Us -Too! Brampton’s Next General Meeting will be held on TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2006

We invite all members to our Annual Christmas Social & Pot Luck Dinner.  Just kick back, relax, chat, have a buffet meal, listen to light music and make it a fun evening! Our year-end Lucky Draw will be held as usual. It's your opportunity to win great prizes, while making a worthwhile contribution to our cause! Don't forget to bring along your favorite recipe!

See you all there on:  Tuesday, Dec 12, 2006,  7:00-9:00 PM

If anyone is able to contribute any prizes to our Lucky Draw, please contact Fred Norris. Last minute additions are always welcome, so you can bring something with you if you like.

Fred Norris,  Chairman,  905-877-8092  or e-mail:   fred.norris@ustoo-brampton.com
We look forward to seeing you in Room #2, The Terry Miller Recreation Center, 1295 Williams Parkway at the southwest corner of Williams Parkway & Bramalea Road. Parking is free.

Last Meeting - NOVEMBER 14, 2006 – Speaker - DR.PADRAIG WARDE

"The Canadian Prostate Cancer Research Initiative- A Collaboration Between Survivors and Researchers"

The hall was impressively packed with an attentive audience of over 70 members, wives and guests. In this versatile talk Dr. Warde presented a perspective on the Canadian Prostate Cancer Research Initiative[CPCRI] from its historical beginnings in 1997, to the extent and scope of its present alliances, funding of research programs, workshops, its mission and future vision.

Dr. Warde recapped the emergence of the alliance as a forum bringing together various professionals, survivors and lay people to determine what needed to be done. At that early stage only tiny 'amounts of money' were being invested in Prostate Cancer Research compared to millions being invested in other cancers.  The initiative marked a significant event in Canada towards investments in Prostate Cancer Research. From 1999 onwards 3 key gaps were identified for the CPCRI to address- Funding for High Risk Innovative Research, Boosting Funding Capacity for Collaborative Research and Informatics.

 Dr. Warde covered these areas in detail illustrating his talk with examples of many 'ideas', 'innovations' and 'techniques' that had emerged as well as areas under current investigation for further development. He touched upon how numerous workshops were being conducted citing the example of the Bio-Marker workshop being kicked off last year with 80 - 100 researchers from across Canada working together. Dr Warde concluded his talk with the mandate ahead for the CPCRI, its future mission and vision as a national coordinating body bringing together prostate cancer research.

 Numerous questions were asked during the Question and Answer Session. Dr. Warde provided detailed answers, often augmenting his explanations with his presentation slides to facilitate understanding. This session shed further light on areas such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging [MRI] versus Computer Tomography [CT] scanning, Brachytherapy versus Cone Beam Radiation, collaborative research as a means to avoid duplication, discovery areas of research - "Transitional Research", Bio-markers, etc. All in all it was a very informative talk.

About Dr. Padraig Warde:

Dr. Warde is a Radiation Oncologist at the Princess Margaret Hospital and is a Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Toronto. His primary research interests are in clinical trials in prostate and testicular cancer. He holds the following leadership roles:

Deputy Head, Radiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Hospital
Chair, Canadian Prostate Cancer Research Initiative.
Medical Director, Clinical Research Unit, Princess Margaret Hospital
Chair, Testicular Cancer Research Program, Princess Margaret Hospital
We have extensive information on Dr. Warde’s presentation as well as those of previous monthly speakers available on our web-site:  http://www.ustoo-brampton.com

You can view slides and listen to the audio portion of many of our past speaker’s topics. Most presentations are also available on Audio Cd’s, which can be borrowed by speaking to Fred Norris or Mukul Luthra. They are also available at the Brampton Library Branches. Please take advantage of these excellent resources that are available for your use.

 2007 GUEST SPEAKERS & EVENTS

Tuesday, 9 January 2007 - A Natural Health Session by Kelly Nolan (Naturopath) and Hasina Ireland (Nutritionist)

Tuesday, 13 Feb 2007 - Open - (To be announced)

Tuesday, 13 March 2007 - Dr. Robert Bristow - will speak on new test developments in Prostate Cancer detection

Mukul Luthra,  Speaker Committee,  519-853-4075,  e-mail:  mukul.luthra@ustoo-brampton.com

A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR

As mentioned in our last general meeting, our visit with a member of the new hospital foundation was less than fruitful. Our goal was to obtain space within the new hospital to meet with affected patients and display information about UsToo! Brampton and Prostate Cancer in general. Their goal, unfortunately, was to raise money at our expense and maybe put our name on the back of a chair. We hope to have better luck with a member of the hospital administration sometime in the future.

 Fred Norris,  Chairman,  905-877-8092,  e-mail:   fred.norris@ustoo-brampton.com

 RECENTLY DIAGNOSED?  Contact Us Too! Brampton

If you have been recently diagnosed with prostate cancer and would like to talk to someone who has been there, please call ahead and we will arrange to meet you at a convenient time and place. Alternatively, come early to one of our monthly meetings and inform the front desk of your arrival. One of our counselors will welcome you and listen to your concerns.
Our monthly meetings are held on the 2nd TUESDAY of each month except July & August but we accept calls all through the year. Family members or friends and supporters are welcome!
There is no obligation to join anything. We have been there and we think we can help you deal with this very difficult period in your life. If you would like our support, please call any one of the following to obtain meeting dates and locations:

 John Sleath,  Awareness Coordinator,  905-456-9943,  e-mail:   john.sleath@ustoo-brampton.com

Sean Butterly,  Counseling Associate,  905-454-4237

Fred Norris,  Chairman,  905-877-8092,  e-mail:   fred.norris@ustoo-brampton.com

 Un-Finance

 "Tis the season to be jolly, fah lah lah lah lah lah lah lah lah!".

But wait a minute, let's think. What are we to be jolly or merry about, after all, we should have a reason, otherwise it is meaningless.  Perhaps the next step then is to "Count our Blessings, while we may", so where should we start?  I think it safe to say that blessing number one is the fact that we are alive. After all, you wouldn't be reading this if you weren't.  Of course each individual among us will have different choices for number two or three, etc. and so on down our personal lists,, although I think it safe to say we would all come up with much the same things, but in a different order.

 Perhaps health is your number two, which could likely be subdivided into different categories, all of which take into account our current situation with prostate cancer, or any cancer in the family for that matter. Is there a blessing in there? There certainly is if your cancer is under control and your life expectancy is well into the future.  I rate good health as number two alright, and the fact is that our US TOO! group has been a significant factor in providing me with a good reason to live, which we all need. How come? you might ask. Well, I think I have two reasons. One, it keeps me occupied, interested in meeting other people and staying informed.  Secondly, I make great friends and find a good reason to live, which we all need. Helping others through a difficult time also provides a great sense of personal satisfaction. Hmmm... selfish of me.... perhaps.

 When the kids have left home and are making their own lives and families, it is not uncommon to get the idea you are now on the shelf or on the back burner as the saying goes, or not needed in the same way you once were. Of course, if you are still in the happy state of matrimony, then you will have someone close to care about, and who cares about you. Think about that for a moment. We all need someone to love, and to be loved in return.  And with the thought that we should strive to leave this world in better shape than we found it, what can you do to improve things?  Well, one thought could be to join your US TOO! Steering Committee. I believe we all have useful skills of one sort or another that would benefit our neighbors.

 "Seasons greetings". Tis the season to be jolly... eh.

(And have you dropped off your yearly subscription yet? It's still only $10.00... what a bargoon!).

 Gerry Brunjes,  Financial Controller,  905-791-3043,  e-mail:  gerry.brunjes@ustoo-brampton.com

Our Newest Project – Calling Car Crazy Members and Partners

It is our intention to hold a car cruise in support of Prostate Cancer Awareness and Research.  This event, to be called “Cruisin for a Cure Canada”, will be modeled on the highly successful Cruisin for a Cure created by Debbie Baker of Orange County, California. I attended the 7^th edition in Costa Mesa on September 23^rd and worked at the Testing Van on Friday night and Saturday. The statistics were amazing: 3,400+ custom, classic and special interest cars & trucks were on display, 25,000+ admission tickets were sold, $279,000 was raised for Prostate Cancer research at UCL and most importantly - 970 men received free PSA tests and/or DRE examinations.

witnessed many men dragging their friends in to be tested and as always there were still men whose wives had to do everything but give blood to get their husbands tested.  It was an amazing experience, but nobody was embarrassed and everybody KNEW why they were there. Debbie’s inspiration was to get a lot of men in one location having fun with their friends and their favourite toys and use the opportunity to introduce them to the very serious topic of Prostate Cancer.  Her results have been amazing and ours will be as well - with your help.

If you are Car Crazy or if you know others who are, come on out and get involved.

See  http://www.cruisinforacure.com/  for the California site. If you have a High Speed Internet connection, watch Debbie Baker being interviewed at the 5^th Cruisin for a Cure event in 2004 by Barry Meguiar for his Car Crazy television show at http://www.carcrazycentral.com/cc_tv.aspx?contentid=661

 Jim Dorsey,  Cruisin for a Cure Coordinator,  905-453-3038, e-mail: jim.dorsey@ustoo-brampton.com