Len Robbins was diagnosed with prostate cancer in May 2000 when his PSA test showed 6.7.

Three weeks later after a TURP, Len’s PSA registered 87 and after seven more weeks registered 150.

Not knowing what this meant, Len called a local support group led by Don Baumber on the Gold Coast and soon found out that this was not a good situation.

Len’s disease had been quite "silent" with no obvious symptoms until changes in his urinations highlighted a need for further investigation. Len’s cancer was classified as advanced on diagnosis, it had spread beyond the localised area of the prostate and treatment available could only be palliative.

Len sought a second opinion and was placed on "triple barricade hormone therapy" for two years and subsequently has been on two separate chemotherapy regimens. The latter regime combined two chemotherapies. He remains on a monthly hormone therapy transplant.

Currently Len’s PSA is 12 and has been stable for four months. Len never took his diagnosis as a death warrant and has always kept an earnest interest in his problem. He researches web pages, speaks with other sufferers, seeks opinions from overseas medical experts and has an active, ongoing dialogue with his own Australian-based specialists about options available.

Len’s cancer spread from the prostate into his bones. Len has bone metastases, not a new form of cancer but rather a new growth of his (primary) prostate cancer. His major concern is osteoporosis and the incidence of fractures due to the weakening of his bones.

Len has chosen to add a bisphosphonate medication for treating his bone metastases. The bisphosphonate works directly on his bones assisting in the orderly replacement of bone material, so reducing further damage to be caused by the cancer. Len believes this medication has his cancer under control.

"I am arthritic so I walk with two sticks or a wheeled walker as I am not very stable on my feet. I have had several falls, one when I tripped on a carpet and fell over a sofa at home and recently while I was on a cruise I slipped on a wet deck and fell to my knees. In both of these incidents, I was badly bruised and sore but I did not fracture any bones. My bisphosphonate medication has allowed my bones to repair and strengthen in an orderly manner. I have had no further spinal compression from damaged bones on the spine and the size of the existing lesions located all over my body have not increased."

Len has an active community life supporting a local computer-training group, Retired Online, set up for retirees with limited incomes. He was a founding member and is currently vicepresident and secretary. He also attends a prostate cancer support group and speaks with patients recently diagnosed, helping them to see beyond the initial shock and recognise that they can keep living but must take control of the situation and learn as much as they can about what is available to manage their disease.

Bisphosphonates is one treatment for bone metastases. Other treatmentsinclude:

  • hormone therapy, often used with other treatments;
  • radiotherapy, directed at the bone metastases to destroy them and reduce pain;
  • metal pins inserted into the bones surgically to support the weakening bones; and
  • chemotherapy to kill the cancer cells.

Recent bisphosphonates are the only treatment that has shown cases where the bone damage caused by metastases is reversed. Many patients may report reactions to the first treatment but these are usually mild and short lived. As a preventive to further bone damage, Zometa is the only bisphosphonate that has prostate cancer patients talking about a reduction in their incidence of bone fracture, pain, spinal cord compression, radiotherapy and orthopaedic procedures.