OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE HELD AT 7:00 P.M. ON TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 2006
“Early Detection & Management of Prostate Cancer” featuring Dr. Mojtaba Beheshti, MD, of William Osler Health Centre.
Dr. Beheshti was instrumental in the creation of Us Too! Brampton and played a pivotal role in its early years along with urology nurses Sandy Stevens and Jackie Gray. And our friend Norm Oman came over from Manitoba to help start our chapter.
For a long time Dr. Beheshti had to get support from the pharmaceutical industry to run the show at the Peele Memorial Hospital Auditorium, with Sandy and Jackie organizing the meetings until the group was able to function on its own.
We are very pleased to have Dr. Beheshti back to address the group!
If you have any questions for Dr. Beheshti please send them to Fred Norris, Chairman, 905-877-8092 or e-mail fred.norris@ustoo-brampton.com .
We look forward to seeing you in Room #2, The Terry Miller Recreation Center, 1295 Williams Parkway at the southwest corner of Williams Parkway & Bramalea Road. Parking is free.
 

MARCH 14, 2006 "DIETARY CHANGE FOR CANCER RISK REDUCTION"
Member favorite Tanya Giaquinto was in her usual fine form as she presented the latest on Nutrition - a subject always near and dear to our members. Around 50 attentive members, wives and guests absorbed the information offered in Tanya's latest PowerPoint presentation. We are well aware how the contradictions and controversies surrounding food make the subject of nutrition a huge and complicated panorama - it confounds even the most informed among us!
Keeping this in mind, Tanya delivered a talk well focused and largely tailored to address our members' queries and concerns that were relayed to her in advance. Tanya had researched these areas and she provided detailed explanations on the different types of fatty acids, the types of foods where they could be found and what the studies reveal in terms of their interactions and relationship to cancer.
Citing several studies Tanya explained that the typical North American diet averages an 8:1 ratio of Omega 6 (linoleic) to Omega 3 ( linolenic) Fatty Acids whereas a healthier ratio would ideally be 4:1. The diets of the Inuit and Japanese, both groups with historically low rates of Cancer and Cardio Vascular Disease (CVD), for example, showed this ratio as 3:1. And in parts of Asia which are adopting more Western style diets, both cancer and CVD rates are increasing alarmingly.
What the studies are recommending is no more than 2 servings per week of red meats; avoiding the use of Flaxseed oil supplements; 2 to 3 servings per week of Fish such as Salmon, White fish, Halibut or Tuna [canned in water]; low fat dairy products along with a diet rich in fruits and vegetables as being essential in reducing cancer risk.
Tanya went on to cover a variety of other topics ranging from Soy, Flax seed, Fibre, Green tea, Vitamins, Selenium to Boron and their possible impacts on [prostate] cancer.
The jury is still out on supplements - studies consistently recommend that the needed nutrients be obtained as far as possible from natural foods where they were more likely to be naturally available to the body and thus better absorbed.
Regular exercise continues to be emphasized, with around 45 minutes (preferably an hour) per day, 5 days a week being recommended. The effects of daily exercise are cumulative - so it can be undertaken in separate 20 - 25 minute sessions during the day.
Tanya touched upon Boron, its levels and the foods where it can be found. She felt that it was too soon to put any slides together on this trace element, explaining that further studies are needed to arrive at consistent recommendations.
Tanya provided simple, sensible and balanced meal plans that are easy to implement and that are not only nutritious and delicious but contain the needed amounts of the foods that might help to reduce the risk of cancer occurrence or reoccurrence.
In closing she advised members to discuss any dietary changes with their medical professionals in case there were concerns about adverse interactions with their individual condition or medications.
Several one-on-one sessions with various members took place during the break, after which Tanya opened the floor to members' questions. Needless to say this led to a very interactive Q&A session and for once all of the Answers and Questions were clearly heard by all as most members stepped up to the mike!
Overall it was a very informative and educational evening and a much needed refresher on healthy eating habits, from which most of us admittedly drift over time! We could not have asked for more, except as Fred remarked in closing the session: " .... we wish we could have Tanya back every month!! " On behalf of the group our thanks to Tanya Giaquinto for an excellent presentation.
SLIDES & AUDIO DOWNLOADS: We are pleased to offer the full slide presentation made by Tanya at this URL: http:// www.ustoo-brampton.com/dietarychange.pdf . These slides undoubtedly provide a wealth of useful nutritional information and recommendations. Unfortunately the Audio recordings failed due to a technical glitch. We apologize for the inconvenience to those of you who are waiting for the downloads of this valuable session. We will attempt to produce a set of recordings to cover the Tanya's presentation and we will advise you if we are successful.
Fred Norris made a strong appeal for volunteers at this session. We are glad to announce that in response, several members have volunteered to help out. Certainly more volunteers are still needed in many areas. Please contact: Fred Norris, Chairman, 905-877-8092 or e-mail fred.norris@ustoo-brampton.com or any member of the Steering Committee.

A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
I want to start by thanking the people that have volunteered to help us in some of the areas that have become critical to our existence. Both their fresh ideas and back up are greatly appreciated.. Gary Foote will assist Jim Dorsey, John Sleath has volunteered to work with Mukul Luthra and Ken & Carol Gratton will help Tilly Netherton when the need arises.
On March 15th I joined Michelle Karker, the new Unit Manager at the Brampton/Caledon/Georgetown/Dufferin County Unit of the Canadian Cancer Society to speak about Prostate Cancer at a health presentation sponsored by the Canadian Auto Workers Retirees.
Michele was very well versed in the basic facts on the various cancers and specifically in the numbers for prostate cancer. These alarming figures now show that 1 in 6 Canadian men will develop prostate cancer. Fortunately the mortality rate has not increased, mainly as a result of early detection and better treatments.
My role was two-fold, first outlining what Us Too! Brampton does and second impressing upon the group the necessity of a regular check up. To emphasize this I told of my own initial diagnosis and subsequent battle with prostate cancer.
Michelle and I were both well received by the audience of just over 100 people and we fielded many questions
On Sunday April 2nd Us Too! Brampton has been invited to attend and display a booth at the North Bramalea United Church, 363 Howden Boulevard. They are holding a special service called AN EVENING OF HOPE. The special guest speaker is our friend Mark Dailey of City TV. The service will feature a video presentation and networking with various support organizations. Everyone is welcome to the service, which runs from 7:00 P.M. to 8:30 P.M. Come and join us and show that Us Too! Brampton is a strong voice in the community
Fred Norris, Chairman, 905-877-8092 or e-mail fred.norris@ustoo-brampton.com .

2005-2006 GUEST SPEAKERS & EVENTS
Tuesday, May 9- Dr. Jonathan Giddens will present a talk on 'Incontinence' and how it's managed following Radical Surgery.
Tuesday, June 13, 2005 – Summer closing Pot Luck and Social, hopefully with some live entertainment!
Monday, June 19, 2005 - The 6th Annual Us Too! Charity Golf Tournament will be held at the Acton Golf Club.
Friday, June 23, 2005 - The 2006 Relay for Life will start Friday evening and run overnight to Saturday morning at The Brampton Fairgrounds.
Future Speakers - Your suggestions and recommendations for future speakers are always welcome!
Mukul Luthra, Speaker Committee, 519-853-4075, e-mail mukul.luthra@ustoo-brampton.com .

NEW MEMBER MEETINGS NOW ONE-ON-ONE INITIAL COUNSELING
Anybody newly diagnosed with PCa and their partners, if possible, can arrange to meet privately with Bob Vandrish or a member of his committee at a convenient time and location.
Contact: Bob Vandrish, New Member Coordinator at 905-791-5595 e-mail bob.vandrish@ustoo-brampton.com , Sean Butterly, Special Consultant at 905-454-4237 or Fred Norris, Chairman, at 905-877-8092 e-mail fred.norris@ustoo-brampton.com .

(UN)FINANCE
If it were possible to turn back the clock, even as few as fifty years, (which is well within my life time), I think I would be amazed at my ignorance back then. Fresh out of the military, my academic career at its peak, I thought I knew it all. At that time I was in my late twenties, obviously a dangerous age.
I still had a lifetime ahead of me. Life was fun. Oh, to be sure I had commitments and obligations, but these things simply added zest to our life. They made sure we were not forgotten you might say, as there was always the rent to be paid, the kids' school & other activities to juggle, food and clothes to buy, and all the other things that are part of everyday living.
Nothing much to it really. Or was there?
So, let's jump forward to the present day. What do we find ... the same old, same old, for today's young. The difference for me now is I am much better informed. No longer do I think I know it all.
In fact the more I learn, the more I realize how little I know.
At twenty-eight I hadn't a clue what a prostate gland was, and didn't want to know either. Sadly, nothing has changed. My sons give me the "Yeah, yeah, Dad" treatment. "You've told us all that stuff already!"
But will they get a PSA test annually? Not on your life!
There is no doubt about it. We need to educate the young while they are still in school and drive home the necessity of understanding their bodies starting at an early age..
Gee, I wish I was twenty-eight again and knew what I know now...I'll bet you feel the same way.
Sincerely, Gerry Brunjes, Finance, 905-791-3043, e-mail gerry.brunjes@ustoo-brampton.com .

AWARENESS
Members who would like to volunteer to assist in our community awareness efforts should contact: Ian Smith, Awareness Coordinator, 905-454-3880, e-mail ian.smith@ustoo-brampton.com OR Fred Norris, Chairman, 905-877-8092, e-mail fred.norris@ustoo-brampton.com .