What are the barriers and facilitators to interdisciplinary models of person-centred supportive care in the context of penile cancer? A mixed methods study A/Prof Catherine Paterson, Dr Henry Yao, Prof Shomik Sengupta, Dr Justin Chee, Prof Ian Davis and Mr Wayne Earle (Patient Representative)
Globally, penile cancer is an uncommon malignancy with reported incidence of 0.84 cases per 100,000 globally. Treatment of penile cancer can be divided into the management of a primary penile tumour, and the management of regional A/PROF CATHERINE PATERSON lymph nodes. There are a range of treatment options for the management of primary penile tumour depending on the stage of disease, with the main treatment option being surgical removal.
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Although, in the case of precancerous changes or earlystage malignancies, non-surgical treatments such as topical chemotherapy or laser therapy may be applicable. Despite the use of penile sparing therapy, all treatments can be disfiguring and this has a profound negative impact on the patient’s sexual function, quality of life (QOL), social interactions, self-image and psychological well-being. Different forms of treatment are associated with their own individual challenges for patients, complications, unique psychological burden, and unmet supportive care needs. The rarity of penile cancer represents a significant challenge to the patient, partner and healthcare professional, at each step along the cancer care continuum, from diagnosis to treatment, and into survivorship. Evidence underscores that men can experience high unmet physical, psychological and sexual needs with each facet impacting and being intertwined with the other at varying degrees.
