The Androgen Deprivation Therapy Educational Program

Our team has developed an Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT) Educational Program to help prostate cancer patients manage the side effects of ADT through an interactive program built around the ADT Book. Our goal is to help prostate cancer patients improve their quality of life as well as maintain strong intimate relationships while on ADT. The program is designed to help prostate cancer patients to take appropriate actions to reduce or avoid the negative impact of ADT.

Participation in the program begins with a 1.5-hour group educational session, which introduces patients and their loved ones to ADT, the side effects of ADT, and management strategies for these side effects. Participants are introduced to the ADT Book and how to use goal setting exercises to manage ADT side effects. Participants receive a copy of the ADT Book, which they can then read at their own pace.

An online version of the ADT Educational Program is also now available so patients, partners and loved ones from across Canada can take part in the class.

This educational program is ideal for prostate cancer patients (and their partners or loved ones) who will be on ADT for at least 6 months. We encourage patients to join the program “preemptively”—i.e., before they start ADT or as soon as possible after starting on ADT. That being said, patients who have been on ADT for any length of time are still welcome to attend.

Hear from patients and partners about their experience of the ADT Educational Program.

Hear from healthcare providers about the value of the program for their patients.

Hear from the ADT Program developers.

Testimonials

“The Androgen Deprivation Therapy seminar held via a Zoom call from Canada was very informative and detailed. The speakers spoke with clarity and I found the whole session worthwhile. The technical quality of the session was excellent. A few days later we received a book on ADT which is very informative and is an excellent reference source.”
- Peter

“I found the seminar very helpful. The speakers were good communicators and seemed to anticipate any questions I might have had. I was especially interested in learning about the benefits of exercise and healthy eating. People say that knowledge is power, and I came away from the seminar thinking that a future with prostate cancer is not all doom and gloom.”
- Stephen

“The session on ADT was extremely helpful for me. This was especially true in following an appropriate exercise regime, this has helped in controlling areas of discomfort. These had become frequent. My night sweats and fatigue have reduced markedly. I have lost a little weight and my body shape has changed, I have become more flexible and have increased energy.
The session was excellent, it was clear, concise and easily understood. The presenters delivered the message to their audience on a level that even I could take in. Some of the other patients were more au fait with ADT and their input from them was very interesting. All in all an extremely worthwhile meeting and in my case has helped hugely with a couple of problems.”
- David

“The “Life on ADT” online class held on 20th September by courtesy of European Association of Urology, was a very informative and comprehensive educational session on Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT) commonly referred to as Hormone Therapy for prostate cancer patient. The session successfully addressed the impact that the treatment has on patients’ daily life through discussions on side effects of the treatment with associated psychological and sexual issues. An active lifestyle through regular exercises and healthy eating habits through a well-balanced diet were shown to be key factors to adopt to manage these side effects in order to have a better quality of life during and indeed beyond the therapy.”
- Serdar

“The ADT class was informative and the tone was encouraging, as was the number of men in the class who'd been on ADT for 20+ years! The side effects experienced by some men were explored with openness and honesty. (The accompanying book was excellent, thank you.)”
- Peter

“Doctor Lauren Walker's online presentation on Androgen Deprivation Therapy was an impressive re-enforcement of the guide which she has co-written with Robinson and Wassersug. Prostate Cancer survivors will really benefit from the book's information about side effects of hormone therapy/ADT and its helpful advice about coping. Good though the guide is, nothing beats oral presentation; I found Dr Walker's practical and accessible online seminar really motivating!
I found reassurance in her advice that changes in body shape are all too common, and her emphasis on the value of exercise prompted me back to daily sessions in the pool!”
- Alex