine that was inoperable.
At that point, he was referred to radiation oncologist Nancy Reyes-Molyneux, MD, for Pluvicto treatment.
A new treatment option
“This therapy is intended for men with metastatic prostate cancer. This is cancer that has spread to other parts of the body,” she said.
The oncologist said this is a good option for patients whose bodies become resistant to other methods.
Dr. Reyes-Molyneux sees a growing need for this therapy, as she notes one in eight men will receive a prostate cancer diagnosis. It’s the second leading cause of death for cancers in men.
“The majority of prostate cancers, about 80%, have protein on the surface of the tumor cell called PSMA,” she said. “They’ve developed a treatment where you can link a radioactive isotype with a targeting molecule for that PSMA on the tumor cell’s surface. We give the patient an injection that goes directly to the prostate cancer cells. It links to them and brings the isotope inside the cells, damaging the DNA.”
At first, Thornhill was hesitant. He was the first patient to receive this treatment in Salem.
Intentional patient care
“I was concerned because I had read it was quite expensive,” Thornhill said. “The hospital team was really good with the follow-through and making me aware of where all the payments would come through. For me, it ended up costing virtually nothing.”
Thornhill lives in Lincoln City and made the trip to Salem every six weeks for six rounds of treatment.
“It was an extremely clean and pleasant process,” he said. “The staff was really great. They were very personable and more than willing to answer any questions. I was never there for more than 15 or 20 minutes.”
Thornhill learned part of the process included avoiding loved ones for at least three days.
“You’re radioactive,” he said. “I’d get home and stay away from everyone. I used my own bathroom and bed for three full days.”
Thornhill received a full body scan after his final treatment in late January.
“Probably 80% of the tumors shrank,” he said. “A lot of the sites were gone. Most of, if not all, the tumors were greatly reduced in size and the appearance of the cancer was greatly reduced.”
Thornhill notes, in his case, he doesn’t expect the cancer to be eliminated. However, the treatment gave him a new lease on life.
Improved quality of life
“The major tumor in my gastrointestinal shrunk greatly and allowed that system to continue to operate,” he said. “That prevented me from having colostomy surgery. The Pluvicto therapy has, at minimum, saved me from some of the worst symptoms.”
Dr. Reyes-Molyneux said the new therapy means those living with metastatic prostate disease could now see improved survival rates.
“The overall benefit is these men didn’t have other treatment options a few years ago once the cancer stopped responding to the standard treatments,” she said. “They now have another treatment option which has been proven to prolong life and decrease the progression of the cancer while giving a better quality of life, often decreasing pain.”
Thornhill said he’s already recommended this treatment to many others.
“I feel like I’ve been treated the best here,” he said. “I’m pretty amazed at the level of care and compassion.”