Current Newsletter - February 2006

<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 2006</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> <div> </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> No.42  February, 2006</div> <bR> <div> Editor: John Conroy</div> <bR> <bR> <div> A Happy, Peaceful and Healthy New Year</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>1.  COMING  EVENTS</B></div> <div> 6.30 pm,  Tuesday, 7 February, 2006 Dr Manish Patel (Urological Oncologist, University of Sydney and Westmead Hospital): New Therapies for Advanced Prostate Cancer Dr Patel specialises clinically in localised Prostate Cancer, and also runs a large research program, including looking at new therapies for Advanced Prostate Cancer.  He is a respected researcher and clinician, and a lively and interesting speaker.  He has presented to other Support Groups, and spoke at the Cancer Council Conference on Complementary Therapies last October. We hope Dr Patel will become a familiar visitor at our meetings. 7.45 am and 1.00pm, Tuesday, 28 February at the Mona Vale Golf Club Inaugural PCFA Golf Challenge</div> <bR> <div> A day of golf and fun to raise funds for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia</div> <bR> <div> Dress:    Course:    Tailored shorts/slacks with soft spike shoes</div> <div> Club house:    Smart casual</div> <div> Event:    Modified Ambrose</div> <div> Cost:        $125 (including GST)        Enquiries:  0419 211 510</div> <bR> <div> Tuesday, 7 March, 2006 Dr Stephen Ginsborg (General Practitioner) Prostate Cancer, Your GP, and Complementary Therapies</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>2.  Proposed Program of Monthly Meetings, 2006</B></div> <bR> <div> (To be held at 6.30 pm on the first Tuesday of each month in the Palliative Care Cottage, Mona Vale Hospital)</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="844" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 38 WIDTH="152"><div> 7 February *</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Dr Manish Patel (Urological Oncologist, University of</div> <div> Sydney and Westmead Hospital): New Therapies for Advanced Prostate Cancer</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="152"><div> 7 March</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Dr Stephen Ginsborg (G.P.)  Prostate Cancer, Your GP and Complementary Therapies</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="152"><div> 4 April *</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Ms Kim Pearce (Cancer Council, NSW A Prostate Cancer Support Group? - What's in It for Me?</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="152"><div> 2 May *</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Maxine Rosenfeld (Counsellor): Acknowledging Depression and Taking Action</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="152"><div> 6 June</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Visit to the Sydney Adventist Hospital pathology laboratories The Pathology of Prostate Cancer</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="152"><div> 4 July</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Members' Open Forum and Open House to Members of Other Prostate Cancer Support Groups</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="152"><div> 1 August</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Prostate Cancer and the Medical Oncologist (Speaker to be confirmed)</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="152"><div> 5 September</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="681"><div> Hormone Therapy (Speaker to be confirmed)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="152"><div> 3 October   </div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="681"><div> The Emotional Side of Cancer (Speaker to be confirmed)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="152"><div> 7 November</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="681"><div>  Gene Therapy (Speaker to be confirmed):</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="152"><div> 5 December</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="681"><div> Christmas Get-Together</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> An asterisk (*) indicates speaker confirmed.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>3.    What Is Cancer?</B></div> <div> (The following is a summary of a talk given to Palliative Care Volunteers several months ago by Dr Peter Moore, Chief Medical Officer of the Northern Beaches Palliative Care Unit at Mona Vale Hospital.)</div> <bR> <div> How did this disease get its name?  We know from the Zodiac that Cancer is the sign of the Crab. A cancerous growth is a group of cells which don't know when to stop growing.  When these cells begin to grow uncontrollably in the body, they tend to form a cluster which has a crab-like shape: a central grouping with radiating strands that give the overall impression of a crab. These tumours may be benign (not much of a problem) or malignant (dangerous, or potentially lethal).</div> <bR> <div> Cancer cells have two properties:  invasion, - the process of destroying normal cells and replacing them by a tumour;  and anarchy, - the characteristic of growing where they want to at the expense of healthy tissue. The most malignant tumours are called anaplastic.  Cancers are given a grade according to the degree of distortion of the original cells.</div> <bR> <div> Why does cancer happen?  This comes back to genetic abnormality. Normally, mistranscriptions in cell division can be repaired by the system. When this doesn't happen, a tumour is likely to occur. There is a particular gene which determines the time interval for cells to divide. This interval is the period when cells attend to any necessary repairs, and is therefore crucial. If the interval is shortened, it means that the chance of repairing a mistranscription is reduced.  As well as having genetic causes, there are cancers, like breast cancer and prostate cancer, that are hormone dependent, and others that can result from cultural factors like diet. In fact, there are many types of cancer and they each have different remission rates.</div> <bR> <div> Metastasis is the term used for a cancer that has spread from the original site to another part or other parts of the body.  Cancerous cells can be transported in the blood stream to various locations, or in body fluids controlled by the lymphatic system, and can lodge in nodes in this system. Once a cancer has become metastatic, rather than cure, it becomes more a matter of control and maintaining the quality of life for the medical team.</div> <bR> <div> The effects of cancer. The general effect of cancer is a loss of energy, loss of weight, and loss of appetite.  Why is this?  Because wherever there's a tumour, there's an inflammatory soup caused by the cancer emitting metabolic disregulators. Also, different treatments will have different effects on the body.  For example, drugs can cause taste disruption.  External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT) damages the nucleus of cancerous cells and, while normal cells will recover, cancer cells will not. Chemotherapy can have a range of effects, including genetic and cell damage. We can well ask the question: Why give chemotherapy which is known to be toxic? The patient can get great benefit from the treatment, but does have to pay for it.  Chemotherapy helps maintain/control energy levels to help with the quality of life, - despite the side effects.  Drug trialling may be an option for the cancer patient.  Trials occur in three phases:  Phase 1 trials are those where the outcomes are uncertain but expected to be beneficial. In Phase 2 trials, more people are treated and doses, outcomes and toxicity are tested. Phase 3 trials are randomised and the expected outcomes are clear.</div> <bR> <div> The model of treatment for cancer patients is referral to both oncology and palliative care at the same time. The model takes into account symptom control, consideration of the carer situation, and psycho-social aspects. On this latter front there is a great need for psycho oncologists. Symptom control covers pain (which is basically treatable by analgesics, opiodes - like morphine - and the like);  nausea and vomiting (largely treatable); constipation (usually controllable);  and breathlessness (which can be difficult to treat, using sedatives, oxygen and the like).</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>4.    PCFA </B><B>- </B><B>January Meeting of NSW Chapter Support and Advocacy Committee</B></div> <bR> <div> The first bimonthly meeting of the Committee was held by telephone conference on Friday, 28 January.  Links were established with 17 participants, representing 10 Support Groups and the Prostate Cancer Foundation administration. Items covered included updates on PCFA national and Board activities, updates from NSW Support Groups and items of general business.  Some highlights were: Report of the formation of a National Research Committee to identify and co-ordinate research into Prostate Cancer in Australia under a grant from BHP Billiton.  At present there are 258 individuals around the country undertaking Prostate Cancer research of some form.</div> <bR> <div> Also, formation of a National Advocacy, Awareness and Education Committee. The Movember publicity has raised $1.1m for the Foundation. Closer partnership is planned with the Australian Prostate Cancer Collaboration. </div> <bR> <div> APIA is planning a series of one-day Men's Health Conferences in conjunction with the Foundation. Victorian Support Groups are now affiliated with the Foundation. Currently there are 72 affiliated Support Groups across the country.</div> <bR> <div> Options are still being discussed concerning protocols for Support Groups to have access to the PCFA Website.  Links with affiliated Support Groups are likely to be established once the upgrading of the PCFA site is complete.</div> <bR> <div> Funds raised in any one state will be applied to activities Australia-wide, rather than be retained for exclusive use within that state.</div> <bR> <div> Consumers will be reimbursed for any expenses incurred while on PCFA business.</div> <bR> <div> Current and past minutes of SAC meetings are held on file by our own Support Group, and are available to Members at any time through the Lending Library.</div> <bR> <div> Latest Reports from other Support Groups are also held on file and are available for Members to peruse.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>5.  INFORMATION  UPDATE</B></div> <bR> <div> a.    Publications</div> <div> i)    Quality of Life after Radical Prostatectomy or Watchful Waiting (2002), Steineck, G. et al. The New England Journal of Medicine, 347, 11; pp.790-796.</div> <bR> <div> Between 1989 and 1999, 376 men in Sweden with localised Prostate Cancer were assigned randomly to radical prostatectomy or watchful waiting.  After a mean follow-up of four years, erectile dysfunction and urinary leakage were more common after radical prostatectomy, whereas urinary obstruction was more common with watchful waiting. There was little difference between the two groups regarding bowel function, prevalence of anxiety or depression, well-being, or the subjective quality of life.</div> <bR> <div> ii)    High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound for Prostate Cancer  (February, 2005); Pickles, T. et al.  British Columbia Cancer Agency Genito-Urinary  Tumour Group.</div> <bR> <div> This is an evaluation of High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) by a Canadian Cancer Agency.  It concludes that:  'Efficacy data does not allow meaningful assessment as to the benefit-risk ratio' of the treatment. It goes on:  'HIFU cannot currently be recommended as standard therapy but could be further explored in Ethical Review Board-monitored phase 1-2 studies. This will require full informed consent as to the nature of the evidence, toxicity and alternative options.'  The third of the Agency's three recommendations on the use of HIFU for Prostate Cancer states:</div> <bR> <div> 'Patients who may be suitable for such an experimental protocol include those who are not appropriate for proven curative therapy of prostate cancer (radical prostatectomy, brachytherapy and external beam radiation therapy) and those with a pure localized recurrence after radiation therapy.  This latter group is particularly at risk of significant long-term complications and the potential benefit of such treatment must be balanced against toxicity, other available options, and the natural history of recurrent prostate cancer.'</div> <bR> <div> iii)    The Healthy Male.  Newsletter of Andrology Australia, Issue 16, Spring, 2005. In this Issue:  Focus on Prostatitis.</div> <bR> <div> iv)    MATeS:  Sex, fertility and contraceptive use in middle-aged and olderAustralian Men. Andrology Australia, 2005.  Second summary report from the Men in Australia Telephone Survey.</div> <bR> <div> v)    Prostate News. News letter of the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, Issue 24, Nov., 2005. In this Issue:  High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU).</div> <bR> <div> vi)    A-Z Directory of Cancer Publications 2005-6; The Cancer Institute, NSW Accommodation Guide 2005-6;The Cancer Institute, NSW  Z Directory of Support Groups 2005-6; The Cancer Institute, NSW Three booklets to help in navigating cancer information, services and Support Groups.</div> <bR> <div> b.    CDs</div> <bR> <div> i)    Sex after Prostate Cancer.  Proceedings of a meeting of the Westmead Prostate Cancer Support Group held on 25 September, 2005. Speaker: Dr Stephen Carroll, Psycho-therapist and Sex Therapist.</div> <bR> <div> ii)    Complementary Therapies in Cancer Care - Informing Choice. Powerpoint presentations from the Conference of the same name held at the Garvan Institute on 21 October, 2005, and jointly sponsored by the Cancer Council NSW and Cancer Voices.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> c.    Courses</div> <bR> <div> The NSW Cancer Council is conducting 'Consumer Health Training' workshops at:  Coffs Harbour(24 and 25 February, 2006) Wollongong (3 and 4 March, 2006) Members outside these areas are encouraged to enrol. The Cancer Council is able to provide individual financial assistance for participants.</div> <bR> <div> Additional information, registration details and enquiries for financial assistance should be directed to:</div> <bR> <div> Kelly Williams    4225 3660    (<A HREF="mailto:kwilliams@nswcc.org.au" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:kwilliams@nswcc.org.au"><U>kwilliams@nswcc.org.au</U></A>)</div> <bR> <div> or    Patty Delaney    6651 5732    (<A HREF="mailto:pattyd@nswcc.org.au" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:pattyd@nswcc.org.au"><U>pattyd@nswcc.org.au</U></A>)</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> </td> </tr></table></body>