- Free Online Training in Distress Screening for Prostate Cancer
This a free online training program for health professionals offered by the University of Technology Sydney. This course will help you to understand the nature and extent of men’s psychological distress following the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer. You will also learn why distress screening is best practice for men with prostate cancer, as well as how to undertake distress screening.
During this course you will meet men like Peter, who shares his experience of living with prostate cancer. Family members and prostate cancer experts will also provide their insights about distress associated with prostate cancer treatment and the critical need for distress screening and referral to evidence-based support.
Topics include:
- Psychological distress following prostate cancer – the nature and extent of the problem
- Screening for psychological distress following prostate cancer diagnosis
- Distress screening – the way forward.
This course is interactive, providing space for you to share your experiences and learn from others. You will learn about the nature and extent of psychological distress, as well as the impact of prostate cancer on partners and families. Resources will illustrate misconceptions about distress screening and possible barriers, as well as when and why screening should occur. Role plays and reflections will help you learn how to effectively use the distress screening tool to provide holistic and supportive healthcare to men with prostate cancer.
- Prostate Cancer Distress Screen
The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia developed this tool in response to research showing that screening for distress and referral to evidence-based psychosocial care had not been systematically implemented in prostate cancer care in the Australian setting. After the diagnosis of prostate cancer and regularly through treatment and surveillance men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer should be screened for distress and their psychological and quality of life concerns should be explored.
- Prostate Cancer Patient Empowerment Program
[Patient Resource] PC-PEP is a Canadian six-month home-based comprehensive health-promotion program for men diagnosed with prostate cancer who are scheduled for curative treatment. It was developed out of research by Robert Rutledge and Gabriela Llie at Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada and currently looks to be only available on a limited basis while research continues. The program is meant to start before medical treatment begins, run concurrently with the treatment phase where possible, and during the recovery phase. Men receive a daily email for six months that includes a description of the suggested activities for that day, as well as a link to a 3-5 minute YouTube video from the Principal Investigator (Psychology Professor) and the Study Physician (Oncologist). The men are asked to fit the activities into their day in whatever way works best for them.
The website for the program looks to be still under construction but there is a great video outlining the approach on the opening page.
- PROSTMATE support program
[Patient Resource] This is an online platform which provides men with prostate cancer and their families access to a tailored clinical support system. The platform includes a central space to find information tailored to the stage where a patient is at; a section to log treatments, appointments and results; a system that asks the user how they are to monitor their progress over time; and a portal to have ‘virtual’ consultations with clinicians and allied health professionals. PROSTMATE is the result of a national collaboration involving leaders in each discipline of prostate cancer. It was developed with the assistance of philanthropic donations and trusts and coordinated by Australian Prostate Cancer Research, a national body established to deliver national, collaborative research programs that will make a real impact in the lives of men with prostate cancer.
- Mens Health Downunder
[Patient Resource] This is an affiliate of an award-winning Australian pharmacy group which provides products, information, advice and support on men’s health via its website. They receive many referrals from urologists and GPs, but men can simply sign up themselves. They allocate a time to speak with a specialised men’s health pharmacist, take an appropriate medical history, review current medications then tailor solutions to optimise outcomes. Their range includes prescription items (tablets, injections, gels), medical devices (incontinence clamps to vacuum erection devices), complementary therapies and the provision of professional evidence-based information across multiple topics.
- Discussing mental health in men with prostate cancer
This is a podcast (about 20 mins) from the team at Talking Urology, a show aimed at empowering doctors to develop a deeper understanding of the literature to ensure they apply the right evidence to the right patient. This podcast talks to Suzanne Chambers about what clinicians need to know to help them and their patients deal with the psychological distress of prostate cancer.
EAU PI General Information About Prostate Cancer 
[Patient Resource] This information page with downloadable PDF is produced by the European Association of Urology. Its Patient Information group is an expert team of healthcare professionals consisting of urologists, specialist nurses and a uropathologist from several European countries who contribute to developing and updating EAU Guidelines-based content about urological cancers and diseases as provided on EAU PI’s website.
- Maintaining Your Well-Being Booklet
[Patient Resource] This booklet provides information on common reactions to prostate cancer, helpful strategies, and information on depression and anxiety. The booklet advises: “It may be helpful for couples to read this booklet together. This will help you to look after each other, and to recognise when either one of you may be distressed. It’s important to note that stress is not depression. However, acute distress, associated with tough times, can occur and may be a risk factor for depression if it persists.”
- Prostate Cancer and Exercise Fact Sheet
Exercise is Medicine is a global initiative lead by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). They offer a suite of fact-sheets for health professionals which provide information about the safe and appropriate use of exercise in the prevention, treatment and management of a wide range of diseases including prostate cancer. This particular sheet was developed by the Australian division and talks about how exercise helps men with prostate cancer.
- Prostate Cancer Survivorship Care Plan Template
The American Society of Clinical Oncology has developed a range survivorship care plan templates including for prostate cancer, composed of the treatment summary and follow-up care plan, to enhance communication and coordination of care for the survivor.
- Taking care of yourself booklet
[Patient Resource] Prostate Cancer Canada, now amalgamated with the Canadian Cancer Society, provides a range of downloadable resources for patients including Taking Care of You the Caregiver: Helping Provide Support. This booklet is designed to help the caregiver better understand how they can support their family member or friend. There are also practical suggestions on how the caregiver can care for him/herself and themselves.
- A Guide for Partners and Family
[Patient Resource] Prostate Cancer UK provides a range of downloadable patient resources including this guide for partners and families. This booklet looks at ways to support someone with prostate cancer, where to get further information and how to look after yourself.
- Living With and After Prostate Cancer
[Patient Resource] This downloadable booklet from Prostate Cancer UK is for for men living with and after prostate cancer and for men who are having their prostate cancer monitored, rather than having treatment. It includes information about the physical and emotional effects of prostate cancer and its treatment, and ways to manage them and also discusses practical issues such as work and money.
- A Psychosocial Care Model for Men with Prostrate Cancer
This monograph outlines a comprehensive model of care for men with prostate cancer was developed across many years of work with experts from clinical and allied health fields. It was driven by the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia in conjunction with experts from the NHMRC-funded Centre for Research Excellence in Prostate Cancer Survivorship. It recommends that clinicians and health professionals apply the model, screening men for distress so that psychological and quality of life concerns can be identified and managed to produce a new standard of quality care.
- Summary of the Prostate Cancer Survivorship Essentials Framework
A one-page PDF for health professionals summarising the Essentials Framework.
Facing the Tiger 