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.
Up to 180 men who are already part of the Movember-funded IRONMAN study, which Southampton is also a part of, will be recruited to take part.
The men will be asked to complete a questionnaire on their health and wellbeing once a month. The data will be fed back to the patient’s medical team and 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.
Dr Simon Crabb, Associate Professor in Medical Oncology in the Faculty of Medicine 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.”
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 5000 men.
Related Staff Member
Dr Simon Crabb BSc, MBBS, MRCP, PhD
Dr Simon Crabb is an Associate Professor in Medical Oncology within Medicine at the University of Southampton and the Associate Clinical Director of the Southampton Clinical Trials Unit.
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