February 2003

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" height=120 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="03f8dfe1esnpes.jpg"> <div> <B>February 2003</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Calendar"><U><B><U>Calendar</U></B></U></A><A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Calendar"><U><B> </B></U></A><B>  |   </B><A HREF="id60.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Carers Group"><U><B><U>Carers Group</U></B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Group Guidelines"><U><B>Group Guidelines</B></U></A><B>   |  </B><A HREF="id61.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Library"><U><B> </B></U></A><A HREF="id61.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Library"><U><B><U>Library</U></B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Current Newsletters"><U><B><U>Current Newsletters</U></B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id16.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Archived Newsletters"><U><B><U>Archived Newsletters</U></B></U></A><B>   |   </B><B><U>Pamphlets</U></B><B>  |  </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Northern Beaches Prostate Cancer Support"><U><B><U>Hom</U></B></U></A><B><U>e</U></B></div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=360 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="03f8dfc3.jpg"> <div> <B><U>NEWSLETTER</U></B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>No. 9. February, 2003</B></div> <bR> <div> A VERY HAPPY, HEALTHY AND PEACEFUL NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL</div> <bR> <div> <B>1. REPORT OF THE MEETING HELD ON: Tuesday, 3 December</B></div> <bR> <div> The Christmas Party was a great success. Our panel discussion was very ably chaired by Mr Con Casey from the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia. Con introduced the panel members, each of whom had been a speaker earlier in the year: Dr Richard Foster (Radiation Therapy), Professor Miles Little and Ms Emma-Jane Sayers (Surviving Cancer) and, in addition, Ms Maree McCausland, Social Worker with the Palliative Care Unit. Apologies were received from Dr Michael Lowy (Australian Centre for Sexual Health) and Dr Ken Vaux, Urologist. Each of the panel members was invited to speak for about five minutes and responses were invited from the floor.</div> <bR> <div> Professor Little began by recounting that the problems faced by a person after he or she had been diagnosed with cancer were things not much talked about. It was not expected that problems would be met, but there were a whole raft common to all types of cancers, plus some specific to particular cancers, such as the resultant effects of surgery with prostate cancer, both physical and psycho-social. Cancer survivors also felt an element of discrimination, irrespective of the age of the patient or the type of cancer. These problems were associated with the Cancer Survival State (CASS), and they fall into the following categories:<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> * feeling that the diagnosis sticks permanently,<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> * feeling that your body has let you down suddenly, and an awareness of your own mortality and finiteness becomes an issue, and<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> * the difficulty of communicating the nature of the cancer experience, of getting this across to others.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> Most cancer patients experience one or more of these feelings at some stage and in some degree. They are expected to have new insights into life, and the obligation imposed on them to share it with others, especially with members of the direct family, can be trying. One in three cancer sufferers will go on reporting aspects of post cancer distress; one in 20 to the extent of needing psychiatric help. Distress of some kind is quite normal.</div> <bR> <div> Maree McCausland reminded the Group that Palliative Care was now under new management at Mona Vale Hospital. Her own role is to go out to see families in the community which have become connected with Palliative Care either through illness or bereavement. For some it is confronting to think about palliative care. It is a service that is wider than some might expect, in that it supports not only patients, but families and those in the final stages of life.</div> <bR> <div> As a social worker, Maree is interested in the psycho-social issues confronting people affected by cancer. She tends to see more females, and so she is pleased to have the opportunity to talk to a group of men, - to find out what has and what hasn't worked for you. On the whole, women find talking about their problems easy; men seem to find it somewhat harder. Perhaps it is the syndrome: 'Women are from Venus; men are from Mars'!</div> <bR> <div> Con Casey spoke of the work of the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, which is all voluntary and, consequently, tends to be slow moving. Its activities include advocacy with governments and support for men with prostate cancer.</div> <bR> <div> A Group member from the floor mentioned that the oncological support he had experienced with bowel cancer was less than desired. He found himself in the position of having to ask questions rather than being told results. During the year of chemotherapy which followed, he was kept reminded of the fact that he had a 50% chance of survival. He felt he needed much more in the way of support and sympathy.</div> <div> Professor Miles Little reported an experiment in which doctors were filmed during their consultations with patients, the aim being to point out to doctors things that were happening that they were not aware of. The result was that while the doctors were doing all the right things technically, they were overlooking the emotional impact on patients and their need for support.</div> <bR> <div> Maree McCausland mentioned that psycho-social issues were emphasised when medical students came to the Palliative Care Unit at the Hospital.</div> <bR> <div> Con Casey pointed out that some patients want to know more about their conditions than others. The question is: How do you cope with both kinds? Miles Little suggested that one way was to ask the patient the question: How much do you want to know? Emma Jane Sayers suggested that some patients are not prepared to take in information given to them in the early stages. Questions come up later after they have gone through their treatment.</div> <bR> <div> Dr Richard Foster said that the place of radiotherapy is sometimes considered controversial. It has a role in the early stages and also in the late stages of prostate cancer, especially for the relief of pain when the cancer spreads to the bones. He works with others specialists in the field; for example, with urologists and oncologists. An advantage for radiation therapists is that their meeting with patients comes at the end of the line, after the patient has been through the initial shock and has come to terms with the fact of cancer. He and the patient are able to build on previous interviews. The radiation therapist is in the position of recommending a course of action, rather than leaving the patient to make up his own mind. The main thing is having time to reflect after the initial visit. Dr Foster tries to give the basics of the situation: the potential benefits and the potential risks. He makes a video available, as well as written information. It is important to link with other specialist treatments, such as surgery and hormone therapy.</div> <bR> <div> It is a good idea to have follow up visits with the specialist, but not too often, Richard Foster continued. He admitted that he doesn't use the general practitioner enough as an ongoing part of the follow up team. The GP is of benefit in that he or she deals with long term follow up and palliative care. The ongoing relationship is useful if there is a relapse, including relapse after surgery.</div> <bR> <div> In response to a question about research into the effectiveness of treatments for prostate cancer, Dr Foster said that there was a research project under way at the San. It began as an investigation of 1400 men, but this has been expanded to 2200 men at an additional cost of $60,000. There was a problem getting research done to the same extent as it has been done for breast cancer. As an example, there has been the recent suggestion of the importance of selenium and lycopene in the diet as preventatives. We need to find out more, but not enough is being done systematically.</div> <bR> <div> Maree McCausland raised the question of whether there was a role for the Social Worker once a man has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. One of the audience replied that there was: both at diagnosis and during treatment there was a need for a point of contact. Suddenly the individual is faced with his mortality. Where does he go for help and information. He needs to comprehend what is available. Hence the value of a Support Group, - though it is not the only source of help. One needs to get information also to the members of one's family, and the speaker gave the example of his own experience with his family. They thought he would be upset if they talked to him about his cancer. Eventually he was able to open up a family discussion which was very helpful. However, the effectiveness of this kind of discussion will vary with different families. He also gave the example of a doctor who contacted all the male members of the family of a man who had been diagnosed with prostate cancer so as to point out what their risk might be, and what action they might want to take.</div> <bR> <div> The speaker described himself as a positive thinker and, because of this, he felt that the quality of his life was better, though he did not<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> believe it had any effect on the outcome of his illness. But he did believe in the value of encouraging support from others to bolster him. However, we are all different.</div> <bR> <div> Miles Little emphasised that our own experiences are all perfectly valid. Recognising the need for help is fine, and our needs are unique and individual to us.</div> <bR> <div> Following the meeting, we were treated to an excellent assortment of tempting refreshments provided by Jean Pierre Catering.</div> <bR> <div> <B>2. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT</B></div> <bR> <div> The Northern Beaches Prostate Cancer Support Group has received a Certificate of Appreciation from the NSW Cancer Council for its support at the Relay for Life rally at Brookvale Oval in November last year. This is now proudly displayed in the Palliative Care Cottage at Mona Vale Hospital. We are always ready and willing to participate in any activities in aid of prostate or other cancers.</div> <bR> <div> <B>3. WEBSITES</B></div> <bR> <div> If you surf the Internet, you will have come across a pretty extensive list of websites to do with prostate cancer. If you have found any that strike you as particularly helpful, please give us a ring (on 9918 9358) or send us an e-mail (conroyjs@bigpond.com) so that we can pass the information on to others in the group.</div> <bR> <div> <B>4. REMINDERS:</B></div> <bR> <div> Program of Monthly Meetings for 2003. To be held at 6.30 pm on the first Tuesday of each month in the Palliative Care Cottage, Mona Vale Hospital. All friends, partners, carers, and family are welcome at all our meetings. (Refreshments will be served.)<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> (See next page)</div> <bR> <div> 4 February Ms Gina Growden (The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia): The Foundation: What It Is and How It Serves You</div> <bR> <div> 4 March David Smith (NSW Cancer Council): Statistics Talk: The Epidemiology of Prostate Cancer</div> <bR> <div> 1 April Dr Michael Izard (Radiation Oncologist, The Mater Hospital): Brachytherapy</div> <bR> <div> 6 May Dr Philip Stricker (Urologist, St Vincent's Hospital): Update on Diagnosis: PSA, Gleason and All That</div> <bR> <div> 3 June Dr Peter Brennan (Pittwater Family Practice): Maintaining Contact with Your GP</div> <bR> <div> 1 July Treatment Options</div> <bR> <div> 5 August Physical Fitness - Keeping a Healthy Body</div> <bR> <div> 2 September Complementary Therapies</div> <bR> <div> 7 October Partners, Relationships and Intimacy</div> <bR> <div> 4 November Gene Therapy</div> <bR> <div> 2 December Christmas Party</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>YOUR CONTACT NUMBERS</B></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="664" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 116 WIDTH="357"><div> <U>Program Co-ordinator</U> </div> <bR> <div> Dr Peter Moore </div> <div> Northern Beaches Palliative Care<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> 9997 3555 </div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="296"><div> <U>Group Leader</U></div> <bR> <div> John Conroy<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> 9918 9358<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="mailto:conroyjs@bigpond.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:conroyjs@bigpond.com"><U><U>conroyjs@bigpond.com</U></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 89 ><NOBR><div> <U>NSW Cancer Council Cancer Support Helpline</U></div> <bR> <div> 13 11 20<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <U>Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia</U></div> <bR> <div> 1800 220 099</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>