Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Objective
Active surveillance (AS) is an increasingly utilized strategy for monitoring men with low-risk prostate cancer (PCa) that allows them to defer active treatment (AT) in the absence of cancer progression. Studies have explored reasons for selecting AS and for then switching to AT, but less is known about men's experiences being on AS. We interviewed men to determine the clinical and psychological factors associated with selecting and adhering to AS protocols.Methods
We conducted semi-structured interviews with men with a low-risk PCa at two academic medical centers. Subjects had either been on AS for ? 1 year or had opted for AT after a period of AS. We used an iterative, content-driven approach to analyze the interviews and to identify themes.Results
We enrolled 21 subjects, mean age 70.4 years, 3 racial/ethnic minorities, and 16 still on AS. Men recognized the favorable prognosis of their cancer (some had sought second opinions when initially offered AT), valued avoiding treatment complications, were reassured that close monitoring would identify progression early enough to be successfully treated, and trusted their urologists. Although men reported feeling anxious around the time of surveillance testing, those who switched to AT did so based only on evidence of cancer progression.Conclusions
Our selected sample was comfortable being on AS because they understood and valued the rationale for this approach. However, this highlights the importance of ensuring that men newly diagnosed with a low-risk PCa are provided sufficient information about prognosis and treatment options to make informed decisions.
SUBMITTER: Seaman AT
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6867634 | biostudies-literature | 2019
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Seaman Aaron T AT Taylor Kathryn L KL Davis Kimberly K Nepple Kenneth G KG Lynch John H JH Oberle Anthony D AD Hall Ingrid J IJ Volk Robert J RJ Reisinger Heather Schacht HS Hoffman Richard M RM
PloS one 20191120 11
<h4>Objective</h4>Active surveillance (AS) is an increasingly utilized strategy for monitoring men with low-risk prostate cancer (PCa) that allows them to defer active treatment (AT) in the absence of cancer progression. Studies have explored reasons for selecting AS and for then switching to AT, but less is known about men's experiences being on AS. We interviewed men to determine the clinical and psychological factors associated with selecting and adhering to AS protocols.<h4>Methods</h4>We co ...[more]