Movember funded registry to transform treatment outcomes

Media Release
17 June, 2016
Movember funded registry to transform prostate cancer treatment outcomes

The way men are treated for prostate cancer is set to change with the launch of the world’s largest national prostate cancer registry that incorporates clinical data alongside patient feedback of their lived experiences.

The Prostate Cancer Outcomes Registry – Australia and New Zealand (PCOR-ANZ) gives doctors (and patients in the future) the most comprehensive insight into men’s quality of life after they are diagnosed and treated for prostate cancer.

Launched by the Movember Foundation, thanks to funds raised by the Movember community, the registry spans across all states and territories in Australia and New Zealand, equipping clinicians with the information they need to minimise the risk of life-changing side effects and redefine what treatment success looks like.

Men who have gone through treatment for prostate cancer are often left with adverse effects that seriously impact their ability to live a normal life, including incontinence, sexual and intimacy issues and psychological distress.

In New Zealand, prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men. It’s estimated that over 3000 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed this year with the disease claiming a New Zealand male every day.

Paul Villanti, Executive Director of Programs for the Movember Foundation said while more men are now surviving prostate cancer, the quality of their lives has, in some cases, been significantly affected.

“PCOR-ANZ is leading the world in improving how the disease is treated with the launch of the largest national registry that includes patient experiences. This will improve treatment outcomes as clinicians will be able to see the results of their patients on an ongoing basis and benchmark those results at a population level,” said Mr Villanti.

The Movember Foundation funded the registry to capture trends and variations in treating prostate cancer and the impact of treatment on men.

Stephen Mark, Chair of the New Zealand Section Urology and clinical leader of the New Zealand Prostate Registry said the initiative from the Movember Foundation will improve the quality of life of men with prostate cancer.

“The registry will improve the quality of care of men with localised prostate cancer through accurate feedback to doctors the outcomes of men’s treatment. These results can be benchmarked internationally with a goal of improving both access to care and outcomes of care. It has been shown the traditional model of research and publication takes on average 15 years to lead to change, with registries such as this it takes on average 12 months to effect change to improve care. This is collaboration with Australia and New Zealand with a goal of complete coverage of New Zealand in the public and private sector”.

Chair of the Prostate Cancer Outcomes Registry, Professor David Roder, said that because patient experiences are being collected alongside treatment data, clinicians are able to select the best treatment option and provide appropriate support services.

“The Prostate Cancer Outcomes Registry is a practical means of improving men's lives following a diagnosis of prostate cancer. It will help clinicians provide more support to their patients by taking into account the personal impact of treatment options on men’s lives.”

The expansion of the national registry to incorporate data from all states follows successful registries in Victoria, South Australia and Canterbury.

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