Understanding Advanced Prostate Cancer gives busy health care professionals the educational resource they need. Patients are demanding more education, but find the information available on the Internet too fragmented and the studies in medical journals too advanced to help them. The OIES™ provides reliable, comprehensive and accessible cancer information. It educates your patients while allowing you to focus on individualized care.

Understanding Advanced Prostate Cancer is also an invaluable resource for clinicians dealing with this difficult condition. Featuring a clinical level with case studies, a detailed examination of patterns of spread and discussions of the principles of oncology, it introduces health care professionals to the central issues in the treatment of the disease.

What is Advanced Prostate Cancer
This section gives patients and novice health care professionals an important introduction to the disease. It includes a discussion of risk factors, spread and statistics about prostate cancer. Easy-to-understand interactive diagrams explain cancer, and the anatomy and physiology of the prostate.

Back to top

Recognizing Advanced Disease
The ability to recognize advanced disease is important because the sooner a tumor can be detected, the greater the number of treatment options available. This section describes screening techniques such as the PSA blood test, bone scan and antibody-based screening and how they are used to detect advanced prostate cancer. Illustrative graphics and animations reveal how different stages are used to describe the extent of the disease and how grades are used to predict how likely the cancer is to progress.

Back to top

Treatment Decision-Making
The Treatment Decision-Making section gives patients detailed information about the factors they need to consider when making decisions about possible treatments. The section provides patients with the most current studies and treatment approaches for all forms of advanced prostate cancer, from localized cancer at high risk for recurrence to androgen independent disease.

Back to top

Treatments
The Treatments section discusses the details of each of the primary therapies for advanced prostate cancer: surgery, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy and chemotherapy. It shows what to expect from each treatment approach, providing answers to the questions: Why are these treatments used? How do these treatments work? What will happen during my visits? How will I manage my side effects? For each type of treatment, narrated 3-D animations and diagrams reinforce the key concepts.

Back to top

Supportive Care
The Supportive Care section focuses on the medical, psychological and social services that help patients cope with the many challenges of advanced prostate cancer and its treatment. The topics include managing symptoms and side effects, sexuality and body image, physical therapy, diet and nutrition, pain management, relaxation techniques and complementary therapies. Sections on palliative care, spiritual support, psychological support and preparing for end of life help patients address difficult emotional issues. Information on how to get in touch with support groups and services allows patients to seek out further assistance.

Back to top

Resources
In addition to the wealth of information contained in this program, the Resources section provides references to other printed and online resources. A comprehensive glossary contains the medical terms used in the program, with clear definitions and audio narrations that teach proper pronunciation.

Back to top

Clinical Level
The Clinical Level is directed at medical professionals and more experienced patients. Featuring case studies and discussions of the latest research and pathology studies, it introduces users to the principles of oncology and the key issues in the treatment of prostate cancer. With the Clinical Level, advanced learners can gain the understanding and vocabulary to specify their goals and expectations, and take an active role in their care.

Back to top

Interactive Learning

Anatomy Mode. Three-dimensional interactive images allow users to explore complex details of anatomy and understand the effects of cancer on the body.

Animations. Animations reveal simplicity in complex ideas and procedures. They demonstrate and reinforce key concepts in a dynamic, easy-to-understand format.

Patient Interview Videos. In the Patient Interview Videos, patients and caregivers tell their stories and offer their viewpoints. This unique component offers real-life examples of people dealing with every stage of cancer and allows users to share in the experiences of others.

Tools. ISpecially designed tools allow patients to monitor their disease status day by day, make a record of their life, explore their attitudes towards clinical trials and sexuality and become active participants in their own treatment.

Controversies Mode. “Controversies Mode” leads users to the cutting edge of contemporary research on prostate cancer and introduces them to debates and discussions in the medical profession.

Back to top