March 2005

<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>  March 2005</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></div> <bR> <div> <B>No.32.  March, 2005</B></div> <bR> <div> Editor: John Conroy</div> <bR> <div> Regular meetings are normally 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 members are welcome. Refreshments will be served.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>1.</B>   COMING  EVENTS</div> <bR> <div> a)    6.30 pm,  Tuesday, 1 March  Dr Justin Vass [Urologist] with Melanie Griffin [Novartis Pharmaceuticals]:</div> <bR> <div> Advanced Prostate Cancer and Its Treatment</div> <bR> <div> A number of men in our Group are diagnosed when their cancer is already at an advanced stage. Some have their cancer return, and then go on to new treatment. Those of us who are survivors face the question of whether the disease will come back at some time in the future and, if so, what form will it take and what treatment will be needed.  Among oncologists there is increasing interest in advanced Prostate Cancer and its treatment, so Dr Vass's talk will have special relevance to all of us.</div> <bR> <div> i]  This meeting is on the first Tuesday, which is alsothe first day of the month.]</div> <bR> <div> ii]  The Palliative Care Cottage is being repainted, so this month's meeting will be held in the John Newlind Education Centre which is on Level 1 of the Hospital's Main Building just near the Staff Cafeteria. Enter from the car parks at the rear, or come in through the Main Entrance and go to Level 1 down the stairs opposite Reception.</div> <bR> <div> b)    6.30 pm,  Tuesday, 5 April Dr Kenneth Vaux [Urologist]: Regaining Bladder Control after Treatment for Prostate Cancer</div> <bR> <div> Please note:  During meetings, all discussion and comment about members' individual circumstances and experiences are confidential and should not be repeated outside the Cottage walls!</div> <bR> <div> <B>1</B>.    MEN  LOOKING GOOD...  AND  FEELING  BETTER</div> <bR> <div> Look Good... Feel Better is a workshop for men lasting about two hours to help men face cancer treatment with confidence.  It will be held in the Palliative Care Cottage at Mona Vale Hospital on Monday, 11 April, starting at 9.30am. It teaches you not only grooming techniques.  ³It boosts self esteem and helps you to be confident and positive during cancer treatment.</div> <bR> <div> In a relaxed and friendly workshop environment you will learn how to manage the changes that may occur to your skin, hair and general appearance as a result of your treatment.</div> <bR> <div> Workshops are completely free of charge and are available to men undergoing or about to undergo chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy treatment for cancer.</div> <bR> <div> Experienced volunteers will help you learn how to care for your skin and minimize the appearance related side effects of treatment.</div> <bR> <div> You will be shown creative and practical ways of dealing with possible hair loss.</div> <bR> <div> To register for this fun and informative workshop, please call: 1800 650 960.</div> <bR> <div> A registration form is attached to this Newsletter.  You are welcome to bring a friend.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>2.</B>    Report of the Meeting Held on Tuesday,1 February:  Group Members¹ Open Forum</div> <bR> <div> Our first meeting for 2005 was an experiment. Instead of having an invited speaker, the evening was given over to ourselves and each other.</div> <div> Each man present, whether he was newly diagnosed or a survivor, was given the opportunity to describe his journey with Prostate Cancer and to talk about his current problems and questions. It was a time to share experiences and compare differences, and to empathise with those who had travelled along an especially rough road. The meeting was well attended and, while everyone had a chance to talk, there was not enough time for each one to tell his story.  Because of the success of the open forum, we plan to make this a regular feature of our annual program.</div> <bR> <div> One of the purposes of the forum was to begin building a data base of our members' treatment histories so as to build up a buddy system.  From time to time a man will phone in who has been newly diagnosed with Prostate Cancer, and who wants to talk to someone who has had the kind of treatment he is contemplating.  With a data base, it will be possible to refer the enquiry to a Member of the Group who has had this particular treatment. In this way, questions can be answered and worries can be eased. There is a certain amount of anonymity, there is no 'consulting room formality', and a discussion can be carried out in simple, non-technical language. A follow up call or calls by the member approached, while not essential, can help reassure the caller that he is not alone.</div> <bR> <div> Two important features of this system are:</div> <bR> <div> No Member's name or treatment details will be included in the data base unless that Member has given his permission;  and No Member's phone number will be given to an outsider without that Member's permission to do so.</div> <bR> <div> This 'buddy system' was discussed at the February meeting, and all present were prepared to have their names on the data base, and to be contacted by phone by a bona fide Prostate Cancer patient wanting information about treatment.</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>