Acceptability of a nurse-led survivorship intervention for men with prostate cancer
The study, published in the European Journal of Oncology Nursing, found that a multi-session mental health support program, led by nurses who specialise only in prostate cancer, was effective in helping men living with the disease to cope with quality of life concerns caused by the side-effects of their treatment.
Lead author on the study and Director of Nursing for PCFA, Adjunct Professor Sally Sara, said quality of life was key to survivorship.
“This is the first study of its kind to examine the effectiveness of a nurse-led program to address the mental and physical health needs of men on hormone therapy for prostate cancer. For high numbers of Australian men with prostate cancer, hormone therapy is a primary form of treatment to slow the spread of tumours, by blocking testosterone production.
However, hormone therapies can have a significant impact on men’s health, resulting in loss of muscle mass and bone strength and increased risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Reduction in testosterone also causes loss of sexual function and libido, genital shrinkage, weight gain, hot flushes, night sweats, insomnia, growth of breast tissue, and changes to mood and cognition.”
Click here to find out more.
