Canada has over 60 Prostate Cancer Support Groups that meet once a month. This Richmond group in British Columbia is founded in 2013 by volunteers and focused on providing help to Chinese-speaking men, but everyone is welcome. We speak English, Cantonese and Mandarin, meet on the second Thursday of every month from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at the Seniors Centre of Minoru Centre for Active Living (7191 Granville Avenue, Richmond, BC V6Y 1N9 Multipurpose Room 1 (1033)). Join us for the professional presentation and talk to other men and family members who have been dealing with prostate cancer for weeks, months or even years.

No registration is required and all ages are welcome. Please swipe your Facility Pass ($36/year for seniors 55+ or spouses) or pay a $5 drop-in fee at the front desk when arriving for each session.

If you want to chat one on one with a survivor, you may drop in our walking club. The Richmond Blue Walkers walk 5-10 km on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 am-11 am, along the beautiful river dykes and parks in Richmond (Walk in the Richmond Shopping Centre during the rainy days or cold seasons). Click here for the schedule or contact Daniel Leung at 604-836-6423 for the locations and meeting places.

The Prostate Cancer Foundation Canada accepts donations online, please go to http://prostatecanada.ca/ 捐款前列腺癌基金會請到 http://prostatecanada.ca/

此支援小組乃義工組織,我們講英語普通話廣東話幫助您了解良性前列腺疾病與前列腺癌的病徵預防治療康復與最新醫療硏究等資訊每月第二個星期四下午6:30-8:30在「明納健康活動中心」的長者中心多用途活動室1 (1033)

每次都需要在前台的會員證(55歲以上長者年費$36),也可以付$5的單次場地費

列治文前列腺癌友步行團「藍天健行」每週二和週四早上9時至11時沿著美麗的河堤和公園散步在下雨天或寒冷季節步行於列治文購物中心)。點擊查詢活動更新 打電話604-836-6423 (Daniel)

This blog is provided as a public service. Any persons using the information or documents provided on the blog do so at their own risk.

You are advised to seek professional services from licensed physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists and health care professionals, if and when necessary.

Monday, December 7, 2015

前列腺癌基金會通訊 Newsletter from Prostate Cancer Foundation BC


holiday header
Why is Prostate Cancer Foundation BC
 important to me?
This holiday season as we look around us and see so much worry and devastation in our world, we can't help but feel saddened.  But for every sad story we like to think that there are happy endings.  At Prostate Cancer Foundation BC we continue to strive to make the lives of men and their families better, longer and healthier.

To see how we are doing we asked a few people:
"How has the Foundation has helped you?"
  • "The Foundation has sponsored many activities and programs that have helped to promote awareness and provide access to speakers and current information on living with prostate cancer."
  • "The Foundation has connected me to many others living with prostate cancer throughout BC and across Canada, and provided a focus for my volunteer service to the prostate cancer cause of research, education & awareness and its community of support groups."
"How important is my support group to me?"
  • "While a ton of prostate cancer information is available on the internet, one doesn't initially know what is most relevant.  Meeting others in a Support Group enabled good engagement with and learning from those who have travelled the prostate cancer road ahead of me, and now to those seeking my own story experience helping them to move forward, and not be alone in their search for proper treatment and dealing with side effects.  I have also learned much from good topics & speakers and the discussion that followed."
  • "Support groups I have been involved with have provided an opportunity to obtain, share and weigh the benefits of information relevant to my situation."
"What was your prostate cancer diagnosis like?"
  •  "The words "you have a positive biopsy for prostate cancer" was a sudden wake-up call & life changing moment.  I knew little about how prostate cancer would affect me so set out on an aggressive learning curve, as my first urologist provided little help.  I quickly found other prostate cancer survivors guiding me to seek good treatment options, my confidence returned & I was able to move forward."
"Have new treatments helped you in any way?"
  •   "Hearing from others that 'if you are to have prostate cancer, being in Vancouver is the best place to have it" with the world class treatment and research available here.  I knew my treatment, a prostatectomy , was a very good option although other treatment options  also benefited from leading edge skills and research."
  •  "'New', intervention, diagnostic, and treatment procedures available 10 years ago when I was diagnosed procedures provided important 'alternatives' for me.Funding raised and provided by the foundation helped make them available and are now contributing to the conversion of prostate to a chronic manageable disease."
The value of prostate cancer support groups...one man's story!

"In April 2006, my PSA was elevated, in fact, it had doubled in two years. So my GP called me in and said that I could have a biopsy right away or wait a couple of months and have another PSA test just to insure that it was correct. Naturally I took the easy way out, but two months later it was a little higher. So I had a biopsy and I was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer.
That C word is really devastating and while I took it as quite shock my wife took it a lot harder. I just said we will do what we have to do! At the time I was not at all familiar with the Prostate gland and PCa. So I did a lot of research. My PSA had doubled, but it was still pretty low, so my GP and Urologist both said that I could go on a Watchful waiting program. That was a bit of a relief as I wouldn't have to do anything, (except lie in bed and think that there is cancer growing in my body!).
A friend told me about Cancer Connections, you would call a toll free number and give them your details and they would have patients who had different treatments call and talk to you. So one man had external radiation, another brachytherapy and another nerve sparing surgery, it turned out that they were all happy with the decision that they had made. So while they did give me a lot of information, it still didn't make it easier to make a decision.
I did a lot more research on the possible treatments, side effects, etc. Then I heard that there was a PC Support group meeting in our neighbouring town. So I attended one night. I had talked to some very good Doctors, who had a lot of education, but had never personally experienced PCa and had to make a decision, so it was very useful to me to talk to other men that were going on the same journey as me. It was interesting to hear how they all made their decision whatever it was.
But the speaker that night was a local urologist and he spoke about a Patient that he had seen that week that fit my description exactly. He was 61 years old with very similar PSA and Gleason scores. That patient was thinking about going on watchful waiting, and the Urologist said "What are you waiting for? The cancer is not going to go away! You are only 61 years old and have a lot of living left to do. If you were 81 years old that might be a consideration.
When I got home that night, I told my wife that I wanted to have nerve sparing surgery. At that time our local Urologist was not doing nerve sparing surgery, so referred me to one of the top urologists in North America at the Prostate Centre and within a couple of months I had the surgery, and 4 weeks later I was swinging a golf club and 6 weeks later I was playing racquetball! My urologist said that I should be a poster boy for Nerve sparing surgery. I do feel very blessed, and happy that I did attend that support group meeting to help me make the decision.  
Since then I have  been instrumental in organizing a support group locally and hopefully we can continue to raise awareness and help other newly diagnosed men. I know that a lot of men do not feel that they need any support, I think that they will find that the information that they get from other men is invaluable, so strongly encourage men recently diagnosed to attend the nearest Support group meeting."

We continue to need your help!
If you can make a donation this holiday season know that your money will go a long way in our fight against the number one cancer for men.  
Free book with donation

With every $150 or more donation to the foundation until December 25th you will receive a free copy of the new book Legacies aren't just for Dead People by Robb Lucy.
In the news!
Prostate cancer drug developed by B.C. researchers to begin trials
Clinical trials will start today for a new prostate cancer drug developed by researchers at the BC Cancer Agency and University of British Columbia.
The new medication, which took 17 years to develop, is aimed at men with the most advanced, hard-to-treat form of the disease.
Approximately 30 patients - in British Columbia, Arizona, Michigan and Washington states - will participate in the trials, which are expected to last about five years.

The new drug, called EPI-506 was developed from a compound found in a marine sponge from Papua New Guinea. It is aimed at men whose treatment for the disease has been unsuccessful, said Dr. Marianne Sadar, who developed the drug along with UBC chemistry professor Raymond Anderson.
Right now, between 70 to 80 per cent of men diagnosed with prostate cancer will be cured with surgery or radiation, Dr. Sadar said. But for the rest, these treatments have failed.

Hope for patients

"There are a lot of people that are banking that this might really help patients," Sadar said.
Sadar and Anderson discovered the compound for the new drug from the marine sponge. Anderson had a collection of sponge extracts in his lab, Sadar said.
The organisms are often used in drug research because they're made up of molecules with many drug-like properties. The compound extracted from the sponge was developed into the new drug.
Sadar said she began working on the drug in 1998.
If the clinical trials are successful, it will be up to regulators at Health Canada and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to approve the drug for use in Canada and the U.S.
"There are a lot of people that are banking that this might really help patients," Sadar said.
"Fingers are crossed. We worked so hard for 17 years."
Events happening now!
Tickets will be on sale soon!
Where your money goes!
The 2015 Research Grant Recipients

 The Board of Prostate Cancer Foundation BC standing behind the 2015 Grant Recipients.
$170,000.00 was given out November 4, 2015
was presented to The Supportive Care Program for a $25,000 grant for a Clinical Psychologist
From Raymond James Back left: Mike Todd, Sybil Verch, Seth Allen seated right Peter Kahnert. Seated left is Phil Pollock from the Supportive Care Program.

The Graham Mercer Pioneer Award
was presented to Halong Li for a $25,000 research grant.
Standing next to Foundation Past Chair and presenter Ted Butterfield is Vance and Vanessa Mercer and seated next to Halong Li is Gladys Mercer.

The Dr.Nicholas Bruchovsky Founders Award
was presented to Mani Moniri for a $25,000 research grant.
Standing is presenter Dr. Paul Rennie and seated next to Mani is Dr. Bruchovsky's daughter Kira.

Thank you!

Many thanks to the Association of BC Land Surveyors Charity Golf tournament which was held in Kamloops.
The group raised over $3,700.00 for PCFBC


Thank you!

Many thanks to all the pubs, restaurants and participants for all their support during the November Pubs for prostate campaign.

Survivor happenings!
Upcoming Webinar


Please register for Advanced Care Planning for your loved ones on Nov 19, 2015 5:00 PM PST at:
Advance care planning is a process of reflection and communication. It is a time for you to reflect on your values and wishes, and to let people know what kind of health and personal care you think you may want in the future if you become unable to consent or refuse treatment or other care. This webinar will provide information about why advance care planning is important for men with prostate cancer, and how to do advance care planning.
The purpose of this workshop is to:
1.            Provide an overview of what advance care planning (ACP) is.
2.            Foster understanding as to why ACP is important for people living with prostate cancer,
3.            Help men with prostate cancer, their partners and families learn the steps involved in the ACP process, and how to start these types of conversations,
4.            Familiarize participants with the available resources on ACP.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Prostate Cancer Foundation BC Support Group Council
The Council meets four or five times a year to plan and coordinate activities around the province.  Our meetings are usually by teleconference and at each one we try to examine the health of our groups across the province.  To that end, group leaders may get a call from one of our members asking about  meetings and membership.  But you don't have to wait for that call if you have a question, suggestion, or comment.  You can contact any of our members:
a.    Kevin Higgins  (Chair) - kevinhiggins@outlook.com
b.    Murray Gordon (vice-chair)  - amgordon@telus.net
c.    Ted Butterfield  - tbutterfield@shaw.ca
d.    Len Gross  - lengross@shaw.ca
e.    Gord Thomas   - gandmthomas@shaw.ca
f.     Eric Huffey  - eric@huffey.com
g.    Leno Zecchel  - lzecchel@shaw.ca
 
Do You Have Prostate Cancer? You Can Now Take Part in a New Research Study
During the study, you and your partner will learn about the importance of diet and lifestyle factors for prostate health.

You and your partner will participate in six cooking and nutrition classes, which will be led by a cooking expert. You will learn about foods that may slow the progression of prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers live with side effects of the treatment and changes in their personal relationships. However, nutrition can have a role in preventing or lessening some of these.

Dr. Carolyn Gotay is Principal Investigator of the study. She is Director of the Centre of Excellence in Cancer Prevention and a Professor in the School of Population and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia.

She holds the Canadian Cancer Society Chair in Cancer Primary Prevention. The Centre is a partnership between

the Canadian Cancer Society and the University of British Columbia.

For information, phone Tracey Mager at 604-822-3486, or emailcookingclass.cancerprevent@ubc.ca.

For eligibility requirements and research program details, please seehttp://cancerprevent.ca/cookingclass
Save the date!
The BC Support Group Council is once again hard at work preparing for a major workshop to be held in Vancouver in September 2016.  An email was sent out recently to ask everyone to Save the Dates of September 23, 24, 25.  If you didn't get that message, and you want to be on the list, tell us atexpandhorizons2016@gmail.com   This workshop will have a lot of information on the latest advances in patient care, and several sessions on how to make your support group better, stronger and more resilient.

SAVE THE DATE for

Prostate Cancer Supportive Care Information Sessions 2016

Wednesday January 6th, 2016 @ 530pm: 'Introduction to Primary Treatment Options' session

Wednesday January 13th, 2016 @ 4pm: 'Managing the Impact of Prostate Cancer Treatments on Sexual Function' session

Wednesday January 20th, 2016 @ 530pm: 'Introduction to Primary Treatment Options' session

Wednesday January 27th, 2016 @ 4pm: 'Adapting to Androgen Deprivation Therapy-Introductory' session

Wednesday January 27th, 2016 @ 5pm: 'Introduction to Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy' session

Wednesday March 16th, 2016 @ 6pm: 'Nutrition Advice for Prostate Cancer Patients' session

Wednesday April 20th, 2016 @ 6pm: 'Exercise for Prostate Cancer Patients' session

To register for any of these information sessions or future information sessions, please call Monita Sundar, PCSC Program Coordinator at (604) 875-4485 or emailPCSC@vch.ca
We sure could use your help!
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Do you have any time to spare.

Our many fundraising events require a lot of work and we are looking for volunteers to join our planning committees.  If you have a bit of free time and would like to help out with  the Father's Day Run or The Westcoast Motorcycle Ride to Live then please call Rhonda at 604-574-4012.  You don't have to be a rider, runner or walker, just an enthusiastic person who wants to give back!

Prostate Cancer Foundation BC | info@prostatecancerbc.ca | 604-574-4012 |www.prostatecancerbc.ca
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