Europa Uomo believes that quality of life should at the top of decision makers’ agendas
Quality of life for men with prostate cancer – and those close to them – is intrinsic to all Europa Uomo’s work. Early diagnosis brings quality of life benefits because the effects of cancer and its treatments are likely to be far greater if diagnosed late. Joint decision making about treatment and high quality, personalised treatment in specialised centres can also bring better quality of life.
Up until now, good research about the effects of prostate cancer and its treatments on day-to-day living has been thin on the ground. This means that treatment choices and policy decisions may not always be based on sound evidence. Europa Uomo aims to fill that gap.
The Europa Uomo quality of life study
In 2019, Europa Uomo commissioned Europe-wide research on the quality of life of men with prostate cancer – the first time such research has been conducted by patients themselves. It was based on an online survey exploring experiences of treatment and life afterwards.
Over four years, the Europa Uomo Patient Reported Outcomes Study (EUPROMS) gathered 5,464 questionnaire responses from men who have had prostate cancer from 32 countries. The responses were analysed by Monique Roobol of the Erasmus University Medical Centre, Department of Urology, Rotterdam. Early findings were first announced at a European Association of Urology meeting in Dublin in January 2020 and since then findings have been reported at many scientific meetings and in various publications.
Among the findings are:
- significant numbers of men treated for the disease are struggling with mental health, sexual and tiredness problems after treatment
- around 42% of men reported experiencing anxiety or depression after treatment
- lack of sexual function is having the highest impact on quality of life, with a quality of life score significantly lower that recorded in previous clinical studies
- use of, and satisfaction with, medication and devices to help erections is very low
- patients who have received two or more treatments have substantial lower quality of life scores.
Europa Uomo's study examining the experience of partners
Prostate cancer affects partners and caregivers, as well as those receiving treatment. What can be done to help them?
Europa Uomo has completed a study looking at the experiences of partners of men with prostate cancer, and the physical and psychological burdens the disease imposes on them. It helps define unmet needs and provides an agenda for action.
The study, named EU-PROPER (Europa Uomo Prostate cancer Partners in Europe Research), was centred on an online survey available in 17 languages which gained 1135 responses.
It concluded that prostate cancer has a significant effect on the quality of life of partners, as well as men with prostate cancer.
Europa Uomo's study examining shared decision making
Find out more information about how to take part in Europa Uomo's new study about sharing decisions with your doctors, and whether this affects quality of life.