Aims: As more men are surviving localised prostate cancer, many now live with long-term effects of treatments. These long-term effects can cause distress in men’s lives although little is known about the nature and extent to which men worry about their onset and consequences. The aim of the study was to explore the nature and levels of worry and uncertainty men experience related to long-term effects of prostate cancer treatment.
Methods: A target sample of 20-25 men was sought from i) urology and radiation oncology clinics in Hospitals around Sydney, NSW, & ii) the community, via snowball referrals, social media advertising (Twitter, Facebook, Reddit) and through partnership with Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA) who publicised the study through a national research registry Pathfinder. Participants completed a demographic/clinical characteristic questionnaire before participating in phone interviews, which were transcribed and analysed using a thematic analysis (framework method).
Results: Interviews are currently being conducted. Recruitment is anticipated to be completed in August with analysis occurring in September. The results will be finalised and presented at the COSA conference.
Conclusions: This study represents a timely exploration of men’s experiences with uncertainty relating to post-treatment side effects. Recent research has emphasised the long-term negative quality of life and psychosocial outcomes experienced by prostate cancer survivors who experience LTE. To our knowledge, this is the first study to explore how men appraise, experience, and cope with uncertainty and worry related to LTE. Clinical implications from the current study include informing the development of targeted psychosocial interventions for men experiencing high levels of uncertainty and distress.