By paNOW

More help for Saskatchewan men with prostate cancer

Jun 27, 2013 | 1:47 AM

A new approach to help men with prostate cancer officially launched Wednesday.

The Saskatchewan Prostate Assessment Pathway makes it easier for men to get tested, find information and get medical advice.

Prostate Assessment Centres are located at St. Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon and Pasqua Hospital in Regina.

Specially-trained nurses at those centres are able to spend more time with patients either in-person or by video.

“Better patient experiences and outcomes is what the Prostate Assessment Pathway is all about,” said Colleen Christensen, the Saskatoon Regional Health Authority vice chair in a news release.

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“It empowers each patient with the information they need to be part of their treatment decision-making process,” she said.

The centres began accepting patients in May and doctors can refer patients to those assessment centres, which will speed up access to prostate biopsy, diagnosis and treatment.

“Receiving a cancer diagnosis shakes you up. You want to know what your options are and what risks you face,” said Ernie Pihlstrom, a former prostate patient in a news release.

“It’s exciting to see the process that I went through formalized as a patient pathway with clinics specializing in prostate assessment. This approach clears some of the roadblocks to getting a diagnosis early and making a plan for what to do,” he said.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in Canada.

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