Abstract 638P
Background
Comprehensive care for PCa patients (pts) extends well beyond selecting therapies based on available guidelines. Pts should be supported to understand the disease, diagnostics, treatment strategies suited to them, side-effects, avert morbidity and adjust diet and exercise while combating stress. We present data supporting that pt participation in a video peer-led support group is integral to attaining these goals. Peer groups are not readily accessible to pts for face to face meetings. AnCan hosts monthly virtual meeting support groups across the spectrum of malignancies and stages since 2010. We offer navigation, advocacy, and educational webinars. PCa is our focus including active surveillance/ high risk/recurrent/advanced disease groups.
Methods
During spring 2021, a survey questionnaire was sent to 1174 pts. We evaluated experience and how information acquired informed their treatment, interactions with their medical team, lifestyle, stress, and quality of life (QoL).
Results
238 responses analyzed, 93 (39%) with advanced PCa, largely distributed across North America. The majority (65%) attended >=1 meeting/month and 32% >=1/ meeting week. All (100%) indicated that meetings helped understand disease, navigate their treatment options, improve their interaction with their medical teams and their quality of life (QoL). 48 (19%) pts opted to move to different care teams and 32 (13 %) of those elected PCa specialists. 138 (58%) improved exercise, 90 (38%) diet, and 119 (50% ) reported stress reduction. 202 pts (85%) felt the groups welcoming, 102 (43%) connected with others, 70 (30%) developed friendships.
Conclusions
The AnCan Support Group model increases pt knowledge, positively impacts treatment planning, promotes lifestyle changes while providing support to reduce stress, boosts confidence in navigating the disease, and improves QoL. We empower pts to self-advocate and improve their disease experience. This is integral to optimize physician/pt interactions and improve outcomes. We advocate that virtual peer group attendance, based on our model, be included in ESMO treatment recommendations for PCa patients, especially with advanced disease.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
Answer Cancer Foundation d/b/a AnCan.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosure
H. Geller: Financial Interests, Institutional, Other, Unrestricted Support to AnCanm: Foundation Medicine; Financial Interests, Institutional, Other, Unrestricted support, 2018; current applying for funding: Janssen; Financial Interests, Institutional, Other, Applying for unrestricted support: Bayer, AnCan Webinar Program; Financial Interests, Institutional, Other, Sponsored 2021: Myovant-Pfizer; Financial Interests, Institutional, Other, Sponsored 2021 Webinar Program: Novartis; Financial Interests, Personal, Full or part-time Employment: US National Institutes of Health. R. Davis: Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Patient advisor on Patient Community Council: Foundation Medicine; Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Other, HealtheVoices Conference Advisory Board in 2019: Janssen; Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Patient voice on prostate cancer Global Medical Group meeting, 2020: Bayer; Non-Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Patient advisor on talazoparib clinical trial for prostate cancer, (2017/18): Myovant-Pfizer. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.