Prostate cancer is a global health problem. In Spain, it is the most prevalent form of cancer among men, with more than 25,000 cases diagnosed every year. Around 100,000 deaths were attributed to prostate cancer in 2012 and the mortality risk among under-75s with this form of cancer is calculated at 10.2%.
In this context, the UIC held at a forum aimed at taking a comprehensive look at the most pertinent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer. The forum placed special emphasis on respecting the needs of patients and their families. The forum was organized by the UIC’s Albert J. Jovell Institute for Patients and Public Health with the support of Janssen within the context of the activities promoted by Janssen and the UIC for the Health Policy Innovation Programme.
Two discussions took place during the forum, the first of which focused on the epidemiology and diagnosis of prostate cancer, as well as approaches to treating the disease from the perspectives of medical oncology, radiation therapy oncology and urology. Drs. Begoña Mellado (Hospital Clínic de Barcelona), Antonio Alcaraz (Hospital Clínic de Barcelona) and Ferran Ferrer (Catalan Institute of Oncology) took part in the discussion. The second discussion analysed the importance of coordination within the framework of the publication Guía de consenso para el manejo del cáncer de próstata resistente a la castración en Cataluña (Consensus Guidelines for the Management of Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer in Catalonia). Published by Sehen in February, 2014, the publication presents the results of the efforts of urologists, medical oncologists and radiation therapists to provide the first set of guidelines to facilitate management of this group of patients.
The forum was introduced by Dr. M. Dolors Navarro, the Director of the Albert J. Jovell Institute for Patients and Public Health. She said, “Forums like this contribute to the development of the Health Policy Innovation Programme, which was created specifically to promote the study of innovation in the area of health policy, with the principal focus on new forms of management and management training for professionals”. Dr. Jesús Honorato (Clínica Universidad de Navarra) then discussed new therapeutic options, Toni Gilabert (CatSalut) spoke on financing and access to new medicines, and Begoña Barragán, the President of the Spanish Group of Cancer Patients (GEPAC), presented the patients’ point of view.
