Meet the Chair
Mr Mark Haynes Consultant Urologist from Southern Trust was appointed as the Chair of the CRG in 2017. Since then Mr Haynes has worked continously to ensure the group has remained focused on improving the provision of services for patients suspected of or diagnosed with a urological cancer.
Urology CRG Terms of Reference
Revised Suspect Prostate Cancer Referral Guidance
The Northern Ireland Cancer Network (NICaN) referral guidance issued in 2012 was informed by the NICE Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer 2005. NICE issued revised guidance, Suspected cancer: recognition and referral (NG12) in 2015 which sets out suspect cancer referral guidance for all cancers. The CRG recently undertook a review of the referral guidance for patients with suspect prostate cancer and proposed alternative guidance. Based on a review of other pathways across NHS England, HSE Ireland and considering evidence from the Prostate Cancer Risk Management Programme, Stockholm STHLM3 JNCI J National Cancer Institute 2016.
The revised guideline, whilst cognisant of the NICE recommendations, provides additional detail to help guide primary health care professionals in their decision making in relation to when to undertake PSA testing and when to refer patients as suspect cancer. The CRG completed a review of the Pre PSA Testing Advice leaflet given to patients by their GP and with the help of the NICaN Readers Panel updated this to ensure the information would offer the best advice to those who were considering having a PSA test.
Alongside the development of revised referral guidance for suspect prostate cancer the CRG has undertaken a review of the diagnostic pathway which is in the final stages of approval . This pathway will help navigate patients through the diagnostic pathway ensuring timely and appropriate investigations are completed to determine each patients treatment care plan.
Bladder Cancer Pathway Subgroup
The CRG has established a bladder cancer pathway subgroup similar to that of the prostate subgroup to review the existing referral and treatment pathway for patients with suspected and confirmed bladder cancer.
Life After Prostate Cancer Diagnosis
The Life After Prostate Cancer Diagnosis (LAPCD) project is a collaboration between Prostate Cancer UK, the Movember Foundation and a number of Universities (University of Leeds, Queen’s University Belfast, Oxford Brookes, Southampton University). The study was designed to investigate the quality of survival of men living in the UK 18 – 24 months after a prostate cancer diagnosis. Further information is available via the QUB NI Cancer Research Website
Friends of the Cancer Centre Patient Information Videos
Based at the heart of the Cancer Centre at Belfast City Hospital, the charity funds life-saving and life-changing projects that make a real and lasting difference to the lives of thousands of local people affected by cancer. Part of this work is the production of patient information videos including the following;
• What to expect from your radiotherapy treatment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxQbLwxMxF4
Achieving the best possible outcomes for men with prostate cancer on Northern Ireland- 2019
This report produced by PCUK highlights the change PCUK want to see to improve the care for men in NI including the new technologies and service improvements that can be introduced to make sure men diagnosed with prostate cancer can continue to achieve improved outcomes. The report provides advice on how to tackle the increasing burden on healthcare services from this growing prostate cancer population.
Talking about sex after Prostate cancer:
The e-learning resource (for healthcare professionals) has been developed to:
- increase awareness of sexual care needs
- promote routine sexual care engagement
- provide the language, structure and content to guide conversations around sexual wellbeing.
It is aimed for healthcare professionals who provide support for men and their partners living with prostate cancer. It can be used as an ongoing information resource, with quick guides to print. Includes CPD certificate, 2 learning hours credited.
The e-learning resource can be accessed: http://talkingaboutsex-prostatecancer.org
If you would like any further information on the Urology CRG please contact the NICaN Office at nican.office@hscni.net