Journal article
Why men with a low-risk prostate cancer select and stay on active surveillance: A qualitative study
PloS one, Vol.14(11), pp.e0225134-e0225134
11/20/2019
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0225134
PMCID: PMC6867634
PMID: 31747396
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.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Why men with a low-risk prostate cancer select and stay on active surveillance: A qualitative study
- Creators
- Aaron T Seaman - Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of MedicineKathryn L Taylor - Georgetown UniversityKimberly Davis - Georgetown UniversityKenneth G Nepple - Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of MedicineJohn H Lynch - Georgetown UniversityAnthony D Oberle - Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of MedicineIngrid J Hall - Centers for Disease Control and PreventionRobert J Volk - The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer CenterHeather Schacht Reisinger - Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of MedicineRichard M Hoffman - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- PloS one, Vol.14(11), pp.e0225134-e0225134
- DOI
- 10.1371/journal.pone.0225134
- PMID
- 31747396
- PMCID
- PMC6867634
- NLM abbreviation
- PLoS One
- ISSN
- 1932-6203
- eISSN
- 1932-6203
- Publisher
- PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE
- Number of pages
- 14
- Grant note
- U48DP005017 / NATIONAL CENTER FOR CHRONIC DISEASE PREV AND HEALTH PROMO; United States Department of Health & Human Services; Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - USA 3U48DP005017 / Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; United States Department of Health & Human Services; Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - USA
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 11/20/2019
- Academic Unit
- Epidemiology; Center for Social Science Innovation; Urology; General Internal Medicine; Community and Behavioral Health; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984230629602771
Metrics
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