Uro-oncology Remote Stratified Follow up Pathway

Hi Oscar.

I must admit I read through your history and got a bit lost. (It's ok, fairly normal )

Just to clarify, your tumour was contained in the gland , you had RT and still on HT 

PSA now very low, have I got that right 

Best wishes 

Steve 

Hi Grundo 

My last Prostap 3 implant was on 23rd October 2024 thus I would have been due another mid January 2025 but the nurse specialist agreed that I was near enough to the requested six month period on HT after the end of RT to cease HT.

Yes the tumour was contained within the gland and I did have 20 sessions of RT 18th July to 14th August 2024.

Thanks for your interest,

Rod

Ok Rod

So if treatment is about to finish and it's just a question of monitoring PSA then that is for the GP to do, only time u would return to the cancer centre is if steep rises in PSA which would indicate a recurrance.

So, on the face of it, all looks good.

Steve 

Hi Steve,

Yes all certainly looks good and so may it remain.

I was just wondering if the process that our Trust has now adopted is more or less standard country wide. Until this change they (the hospital) arranged the blood test six monthly and then held a telephone consultation with the patient. It's that consultation that is now ended being replaced by a letter quoting the PSA level of the last test. At my last meeting I was told verbally that this was a Christies recommendation.

Rod

Let's put it this way , when my radiotherapy finished in 2017 I have never seen a specialist or returned to the hospital.

So fairly normal I would say but if PSA started going up you or the GP would need to contact them

Good luck

Steve 

Hello Rod (Osca2023) 

Yes, that's the new world - I am under The Christie in Manchester and ours is called PEASS (Prostate Easy Access Self Service).

The Christie - PEASS

For the last 2 years I have been under this having 6 monthly blood tests at my local hospice and only when I had 2 rises together did I get a face to face (and with the head oncologist no less).

The system works well for me - although at some point in the next 12 months I will be back on treatment - but not unexpected.

Kind regards - Brian.

Thanks Brian Millibob & Steve Grundo 

That is what I expected, I'm all for streamlining and automating the NHS just as long as it all works to the patient's benefit.

I'm astounded that our trust cannot send these results, appointments or similar as emails, they have to come as letters which must cost over £1 minimum each time! This from a trust that is going 'bust' according to their own CEO.

Rod

Hello Rod (Osca2023) 

With PEASS once you are on the system it works like this:

* About 3 weeks before your PSA Test is due you get an e-mail advising you to book it yourself on the booking page - there are about 8 remote locations around Greater Manchester. (you pick your location, date and time for the test).

* You also get a general health questionnaire to complete - most questions about your cancer and urination/erections etc. Again all done online.

* The day after your test you get an e-mail with your PSA results and if it's OK no action. If in my case it's rising a note of what they propose to do.

* You also have 2 named CSN's with their telephone numbers you can contact Monday to Friday.

No wonder The Christie is the 4th best centre of excellence in the world. I feel privileged to be a patient there.

Kind Regards - Brian.

Hi Osca2023,

All my follow up 6 monthly PSA tests & results have been by letter, & as luck would have it I have received the latest one today to be completed by the 9th July along with the relevant completed blood test form.  I can either arrange for the test to be completed by my GP (but getting an appointment with a nurse is often several weeks away), or go for a walk in test at the actual hospital (Derriford, Plymouth) or a walk in Phlebotomy clinic. 

The latter is my personal choice as they have free car parking so will be heading off there on Monday or Tuesday next week.  The only drawback is that it takes them up to 4 weeks to send the results by letter.  Providing everything is looking good it's then another 6 months wait for the next one.  It's only if there is a problem would I get called back for further investigation.

Why each hospital trust can't mirror the PEASS approach that Millibob refers to in his post whereby everything is communicated by email with results the next day is beyond me.  It would be so much more efficient & cost effective once any initial set up costs had been spent with the added bonus of far less stress.  Maybe something we could all contact our devoted local MP's to look into!

Best Wishes

Brian  

Hi Brian (Buzzers )

My trust is working a very similar system to yours except that I can book my blood test on line at out local diagnostic centre I say local but it is six miles away but does have free parking.
I totally agree about the lack of ability to use email plus we don't have any option to see hospital reports, test results etc. on line.

Thanks for your thoughts,

Rod