When John Adams' prostate cancer came back after 18 months, he thought he would be forced to make the long journey from Bundaberg to Brisbane to receive lifesaving care.
Instead, the 72-year-old grandfather of five became the first person in Australia to take part in a global clinical trial allowing him to be treated in the comfort of his Moore Park Beach home.
"Here is leading edge medical treatment for metastatic prostate cancer, and here I am talking to a doctor in regional Queensland, and I have the opportunity to join the trial … which of course I have done," Mr Adams said.
The Primordium Trial combines the standard radiotherapy and hormone therapy treatments for prostate cancer and adds another hormone-blocking drug to examine its efficiency.
Shortly after Mr Adams' initial diagnosis in 2018, he underwent a radical prostatectomy in Brisbane to remove the entire prostate gland.
When PSA levels in his blood began to rise again last year, Mr Adams' urologist referred him to a radiation oncologist who told him about the trial.
"I had zero knowledge of the trial … and the fact that that was able to happen gives me, and should give others as well, confidence in the calibre of the medical people working in regional areas," Mr Adams said.
"All the trial involved for the first six months was just taking the trial drug at the same time each day, so you get yourself into a routine.
Advancements in cancer management
The radiation oncologist Mr Adams was referred to was Gerry Adams, who works with Genesis Care at the Bundaberg hospital.
Dr Adams said Genesis Care started looking into the trial 18 months ago because it suited the Wide Bay's demographic.
"We know that [for] men who have prostate cancer, about a third of the time when they have surgery, they do unfortunately have the cancer come back again," he said.
"In a small area like Bundaberg, we would be aiming to contribute five to ten patients in total."
Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia chief executive officer Anne Savage said trials such as Primordium, which test new combinations of drugs, were vital to prostate cancer research in the regions.
"We know that men in regional areas have a 24 per cent higher risk of death than men in city areas, and for that reason we need to make sure we're doing everything we can to help men beat prostate cancer," she said.
"The drug that they're testing in this instance is called Apalutimide — it's relatively new; it's recently been subsidised by the Australian government.
"It is incredibly important now to try Apalutimide in combination with the other therapies, which is wonderful to see."
Early results 'pretty comforting'
Clinical research coordinator Nicole Frisby said patients were excited to see the trial brought to their doorstep.
"It is always good to get regional patients involved in these things," Ms Frisby said.
"Often they won't go to Brisbane. It's a big financial burden and hard to leave your family and you need emotional support.
Mr Adams would be monitored over the next seven years as a part of the trial and said it gave him comfort and confidence in his recovery.
"The fact that I was able to stay in my own environment was important to me, and I think it's important to most people that you can be treated in your own house, sleep in your own bed," he said.
"To anybody that's had cancer, that is pretty comforting."
