New global educational initiative helps men identify symptoms of advanced prostate cancer

Sep 29 2015

Although prostate cancer may exhibit no symptoms in its early stages, symptoms like severe or unexplained pain, difficulty walking or climbing stairs, difficulty sleeping or loss of bladder control may emerge when the disease advances as a signal to men to take action with their doctors. However, an international survey conducted by Harris Poll of over 1,200 people affected by the disease, either men living with advanced prostate cancer or caregivers, reveals nearly half of men (47 percent) sometimes ignore their symptoms. In addition, three in five men (59 percent) don’t always recognize the pain they experience could be related to their cancer.

The survey is the largest of its kind conducted to date in this setting. Commissioned by the International Prostate Cancer Coalition (IPCC) with the support of Bayer HealthCare, the global results from the 10-country International Prostate Cancer Symptoms Survey reaffirm findings from the U.S. arm released earlier this year. The results have shaped a global educational initiative from Bayer called Men Who Speak Up (www.MenWhoSpeakUp.com), which helps pinpoint the symptoms of advanced prostate cancer and empowers men and their loved ones to have important conversations at the right time and with the right people.

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer for men worldwide and the fifth leading cause of cancer-related death in men.

"It is startling to see how many men living with advanced prostate cancer – who should be well aware of its symptoms – overlook the warning signs they are experiencing," said Ken Mastris, President of IPCC-member organization Europa Uomo. "In the survey, 39 percent of men whose cancer has spread to their bones experienced some sort of pain for seven months or more before they were diagnosed. Opening the lines of communication for discussions about symptoms is not always easy, but it is critically important."

Confusion surrounding the origin of symptoms isn’t the only barrier to men speaking up. Results from the International Prostate Cancer Symptoms Survey also found that more than half of men (57 percent) think their daily pain is just something they have to live with, and one in three (34 percent) report that talking about symptoms like pain makes them feel weak.

"The survey results have brought to life some of the critical issues facing men living with advanced disease and highlight the need to encourage more conversation," said Maqbul Jamil, PhD, Global Strategic Marketing, Bayer HealthCare. "Bayer’s commitment to the cancer community transcends the development of new therapies, and through our partnership with the IPCC, this survey and Men Who Speak Up, we have an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients by giving them the tools they need to better navigage important discussions about their symptoms with their loved ones and physicians."

Difficulty discussing symptoms may be culturally-driven as well. More than one in three men (36 percent) in the EU and Asia-Pacific (APAC) regions say they are not very comfortable discussing how they are feeling physically with their doctor, compared to about only one in ten men (12 percent) in the U.S. Yet more of these men report having advanced stage cancer that has spread to their bones (EU 72 percent; APAC 53 percent) compared to their U.S. counterparts (53 percent).

"The stage of prostate cancer is one of the most important factors in determining treatment options and the outlook for recovery," said Professor Joe O’Sullivan, M.D., Clinical Director of Oncology at Northern Ireland Cancer Centre and one of the leading medical experts who helped shape the survey. "Spotting symptoms early can not only slow disease progression, but can also potentially improve quality of life for men and have a positive impact on their loved ones as well."

The loved ones of men living with advanced prostate cancer can be significantly impacted by the disease, but they can also play an important role in improving the prostate cancer journey. Half of men surveyed (50 percent) admit they rely on caregivers to ask the most important questions regarding their prostate cancer issues.

"While doctors are key to assessing how patients are feeling, the survey reveals that caregivers also play a key role in the management of the disease, especially when it comes to asking the tough questions," Prof. O’Sullivan added.

It is important for those men with advancing prostate cancer who recognize pain or have stopped doing the things they used to do easily to feel empowered to take action and speak up about their symptoms. Men Who Speak Up provides useful resources including a symptoms tracker, a doctor discussion guide, informational fact sheets and helpful statistics from the prostate cancer community to facilitate those tough conversations.