OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE HELD AT 7:00 P.M. ON TUESDAY, MAY 9, 2006
“The Management of Post-Prostatectomy Incontinence” by Dr. Jonathan Giddens.
Dr. Giddens will discuss the problems, challenges and remedial measures related to incontinence following the surgical removal of the prostate. The talk will focus on the male sling and the artificial urinary sphincter. An 11-minute patient-oriented video created for Us Too! by AMS will also be screened as part of Dr. Giddens' talk.
If you have any questions for Dr. Giddens please send them 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.
 

APRIL 11, 2006 "EARLY DETECTION & MANAGEMENT of PROSTATE CANCER"
Around 63 members, wives and guests attended this informative Power Point presentation conducted by Dr. Mojtaba Beheshti. The initial part of the presentation provided a description of the Prostate gland and its function, the symptoms related to prostate disease and data pertaining to incidence rates. Coming specifically to Prostate cancer, Dr. Beheshti explained that “Early stages may have no symptoms”.
Moving further into the role of the PSA test in early detection he discussed its nominal value while dwelling in-depth on many of the myths and controversies surrounding PSA testing. He talked about the challenges in treating prostate cancer, discussing many of the treatment options, their outcomes and cautioning on possible 'over treatment' scenarios.
In the next part of his talk Dr. Beheshti described 'Clinically Insignificant' cancer, the problems with 'watchful waiting', the follow-up of patients on 'active surveillance', the associated 'decision' factors and also the criteria defining 'significant progression'.
Dr. Beheshti concluded his talk with a discussion on the different stages of prostate cancer and disease management and the curability of 'good risk' patients.
The talk was followed by an interesting and interactive Question and Answer session with Dr. Beheshti responding in depth to the many questions and concerns posed by our members. Overall it was a very informative evening for everyone.
On behalf of the group we thank Dr. Beheshti for a very informative presentation and for his continuing support of Us Too! Brampton..
SLIDES & AUDIO DOWNLOADS: The full slide presentation made by Dr. Beheshti is available at this URL: http:// www.ustoo-brampton.com/earlydetection.pdf The Audio recording of his talk can be downloaded from: http://www.ustoo-brampton.com/Audiostreams/beheshti/earlydetectiontalk.rm
and the Question and Answer session from: http://www.ustoo-brampton.com/Audiostreams/beheshti/earlydetectionqa.rm
 

A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
It was very gratifying to find the number of volunteers that have stepped up to the plate. Each and every one will lighten the load that was being carried and the tension it created when something went awry.
As mentioned at the April meeting we have implemented a suggestion box that will be located on the treasurer's table during each Monthly Meeting. Feel free to tell us if you wish to see changes to the composition of the meetings, tell us what speakers you would like to hear.
Remember that we are not medical professionals; we are a support group preaching awareness and aiding the newly diagnosed in their decision-making by suggesting all the available options.
Having said that, there is nothing stopping us from changing our meeting format occasionally. I look forward to hearing from you.
Fred Norris, Chairman, 905-877-8092 or e-mail: fred.norris@ustoo-brampton.com

2005-2006 GUEST SPEAKERS & EVENTS
Tuesday, June 13, 2006 – Summer closing Pot Luck and Social, hopefully with some live entertainment!
Monday, June 19, 2006 - The 6th Annual Us Too! Charity Golf Tournament will be held at the Acton Golf Club.
Friday, June 23, 2006 - The 2006 Relay for Life will start Friday evening and run overnight to Saturday morning at The Brampton Fairgrounds.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006 - Arlene Dalton will conduct a session on the health benefits of Yoga. .
Tuesday, November 14, 2006 - Dr. Padraig Warde (Topic to Be Announced).
Future Speakers - Your suggestions and recommendations for future speakers 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
or Sean Butterly, Special Consultant at 905-454-4237
or Fred Norris, Chairman, at 905-877-8092 e-mail: fred.norris@ustoo-brampton.com

6th ANNUAL CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT - MONDAY, JUNE 19, 2006
Where: Acton Golf Club
When: Monday, June 19th
Register: 8 a.m.
Tee Time: 9 a.m.
Format: Shotgun Scramble
For More Information Contact the Coordinator or any member of our Golf Committee:
Morris Rambout, 905-793-8843
Sean Butterly, 905-454-4237
Jack Dainton, 905-793-0205
Fred Norris, 905-877-8092
As always, we are actively searching for prizes. If you have any suggestions, please contact me or any of the Committee Members.
Peter Barhydt, Golf Coordinator, 905-838-3265, e-mail: peter.barhydt@ustoo-brampton.com

CANADIAN CANCER SOCIETY 'RELAY FOR LIFE' - FRIDAY, JUNE 23 to SATURDAY, JUNE 24, 2006
The 2006 edition of the Relay for Life will once again be held at the Brampton Fairgrounds, 12942 Heart Lake Road between Mayfield Road and Old School Road.
Registration opens at 6 p.m. on Friday evening; Opening Ceremonies start at 7 p.m. and Closing Ceremonies at 7 a.m. Saturday morning.
Even if you are not interested in walking in the Relay, please join us for the Survivors' Reception at 5 p.m. on Friday, stay for the Opening Ceremonies and then take the Survivors' Victory Lap with your fellow survivors. You deserve it!
You can also purchase Luminaries for $5 each to honour those who have succumbed to Cancer or who continue to fight it.
Finally, you can join Tilly Netherton and volunteer to assist with the operation of the Relay for Life.
I will have all necessary forms with me at the May Monthly Meeting.
In the meantime, please go to the Canadian Cancer Society's web site for more information. You can register to join our team, to join the Victory Lap or to pledge to the Us Too! Brampton Team #83 at: http://www.cancer.ca

Click on the Canadian Cancer Society Relay For Life link in the lower left corner.
For previous team members who want to register on line, please do so. You will be charged $10, but Sue Scarfone at the C.C.S will arrange to issue a credit to your credit card. I am hoping that all available walkers from prior teams will join us again this year: Reg Ballam, Bill Blance, Kenneth Clarke, Frank Connolly, Michael Loughnan, Mukul Luthra, Tilly Netherton, Denis Paris and Ian Smith. For some reason, Reg recently chose to move to "Winterpeg", but maybe he will come to his senses and move back soon!
If you wish to join our team, please don't be shy. Go on line or see me at the meeting. Your participation will be most welcome.
Jim Dorsey, Us Too! Brampton Team #83 Captain, 905-453-3038, e-mail: jim.dorsey@ustoo-brampton.com

(UN)FINANCE
When I was a boy in school, they tried to teach me things that I resisted learning almost with a passion. My report card was something I didn't want my parents to see, but of course they did, and what normally followed I will leave to your imagination.
My biggest problem was languages. I even had trouble with English, my mother tongue so to speak, and as for French and Latin, well...enough said.
Hey! I still remember some Latin: Tempus Fugit. So there.
It is a bit of a mystery to me why I should remember those two words, or is it?.
So, Tempus Fugit, or in our language " Time flies" has stuck with me for over sixty years. Why?.
You might be thinking right now that this is not the time to be discussing my childhood problems, certainly not in this newsletter, but bear with me a moment, and perhaps I will get the point across, which is of course, "Do what is needed now; tomorrow never comes".
I can say with certainty that given the opportunity, there are things in your life you would change. In every case change for the better, but of course that is as we say "After the Fact", and that's that. In my case, I would become a famous violinist, but I didn't like the violin lessons as a child... I wanted the piano.
Today is another era for me. "Let your conscience be your guide" mixed with a little "Think it through", is probably my guiding light these days. Like you, I don't always win, so I find "Compromise" is also often brought into the mix.
Let's see. You have lived a life of hard knocks, or perhaps I should say, learned a lot the hard way in your time on earth so far. Haven't we all?! This means that you have "Experience", a thing which I might add is only gained by living a life of "Doing things". You know what I mean.
Now. What are you going to do with all the "Experience " you have?. Take it into the next world with you?.
I have a suggestion for you. Give some of your experience to Us Too! NOW. It doesn't cost you a thing, and it will give you the satisfaction of knowing that you are doing something for posterity, as well as bring you some new friends. Remember ..... "Tempus Fugit".
Sincerely, Gerry Brunjes, Finance, 905-791-3043, e-mail: gerry.brunjes@ustoo-brampton.com

AWARENESS CHALLENGE
Us Too! Brampton has sponsored PSA clinics in an attempt to raise public awareness of the importance of initial PSA testing in middle-aged men. The last clinic at Shoppers World in September 2005 produced similar useful though limited results as did the first event held at Bramalea City Centre two years ago. Unfortunately we are limited in how often we can hold clinics by the availability of space at the malls.
There is another option. It is well known in the publicity business that "word of mouth" is one of the most effective means of advertising both in a positive and in a negative sense. Naturally I shall focus only on the positive! Since we are "survivors" we know and understand the nature of our individual treatments. And we all come into daily contact with other people that give each of us the opportunity for casual conversation.
Now for the challenge. I am suggesting that each member of the group, yes, every on of our 150 or so members, take it upon himself to become much more proactive in raising awareness of prostate cancer. This would take the form of initiating conversations when the timing is "right," with anyone with whom you come into contact as you go about your daily business. Of course you must use your own judgment to decide when there is an appropriate opportunity for a casual conversation starting with an enquiry such as, "May I ask a man-to-man type question?" leading to, "Have you had a PSA test?"
From my own experience, such enquiries have more often than not produced a positive response leading to a conversation about the importance of an initial PSA test. I have several recent examples: a 57-year old man who seemed to know very little about the prostate gland and its associated problems and a black worker approaching his 40th birthday. On both occasions my "targets" welcomed the conversation. There have been refusals at other times but that is to be expected.
To emphasize my earlier statement about word-of-mouth advertising, we could do much more to increase awareness by initiating such conversations than by relying on PSA clinics. We all have daily contact with many other persons. Use those opportunities to "spread the word". Will you accept the challenge?
Ian Smith, Awareness Coordinator, 905-454-3880, e-mail: ian.smith@ustoo-brampton.com