(snip)

Here is where to begin to search:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/action/GetStudy

Good hunting!

Regards,

Steve J

"Never -- never -- never give up!  Never go gently.  There will be plenty of
gentle after we die, so until then, fight! Control the rhythms and tempo
of the dance, even when you have to let the PCa dancing bear lead for awhile
-- even when you have to wear the lead suit as you dance -- never let the
bear set the rhythm and tempo of your dance with life -- when the bear
finally takes control, it will be a very hollow feeling for him, because I
will be gone -- dancing in a better place."
--E. B. (Burns) Mixon, PCa survivor, June 14, 2005
Thank you, Burns. Live long and prosper.

Jake,

I'm not qualified to say what trials are promising or which ones
you might qualify for, but I can recommend some places to look.

For information about what clinical trials are, how they work,
etc., see:
 http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/learning.

For useful search capabilities, try:
 http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/search/

Another government website with the same trials but a different
search engine is:
 http://clinicaltrials.gov

If you find something of interest, don't hesitate to call the
phone number provided and ask questions.  You will typically be
put in touch with a nurse who has experience with prostate cancer
and with the treatments proposed for the trial and can often give
you a lot of useful information that isn't in the text of the
trial description.

For what it's worth, my own experience in a National Cancer
Institute clinical trial was very positive.  I was treated by (in
my opinion) first class physicians, given excellent consultation
and advice, and my treatment was free.

The NCI search screen (second URL above) shows 193 treatment
oriented trials treatment for recurrent prostate cancer.  Most of
those will not be of interest to you, but at least a few will.

In my estimation, participation in a clinical trial is unlikely
to cure your cancer.  It's a very long shot.  Most treatments in
trials don't turn out to provide a lot of life extension.  But
you might very well get some benefit and, who knows, you might
get lucky.  At the very least, you will be using your condition
in a way that might help others too.

You mentioned that you will discuss the matter with your
oncologist.  That's an excellent idea.

If your oncologist is not a medical oncologist who specializes in
prostate cancer, you should try to find one who does.  The reason
I say that is that, if you have just had standard first line
hormone therapy (typically Lupron in the U.S.) you have not yet
exhausted all conventional treatment options.  The other options
include double or triple ADT (addition of casodex and
dutasteride) "second line" hormone therapy (e.g., ketoconazole,
estrogen patches, maybe others) and chemotherapy.  These
treatments won't cure you but might extend your life.  Some men
get significant benefit from such treatments.

Best of luck to you.

   Alan