Given the epidemic numbers of prostate cancer, there is a significant weekly news flow of trials, drug, discoveries and more. As Peter points out this week, your AnCan moderators dedicate a lot of time to keeping you informed. Join one of our 7 monthly PCa groups to benefit yourself.
I think I have been involved with Prostate Cancer Support groups in one capacity or another for some four years or more and one thing that stands out to me is that, like snowflakes, no two of us have identical disease. There are so many nuances to this crazy disease, and for those of us with more advanced disease it really behooves us to stay on top of the situation.
Great doctors will try to stay up-to-date on all the changes in treatment, diagnosis, genetic profiles etc. and treat us as individuals. Average medical professionals might tend to treat us as just “another” man with prostate cancer and use standard of care treatment that has been prescribed for years. This might be adequate for men with low grade disease which is the vast majority of us. But if prostate cancer is diagnosed at a more advanced and complex condiiton, or progresses, it is important that we see ourselves as individuals and be treated as such and not just as part of the herd.
Probably the last thing we wanted at this point in life was another career, but staying informed and advocating for ourselves as a man with prostate cancer is vital. The medical field is abuzz with new information every week and surprisingly much of it relates to prostate cancer, and that demands our attention. New treatment drugs and regimens are being approved even as you read this, and studies are indicating warnings and new information about old standards of treatment. How can anyone keep current in this environment?
The answer is community. Collectively we can manage this flow of new information that confronts us all. This is why AnCan has chosen the model of weekly support groups for men with advanced prostate cancer, our bi-monthly meetings for those with low and intermediate grade diagnoses and monthly gatherings for those who are being followed on Active Surveillance. Besides making ourselves available to the constant stream of men who are newly diagnosed, we seem to always find new information that is pertinent to many of us.
In addition to our own support group, I have been an active and engaged participant for the past 5-years at the annual PCRI (Prostate Cancer Research Institute) conference that is held at the LAX Marriot each September. If you have never attended, I would encourage you to check it out at PCRI.org. It is the largest patient oriented prostate cancer conference in the world. Very affordable, interactive and engaging, the subject matter is presented in understandable terms by a wide range of experts in all aspects of prostate cancer. If you are in attendance this year drop by our table in the lobby and say hello. I would love to meet you.
Peter Kafka. Maui, HI