Download June 2015 - Prostate Cancer Support Group

June 17th - ‘Members Discussion’ evening
Our guest speaker last month (Dr. Sheila Tervit) took us for a ride on the ‘emotional rollercoaster’,
describing the various emotional stages we all go through in dealing with diagnosis, treatment and the
aftermath of prostate cancer. If you missed the talk, or would like to revisit the topic, please come along to
our June 17th meeting. I’m sure we will all have our thoughts on what we heard and how it relates to our
own prostate cancer journey.
We are always ready to welcome new members to the friendly, no-pressure environment of Wellspring
Birmingham-Gilgan House. Whether you want to come once or on a regular basis, please know that the
group is there for you, ready with experience, encouragement, understanding and support. Whatever
stage of the disease you are at, there will be someone who can relate to what you are going through. We
understand that some men are reluctant to open up on a first visit and we are quite happy if you choose
just to sit and listen. The choice is yours.
All our meetings are free, drop-in, events and newcomers will be given a warm welcome. Please join us.
We do encourage wives and partners to join the men.
Remember, prostate cancer is a “couples disease”.
A new Canadian study has taken prostate cancer research further along the road to personalizing
prostate cancer medicine. Study co-leads were Dr. Robert Bristow, a clinician-scientist at Princess
Margaret Cancer Centre, and Dr. Paul Boutros, an investigator at the Ontario Institute for Cancer
Research.
The study involved molecular profiling of 74 patients with Gleason Score 7 index tumours. By carefully
analyzing the genetics of each focus of cancer within each prostate, the researchers could assign
"aggression scores" to each cancer which revealed that even small cancers can contain aggressive cells
capable of altering a patient's prognosis.
"Our research shows how prostate cancers can vary from one man to another - despite the same
pathology under the microscope - as well as how it can vary within one man who may have multiple
tumour types in his prostate," says Dr. Bristow. He goes on to say, "these sub-types may be important to
determining the response to surgery or radiotherapy between patients."
Dr. Bristow says about half of all prostate cancer patients have either C-MYC or L-MYC mutations, but
never both: "Our findings suggest we are getting closer to subtyping prostate cancer based on which
gene is present to determine a patients' disease aggression in terms of the risk of spread outside the
prostate gland at time of treatment. We hope to develop this research tool into a clinical test within three
years”.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/05/150525115936.htm
Recent additions to the list of available topics are:
Dr. Sidney Radomski presents "Incontinence and Erectile Dysfunction after Prostate Cancer Treatment".
This webinar explains what is urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction. In addition to outlining the
possible causes, diagnosis tests and treatment options for urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction
after prostate cancer treatment.
Dr. Alison Allan describes the current knowledge about metastasis and the exciting developments in
blood-based biomarker tests that may help find metastatic disease earlier and provide important
information for effective, personalized treatment of prostate cancer.
Scott Adams presents “Exercise and Prostate Cancer Survivorship: Prevention, Preservation and
Restoration”. This webinar covers:
o
Common anti-cancer therapies used to treat prostate cancer are associated with harmful
and unintended side effects.
o
Increasing evidence suggests that exercise may be effective in preventing, controlling
and reversing many of these risks and complications.
“Questions About PSA Tests?” Find out what you need to know and what Prostate Cancer Canada
recommends at
http://www.prostatecancer.ca/Prostate-Cancer/Testing-and-Diagnosis/The-PSATest#.VRc1lfnF-So
“I have Prostate Cancer – Now What?” Use the resources of Prostate Cancer Canada to help your
understanding and decision making
http://www.prostatecancer.ca/Prostate-Cancer/Care-and-Support-Post-Treatment/I-haveprostate-cancer-Now-what#.VM1FA2jF-So
For more information on Prostate Cancer Canada, please go to their website and Subscribe to the Free
Monthly e-Newsletter http://www.prostatecancer.ca/