Not yet recruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Identifying the Best Follow up Approach for People Who Have Had Treatment to Cure Newly Diagnosed Prostate Cancer

This study aims to discover the best way to monitor men after they've been treated for prostate cancer. In the UK, over 20,000 men each year have surgery or radiotherapy for prostate cancer, and then need regular check-ups to look for side effects or if the cancer returns. Currently, there are different ways these check-ups are organised, and nobody knows which is best. This research will compare four main approaches: hospital visits, check-ups with a GP, a mix of hospital and GP care, or patients managing their own check-ups with support. By comparing these options, the study hopes to find the safest and most effective approach that also uses NHS resources wisely, benefiting patients across the country.

At a glance

Status

Not yet recruiting

Sponsor

Imperial College London

Enrolment target

100,000

Start

01 Oct 2026

Estimated completion

01 Jul 2027

Prostate Cancer

What is this study about?

When men are treated for prostate cancer, especially with surgery or radiotherapy, it's really important for them to have regular check-ups afterwards. These check-ups help doctors keep an eye on any side effects from the treatment and to quickly spot if the cancer might be coming back. Catching any issues early means they can be dealt with faster.

Right now, there isn't one set way that these check-ups are done across the UK. Some men might go back to the hospital, others might see their local GP, some have a bit of both, and a few are supported to manage their own follow-up. Because there's no clear best way, this study wants to find out which of these approaches works best. It will look at things like how safe each option is, whether it helps patients feel better, and if it's a good use of NHS money and resources.

To do this, the researchers will be looking at information that's already collected by the NHS from many hospitals and GP practices. They'll compare the experiences of men who have had their follow-up care in different ways. This helps them understand the pros and cons of each approach without asking patients to change their current care. The goal is to make sure all men who've had prostate cancer treatment get the best possible follow-up care for their health and peace of mind.

Key takeaways

The study compares different ways men receive check-ups after prostate cancer treatment.
It aims to find the safest and most effective follow-up strategy for patients.
No active participation is required; it uses existing, anonymous NHS data.
This research could lead to better follow-up care standards for prostate cancer patients across the UK.
Your individual medical care will not be affected by this study.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking at information from men who have already received treatment for prostate cancer. You won't be asked to join the study directly or change your current care.

The study will look at records from men who were diagnosed with prostate cancer between 2018 and 2023, who were aged 18 or older at diagnosis, and who had treatment like surgery, radiotherapy, or focal therapy aiming to cure their cancer. They also need to have been free from cancer progression or spread for at least six months after their treatment.

Men who had prostate cancer that had already spread when they were diagnosed, or who received treatment mainly to relieve symptoms rather than cure the cancer, will not be included. Also, men who have opted out of their health information being used for research will not have their data included.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Were you diagnosed with prostate cancer between 2018 and 2023?
Were you 18 or older when diagnosed?
Did you receive treatment to cure your prostate cancer (like surgery or radiotherapy)?
Were you free from cancer progression or spread for at least 6 months after treatment?
Have you not registered a National Data Opt-Out with the NHS?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

You will not be asked to participate in this study directly, change any of your current medical care, or attend any extra appointments. The study is reviewing existing health information that is already collected by the NHS from hospitals and GP practices across England. This means your personal medical records are included in a large database, and researchers will simply be looking at trends and outcomes to understand what follow-up care works best.

If you meet the general criteria, your medical information (after being made anonymous so you can't be identified) will be part of this research. There's no additional time commitment or extra medical procedures required from you. A small number of eligible men might be invited to take part in a separate survey component of the study at a later date, but this is optional and will not affect your care.

Potential risks and benefits

There are no direct risks to you from this study, as it only involves looking at existing, anonymised patient data. You will not have to undergo any new procedures or change your current medical care. A potential benefit is that the results of this research could lead to better and more consistent follow-up care for all men in the UK who have been treated for prostate cancer in the future. This could mean improved health outcomes and a better use of NHS resources. You always have the right to opt out of your data being used for research purposes, which would mean your information would not be included in studies like this one.

Locations (1)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Verified postcode
London, United Kingdom

Common questions

What is this study trying to find out?

It wants to know which way of having check-ups after prostate cancer treatment (hospital, GP, shared care, or self-management) is the safest and most effective.

Do I need to do anything to take part?

No, you don't need to do anything. The study uses existing health records that are already collected by the NHS.

Will my personal information be shared?

The study uses anonymised information, meaning your name and other details that could identify you are removed, so your privacy is protected.

Could this study change my current follow-up care?

No, this study will not affect your current medical care. Its findings might help shape how follow-up care is organised in the future for others.

How can I stop my data from being used in research?

You can register a National Data Opt-Out online with the NHS if you don't want your health records used for research. Your doctor or nurse can give you more information.

How to find out more

Diana Johnson, BSc (Hon)

followup@abdn.ac.uk +44 (0) 1224 438144 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.