OUR NEXT MEETING IS AT 7:00 P.M., TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 14, 2004
Us Too! Brampton is pleased to announce our next session: "What Now? Coping with the Diagnosis and Treatment of Prostate Cancer", by Michelle Flax.
Michelle holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. She has a private practice in Toronto and is also on the faculty at the Toronto Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis. She has extensive experience in dealing with couples and individuals who have had to face life-altering crises.
Michelle will talk about the psychological and emotional issues that individuals and couples face once they have been given a diagnosis of prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer treatment poses many difficulties for couples, not only in terms of intimacy, but also in terms of quality of life and fears for the future. Michelle's talk will focus particularly on coping strategies that are useful in dealing with these dilemmas. This is a not-to-be-missed opportunity!
If you have any questions for Michelle, please contact: Fred Norris, Chairman, (905) 877-8092 or e-mail fred.norris@ustoo-brampton.com.
We continue to meet in Room #2, The Terry Miller Recreation Center, 1295 Williams Parkway at the southwest corner of Williams Parkway & Bramalea Road. Parking is free.
 

JUNE 8, 2004 OUR SEASONAL POT LUCK AND SOCIAL
Around 53 members and guests enjoyed this delightful evening. For once we all kicked back, relaxed, chatted, and had a great buffet while being treated to a professional performance by Bruce Laing and Josh Crocker, our 'homegrown' talents from Georgetown! The duo put together a complimentary program especially for Us-Too! Brampton. The mood was delightfully upbeat as they took members down memory lane, with song after song, decade by decade from the 60's on. The crowd feasted on a great buffet and then toe-tapped to their all time favorite tunes and absolutely loved it.
Some bad news was delivered: Don Grant, one of the founding fathers of Us Too! Brampton and one of its strongest pillars, will be moving to Peterborough this Fall. Don has been championing our cause over the years and we as a group owe him a great deal for helping the chapter get to where it is today. Don will certainly be missed at our Coffee Club and Steering Committee meetings, matching wits and ideas on many aspects of the chapter. Fred expressed his thanks and gratitude to Don on behalf of all of us. We hope that Don will travel down to join us at our monthly meetings as frequently as possible.
This was one delightful evening - Thanks Bruce and Josh and thanks to everyone who joined us!

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
The June Meeting signified that this group has been in existence for 10 years. Of the 125 groups that come under the umbrella of CPCN we rank with the best.
We are proud of the group's achievements; however, it is often difficult to motivate our members to provide the necessary support to carry out our various functions. Right now, we have no one to run the monthly New Member Meetings. This is a very important part of our operation and we are appealing to all of you: Please come forward and help. It is not a difficult job to coordinate these meetings and call upon counselors as required.
Where have we been and what have we done since the June Potluck? A successful golf tournament was held, and we once again participated in the Relay For Life, where our team did well as always.
I spent three days in Whistler, BC at the invitation (and expense) of one of the drug companies that has developed a new treatment for advanced metasized prostate cancer. Believe me, big strides are taking place in clinical trials to eradicate this disease and improve the treatments available.
Last of all Gerry Brunjes, Ian Smith and yours truly attended The Calgary CPCN Conference, the first gathering of Chapters since the CPCN was formed in March, 1997. We listened to several prominent Doctors explain in detail the various choices available for treating prostate cancer and the advances that have been made. In the evenings we enjoyed typical western hospitality and in all sincerity I think that CPCN President Bob Shiell and his organizing group did a wonderful job. It was great to meet with other chapter representatives and exchange views. It is planned to follow up with another conference in 2005 in Toronto. We should be able to increase our presence there. For more information on the conference and to see what our brother organizations are doing, go to http://www.cpcn.org
For the Future, we start off our 11th season on September 14th and I expect a large turnout for Michelle Flax's presentation. I would also like to appeal again for some new volunteers to serve on the Steering Committee. We need fresh faces and ideas. Thank you!
Fred Norris, Chairman, (905) 877-8092, e-mail fred.norris@ustoo-brampton.com.

2004-2005 GUEST SPEAKERS
Our speakers and events for the remainder of the 2003 - 2004 season are:
Tuesday, October 12th, 2004 - Survivor Night is back by Popular Demand - Six survivors share how they have survived the diagnosis and treatment of their prostate Cancer.
Tuesday, November 9th, 2004 - Dr. Mojtaba Beheshti will make a presentation on Erectile Dysfunction.
Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - Our Christmas Social - Buffet Dinner, hopefully featuring the guitars of Bruce and Josh.
Tuesday, January 11, 2005 - Dr. S. D. Sehdev, Oncologist, will discuss the latest in chemotherapy treatment.
Tuesday, February 8, 2005 - Robert Bell, William Osler Health Center CEO, will speak on "The Hospitals - The Old and the New" (To be Confirmed)
Note: The presentation on 'Gleason Scores' by Dr. John Srigley, Credit Valley Hospital, originally scheduled for the Feb. 04 session will most likely be rescheduled next year. We are actively seeking interesting speakers to fill the balance of our 2005 year. Your suggestions are always welcome!
We do not hold meetings in July and August.
Don Grant, Speaker Committee, e-mail don.grant@ustoo-brampton.com

NEW MEMBER MEETINGS
New Member meetings are held on the fourth Tuesday of each month at Suite 304, 57 Mill Street. The next scheduled meeting will be held between 6:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 28.
Please be sure to phone ahead to confirm your attendance and receive directions to the meeting. Please contact: Sean Butterly, Special Consultant at (905) 454-4237 or Chairman, Fred Norris, at (905) 877-8092 e-mail fred.norris@ustoo-brampton.com.

AWARENESS
Princess Margaret Hospital is currently conducting "Impact of androgen deprivation therapy on quality of life and cognitive function of older patients with non-metastatic prostate cancer: a pilot study." The principal investigator is Dr. Ian Tannock. Participants should be "in the sixties to seventies" age-group. I will have more information on this study at the September 14th meeting.
Mayor Susan Fennell and Brampton City Council have kindly agreed to proclaim the week of September 20th to 26th as "Prostate Cancer Awareness Week" in the city. Accordingly, Us Too! Brampton has scheduled two major projects to coincide with Awareness Week.
The first project is an "Awareness" presentation at Chinguacousy Branch of Brampton Library on Wednesday, September 22nd in the General Purpose Meeting Room on the lower level. It begins at 7:30 p.m. and is expected to last about one hour. Information brochures will be available for the general public. We would like to see some of our members turn out in support.
The second project is another sponsored "Free PSA Clinic", to be held at Shoppers World, Hurontario Street at Steeles Avenue, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, September 25th. We shall once again target men aged 40 and older who either have not had a PSA test at all or have not had one in the preceding twelve months; and who are currently not receiving treatment for prostate disease.
Once again, I am looking for volunteers to assist in registering clinic participants and in speaking with passersby who may request further information., Please contact Ian Smith, Awareness Coordinator, at (905) 454-3880, or e-mail ian.smith@ustoo-brampton.com.

FINANCE
You are probably aware by now that your Chairman, Vice Chairman and Treasurer were able to attend the CPCN conference in Calgary in August. Thanks to the benevolent support of AstraZeneca, our costs were limited to transportation and convention fees, which were kept to a minimum. We were given the royal treatment, and we were informed that Us Too! Brampton came in number one from across the nation in financial support of the "Living Proof" campaign last year. We can be justifiably proud of our membership, and all who supported the Living Proof campaign. (Next year's CPCN conference is to be held in TORONTO, and you will all be invited to attend and join in the FUN.)
Through membership subscriptions, miscellaneous donations, the golf tournament and donations to our first Free PSA Clinic in April, we were able to hold our own financially. This was despite the high cost of the Clinic, office expenses, donations given to other groups and the room rentals at Mill Street and Terry Miller. Fortunately, most of our speakers last year gave their time and effort freely.
Although we were able to keep pace financially with costs, the coming year may not be quite so easy. For instance, we will conduct a second Free PSA Clinic early this fall in Shoppers World. There is hardly a better way to raise awareness in the public eye, but it requires funds to do so. In the past we have been able to present a 'Theatre Night' which has raised needed funds. We are interested to hear whether you think that it would be a good idea to do it again. No theatre group has been approached as yet, and we would welcome anyone who would like to volunteer to get their feet wet in this potentially good fund raiser.
It is our intention to maintain our low yearly subscription at $10, to provide free refreshments at General Meetings and to request the voluntary $2 at the door to help defray room rental costs. (As you know there is no parking fee).
We have a great hard working committee who want nothing more than to bring Prostate Cancer Awareness to the forefront. BUT...we need your help, support and input to be successful. So come, be part of the operation of your group. You will find that it will give you yet another great reason for living!
- Gerry Brunjes, Finance, (905) 791-3043, e-mail gerry.brunjes@ustoo-brampton.com.
 

US TOO! BRAMPTON 4th ANNUAL CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT, JUNE 21, 2004
This year's Golf tournament, held at the Acton Golf Club, was a huge success. Some 81 members, friends, guests and invitees teed off to a wonderful day of fun and entertainment. This all-day event included a great meal and ended with a raffle with prizes galore at the Acton Golf Course.
Peter Barhydt was our Golf Convener this year and he did a wonderful job. Well done, Peter! Peter was supported by an experienced Golf Committee comprising Sean Butterly, Morris Rambout, Don Grant and Jack Dainton. Volunteers included Margaret Butterly, Pat Goodland, Fred Norris, Monica Long, Tilly Netherton, Chuck Barhydt and others. Us Too! Brampton acknowledges all who contributed prizes for this event and all who worked behind the scenes to make it such a grand success. Our thanks to each and every one for your invaluable support.
Peter has volunteered to serve as Golf Convener again next year. Be the first on your block to sign up for next year's committee! Contact: Peter Barhydt: (905) 459-8516, peter.barhydt@ustoo-brampton.com OR Fred Norris: (905) 877-8092, fred.norris@ustoo-brampton.com.

RELAY FOR LIFE - 2004
Once again, Us Too! Brampton entered a team in the Canadian Cancer Society's annual Relay For Life, held for the first time at the Brampton Fairgrounds. Our Relay team and other Us Too! Brampton members enjoyed the Survivor's Reception and the Opening Ceremony and were then cheered loudly as they walked the "Survivor's Victory Lap" together.
A high point of the Opening Ceremony came when our Chairman, Fred Norris, delivered a speech that was immensely well received. Fred is one of the few individuals from a support group to have been invited to address this event. Us Too! Brampton can feel proud of this recognition. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Canadian Cancer Society and thank the event organizers, notably Pat Ramirez and Sue Scarfone, for their efforts.
Thousands of participants came from all over Ontario, from other parts of Canada, from the U.S. and even from overseas. They camped, they held hands, they sang and they walked. RVs and tents dotted the grounds. Music and activities went nonstop all night long. Ignoring the unusually chilly temperatures, walkers walked and runners ran, young and old, all fired by our common fight against cancer. And they continued all night long - right up to 7 a.m. the next day!
The Us Too! Brampton banner was prominent at our camp site beside the track. We lit "luminaries" and joined in a silent tribute to our members who have sadly passed away. Our plaque "Prostate Cancer Can Kill, Awareness Can Save", centered in our circle of 21 luminaries, clearly conveyed our mission. Bruce and Josh, who so ably entertained us at our June Pot luck, were among the performers for the evening. They had kids of all ages joining hands and dancing. Their performance was so well received that they will likely make an encore appearance next year.
My thanks to Denis Paris, Kenneth Clarke, Frank Connolly, Mukul Luthra, Ian Smith, Mike Loughnan and Reg Ballam, who walked with me this year. I look forward to next year. And next year we all intend to take the event even more seriously and to be the best team there!
To get involved, please call me: Jim Dorsey at (905) 453-3038, e-mail jim.dorsey@ustoo-brampton.com or see me at any Monthly Meeting.

OUR WEB SITE CONTINUES TO EVOLVE - www.ustoo-brampton.com
Mukul Luthra, our Multimedia Specialist, continues to keep our web site up to date. Of special interest this month are all the pictures from our most recent events - the June Pot Luck, the Relay for Life and the Golf Tournament. Check them out!
You will also find numerous audio & video downloads of past presentations as well as Adobe Acrobat versions of various past speakers' slide presentations and other materials. Photos of events of interest to the group are constantly updated. Thanks, Mukul!
Contact Mukul Luthra, (905) 873-8367, e-mail mukul.luthra@ustoo-brampton.com.