Taking Part in the Follow up phase

Further funding has now been granted for the Follow up phase of the study and It is intended that all men are followed up for 10-15 years. The average age of men in the study is now 62 years, ranging from 49 – 78 years.

Over 540 men have had each of the treatments offered by the study: active monitoring, surgery and radiotherapy, all of which are currently used in the NHS.

Follow-up process

•  Following your treatment you will be invited to attend an annual review with a research nurse at your local ProtecT centre to see how you are getting on.

•  You will also receive annual questionnaires, following the initial 6-month questionnaire.

•  It is very important that you continue to complete these questionnaires and attend the reviews, even if you believe nothing has changed over the last 12 months.

The questionnaire data collected are only used by the ProtecT research team and will not be passed on to your GP or anyone else without your consent.

Participants who move within the UK may find that they are now closer to one of the other nine centres, if this is the case you may be able to attend follow up appointments at the new centre, some people are already successfully doing this. It is very important that you let us know your new address. This is so that we can keep in touch with you during the course of the study.

Please tell your ProtecT research nurse when you attend for your appointment or contact them on
the above telephone numbers or write to the ProtecT Study, Canynge Hall, University of Bristol,
39 Whatley Road, Bristol BS8 2PS You can contact the lead research nurse at your local centre:

 Birmingham: Pauline Thompson (0121 627 2992)
 Bristol: Lynne Bradshaw and Tricia O’Sullivan (0117 950 5050 ext 2690)
 Cambridge: Phillipa Herbert (01223 596 225)
 Cardiff: Sarah Tidball (02920 746 501)
 Edinburgh: Norma Lyons (0131 537 2433)
 Leeds: Debbie Cooper (0113 206 5491)
 Leicester: Sue Bonnington (0116 258 8316)
 Newcastle: Teresa Lennon (0191 223 1461)
 Sheffield: Joanne Howson (0114 271 2791)

As the follow up data forms a crucial part of the ProtecT study, your information is very important to us and we are very keen for you to keep in touch and let us know should your contact details change. Remember moving abroad or away from your local area does not necessarily prevent you from taking part in the study.

Why do we ask for the same information each year?

Your health and feelings may change gradually over several years and this information is very important for comparing the treatments fairly over time. Only by collecting the information for several years would we be able to determine these types of changes which could be useful for determining the best treatment for prostate cancer.