The Active Surveillance path in Prostate Cancer comes with a lot of questions, and that’s why we are always so glad to offer support and resources. On December 2nd, in our AS prostate cancer virtual support group, we had the utmost pleasure of hosting Dr. Judd W. Moul, MD, FACS (Professor of Surgery at Duke University), who happens to be one of the top experts in the field of Prostate Cancer!
He shares a wonderful dialogue about AS, and answers many of our attendee’s questions. Our own moderators learned something new. Thank you so much, Dr. Moul!
Watch this informative special presentation here:
For information on our peer-led video chat ACTIVE SURVEILLANCE PROSTATE CANCER VIRTUAL SUPPORT GROUP, click here.
To SIGN UP for the Group or any other of our AnCan Virtual Support groups, visit our Contact Us page.
After ourfirstand second webinar in our series “Active Surveillance and Beyond”, we had the absolute pleasure of having radiologist Dr. Antonio Westphalen (Head of abdominal imaging at the University of Washington in Seattle.) for our third one.
Dr. Westphalen entitled his program,”The Value of mpMRI in Monitoring Men on Active Surveillance.” He discussed how mpMRI is an important factor in diagnosing and surveilling prostate cancer in active surveillance. But he said other factors need to be taken into account, including PSA testing, digital rectal exams, and genomic testing.
We want to graciously thank Dr. Westphalen for answering our attendee’s questions!
We have some wonderful thoughts once again from our Board Chair, moderator, and most important, our dear friend Peter Kafka. On the week that we spend reflecting on what we are grateful for, Peter has story that will offer perspective on thankfulness. We are so thankful for YOU, Peter! Aloha.
As hospitalizations for Covid-19 surge across the nation and opportunities for visitation at hospitals close down, the subject of “closure” comes up more often. I recently had an experience which brought this matter up in a new light that I thought worth sharing. A week ago, a good friend passed away as a result of recurrent colorectal cancer. He had exhausted all treatment options available to him and was under hospice care at home with his devoted wife of many years providing the major care and support. He remained lucid and at rest until the end.
This couple had a large network of family and friends around N. America and world-wide. One close friend took it upon herself to arrange for a Zoom conference meeting the weekend before the departure. Many of this man’s friends and relatives were present on this Zoom call including his wife who was within ear-shot and sight of her husband who could hear the conversation.
This was something of a transformative event for me and all involved because it gave us opportunity to say goodbye, to tell poignant stories, and reflect on the precious value of our individual friendships with this gentleman in real time while he could still receive our thoughts and wishes. The timing was perfect and there was a good measure of closure for all involved.
Usually our culture dictates that some form of closure be recreated in a ceremony or service after one departs. But these days even this opportunity is limited or non-existent because of the strict rules regarding gatherings and the dangers of travel. I have always thought that thankfulness was and should be primarily an anticipatory act rather than something expressed after the fact. I would suggest that in this holiday season of seeming isolation that we find ways to express THANKS for/ to what IS as well as what was.
If you asked me what I love about AnCan, I’d talk about how proud I am to be part of a team that provides a lifeline of support, no matter where you are. I live in rural East Texas, and going to an in-person support group before these wild times of COVID meant multiple hour drives. And that’s only if they had a support group for my condition! The beauty of the internet means as long as we have internet and a GoToMeeting room, we can have a kitchen table conversation anywhere.
If you have never visited our “All the Faces of AnCan” page, I highly recommend you do so. We truly have the best people around, and we couldn’t do any of this without them.
Today, I want to tell you about one of those people: Advisory Board Member and Active Surveillance Prostate Cancer Moderator, Howard Wolinsky! As you’ll read in his bio, he’s been nominated TWICE for A Pulitzer, and recognized by the National Press Club, and American Bar Association. He’s co-authored “The Serpent on the Staff: The Unhealthy Politics of the American Medical Association” and the best-selling “Healthcare Online for Dummies”.
Howard has a new book out called “Contain and Eliminate“, and we’re sure you’ll fall in love with his factual, yet dynamic and exhilarating writing style. This would make an excellent edition to your winter reading, or a great holiday gift. (We recommend reading it in an AnCan Sweatshirt!)
Congratulations on what is sure to be another successful book, Howard! I can safely say that all of us at AnCan value you so much. Just keep our community in mind when the movie deal is made. I’m sure you can find a great use for Rick’s UK accent.
AnCan is keeping the informational content going to make sure we fully support the needs of our incredible community. We had the absolute pleasure of having Natalie Ledesma, MS RD(Oncology Dietitian, Patient and Family Cancer Support Center, UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center) speak to our Active Surveillance Prostate Cancer Group about Nutrition and AS. We’re sure you will enjoy Natalie as much as we did!
Watch this excellent presentation here:
To view the slides for this presentation, please click here.
To view another nutrition and prostate cancer webinar we have with Greta Macaire, RD, please click here.
For information on our peer-led video chat ACTIVE SURVEILLANCE PROSTATE CANCER VIRTUAL SUPPORT GROUP, click here.
To SIGN UP for the Group or any other of our AnCan Virtual Support groups, visit our Contact Us page.
