Author, Mentor, Researcher

 Participate in the Prostate Survey 
https://zfrmz.com/RltzlC5Stg6mr37HJbmL

​​Prostate Research Project:

Title : Prostate Cancer Diagnosis and Early Detection Strategies (Working)

Researcher: Joanna Swank ODS-C and Others TBD

Study:  This study examines when men typically receive prostate cancer diagnoses and at what stage their disease has advanced. Our goal is to develop screening protocols that acknowledge men's hesitations and create a more approachable early detection experience. Additionally, we aim to identify effective communication strategies that accurately convey information about prostate cancer while alleviating patient anxiety.

Methodology:

Our objective is to collect data from at least 10,000 patients to develop a comprehensive statistical analysis. Patient location is not a relevant factor in our study. We will focus specifically on three key metrics: age at initial diagnosis, Gleason score, and the number of treatment courses administered.


Confidential questionnaires designed to identify barriers preventing timely prostate-specific antigen screening.


Conduct structured interviews with oncology department administrators at major Cancer Centers to assess their prostate cancer outreach programs and identify implementation challenges they encounter.


Conduct semi-structured interviews with physicians, nurses, and physician assistants to solicit their professional insights regarding potentially effective intervention strategies.


Goals:

Develop and implement a community outreach initiative coinciding with Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in September 2026.


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This research project will analyze real patient data and survey to devise tools to assist the increase early Prostate testing.

As an Oncology Data Specialist, I started my career abstracting for a Urology center that catered to 90% prostate cases. I learned quickly that men often shy away from testing for fear of the unknown or maybe it’s just male pride.

I knew someone who was diagnosed with low-grade prostate cancer, he had memories of family members with Stage 4 cancer and what they went through. It was hard to get them to understand that their life wasn’t over and that there were treatment options available. Sadly, he took matters into his own hands. It made me fear for any males in our families that they could succumb to the same desperation, and I want to change that through education and early detection.

In my work in the urology center, I saw many cases that followed this same path. Refusal to be tested, fear of impotency and the sheer belief of “not me”

This project will help us get into the reasons we hope behind the fears and discover ways to help men deal with the uncertainty but also to know that Cancer of any kind is not an immediate death sentence.

The links below will take you to the anonymous surveys. Please share with anyone and we are looking for males aged 35 and older to complete the surveys.

Thank You

 

Joanna Swank, ODS

Member South Carolina Cancer Registry Association

University Cancer and Blood Center, Athens GA.

jswankods@gmail.com





Prostate Research Project​

Other Facilities who want to Assist


If your facility would like to assist, please contact Joanna at jswankods@gmail.com and she will provide the details for your facility.

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