Men who were diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2016 or 2017 are being asked to take part in a groundbreaking research programme, which aims to improve prostate cancer care in Ireland.

The Irish Prostate Cancer Outcomes Research (IPCOR) programme was established in 2016 and is the largest prostate cancer research programme in the country.

It has established a nationwide prostate cancer registry, which captures medical and quality of life information from men newly diagnosed with the disease. IPCOR gathers clinical data from patients, such as the type of treatments they are on, as well as information on their physical and mental wellbeing.

The registry generates important data on clinical outcomes, but it also assesses the quality of prostate cancer care.

"By providing evidence-based data and recommendations to clinicians, hospitals, decision-makers and the National Cancer Control Programme, the registry promotes equal access to services and improvements in care nationally. Over time, it is envisaged that this registry will lead to the improvement of patient experiences and maximise quality of life for the 3,550 Irish men diagnosed with prostate cancer in Ireland each year," IPCOR noted.

It is hoping to get more patents involved with the programme in order to increase knowledge about the disease. Last year, its first research report revealed that around 80% of Irish men with prostate cancer showed no symptoms when they were diagnosed with the disease.

From this week, patients with prostate cancer will receive a patient information leaflet about IPCOR, along with consent forms and questionnaires about quality of life, in the post. They are asked to fill in the form or complete the questionnaire online here.

"Patient engagement is at the core of our research. We want it to be a catalyst to enhance prostate cancer care, improve patient experience and maximise quality of life for men diagnosed in Ireland and we are calling on prostate cancer patients across the country to help us gain a greater insight into the disease," explained IPCOR programme lead and consultant urologist, Dr David Galvin.

IPCOR is funded for a five-year period by the men's health charity, Movember. It is a collaborative partnership involving the Irish Cancer Society, the National Cancer Registry Ireland, the HRB Clinical Research Facility in Galway, the National Cancer Control Programme and the nation's major academic institutions represented by Clinical Research Development Ireland.

For more information on IPCOR, click here.