Edmonton's Prostate Cancer
Peer Support Group

LATEST NEWS

Next meeting is Tuesday, error, 7:30PM.

additional links

CONTACT

Recently diagnosed?
Need info now?
Contact us at:
info@edmontonprostatepeers.ca

Recently diagnosed? ... Need info now? ... Contact us at:
info@edmontonprostatepeers.ca

UPCOMING TOPICS AND GUEST SPEAKERS

Below are the upcoming meetings. If you would like to see what we have done earlier, click here to see previous meetings.

13 NOV,2012	Barb Bird, Community Engagement Coordinator at Canadian Cancer Society
	She spoke on how to access resources for coping with a cancer diagnosis, discuss some coping mechanisms, and do a run-through of all their related services.
11 DEC,2012	Psychologists Dr. Beverley Edwards-Sawatzky and Dr. Don Sawatzky
	Reflections on prostate cancer and its treatment from a couple's perspective; reflections on a couples disease; men and their partners; they welcome an open discussion; work in separate groups and then together to discuss how family is affected.
JAN 8th, 2013	Kevin Wallace, MSc., psychologist at the Cross Cancer Institute.
	He spoke on the impact of cancer on individuals and how best to cope with the stress, anxiety, and fear that this brings on. He has had many prostate cancer patients.
FEB 12th, 2013	Dr. Steven K.H. Aung Clinical Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta
	Dr. Aung spoke on his experience as a medical doctor as well as a recognized alternative medicine expert, and on his practice/views in using both of these to treat prostate cancer. As a GP, he is on the front lines in detecting PC in his patients as well as the follow-up after treatment, when our GP's keep track of us to ensure all remains normal.
APR 9th, 2013	Heidi Bates, MSc, RD Eat Well, Be Well: Healthy Eating and Prostate Cancer
	Heidi Bates is a Registered Dietitian and holds a Master抯 degree in Nutrition and Metabolism and is the Director of the University of Alberta抯 Integrated Dietetic Internship, the province抯 only practice education program for individuals seeking careers as Registered Dietitians. As a consulting dietitian, Heidi has led nutrition education programs for people from all walks of life, including newcomers to Canada. Heidi is also a specialist in media communications who can be seen weekly on Global Television抯 Morning Edition News.
AUGUST 13th, 2013	U of A Hospital, Shaw 3i Auditorium, Level 0 of the Mazankowski Heart Institute
	Guest Speaker: Rocco Rossi, CEO PCC Topic: Open Discussion, Q & A, on PCC and PCCN via conference call Open discussion among members about their current concerns.
SEPT 10th, 2013	U of A Hospital, Shaw 3i Auditorium, Level 0 of the Mazankowski Heart Institute
	Dr. John Lewis Associate Professor, Frank and Carla Sojonky Chair in Prostate Cancer Research, University of Alberta. Dr. Lewis is working on developing tiny probes (aka. Nanoparticles) which could detect a specific protein which is only present in the blood vessels that feed tumors. Several nanoparticle platforms under development are promising candidates for the development of prostate cancer imaging and therapeutic agents, and research collaboration is focused on their clinical translation. This could enable doctors to recognize which prostate cancers are more aggressive - potentially saving men from serious-side effects.
OCT 8th, 2013	U of A Hospital, Shaw 3i Auditorium, Level 0 of the Mazankowski Heart Institute
	Dr. Adrian Wagg, Director - Division of Geriatric Medicine , University of Alberta. Dr. Wagg is a specialist in geriatric medicine and urinary incontinence. He has an academic and clinical interest in urinary incontinence and has published many peer reviewed publications, chapters and reviews on the subject, spoken widely and is nationally and internationally recognised. His interests are in incontinence in the elderly, the effects of medication and co-morbidity on continence status and the epidemiology and aetiology of incontinence. If you are having problems with incontinence, you will not want to miss this!
NOV 12th, 2013	U of A Hospital, Shaw 3i Auditorium, Level 0 of the Mazankowski Heart Institute
	Dr Ernst Snyman is a long-time GP in Camrose, and on the board of the Alberta College of Family Physicians A General Practitioner's view of prostate cancer. Open discussion among members about their current concerns.
JAN 14th, 2014	U of A Hospital, Shaw 3i Auditorium, Level 0 of the Mazankowski Heart Institute
	Dr Abdelrazak Meliti, an anatomical pathologist at DynaLIFE Dx and Clinical Assistant Professor University of Alberta The Pathologist's role in diagnosis and treatment Dr. Meliti will speak on issues surrounding the diagnosing of prostate cancer, identifying biomarkers, the understanding of pathologic features that predict disease progression; the different foci of carcinoma in the prostate, and, especially, a better understanding of Gleason scores.
FEB 11th, 2014	U of A Hospital, Shaw 3i Auditorium, Level 0 of the Mazankowski Heart Institute
	Jessica Jackson, CHom Topic: Homeopathy for cancer patients.
MAR 11th, 2014	U of A Hospital, Shaw 3i Auditorium, Level 0 of the Mazankowski Heart Institute
	March is nutrition month. Guest Speaker: Heidi Bates, MSc, Registered Dietician and Director, Integrated Dietetic Internship, University of Alberta Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among Canadian men. In fact, according to the Canadian Cancer Society, 73 Canadian men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every day. Healthy eating plays an important role in both preventing and living with prostate cancer. Join Registered Dietitian, Heidi Bates, to learn more about nutrition and prostate cancer and the steps men need to take to eat well and feel well!
APR 8th, 2014	U of A Hospital, Shaw 3i Auditorium, Level 0 of the Mazankowski Heart Institute
	Dr. Matthew Parliament, Medical Director, Cross Cancer Institute Topic: Radiation treatment options
TUE, OCT 14th, 7:30PM	U of A Hospital, Shaw 3i Auditorium, Level 0 of the Mazankowski Heart Institute
	The Role of Exercise in Prostate Cancer Survivorship: Prevention, Preservation & Restoration. Two researchers from the U of A Department of Physical Education, Behavioural Medicine Laboratory Mary Norris, BSc Kinesiology, is researching exercise as a form of medicine to help improve quality of life in cancer survivors. Scott Adams, MSc Exercise Science, researching how exercise may prevent complications associated with various anti-cancer therapies. Their group has done a number of studies on exercise for prostate cancer survivors. Open discussion among members about their current concerns. Bring your questions; someone at the meeting probably has been in the same situation as you. Join us for Coffee/Juice and Treats.
TUE, Jan 13th, 7:30PM	U of A Hospital, Shaw 3i Auditorium, Level 0 of the Mazankowski Heart Institute
	Morris Maduro, Head of Advocacy Committee, CARP Edmonton (Canadian Assoc of Retired Persons): Developments in seniors health care issues and how they affect Prostate Cancer survivors. Medications/pharmaceuticals coverage for seniors The Alberta drug approval process and options for accessing non-listed cancer drugs The new Alberta Health Care Advocate and Seniors Advocate - Their roles, and how they can assist us Open discussion among members about their current concerns. Bring your questions; someone at the meeting probably has been in the same situation as you. Join us for Coffee/Juice and Treats.
TUE, FEB 10th, 7:30PM	U of A Hospital, Shaw 3i Auditorium, Level 0 of the Mazankowski Heart Institute
	Meeting will feature: A DVD - from the webinar series, Dr. Shabbir Alibhai - Hormone Therapy for Prostate Cancer Update on the Prostate Cancer study participation - new developments -Catlina Vasquez and Tim Trischuk Brief AGM. Open discussion of our particular journey for the benefit of new members, along with their introductions and questions/answers as a way to support those attending who are newly diagnosed or are facing recurrence Bring your questions; someone at the meeting probably has been in the same situation as you. Join us for Coffee/Juice and Treats.
TUESDAY MAR 10th 7:30PM	U of A Hospital, Shaw 3i Auditorium, Level 0 of the Mazankowski Heart Institute
	Samantha Pekh - Anxiety management, the stresses and uncertainties of living with cancer. Samantha Pekh, M.A., is an Edmonton-based psychologist in private practice who works with youth and adults wanting to move past trauma and reclaim their lives and who want to learn how to effectively manage their anxiety and depression. Her work often includes working with people needing assistance in the areas of suicide risk management, bipolar, and parenting difficulties. In addition to her clinical with work with individuals and families, she also offers support groups in the areas of suicide bereavement, bipolar management, and healing from trauma. Further information about Samantha and the services she offers can be found at www.samanthapekh.com
TUESDAY APR 14th 7:30PM	U of A Hospital, Shaw 3i Auditorium, Level 0 of the Mazankowski Heart Institute
	Virginia Vandahl Walker, Assistant Professor - Nursing & Health Studies, Athabasca Univ., the initiative to update the 'Before and After Radical Prostate Surgery: Information and Resource Guide' published in 2008 by Athabasca University Press. Discussion about Calgary Cancer Survivorship Symposium by members that were present. Open discussion among members about their current concerns. Bring your questions; someone at the meeting probably has been in the same situation as you. Join us for Coffee/Juice and Treats.
TUESDAY MAY 12th 7:30PM	U of A Hospital, Shaw 3i Auditorium, Level 0 of the Mazankowski Heart Institute
	Urologist Dr.Gerry Todd: Update on the new CJ Woods Prostate Health Clinic at the Kaye Clinic next to University of Alberta Hospital. Open discussion among members about their current concerns. Bring your questions; someone at the meeting probably has been in the same situation as you.
TUESDAY AUG 11th 7:30PM	U of A Hospital, Shaw 3i Auditorium, Level 0 of the Mazankowski Heart Institute
	Open discussion among members about their current concerns.
TUESDAY SEP 8th 7:30PM	U of A Hospital, Shaw 3i Auditorium, Level 0 of the Mazankowski Heart Institute
	Diet and Nutrition Adele Gagnon, RD & Hum. Nut. Res. Coor., U of A; and Sarah Purcell MSc., co-presenters on “ideal nutrition and diet suggestions for prevention of Prostate cancer and for living with the disease”. Open discussion among members about their current concerns. Also - discussion about 1) a study - Two enroll options: a) for people now scheduled for a Biopsy to diagnose and b) those starting a new treatment for Prostate Cancer and 2) how to learn about available clinical trials.
TUESDAY NOV 10th 7:30PM	U of A Hospital, Shaw 3i Auditorium, Level 0 of the Mazankowski Heart Institute
	Cancer Pain Management Dr. Ingrid DeKock As Palliative Care Physician with the Regional Palliative Care Program she provides consulting services to the community, acute care hospitals, Edmonton hospices and long-term care facilities. - See more at: www.oncology.med.ualberta.ca Open discussion among members about their current concerns. Bring your questions; someone at the meeting probably has been in the same situation as you.
TUESDAY MAR 8th 7:30PM	U of A Hospital, Shaw 3i Auditorium, Level 0 of the Mazankowski Heart Institute
	Diet and Nutrition Adele Gagnon, RD & Hum. Nut. Res. Coor., U of A; and Sarah Purcell MSc., co-presenters on “ideal nutrition and diet suggestions for prevention of Prostate cancer and for living with the disease”. Open discussion among members about their current concerns. Bring your questions; someone at the meeting probably has been in the same situation as you. Join us for Coffee/Juice and Treats.
TUESDAY JUN 14th 7:30PM	U of A Hospital, Shaw 3i Auditorium, Level 0 of the Mazankowski Heart Institute
	One of our members, Terry, will discus his treatment for prostate cancer, and the resulting complications and further treatment.
TUESDAY AUG 9th 7:30PM	U of A Hospital, Shaw 3i Auditorium, Level 0 of the Mazankowski Heart Institute
	A member’s journey - Robert – a positive outlook - and other members as available – to help guide those starting and ongoing in the life journey with Prostate Cancer.
TUESDAY SEP 13th 7:30PM	U of A Hospital, Shaw 3i Auditorium, Level 0 of the Mazankowski Heart Institute
	Beyond Subject/Participant: Patient Engagement in Health Research Virginia Vandall-Walker PhD RN – An overview of the Strategy for Patient Oriented Research(SPOR) and the Alberta SPOR Support Unit with an emphasis on patient engagement in research. How can you get YOUR voice heard by researchers? Open discussion among members about their current concerns.
TUESDAY OCT 11th 7:30PM	Click here for meeting location change starting in October. Prostate Clinic Theatre, 7th Floor of Kaye Edmonton Clinic
	Dr. John Lewis - Update on Alberta Prostate Cancer Research Initiative (APCaRI) research to predict aggressive prostate cancer with a simple blood or urine test. Open discussion among members about their current concerns.
TUESDAY NOV 8th 7:30PM	Click here for meeting location change starting in October. Prostate Clinic Theatre, 7th Floor of Kaye Edmonton Clinic
	Michael P. Kolinsky, MD, FRCPC; Medical Oncologist, Cross Cancer Institute Open discussion among members about their current concerns.
TUESDAY DEC 13th 7:30PM	Click here for meeting location change starting in October. Prostate Clinic Theatre, 7th Floor of Kaye Edmonton Clinic
	Open discussion among members about their current concerns. Bring your questions; someone at the meeting probably has been in the same situation as you. Join us for Coffee/Juice and Treats.
TUESDAY JAN 10th 7:30PM	Click here for our new meeting location . Prostate Clinic Theatre, 7th Floor of Kaye Edmonton Clinic
	Dr. Keith Rourke, U of A Urology and Alberta Urology Institue Dr. Rourke will be discussing incontinence and erectile disfunction. Open discussion among members about their current concerns. Bring your questions; someone at the meeting probably has been in the same situation as you. Join us for Coffee/Juice and Treats.
TUESDAY FEB 14th 7:30PM	Click here for our new meeting location. Prostate Clinic Theatre, 7th Floor of Kaye Edmonton Clinic
	Short annual general meeting to elect officers, discus finances.
TUESDAY MAR 14th 7:30PM	Prostate Clinic Theatre, 7th Floor of Kaye Edmonton Clinic
	Living Well With and Beyond Prostate Cancer, Jesse McElheran, MEd, R. Psych Jesse McElheran is a registered psychologist currently completing her pre-doctoral residency with the Department of Psychosocial and Spiritual Resources at the Cross Cancer Institute. She has a keen interest in understanding the impact that cancer has on patients and family members, in particular how one’s sense of well-being and hope can change throughout the cancer experience. Her PhD research project which is recruiting participants is designed to explore the time perspective and hope of those in active cancer treatment and those in early survivorship. Open discussion among members about their current concerns. Bring your questions; someone at the meeting probably has been in the same situation as you. Join us for Coffee/Juice and Treats.
TUESDAY APR 11th 7:30PM	Prostate Clinic Theatre, 7th Floor of Kaye Edmonton Clinic
	Program to be announced Open discussion among members about their current concerns. Bring your questions; someone at the meeting probably has been in the same situation as you. Join us for Coffee/Juice and Treats.
TUESDAY MAY 9th 7:30PM	Prostate Clinic Theatre, 7th Floor of Kaye Edmonton Clinic
	Prostate brachytherapy: Treating patients with radioactive pellets Dr. Nawaid Usmani is an Associate Professor practicing radiation oncology in the Department of Oncology at the University of Alberta. His training included a fellowship in prostate brachytherapy at the British Columbia Cancer Agency in Vancouver. Dr. Usmani' is heavily involved in research, with his main focus of research in prostate brachytherapy. Currently, prostate brachytherapy is an increasingly popular treatment option for localized prostate cancer due to its excellent efficacy, good toxicity profile and convenience. However, there remains a great deal of potential to improve the current technique. Dr. Usmani's main objective for this research is to characterize current brachytherapy techniques and identify strategies for improving this treatment. This includes quantifying inaccuracies in current brachytherapy techniques, identifying patient populations at a higher risk of toxicity from this treatment, and finding ways to improve our outcomes with brachytherapy implants (using technical and translational approaches). In addition to this research in prostate brachytherapy, Dr. Usmani is involved in a number of other research endeavours. His other research includes: Investigating the potential benefits of metformin in preventing metabolic complications of hormonal therapy and improving prostate cancer outcomes. Identifying new prognostic or predictive biomarkers in prostate cancer. Investigating the utility of magnetic resonant imaging and PET imaging in the management of prostate cancer. Investigating the potential benefits of exercise in rectal cancer patients. Open discussion among members about their current concerns. Bring your questions; someone at the meeting probably has been in the same situation as you. Join us for Coffee/Juice and Treats.
TUESDAY JUN 13th 7:30PM	Prostate Clinic Theatre, 7th Floor of Kaye Edmonton Clinic
	Lorraine Breault Ph. D., R. Psych.: The importance of participating, as partners, in meaningful research projects rather than just being subjects of research and the challenges associated with this. Cody Lindeman: A study on urinary incontinence and a search for participants that have not used pads before and would like to try them over a six week study. Open discussion among members about their current concerns. Bring your questions; someone at the meeting probably has been in the same situation as you. Join us for Coffee/Juice and Treats.
TUESDAY JUL 11th 7:30PM	Prostate Clinic Theatre, 7th Floor of Kaye Edmonton Clinic
	Open discussion among members about their current concerns. Bring your questions; someone at the meeting probably has been in the same situation as you. Join us for Coffee/Juice and Treats.
TUESDAY DEC 12th 7:30PM	Prostate Clinic Theatre, 7th Floor of Kaye Edmonton Clinic
	Open discussion among members about their current concerns. Bring your questions; someone at the meeting probably has been in the same situation as you. Join us for Coffee/Juice and Treats.
TUESDAY JAN 9th 7:30PM	Prostate Clinic Theatre, 7th Floor of Kaye Edmonton Clinic
	Nutrition for Cancer Prevention and Inflammation Cheryl Nickurak, RD Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist. Cheryl has extensive and varied professional nutrition experience with risk reduction and treatment of inflammatory processes and disease, weight management, pre/diabetes, cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal health, kidney disease, cancer prevention, allergies, food intolerance, nutrition for sport and family health. Open discussion among members about their current concerns. Bring your questions; someone at the meeting probably has been in the same situation as you. Join us for Coffee/Juice and Treats.
TUESDAY FEB 13th 7:30PM	Prostate Clinic Theatre, 7th Floor of Kaye Edmonton Clinic
	short Annual General Meeting, discussion of upcoming changes to the organization Open discussion among members about their current concerns. Bring your questions; someone at the meeting probably has been in the same situation as you. Join us for Coffee/Juice and Treats.
TUESDAY MAR 13th 7:30PM	Prostate Clinic Theatre, 7th Floor of Kaye Edmonton Clinic
	Intimacy and Sexuality after Prostate Cancer Open discussion among members about their current concerns. Bring your questions; someone at the meeting probably has been in the same situation as you. Join us for Coffee/Juice and Treats.

↓ Next Meeting ↓

TUESDAY APR 10th 7:30PM	Prostate Clinic Theatre, 7th Floor of Kaye Edmonton Clinic
	Alberta Health Advocates - Patients Rights by Ryan Bielby Ryan Bielby is a registered Social Worker having joined the Office of the Alberta Health Advocates, (formerly the Mental Health Patient Advocate Office) in 2010 as a Patient Rights Advocate. If you have faced, or are facing, inordinate delays for treatment or diagnosis, problems getting to see a specialist or getting needed therapy, not knowing who you should see for your specific conditions, what services may be covered in other provinces or even in the USA concerns with treatment or services received or planned, how to get a reliable second opinion how the Advocate's Office could have/could assist them in resolving these, etc, Open discussion among members about their current concerns. Bring your questions; someone at the meeting probably has been in the same situation as you. Join us for Coffee/Juice and Treats.

TUESDAY
APR 10th
7:30PM

Prostate Clinic Theatre, 7th Floor of Kaye Edmonton Clinic

Alberta Health Advocates - Patients Rights by Ryan Bielby

Ryan Bielby is a registered Social Worker having joined the Office of the Alberta Health Advocates, (formerly the Mental Health Patient Advocate Office) in 2010 as a Patient Rights Advocate.
If you have faced, or are facing,
- inordinate delays for treatment or diagnosis,
- problems getting to see a specialist or getting needed therapy,
- not knowing who you should see for your specific conditions,
- what services may be covered in other provinces or even in the USA
- concerns with treatment or services received or planned,
- how to get a reliable second opinion
- how the Advocate's Office could have/could assist them in resolving these, etc,
Open discussion among members about their current concerns.
Bring your questions; someone at the meeting probably has been in the same situation as you.
Join us for Coffee/Juice and Treats.

OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS

For the summer, the monthly meetings are an open-discussion format without a guest speaker.

The remainder of the year we feature guest speakers who provide current information and the latest developments on prostate cancer research and treatment: urologists, surgeons, oncologists, researchers, nurses, dietitians, and others.

We also share our experiences with others who are going through the same challenges. Each meeting ends with an open discussion. New attendees are welcome to introduce themselves and express their concerns or ask questions.

We welcome men recently diagnosed, prostate cancer survivors, those seeking information and support, along with their spouses, partners, and families. We openly discuss prostate cancer, treatments, urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction, and other matters that would not be appropriate for younger children.

Click here for location and maps. Second Tuesday of each month at 7:30PM.