Prostate Cancer Hormone Therapy and Survivorship Clinic
Project description:
The Australian Prostate Centre (APC) is a not-for-profit organisation located in Melbourne, dedicated to complete multidisciplinary survivorship care for patients with prostate cancer. In 2017 we established a multi-disciplinary Hormone Therapy Clinic for men who are prescribed androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) to treat their prostate cancer.
The aim of this program is to assist patients in minimising the potential side effects of treatment. Men on ADT experience significant side effects affecting quality of life, including loss of bone density, muscle mass, mood disturbance, erectile dysfunction, weight gain, hot flushes, and are at higher risk for metabolic disease such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. There is a strong evidence base that metabolic monitoring, education, psychological support and supervised exercise can mitigate side effects of this therapy, however many men do not have the financial means to access this multidisciplinary care.
Patients attending the hormone therapy clinic see a Prostate Cancer GP, Prostate Cancer Urology Nurse, and an Exercise Physiologist. The aim is to provide a holistic assessment and monitor and manage the side effects of the ADT, prostate cancer and any survivorship concerns men or their partner may be experiencing. They can be referred to our psychologist if mood disturbances are identified, our pelvic floor physiotherapist for incontinence, or our endocrinologist for more significant metabolic side effects. Partners are also encouraged to attend appointments.
This clinic aims to streamline patient care and ensure patients receive best practice supportive care in a timely and coordinated manner. The Award would assist in expansion of the clinic, through access to video telehealth consultations with the multidisciplinary team, to assist more patients around Australia.
Outcomes
The Prostate Cancer Hormone Therapy (ADT) and Survivorship clinic assists patients to minimise potential side effects of treatment, and can lead to:
Improved access to a range of multidisciplinary clinicians, with expertise in prostate cancer management, on one scheduled visit
Increased access to information and education
Reduction in side effects from treatment
Increased peer support and connection through group exercise programmes
Greater support for partners and carers
Enhanced quality of life for patients, their partners and caregivers
Impact on the healthcare professional
When APC was established, one goal was to have all necessary members of the prostate cancer multi-disciplinary medical and allied health team working under the one roof, to encourage a smooth and streamlined patient journey, and facilitate collaboration and cohesion between clinicians. Having all these crucial services available to men with advanced prostate cancer under the one roof is rare, but so beneficial in the patient and therapist experience. Knowing that you can give your patient access to all the services they need to optimise their survivorship is very rewarding as a clinician.
Impact on the healthcare institution
One of the goals of APC is to provide best practice multidisciplinary care to men with prostate cancer, and the hormone therapy clinic is an excellent demonstration of this goal. Men on hormone therapy have a particularly poor quality of life and troublesome side effects. Our program is effective in reducing side effects, and adding quality to the years of life given by hormone therapy treatment for men with advanced prostate cancer.
Proposer
Australian Prostate Centre
Level 8, 14-20 Blackwood St
North Melbourne VIC 305
www.australianprostatecentre.org.au
Project contact person:
Rachel Heerey
rachel.heerey@apcr.org.au
Project team members:
Prof Anthony Costello AM (Medical Director, Urologist)
Mr Philip Dundee (Clinical Director, Urologist)
Dr Jane Crowe (Prostate Cancer GP)
Ms Helen Crowe AM (Urology Nurse Practitioner - co-sponsor)
Ms Rachel Heerey (Clinical Manger, Physiotherapist)
Ms Molly Lowther (Senior Exercise Physiologist)
Mr Max Rutherford (Clinical Psychologist)