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British Journal of General Practice

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Prostate cancer treatment choices: the GP’s role in shared decision making

Samuel WD Merriel and Vincent Gnanapragasam
British Journal of General Practice 2019; 69 (689): 588-589. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp19X706685
Samuel WD Merriel
College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter.
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Vincent Gnanapragasam
Academic Urology Group, Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge and Translational Prostate Cancer Group, CRUK Cambridge Cancer Centre, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge.
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TALKING WITH THE PATIENT ABOUT DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT DECISIONS

Ted is a 65-year-old retired arts teacher. He was recently diagnosed with localised prostate cancer. He has been to see the urologist to discuss his prognosis and treatment options.

Men and clinicians face difficult decisions with regards to treatments for prostate cancer. For our patients, they can be faced with a choice of radical treatments, which carry a high risk of incontinence and sexual dysfunction, or active surveillance, which can be perceived to go against the strong public cancer narrative of ‘find it early and treat it’. Although studies such as the PROTECT trial suggest minimal reductions in mortality from aggressive treatments when compared with active surveillance,1 prostate cancer still causes a significant number of cancer-related deaths. Predicting the long-term outcomes for men with a diagnosis of localised disease is difficult, although new methods for understanding a man’s risk and informing treatment decisions are being developed and refined. Clearly communicating the potential risks, benefits, and uncertainties with men is vital to help them navigate these difficult choices, which can be made easier with their GP by their side.

Ted hasn’t come to a decision about whether to undergo radical treatment for his prostate cancer or active surveillance. He makes an appointment to see you to run through his options.

Most patients …

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British Journal of General Practice: 69 (689)
British Journal of General Practice
Vol. 69, Issue 689
December 2019
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Prostate cancer treatment choices: the GP’s role in shared decision making
Samuel WD Merriel, Vincent Gnanapragasam
British Journal of General Practice 2019; 69 (689): 588-589. DOI: 10.3399/bjgp19X706685

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Prostate cancer treatment choices: the GP’s role in shared decision making
Samuel WD Merriel, Vincent Gnanapragasam
British Journal of General Practice 2019; 69 (689): 588-589. DOI: 10.3399/bjgp19X706685
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    • TALKING WITH THE PATIENT ABOUT DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT DECISIONS
    • COMMUNICATING RISK
    • ALONG THE CANCER CONTINUUM
    • A PIVOTAL ROLE FOR GPs
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More in this TOC Section

  • Human factors in general practice: what it means for practice, training, and CPD
  • Cannabis in primary care
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British Journal of General Practice is an editorially-independent publication of the Royal College of General Practitioners
© 2019 British Journal of General Practice

Print ISSN: 0960-1643
Online ISSN: 1478-5242