BJMO - volume 13, issue 6, october 2019
T. Vermassen PhD, T. Roumeguère MD, Y. Neybuch MD, L. Hoekx MD, I. Fele , B. Sautois MD, PhD, W. Everaerts MD, PhD, D. De Maeseneer MD, F. Lecouvet MD, PhD, N. Lumen MD, PhD, P. Ost MD, PhD, S. Rorive MD, PhD, S. Stroobants MD, PhD, P. Dirix MD, PhD, S. Rottey MD, PhD
SUMMARY
Castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is characterised by complex strategies for therapy and follow-up. In order to standardise CRPC cancer care on a national basis, an integrated care pathway was devised, based on clinical governance principles and acknowledged best practice, in order to reduce length of hospital stay, reduce costs of patient care, improve patient outcomes (e.g. Quality-of-Life, complications), etc. Therefore, a steering group of Belgian experts, consisting of medical oncologist, urologists, radiation oncologists, oncology nurses, pathologists and nuclear medicines, was assembled to discuss the need for an integrated care pathway for CRPC in Belgium. This was made possible through the financial support of Astellas Belgium. An extensive integrated care pathway was discussed with various stages, depending on the disease status of the patient. Belgian implementation could lead towards further standardisation of cancer care for CRPC patients although several important matters still have to be discussed or adapted. Further assessment and inter-hospital deliberation seems required to ensure a national implementation of the CRPC integrated care pathway.
(BELG J MED ONCOL 2019;13(6): 219–226)
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