Consider the 'Whole-Man' When Treating Prostate Cancer

Too Little Time Spent Discussing Emotional and Sexual Impact, Says New Survey

BARCELONA, April 21, 2010 - Health care professionals need to consider the impact of
prostate cancer on the 'whole man' rather than focusing on cancer treatment
in isolation, according to results from an international survey of prostate
cancer patients and their partners.

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Results from the 'Man-Aging Prostate Cancer' survey
commissioned by prostate cancer specialist company Ferring Pharmaceuticals
also reveal that patients need better information about the range of
treatment regimens available and how these treatments can impact quality of
life. The results showed that:

    - 34% of patients surveyed did not feel sufficiently informed
      to be able to play a role in their treatment decisions
    - 34% of patients surveyed were 'dissatisfied' or 'not very
      satisfied' with the level of information available to them in the
      months following diagnosis

"One of the most important findings of this survey is that
there is a clear need for more resources to help support a man emotionally
through prostate cancer," said Gunter Feick, Chairman of the German patient
association Bundesverband Prostatakrebs Selbsthilfe e. V. (BPS). "This is
very important, since the majority of men polled (78%) felt that their sex
life had been negatively affected by prostate cancer."

The survey - an on-line questionnaire which enrolled 624 men
with prostate cancer from eight countries (France, Germany, Ireland, Italy,
Netherlands, Spain, UK, USA) - found that the emotional impact of prostate
cancer was rarely discussed during consultations (66% of men said 'not
discussed') and that more than half (57%) of patients felt they were not
provided with adequate emotional support following their diagnosis.

"As opposed to women, it is well documented that men do not
employ as many coping devices to deflect their thoughts away from their pain.
While women distract themselves with activities, express their feelings to
friends and even pray, men generally tend to face their problems alone. This
research has highlighted the need for healthcare professionals to provide
enhanced emotional support as men navigate their way through the emotional
and sexual challenges of prostate cancer," commented counselling
psychologist, Dr Linda Papadopoulos.

    - 56% of patients and 53% of partners would have liked an
      healthcare professional to spend more time discussing the impact of
      prostate cancer and its treatment of their sex life
    - 65% of partners would have liked more information on how to
      discuss the potential effects of prostate cancer on their sex life with
      their husband/partner

"The results of this survey clearly highlight that we as
healthcare professionals need to both help men make the right treatment
decision and support them emotionally through prostate cancer," said Bertrand
Tombal Professor and Chairman of Urology Service d'Urologie, Cliniques
universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium. "It is important that doctors
spend time discussing with patients the benefits of treatment as well as the
management of side-effects to achieve the best quality of life possible for
each individual patient."

The survey revealed strong support for patient groups; the
vast majority of men (90%) felt that it would have been useful to have a
'buddy' with experience of prostate cancer to whom they could talk and ask
questions.

Worldwide, more than 670,000 men are diagnosed with prostate
cancer each year[1] and there are approximately two million men living with
this condition in Europe[2]. Incidence and prevalence rates vary widely
around the world, with by far the highest rates in North America and Northern
and Western Europe[3].

Notes to Editors

About Ferring

Ferring is a Swiss-headquartered, research driven, speciality
biopharmaceutical group that has recently launched the fast-acting GnRH
blocker Firmagon(R) (degarelix)* for the hormonal treatment of advanced
prostate cancer. Ferring identifies, develops and markets innovative products
in the areas of urology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, gynaecology, and
fertility. In recent years Ferring has expanded beyond its traditional
European base and now has offices in over 40 countries. To learn more about
Ferring or our products please visit www.ferring.com. To learn more
about prostate cancer and Firmagon please visit
www.ProstateCancerLiving.com

*Producto autorizado por la EMA, no disponible en el mercado español,
pendiente de la decisión administrativa sobre el precio y el reembolso

References

———————————

[1] Cancer research UK

[2] www.europa-uomo.org

[3] M. Quinn and P. Babb. Patterns and trends in prostate cancer
incidence, survival, prevalence and mortality. Part I: international
comparisons. 2002. BJU International. Volume 90: Issue 2; Pages 162 -173

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For further information please contact: Sarah Stanmore, Tonic Life Communications, sarah.stanmore at toniclc.com, +44(0)207-798-9906