08-06-2020
Two new Danish national initiatives have been granted funding from Danish Comprehensive Cancer Center to establish a multidisciplinary network on focal therapy for prostate cancer, and to organise a national head and neck cancer day, where patients and professionals share knowledge across sectors.
The DCCC funded multidisciplinary network will increase knowledge and expertise on focal therapy for prostate cancer. A growing number of patients go through diagnostic MR of prostate and prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) PET/CT when they are diagnosed with prostate cancer. Contemporary imaging techniques with PSMA PET/CT and MRI have enabled an accurate imaging of the tumour localisation within the prostate gland.
There is a significant potential in more systematically utilising this knowledge in prostate cancer treatment. With the funding from DCCC, the network is to address potentials and risks of tumour directed strategies within the focal therapy field across professions and hospital units, and further to form essential research questions and develop national clinical research protocols.
Mutual knowledge sharing on head and neck cancer between patients and professionals
Head and neck cancer is a rare disease with approximately 1600 new cases in Denmark annually, divided between different subtypes with different treatment methods and thus various issues for the individual patient. Consequently, there is a great need for knowledge sharing across sectors and between patients and professionals.
The funding is granted to enable the project group to organise and host the Danish National Head and Neck Cancer Day with the purpose of increasing awareness on symptoms, treatment and rehabilitation of patients with head and neck cancer. The initiative is created jointly by patients and health care professionals, and the key is to gather important partners across sectors, including general practitioners and private dentist practitioners.
"Treatment of head and neck cancer is a multidisciplinary challenge that implicates several players – not only from the hospital system, but also from primary health care and with patient participation. A forum for knowledge sharing was much needed, and the initiative initially launched in 2019. Based on the experiences and great interest in 2019, funding from DCCC will be applied to strengthen and expand the Danish National Head and Neck Cancer Day across Denmark and ensure a solid national foundation", says Jesper Grau Eriksen, Professor, Dept. of Experimental Clinical Oncology, Aarhus University Hospital.
The topics of the event are based on patients' wishes, and the coming Danish National Head and Neck Cancer Day will thus focus on dry mouth, dental treatments, swallowing difficulties and nutrition. "The process of arranging our first National Head and Neck Cancer Day was rewarding, thanks to great communication and widespread engagement in the project group", explains Niels Viggo Jessen, Head of The Danish Patient Association for Head and Neck Cancer Oral Cavity.
The project group wishes to build upon previous experiences and improve the next National Head and Neck Cancer Day: "The patient perspective as well as new fascinating research- and treatment procedures were highlighted at the event. All relevant professional representatives turned out and displayed great interest in the event. It was a highly constructive day for everyone and we have gotten a lot of positive feedback", utters Niels Viggo Jessen.