Prostate Cancer Foundation Puts Patients on Path to Knowledge with Updated Guide, Resources

The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) has released its comprehensive Prostate Cancer Patient Guide with the latest in diagnosis, research, treatments, and lifestyle factors for patients and caregivers. With contributions from leading physicians and scientists, the free guide is aimed at patients who have recently been diagnosed, are in treatment, or are concerned about rising prostate-specific antigen levels.

It also contains updated information for caregivers and family members who want to learn more about how genetics affect disease risk.

“We at PCF work daily on the front lines of science to find treatments and cures for prostate cancer, and because of our investments over the past 25 years, we are in a remarkable period where progress for patients is taking place more rapidly than ever before,” Christine Jones, the foundation’s chief operating officer, said in a news release.

“It is our duty to provide patients with the most comprehensive information available about prostate cancer so that they may have highly informed discussions with their doctors, and make the best choices based on state-of-the-art medical research,” she said.

Go here to get the 2019 Prostate Cancer Patient Guide, first published in 2017. The online version is continuously updated to reflect the latest advances in research and treatment.

A new resource, “Additional Facts for African-American Men and Their Families,” is also available for downloading. Compared with other ethnic groups, African-Americans are 76% more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer and more than twice as likely to die from the disease. The guide, which includes commentary from black celebrities, features the foundation’s investigations into identifying and overcoming healthcare disparities.

Another resource is PCF’s prostate cancer clinical trial finder, which is produced in collaboration with Smart Patients, an online community for patients and their families. The tool can help patients search for studies based on their cancer’s state and stage, and on where they reside, with the goal of getting patients quickly on the path to help and treatment.

To offer the latest in science plus feature stories, the foundation has partnered with acclaimed science writer Janet Farrar Worthington, whose articles may be found exclusively on its website.

PCF also offers a host of Facebook groups through which patients and their families can communicate.

The foundation’s mission is to fund and accelerate prostate cancer and other research. Since its founding in 1993, it has raised more than $770 million.