Streamlining prostate care

The Saskatchewan Prostate Assessment Pathway was officially launched at an event at St. Paul's Hospital in Saskatoon. The new approach streamlines the process for men in Saskatchewan to get tested for prostate cancer, find information and get medical advice.

Helping men and their families understand the implications of assessment for prostate cancer and undergoing treatment is a key element of the new patient pathway. Anticipating a patient's journey through the steps of assessment, treatment and recovery helps facilitate more effective treatment.

"Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in Canada, which is why we are channelling resources to ensure men are able to get a diagnosis and timely treatment," Health Minister Dustin Duncan said. "We particularly want to ensure people have the information and support available to make informed treatment choices."

Prostate Assessment Centres at St. Paul's and Regina's Pasqua Hospital began taking appointments in May. Specially-trained nurse navigators are able to spend time with patients either in person or by videoconference, answering questions and discussing options.

"There are several different treatment options for men with early stage prostate cancer, and each treatment has pros and cons," Saskatoon Health Region Head of Urology Dr. Kishore Visvanathan said. "There is not one treatment that is right for everyone. In many cases people need to balance the relatively low risk from a slow-growing tumour against the possible side effects from the treatments we have available. Many are choosing a wait-and-see approach."

Primary health care providers can now refer patients suspected of prostate cancer directly to an assessment centre, speeding up access to prostate biopsy, diagnosis and treatment, if necessary.

"Receiving a cancer diagnosis shakes you up. You want to know what your options are, and what risks you face," former prostate patient Ernie Pihlstrom said. "It's exciting to see the process that I went through formalized as a patient pathway, with clinics specializing in prostate assessment. This approach clears some of the roadblocks to getting a diagnosis early and making a plan for what to do."

A pathway for women coping with incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse was officially launched last week. Saskatchewan has well-established pathways for people being assessed for hip and knee replacement surgery and lower-back pain. Work is now under way to develop pathways for strokes and lower-extremity wounds.

Funding for pathway development has come from the Saskatchewan Surgical Initiative, a four-year effort to improve the patient experience by improving safety, streamlining processes and reducing surgical wait times.

For more information about prostate conditions and the options available, visit www.health.gov.sk.ca/prostate-cancer.