Patient Information launches first onco-urological topic: kidney cancer
EAU Patient Information has reached a veritable milestone with the launch of the first onco-urological information set. The series on kidney cancer offers medical information about diagnosis and treatment options, including their side effects. A dedicated section on practical and emotional support for patients and their loved ones is a welcome addition to the regular Patient Information format.EAU Patient Information seeks for patients to become educated partners, a vital need in onco-urological practice. “Patient Information is important for all urological diseases, but it is crucial in urological cancers,” said Prof. Hein Van Poppel, EAU Adjunct Secretary General - Education. “A lot of medical information is available online nowadays. Often the information is biased and not evidence-based, which may be related to marketing purposes. This can be misleading to patients and even to their caregivers.”
“Cancer is a deadly disease and requires a thorough understanding from patients, especially because they are included more and more in decisions about diagnostic and management strategies. In order to achieve this, objective evidence-based information, written in a language that an average patient understands, is badly needed,” Van Poppel continued.
The medical information is visually complemented by custom-made illustrations that show the different stages of kidney cancer and illustrate various treatment options. An extensive glossary of terms and frequently asked questions about kidney cancer are also included in the set. The information is freely available for online viewing on the EAU Patient Information website, and urologists are encouraged to download and print the different leaflets as a tool for communicating with their patients.
The patient-oriented information about kidney cancer is fully compliant with the treatment pathways produced by the EAU Guidelines Panel on Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC), in collaboration with the UK-based Urological Cancer Charity (UCAN). The texts have been put together by a diverse group of medical experts including urologists representing the EAU Guidelines, the EAU Section of Oncological Urology (ESOU), the Young Academic Urologists (YAU) Working Group on RCC, and oncological nurses from the European Association of Urological Nurses (EAUN). The information also benefitted from the input of kidney cancer patients.
This collaborative effort further distinguishes itself thanks to the diversity of languages in which the information is available. EAU Patient Information on Kidney Cancer can be read in English, and translations are being prepared, while other topics can already be consulted in multiple languages. For example, EAU Patient Information on Kidney and Ureteral Stones–one of the most common urological conditions–is available in 11 languages so far. Information on Overactive Bladder Symptoms (OAB) and Nocturia is now also available in Spanish.
The translated topics have helped EAU Patient Information meet the need for information in languages where there may not be other reliable medical sources widely accessible to patients. Medical practitioners can rest assured that patients are provided easy-to-understand information that complements their clinical practice. The number of translations and topics continues to grow, and this would not be possible without the extensive collaboration of urologists and national societies that support EAU Patient Information with their time, knowledge and engagement.