One man’s journey with advanced prostate cancer

(BPT) – This content is sponsored and provided by Myovant Sciences and Pfizer Inc. After retiring, Mike settled into Arlington, Virginia, right outside of Washington, D.C., where he was a teacher for many years. He spends most of his days exercising, watching baseball, spending summers in Maine and enjoying adventures with his partner of 33 years, Cindy. But in October 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, Mike found himself embarking on an unexpected journey. During a routine physical, Mike shared with his doctor that he was experiencing frequent urination, which he deduced was part of getting older. Further examination found nodules on his prostate, and the doctor ordered a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test in which Mike’s result was higher than the normal range. While he tried to stay calm, he could not help but think about his family history with cancer and whether he was about to be impacted. He was referred to a urologist and then an oncologist, who confirmed that not only did he have prostate cancer, it was advanced. Approximately one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in American men, other than skin cancer, and is the second leading cause of cancer death for men in the U.S. Prostate cancer is considered advanced if it is recurrent (meaning it has returned after initial treatment), locally advanced (meaning it has spread to tissues near the prostate) or metastatic (meaning it has spread to other parts of the body). After his diagnosis, Mike began treatment, which included the use of androgen deprivation therapy, or ADT, which can lower levels of testosterone — a hormone that most prostate cancers need to grow. He also began his own research on advanced prostate cancer and came upon a presentation by an oncologist discussing a prescription medicine used in adults for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer called ORGOVYX® (relugolix), a different kind of ADT that is a pill, not an injection. After weighing the potential risks and benefits with Cindy, Mike talked to his oncologist about the therapy and, together, they decided to begin his treatment with ORGOVYX. Side effects differ from patient to patient, but among those Mike experienced, the most noticeable was fatigue. Please see Important Safety Information below. Despite the setback of his diagnosis and the added challenges of receiving treatment during a pandemic, his support system kept him going, particularly Cindy and his children. He joined support groups, which offered perspectives from those in various stages of their journey, but most of all, provided community. What was also important is the partnership with his oncologist that has allowed him to take an active role in his treatment. Mike continues to maintain a positive outlook. He states, “There is nothing in this life that you should leave unsaid or undone, especially for those you love and care about. There is always hope — whether unlikely or expected.” IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION AND USE Do not take ORGOVYX if you have had a severe allergic reaction to relugolix or any of the ingredients in ORGOVYX. What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking ORGOVYX? Tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you: Have any heart problems, including a condition called long QT syndrome. Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. ORGOVYX can harm your unborn baby and cause loss of pregnancy (miscarriage). Have a partner who is pregnant or may become pregnant. Males who have female partners who are able to become pregnant should use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment with ORGOVYX and for 2 weeks after the last dose of ORGOVYX. Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if ORGOVYX passes into your breast milk. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines or treatments you receive, including: prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Taking ORGOVYX with certain other medicines can affect how ORGOVYX works or may cause side effects. You should not start or stop any medicine before you talk with your healthcare provider who prescribed ORGOVYX. What are the possible side effects of ORGOVYX? Serious side effects of ORGOVYX include: Changes in the electrical activity of your heart (QT prolongation). Your healthcare provider may check your body salts (electrolytes) and the electrical activity of your heart during treatment with ORGOVYX. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get any signs or symptoms of QT prolongation, including: dizziness fainting feeling that your heart is pounding or racing (palpitations) chest pain Allergic reactions. Stop taking ORGOVYX and tell your healthcare provider or get emergency medical help right away if you get any signs or symptoms of an allergic reaction, including: swelling of your face, lips, tongue, throat, or trouble swallowing trouble breathing hives (raised bumps), rash, or redness all over your body Most common side effects of ORGOVYX include: hot flushes increased blood sugar levels increased blood fat (triglyceride) levels muscle and joint pain decreased blood hemoglobin levels increased liver enzymes tiredness constipation diarrhea ORGOVYX may cause other side effects including weight gain, decreased sex drive, and erectile function problems. ORGOVYX may cause fertility problems in males, which may affect your ability to father children. Talk to your healthcare provider if this is a concern for you. These are not all the possible side effects of ORGOVYX. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects or if you have a side effect that bothers you or does not go away. You may report side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088. What is ORGOVYX® (relugolix)? ORGOVYX is a prescription medicine used in adults for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer. It is not known if ORGOVYX is safe or effective in females or children. Please see full Prescribing Information and Patient Product Information for ORGOVYX (relugolix). For more information about ORGOVYX, visit www.ORGOVYX.com. PP-US-REL-2300140 05/23