January 2004

<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>January 2004</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. 20. January, 2004</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> Editor: John Conroy</div> <bR> <div> <B>A HAPPY, HEALTHY AND PEACEFUL NEW YEAR TO YOU</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>1.</B> The friendly surroundings of the Palliative Care Cottage were brightened with decorations for our Christmas Party on Tuesday, 2 December. It was a great success, attended by 19 members and their partners, and guests from the Palliative Care Unit. Special thanks to Jo-Ann Steeves who did a splendid job catering a three course sit down meal, and providing the decorations. Thanks, too, and appreciation of their generosity go to the Manly-Warringah Master Builders' Association, Dee Why for providing the liquid refreshments, and to our sponsors, Hope Healthcare (North) who provided some of the food.</div> <bR> <div> <B>2.</B> <B>ZOMETA (ZOLEDRONIC ACID) FOR ADVANCED PROSTATE CANCER: UPDATE ON FEATURES AND AVAILABILITY AS AT DECEMBER, 2003</B></div> <bR> <div> The following article was prepared by Max Gardner of the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, from material kindly provided by the manufacturer.</div> <div> Many support groups affiliated with the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia assisted with the successful campaign in 2003 to </div> <div> have this medication listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for use in advanced Prostate Cancer.</div> <bR> <div> <B>What does it do?</B></div> <div> Zometa is the most powerful of the group of medications called bisphosphonates that can help protect bone diseases, including bone<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> weakening (osteoporosis) and cancers. It is the only bisphosphonate shown so far to help protect the bones of patients with advanced Prostate Cancer.</div> <bR> <div> Zometa may also help strengthen bones of patients with early Prostate Cancer, but further studies are needed to prove the benefit of use of Zometa in this way.</div> <bR> <div> Some patients develop too much calcium in their blood and Zometa has also been shown to be effective in treating this condition.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Advantages over Aredia</B></div> <div> The bisphosphonate Aredia, also known as Pamidronate, was found in one study not to be strong enough to protect bone in advanced Prostate Cancer. Aredia was also found to be less effective than Zometa in the treatment of high calcium levels associated with cancer.</div> <bR> <div> <B>When to use it:</B></div> <div> Zometa is the only bisphosphonate solution registered with the PBS for the treatment of patients with bone metastases from a broad range of tumour types.</div> <div> Patients with significant bone pain associated with cancer may find that this pain is lessened by treatment with Zometa. Zometa has beneficial effects on cancer in the bone, but usually cannot cause the cancer's growth to slow in other parts of the body.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Benefits</B></div> <div> Zometa is taken by a 15-minute infusion into a vein in the arm and the procedure is usually well tolerated. Unlike many chemotherapy medications for cancer, Zometa does not tend to cause patients' hair to fall out, to make infections more likely, or to cause diarrhoea. The side effects with Zometa are usually minimal.</div> <bR> <div> <B>How to access Zometa</B></div> <div> Men with advanced Prostate Cancer should speak to their specialist about whether Zometa is appropriate for use in their case. Prescribing Zometa is not limited to any particular doctor, but is usually done by a patient's cancer specialist (medical oncologist) or surgeon (urologist). Most hospitals have a day clinic where patients can go along about once a month to receive their infusion of Zometa.</div> <div> Since November 1, 2003, the Government, through the PBS system, has approved the prescribing of Zometa for advanced Prostate Cancer where hormonal treatments have failed.</div> <bR> <div> Prior to this arrangement being in place, some public hospitals and private health insurance funds have helped cover the full costs of Zometa, used for hormone-refractory metastatic Prostate Cancer, where a patient has high calcium in their blood.</div> <div> The importance of the November 1 registration of Zometa under section 100* of the PBS system is the significant increase in the number of advanced Prostate Cancer patients who can now access Zometa and receive PBS reimbursement with its use.</div> <div> * Section 100 of the PBS covers drugs prescribed by specialists for administration in a hospital.</div> <bR> <div> <B>3.</B> <B>NORTHERN BEACHES PROSTATE CANCER CARERS GROUP</B></div> <bR> <div> The speaker at the next Carers' Group meeting will be Joanna Harnett. She will give another interesting and practical talk: Diet, Nutrition and Prostate Cancer. This will take place on Tuesday, 10 February at 6.30 pm in the Palliative Care Cottage, Mona Vale Hospital.</div> <bR> <div> <B>4.</B> <B>THE HEALTHY MAN'S GUIDE TO PROSTATE PROBLEMS</B></div> <bR> <div> Hope Healthcare is very generously printing our Brochure. Copies are being sent to all GPs and specialist doctors in the area for display in<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> their waiting rooms. It is also planned to have it available in all pathology and x-ray centres along the Northern Beaches. Other outlets we<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> hope to reach include Rotary and other Service Clubs, Bowling and other Sporting Clubs and so on. If there are Members of our Group who can help in the distribution, please contact me, or you can collect copies at the monthly meetings. We are extremely grateful to John Stuart, General Manager of Hope Healthcare (North) for his help with this initiative. The brochure should enable us to spread information about the Support Group and about Prostate Cancer ever more widely around the Northern Beaches.</div> <bR> <div> <B>5.</B> <B>INFORMATION UPDATE</B></div> <bR> <div> a.) Pam and David Sandoe have recorded a session with Scottish Television on erectile dysfunction in relation to Prostate Cancer. It will be shown in the UK only towards the middle of the year. However, Pam and David have been promised a video tape, so we hope we shall be able to see it.</div> <bR> <div> b.) A new publication, Clinical practice guidelines for the psychosocial care of adults with cancer, and prepared by the National Breast Cancer Centre and the National Cancer Control Initiative, was released at the end of 2003. It makes a number of references to Prostate Cancer, and has an extensive list of reading references, including a number also relating to Prostate Cancer. It is available for borrowing from our Library.</div> <bR> <div> c.) Dr Phillip Stricker and Professor Kerryn Phelps have recently produced a publication: PSA for the General Practitioner: The Prostate<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> Cancer Foundation of Australia, the St Vincent's Prostate Cancer Centre and the Rotary Club of Narellan all gave support in its preparation and publication. A copy is available for borrowing from our Library.</div> <bR> <div> <B>6.</B> <B>PROGRAM OF ACTIVITIES FOR 2004</B></div> <bR> <div> At the Christmas Party, a number of initiatives for 2004 were broached, all having the intention of having our Group make a greater impact on the local community. We hope to follow through on all of these, and we will need the support of all Members, - in one way or another, - to achieve our goals. </div> <bR> <div> The first item in this area is the Brochure and this is under way.</div> <bR> <div> Secondly, it is planned to mount a public awareness campaign, of which the Brochure is a part. However, in addition, approaches have </div> <div> been made to the local Community Radio station, Radio Northern Beaches, and to local Press. Any help from Members in this area will be most welcome.</div> <bR> <div> Thirdly, it is hoped that we can set up our own web page on the Internet. This costs something in the vicinity of $200 + per annum, and<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> this well need the support of a sponsor. It will also require initial design of the website and constant updating. Again, if any Members can give ideas on a suitable sponsor, or is a computer buff and could give a hand, we should be very grateful.</div> <bR> <div> Fourthly, we need some ideas and action on fundraising. There are a number of projects for which we need financial support. We have been trying for over a year to raise something in the vicinity of $8 000 to purchase a data projector for the Palliative Care Unit at Mona Vale Hospital, and which we would be able to have access to for speakers at our meetings. Then there is the Website sponsor, just mentioned. We should also like to be able to make regular contributions to our major sponsors: Hope Healthcare and the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia. Again, help from Members is greatly needed.</div> <bR> <div> We are a small group with big ideas, and any input and assistance from members will be very much appreciated. The scourge of Prostate Cancer among the men in our community and the impact it has on families, requires some mighty effort. What can you do to help? Please get in touch!</div> <bR> <div> <B>7. REMINDER: DATES OF NEXT MEETINGS: </B>(6.30 pm on the first Tuesday of each month in the Palliative Care Cottage, Mona Vale Hospital) All friends, partners, carers, and family members are welcome. Refreshments will be served.</div> <bR> <div> 3 February - Dr Phillip Katelaris (Sydney Adventist Hospital): Current Thinking on the PSA Debate. Dr Katelaris is a Urologist based in Hornsby and practising at the Sydney Adventist Hospital, Wahroonga. He is well known for his advocacy of PSA testing. He recently debated with Professor Alan Coates on the pros and cons of PSA testing.</div> <bR> <div> 2 March - Speaker to be announced (General Practitioner from the Manly-Warringah Division of General Practice): Structure, Function and Diseases of the Prostate Gland.</div> <bR> <div> 6 April - * Dr Lisa Horvath (Garvan Institute, Sydney): Recent Research at the Garvan Relating to Prostate Cancer</div> <bR> <div> 4 May - *Sr Jane Matthews (St Vincent's Hospital): Rehabilitation after Treatment for Prostate Cancer</div> <bR> <div> 1 June - *Dr Carolyn Mountford (Institute of Magnetic Resonance Research, Royal North Shore Hospital): Magnetic Resonance Technology and Prostate Cancer</div> <bR> <div> 6 July - *Professor Stewart Dunn (Royal North Shore Hospital): Prostate Cancer and the Mind</div> <bR> <div> 3 August - Dr Peter Moore (Palliative Care Unit, Mona Vale Hospital) Palliative Care</div> <bR> <div> 7 September - *Ms Christine Holbert (Relaxation Therapist): Stress Management</div> <bR> <div> 5 October - (Speaker to be announced.): Sex and Relationships after Treatment</div> <bR> <div> 2 November - *David Smith (NSW Cancer Council): The Epidemiology of Prostate Cancer: Statistical Update</div> <bR> <div> 7 December - Christmas Social<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> [* Speaker confirmed]</div> <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>