OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE HELD AT 7:00 P.M. ON TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 2006
“Dietary Change for Cancer Risk Reduction” by member favorite Tanya Giaquinto, Member of the Ontario College of Dietitians and Dietitians of Canada.
Tanya will present nutrition information based on current studies of prostate cancer and will focus on the roles of:
1. Dietary fat.
2. Vitamins and minerals
3. Soy
4. Antioxidants and Phytonutrients
The presentation will conclude with some simple meal plans and tips that will provide you with the tools to eat well to lower cancer risk and feel great!
We have already posted questions to Tanya from members asking about unsaturated fats, flax seed, Selenium and Boron and we hope that she will provide us with information on these areas.
Please send your own questions on nutrition for Tanya to: 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.
 

FEBRUARY 14, 2006 "PROSTATE CANCER IS NOT JUST A MAN'S DISEASE"
Irene Lange-Mechlen's talk was attended by around 45 members, spouses and guests who listened to her relate her personal experiences in dealing with the tragic loss of her husband from Prostate Cancer. She described, emotionally at times, the challenges and trials the couple faced as they battled the cancer through its various stages. These profound personal experiences led to her taking up a significant role in the fight against Prostate Cancer. Irene is a founding board member of the Prostate Cancer Research Foundation of Canada and has been helping the fight for this cause.
Irene shared her tragic experience and the lessons to be learned from it so that others may be better prepared to face such situations. She stressed the need for men diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer to document directives such as a Living Will. She advised women to learn how to deal with financial and other institutions and to understand the applicable laws.
Irene kindly brought along Materials kits containing useful information and distributed them to the members.
Irene urged men (and women) to take up the fight against Prostate Cancer in a more proactive manner much as women had done for Breast Cancer. Following the talk the group took a break for refreshments and the session resumed for Questions and Answers. Irene responded to several questions from the audience and participated in discussions on a variety of related topics such a 'Living Will' and the Funding of Research for Prostate cancer.
Irene is very active with the Prostate Cancer Research Foundation of Canada, writing a column on their web site, and is a lively advocate with healthcare organizations, government and the public for prostate cancer awareness and public funding of prostate cancer research.
She invites anybody with a question "about prostate cancer or how it affects men and their families" to contact her at:
http://www.prostatecancer.ca/english/living/askirene/index.html or by telephoning her at (416) 480-5093.
Our thanks to Irene Lange - Mechlen for her frank and touching talk and open discussion with our group!

A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
Every month I read our Treasurer's input to the Newsletter and I marvel at the way he gets his point across. As Chairman I am expected to be more direct and forceful in overseeing the operation of Us Too! Brampton.
The last two Steering Committee meetings have been sparsely attended for various reasons, which inevitably puts a greater load on those who can attend. Every monthly meeting is carefully thought out and planned with certain objectives in mind. Sometimes these meetings do not meet our expectations, especially when too few members attend.
Many times I have spoken of our need for volunteers, particularly when things go awry. Late on the afternoon of the February 14 General Meeting we learned that Tilly Netherton, our beloved refreshment lady, was unable to attend due to an injury. I might point out at this stage that Tilly does more than "just" look after the refreshments at the Monthly Meetings. Her input over the years has been most valuable, first as the heart of Dr. David Evans's office and then as a member of Us Too! after her "retirement".
But our frailty shines through and it points to the need for more volunteers to back us up in such situations. Our many thanks to Karen and Ken Gratton, who stepped forward to help pick up the load on February 14.
Regretfully, we on the Steering Committee are not getting any younger! If you agree that this support group serves a useful function and if you wish to keep it going then we are going to need newcomers and especially younger newcomers to carry the torch. There are many of you that could be of assistance right now. Please step forward!
Fred Norris, Chairman, 905-877-8092 or e-mail fred.norris@ustoo-brampton.com .

2005-2006 GUEST SPEAKERS & EVENTS
Future Speakers - We have an exciting line up of speakers and events coming up for 2006. Please watch for announcements. Your suggestions are always welcome!
Mukul Luthra, Speaker Committee, 519-853-4075, e-mail mukul.luthra@ustoo-brampton.com .

NEW MEMBER MEETINGS NOW ONE-ON-ONE INITIAL COUNSELING
Anybody newly diagnosed with PCa and their partners, if possible, can arrange to meet privately with Bob Vandrish or a member of his committee at a convenient time and location.
Contact: Bob Vandrish, New Member Coordinator at 905-791-5595 e-mail bob.vandrish@ustoo-brampton.com , Sean Butterly, Special Consultant at 905-454-4237 or Fred Norris, Chairman, at 905-877-8092 e-mail fred.norris@ustoo-brampton.com .

FINANCE
"All the world is mad, but me and thee, ... and even thee's a little touched". This was a favorite saying of my mother's, and by George, the longer I live, the greater the truth I find in it. Let's examine this odd little phrase for a moment, and make of it what we will. (There I go speaking in nineteenth century English again. Ah well ).
"All the world is mad". The opening five words say a heck of a lot, don't you think? Just take a look around for a few moments. Have you tried driving on the 401 lately, during rush hour? Better still the 407; you know, that expressway that we tax payers paid to build, and now pay through the nose to use... (and now do not even own).
Look a bit deeper now at the war (sorry, I mean peace) in Iraq. (Well, there was a war .... wasn't there ?).
How about the Tsunami in the south seas, or the hurricane that devastated New Orleans? I'm not thinking so much about Nature's phenomena, but the political squabbles dealing with the aftermath.
Palestine wants to drive out Israel. Millions are starving in Africa. Watch out for the bird flu. Commercialism. TV quality (what a great pity...could be so great for public education). And Government foot dragging. I almost forgot to mention 'No Medal' for Canada in men's hockey in the Olympics. Of course, that's only the tip of the iceberg. You can likely think of lots more madness in the world.
"But me and Thee" suggests that you and I are the only sane people left. How true, but it goes on to say that I have my doubts about you.
What it come down to, then, is that the speaker of the phrase is the only sane person left in the world. I might believe that except for one thing: Us Too! Brampton.
I know that there are those among us who will agree that this group has saved our/your personal sanity, one way or another. And it's not any one particular person or speaker, but just being able to sit and talk with a group of people who have faced the same problems, and survived. Here then is proof that much adversity can be overcome with enough support and determination.
However, it goes without saying (as the saying goes), that the group needs your support to survive.
And I believe that the group must survive for the benefit of our fellow survivors - current and future - in this crazy world. Without your support, I would indeed believe that "The World is Mad".
Anyway, I see a glimmer of hope: 83% of you have paid your yearly $10 subscription. I thank you. But where are the remaining 17% in this Mad World?
Don't tell me they have gone in search of another world? I wouldn't be surprised.
Sincerely, Gerry Brunjes, Finance, 905-791-3043, e-mail gerry.brunjes@ustoo-brampton.com .

AWARENESS
On Wednesday, March 15, Fred Norris along with Michelle Karker, the new Unit Manager at the Brampton/Caledon/Georgetown/Dufferin County Unit of the Canadian Cancer Society will speak about Prostate Cancer at a health presentation sponsored by the Canadian Auto Workers Retirees. This meeting will be held at 10 a.m. at the Chris Gibson Recreation Centre. It is our hope that this session will lead to future presentations to the C.A.W. General Membership, which includes many men in their 40's, 50's and 60's - prime candidates for Prostate Cancer.
Members who would like to volunteer to assist in our community awareness efforts should contact: Ian Smith, Awareness Coordinator, 905-454-3880, or e-mail ian.smith@ustoo-brampton.com or Fred Norris, Chairman, 905-877-8092 or e-mail fred.norris@ustoo-brampton.com .