Finding new ways to improve the lives of men with prostate cancer

Cancer researchers in Southampton are taking part in a global study evaluating whether remote monitoring of prostate cancer can improve men’s quality of life.

Southampton is one of eight sites around the world (one of two in the UK) chosen to take part in the IRONMAN EMPRO (Engaging Men in Patient Reported Outcomes) study.

Supporting health and wellbeing

Up to 180 men who are already part of the Movember-funded IRONMAN study will be recruited to take part.

The men will be asked to complete a questionnaire on their health and wellbeing once a month. This data will be fed back to the patient’s medical team.

If a man’s responses indicate that he is suffering from anxiety, pain, fatigue, social isolation, insomnia, or depression, he will receive either tailored advice on how to manage his symptoms via Movember’s TrueNTH programme or a follow-up call from his medical team within 48 hours.

Improving monitoring and outcomes

Dr Simon Crabb, Associate Professor in Medical Oncology, is Southampton’s lead investigator for both the IRONMAN and EMPRO studies. He plans to start recruiting patients to EMPRO in the next few weeks.

He said: “Prostate cancer is a devastating disease which clams the lives of more than 360,000 men every year. Effective symptom monitoring is essential during cancer treatment. But the current approach relies on patients being able to accurately identify or recall symptoms and contact their medical teams quickly.

“If we can implement an improved monitoring system that helps the individual, we should see better outcomes for these men.”

Better care for prostate cancer

IRONMAN is a is a global observational registry study for advanced prostate cancer, which aims to collect information about men’s cancer, their treatment, and any side effects they experience.

By collecting and analysing the information, the study aims to better understand what causes prostate cancer, how to stop or slow its progression, and how to provide the best possible care to enable men to live the best quality life possible.

More than 100 sites around the world are involved and it aims to recruit 5,000 men.