Below the Belt Award
Dr Camille Short — 2018
Why do men leave active surveillance? A mixed methods investigation examining factors contributing to adherence on active surveillance
Active surveillance is a treatment option for men with low risk prostate cancer that has not spread beyond the prostate. It aims to delay invasive treatments until the disease progresses to a stage that is more appropriate for active treatment (e.g. surgery or radiotherapy). To detect disease progression, the cancer is monitored regularly using a series of tests, such as blood tests and digital rectal examinations. Research suggests approximately 50% of men will transition from active surveillance to active treatment within two years and that up to 38% of these men do so without evidence of disease progression. However these men’s reasons for moving away from active surveillance are poorly understood, and further research is needed to understand why Australian men opt-out of active surveillance for non-clinical reasons.
This information will be used to develop supportive care tools and interventions to address these factors and men’s needs. This research will be achieved by firstly surveying men who have transitioned from active surveillance to active treatment, and secondly by interviewing men who left active surveillance for non-clinical reasons.
