OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE HELD AT 7:00 P.M. ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2006
“Prostate Cancer is not just a Man’s Disease” Irene Lange-Mechlen, Prostate Cancer Center, Toronto-Sunnybrook Regional Cancer Center.
Irene's talk will highlight:
* Her experience with her husband who died of prostate cancer
* The need for men diagnosed with prostate cancer to inform themselves and document advance directives
* The need for women to learn how to deal with financial institutions and the current laws once their husband passes away
* The need for women to get more involved in actively advocating for their men’s #1 health concern
* The need for women and men to be more proactive in advocacy for funding research into this disease
Irene is a founding board member of the Prostate Cancer Research Foundation of Canada, writes a column on their web site, and is a lively advocate with healthcare organizations, government and the public for prostate cancer awareness and public funding of prostate cancer research.
(As mentioned in the September Newsletter, Irene invites anybody with a question "about prostate cancer or how it affects men and their families" to submit that question at http://www.prostatecancer.ca/english/ask_the_expert/ask_a_question/ . The Foundation has access to Irene and to other leaders in the many fields involved, who will strive to answer questions on virtually any aspect of living with PCa.)
At the last CPCN conference in Toronto Irene held her audience of conference delegates and guests in rapt attention with a very moving presentation based on her personal experiences.
Irene's “talk” will be quite a bit different from the traditional medical presentations that highlight our Monthly Meetings. It will appeal to both men and women and we encourage both members and spouses to attend.
If you would like to forward questions in advance to Irene to respond during her talk,- please send them to the attention of : 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.
 

JANUARY 10, 2006 "SURVIVING PROSTATE CANCER - 10 YEARS AND BEYOND"
This excellent presentation was delivered by Dr. Peter Chung on behalf of Dr. Mary Gospodarowicz, who was unable to address us due to an unforeseen schedule change. More than 80 members, spouses and guests attended the meeting.
Dr. Chung conducted the talk extremely well and the Question and Answer session was particularly interactive and interesting.
Details of the Talk, the Audio recordings and Presentation slides are under construction and will be made available on our web site http://www.ustoo-brampton as soon as possible.
Our thanks to Dr. Gospodarowicz for nominating Dr. Peter Chung and to Dr. Peter Chung for accepting the nomination.

A MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR
A very short Newsletter this month as my work load continues to expand and take me outside Canada for long periods of time. My next trips have me out of the country from January 31 to February 10 and then again from February 14 to February 24.
This means that all of the effort that goes into maintaining the member database, generating the Telephone Caller lists and creating, copying and mailing the Newsletter must occur over one very short weekend.
What's my point? I am wondering if any of you - members or spouses - have ever had a desire to edit a Newsletter? I can promise you lots of work but lots of satisfaction as well. If you are interested, please contact me via e-mail or "snail mail."
Jim Dorsey, Communications, 5 Lisa Street, Suite 908, Brampton L6T 4T4 or e-mail jim.dorsey@ustoo-brampton.com .

2005-2006 GUEST SPEAKERS & EVENTS
Tuesday March 14, 2006 - Tanya Giaquinto will update us with the latest news on "Nutrition" [Subject to final confirmation]
Future Speakers - We have an exciting line up of speakers and events coming up for 2006. Please watch for announcements. Your suggestions 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 .

FINANCE
Last week I had the good fortune to walk the decks of the battleship Missouri in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, within sight of the Battleship Arizona Memorial. The Arizona was of course sunk at her moorings on December 7, 1941, dubbed the "Day of Infamy", which brought the might of the United States into the WW 2 fray.
I remember when it happened; I was 14 years old.
US personnel who died there that day numbered 2,390, with 1,178 wounded. 64 Japanese died also, with an unknown number of wounded. You would think the lessons of sneak attack have been learned, but you and I know better, don't we?
We know from a study of history that the Japanese attack was in effect an attack of retaliation, brought about by shortages of raw materials for their industries. In effect, it was an attack born of desperation. We also know that war with Japan was a distinct possibility at that time anyway. But it was a possibility that the western world chose to ignore.
The Pearl Harbor attack woke the United States to the realization that a determined effort would be needed to defeat this enemy.
If you have guessed already that I am likening these historical facts to the ongoing sneak attacks by Cancer, Prostate or otherwise, that continue to kill or severely wound so many of us, you are right.
However, the big difference lies in the fact that the "Day of Infamy" is over, all the facts are known and the perpetrators were defeated. All but three of the sunken warships were repaired and reentered the fray. The dead were counted, the reason was eliminated, the might and will of the people prevailed.
But the battle against Prostate Cancer continues. Over ten times the casualties suffered in that attack on Pearl Harbor have occurred yearly since "The Day of Infamy".
So why hasn't this enemy been defeated? Why is this battle still raging? Why is this enemy now launching its sneak attack on younger men? I'll tell you why.
Pearl Harbor awoke the 'Sleeping Giant' with one fell swoop. But Prostate Cancer hits us silently, one individual at a time. We have lost millions to it...and yet we slumber on.
We worry about the potential of Bird Flu, knowing that a pandemic would kill millions of us. So, a supreme effort is being made worldwide to prevent it. Similar efforts were made to defeat SARS, Small Pox, Diphtheria, Polio, Tuberculosis and a host of other deadly diseases.
It took a wake up jolt to defeat those enemies - and money, lots of it, to cover the cost of conducting each of those wars.
So, let's do our bit to help to defeat this longtime enemy, Prostate Cancer, once and for all so that our children and grandchildren do not have to face it.
At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor the Japanese Admiral Yamamoto was heard to remark " I fear we have awakened a sleeping giant and filled him with a terrible resolve".
Well, we all know the end of the story: the defeat of Imperial Japan plus Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany.
I believe that there already exists a growing resolve to defeat prostate cancer. We need your help to turn that resolve into another 'Awakened Giant'.
Sincerely, Gerry Brunjes, Finance, 905-791-3043, e-mail gerry.brunjes@ustoo-brampton.com .

AWARENESS
Perhaps it is not usual under the heading of "Awareness" to comment on the following month's guest speaker. If ever there was a suitable topic for raising awareness, Irene Lange-Mechlen's presentation would surely be it. Having heard Irene speak at the CPCN conference last August, I can assure you that this will be one of our most important presentations.
You can read the summary of the topic, "Prostate Cancer is not just a men's disease!" above. Irene promises that while she will not be shy about addressing any of the issues arising from Prostate Cancer, she will be diplomatic about some of the more serious aspects of dealing with a terminal illness. All of us may some day have a beloved family member diagnosed with a terminal illness, not necessarily Cancer. Irene's presentation will make us more proactive in dealing with such a situation.
The group should endeavour to make it a "record attendance" like never before at a General Meeting. We must encourage as many wives, spouses and companions as possible to turn out for the meeting on February 14th.
Members who would like to volunteer to assist in our community awareness efforts should contact: Ian Smith, Awareness Coordinator, 905-454-3880, or e-mail ian.smith@ustoo-brampton.com or Fred Norris, Chairman, 905-877-8092 or e-mail fred.norris@ustoo-brampton.com .