OUR NEXT MEETING IS AT 7:00 P.M., TUESDAY JANUARY 13, 2004
You are cordially invited to a session with Dr. Mohammed Aslam Ibrahim, M.D.,Ch.B., F.R.C.S.(C) F.A.C.S. Dip.A.B.U. of William Osler Health Centre, Brampton. Dr. Ibrahim will open the new year by hosting an "Open Forum" and will field your questions about prostate cancer.
Here's an opportunity for you to ask Dr. Ibrahim almost anything about Prostate Cancer - and we need your questions! So please send them to Fred Norris, Chairman, (905) 877-8092 or e-mail fred.norris@ustoo-brampton.com.
Remember that we are now meeting in Room #2, The Terry Miller Recreation Center, 1295 Williams Parkway at the southwest corner of Williams Parkway & Bramalea Road, adjacent to the North Peel Secondary School Complex.
Although upstairs, the room is accessible via an elevator located across from the snack bar. Parking is ample and free.

DECEMBER 9, 2003 - CHRISTMAS SOCIAL & POT LUCK EVENING
It was party time and the mood was positively upbeat as around 70 members and guests enjoyed themselves, watched fun audiovisual presentations prepared by Mukul Luthra, and just relaxed, chatted and socialized.
Entertainment included "Us Too! Brampton - 2003 Moments", an audio visual portrait of the group's 2003 activities, a solo by Pepe Palad and other fun stuff.
Chairman Fred Norris elaborated on the group's progress and activities over the past years and remarked on the dedication of the volunteers. He acknowledged and thanked all volunteers, past and present, for their contributions and stressed the need for more members to come forth. In particular, volunteers are desperately needed to help run our Annual Charity Golf Tournament in June.
Our customary charity raffle was held with the Afghan as first prize.
The evening closed with a pot luck buffet to the accompaniment of music like Carmen Cavallaro's "Manhattan" and "You're My Everything". It was a fun evening and members had a great time.
As will be described below, a "Ladies Only" night is being planned for January 20, 2004.
Members who wish to volunteer in any capacity should contact Fred Norris, Chairman, at (905) 877-8092 or e-mail fred.norris@ustoo-brampton.com

INITIAL "PARTNERS" MEETING
Erica Dick is organizing the "Ladies Only" night mentioned above. We hope that many of our charming and energetic partners will attend this meeting and become active volunteer supporters of Us Too! Brampton.
This initial meeting will be held at the home of George and Nisha Deshpande at 14 Brookland Drive, Brampton. As you probably know, George is our Librarian, and Nisha attends virtually every meeting.
This meeting is planned for 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 20th, 2004.
For additional information, please contact Fred Norris, Chairman, at (905) 877-8092 or e-mail fred.norris@ustoo-brampton.com.

2003-2004 GUEST SPEAKERS
Speakers have now been confirmed for all of the remaining meetings of the 2003 - 2004 season:
Tuesday February 10, 2004 - Michael J. Scime, B.Sc., M.Sc, MLT will describe"PSA Methodology". (Note: Dr. John Srigley, Credit Valley Hospital, is unable to join us this evening. We will try to reschedule his presentation later this year)
Tuesday, March 9th, 2004 - Tanya Giaquinto, has become a perennial favourite of our group and will once again update us on the topic of "Nutrition" at this meeting. (Precise topic to be confirmed)
Tuesday, April 13th, 2004 - Alex Isbister will return to discuss Cancer and Its Sexual Implications.(Precise topic to be confirmed)
Tuesday, May 11th, 2004 - Arlene Dalton, who gave us an excellent yoga demonstration last year, has also agreed to an encore and will discuss "Stress Management" at our meeting.
The Speaker Committee always welcomes your suggestions for future speakers.
PLEASE NOTE: Audio CD's of many of our recent meetings are available at the Chinguacousy Branch of the Brampton Public Library and from our New Member committee.
Don Grant, Speaker Committee, (905) 793-7376 e-mail dongrantmon@sympatico.ca

NEW MEMBER MEETINGS
Paul Middleton is our New Member Coordinator.
New Member meetings are normally held on the fourth Tuesday of each month at Suite 304, 57 Mill Street.
The next scheduled meeting will be held between 6:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 27. Please be sure to phone ahead to confirm your attendance and receive complete directions to the meeting.
Please contact: Sean Butterly, Special Consultant at (905) 454-4237 or Chairman, Fred Norris, at (905) 877-8092 e-mail fred.norris@ustoo-brampton.com.

FREE P.S.A. CLINIC
Michael Dunn advises: "In your November newsletter you mentioned the free P.S.A. Clinic at the Wm. Osler Health Centre from 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. every Thursday & Friday. I wish to expand on the hours of operation. The nurse in attendance at the Clinic confirmed to me that they take P.S.A. patients only until 3:30 p.m. Patients arriving at the Clinic after 3:30 p.m. will be turned away. This 3:30 cutoff time is to ensure that all patients will be processed by 4:00 p.m. Also, pediatric needles are available to draw the blood sample. These needles leave little or no bruising." Thanks, Mike.
While bookings are not necessary, it is best to phone ahead: (905) 796-4066 extension 24010.
Patients must present a requisition from their referring physician with diagnosis included. These clinics are exclusively for cancer patients or for individuals who are suspected of having prostate cancer.
Don Grant, Member Relations, (905) 793-7376 e-mail dongrantmon@sympatico.ca

FINANCE
As mentioned in last month's Newsletter, there will not be a 'Theatre Night' this season, and now this year's Golf Tournament may not be held either. This is because those who have run the Golf Tournament in the past feel that it is up to someone else to put in the time and dedication to see them through this year.
If the Tournament is not held, then our two major sources of funds are gone and we will not be able to pursue our goal of increasing community awareness of Prostate Cancer.
Remember that last year we raised nearly $6,000 in support of the Canadian Prostate Cancer Network's 'Living Proof' campaign, which informed the general public across Canada about the importance of annual Prostate Cancer check ups.
So if you want Us Too! Brampton to keep contributing to this national effort in the interests of all Canadian men, then please climb aboard... Give Fred or myself a call!!
- Gerry Brunjes, Treasurer, (905) 791-3043, e-mail brunjes@idirect.com.

AWARENESS
"Awareness" continues to be fairly quiet; there have been no further responses from Costco or Fortino's regarding presentations at their stores. I am working with CPCN to expand distribution of their latest campaign featuring Steve "Red Green" Smith to the Family Health Care group of pharmacies across Ontario. I am hopeful that CPCN will be able to add FHC pharmacies nationwide to their distribution list.
The Brampton Public Library system has received the new flyer for New Members as well as "Living Proof" posters.
There is one presentation planned for mid-January for CAW Local 1967 members.
I am waiting for other GTA support groups to agree to participate in the March Home & Garden show, running from the 18th to the 21st of March, from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. each day. I expect to assign one group from the area to staff each day of the four-day show, . To allow for contingencies and unavoidable absences, at least eight volunteers from our group will be needed to provide staffing for the 11 hours of our day. Anyone interested in helping out, please contact me.
Ian Smith, Awareness Coordinator, (905) 454-3880, NEW e-mail iclacewood@sympatico.ca

OUR WEB SITE CONTINUES TO EVOLVE - www.ustoo-brampton.com
Check the web site frequently for new items of interest. Remember that you can download MP3 audio presentations by Dr. Robert Bristow ('It's All in Your Genes' - December 11, 2003), Dr. Richard Casey ('Clinical Trials in Prostate Cancer' - October 14, 2003 ), Dr. Stanley Flax ('Brachytherapy or Radical?' - September 9, 2003 ), Tanya Giaquinto ('Nutrition' - March 11, 2003) and Alex Isbister ('Cancer and Emotion' - February 11, 2003).
Contact Mukul Luthra, Multimedia, (905) 873-8367, e-mail wftech@stn.net.

FREE COMPUTER TRAINING!!
A reminder that we have been invited to participate in the "I3MPACT" Study by attending any or all of a series of three hands-on computer training courses to be presented at Princess Margaret Hospital :
·Introduction to Computers and Windows
·Introduction to the Internet
·Advanced Internet Searching for Prostate Cancer Patients
Joan Basiuk, the Coordinator for this project, advises that while the courses will be scheduled at certain intervals, they are willing to offer specific courses for Us Too! Brampton if we can provide enough volunteers. Timing is apparently quite flexible, but if we want to take advantage of this opportunity, we need to move quickly. You can contact Jim Dorsey at (905) 453-3038 or e-mail jdorsey@sympatico.ca.
After taking these courses, you will know how to use a Personal Computer to access the Internet to research issues that concern you and the researchers will have your opinions on this important effort to teach newly diagnosed patients and their relatives to live with Prostate Cancer and its aftermath. Please do consider taking part:
RESEARCH STUDY: ATTENTION PATIENTS WITH PROSTATE CANCER
INTERESTED IN ATTENDING AN INTERNET TRAINING COURSE?
Are you interested in volunteering for a study designed to test the course and teaching materials for an Internet training course designed for Patients with Prostate Cancer?
TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS STUDY, YOU MUST:
· Have a diagnosis of prostate cancer OR
· Be a partner/friend of a patient with prostate cancer
If you are interested in participating in this study, please call Joan Basiuk, Clinical Research Coordinator, at 416-946-4501 ext. 2282. This study is supported by a grant from the Change Foundation.

SO WHO'S WINNING THIS ONGOING BATTLE?
Round 1: A couple drove down a country road for several miles, not saying a word. An earlier discussion had led to an argument and neither of them wanted to concede their position.
As they passed a barnyard full of mules, goats, and pigs, the husband asked sarcastically, "Relatives of yours?"
" Yep," the wife replied, " In-laws!"
Round 2: A husband read an article to his wife about how many words women use a day: 30,000 to a man's 15,000.
The wife replied, "The reason has to be because we have to repeat everything to men..."
The husband responded with, "What?"
Round 3: A man said to his wife one day, "I don't know how you can be so stupid and so beautiful all at the same time."
The wife responded, "Allow me to explain: God made me beautiful so that you would be attracted to me. And she made me stupid so that I would be attracted to you!"