Abstract
Current follow-up care focuses on treatment of acute disease only [1]. As above, PSA is used for prostate cancer surveillance. However, clear new evidence based psychosexual pathway is required. For an alternative pathway of follow-up to be developed, there are some core principles which must be considered.
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Current follow-up care focuses on treatment of acute disease only [1]. As above, PSA is used for prostate cancer surveillance. However, clear new evidence based psychosexual pathway is required. For an alternative pathway of follow-up to be developed, there are some core principles which must be considered.
Firstly, focused assessment and treatment of side effects of therapy including psychosexual concerns should be undertaken as part of outpatient assessment [2]. Secondly, side effects of therapy-erectile dysfunction (ED) needs early assessment and treatment. The, assessment of the patient post-surgery, should be undertaken after the catheter has been removed and the patient started on a medical tablet (PDE5 inhibitors) to help with erections where appropriate. According to clinical practice, this is usually started at 6 weeks post operatively, if not sooner [2]. However, prostate cancer survivorship pathways should be examined to see if this is truly the case.
References
Heidenreich A, Bastian PJ, Bellmunt J, Bolla M, Joniau S, van der Kwast T, Mason M, Matveev V, Wiegel T, Zattoni F, Mottet N. EAU guidelines on prostate cancer. Part 1: screening, diagnosis, and local treatment with curative intent—update 2013. Eur Urol. 2014;65:124–37.
Ferrell BR, Winn R. Medical and nursing education and training opportunities to improve survivorship care. J Clin Oncol. 2006;24:5142–8.
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Goonewardene, S.S., Persad, R. (2018). Current Follow-Up Care Pathway vs. a New ‘Psychosexual’ Pathway. In: Prostate Cancer Survivorship . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-65358-7_13
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-65358-7_13
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