Why are we doing this?

Here is an extract from an email sent to me by Peter, an old friend of mine in South Africa. He sent it to me in November, 2007. I publish it with his permission.

...about my own brush with prostate cancer.  I was diagnosed with it in February this year, although suspected since August 2006, but that was just before my by-pass (I sent you an email about that), so prostate surgery was not appropriate right then.  I had the prostatectomy in May, so am now 6 months over it.  The immediate post-surgery time was not nice - all the stuff surrounding 3 weeks of catheter and then the subsequent incontinence was really traumatic.  There was a guy at work who had gone through it all a few years back and he was a great encouragement to me.  It is all looking OK now (my two PSA readings since the surgery have been 0.06 and 0.09 - which is essentially "undetectable", and I hope it stays down there in the less than 0.1 area), but during the first month or so after the catheter came out (which itself was 3 weeks after the surgery), I was quite desparate about ever coming right.  If you have to go the surgery route, let me know and maybe I will be able to provide a long-distance shoulder to cry on.

In a follow-up email Peter wrote:
I think people normally like the radiation because it doesn't involve being admitted to hospital/anaesthetic/etc.  But my reading tells me that the side effects of radiation can be just as bad as those from prostatectomy - i.e. urinary incontinence or the opposite (blockage), impotence, etc.  On top of that the radiation (unless you do the one where they sort of inject radioactive little blobs into the prostate) can cause damage to all the surrounding stuff.  In the end, I suppose, everyone has to make their own decision. It's not easy, though, when you are just a layperson in medical terms.

Thank you, Peter, for your frank sharing of your experience with prostate cancer and I am glad that, 2 years later, you are still getting those negligible PSA counts.

Movember Day 9 - Our First Ton for 2009!

Drum roll! Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Trumpets! Ta-da! Ta-da! Ta-da!
Now hear ye!

The Mo Stashed Hairiers have made their first thousand dollars for Movember 2009.

Thank you ...
... Bryan for your donation to Taylor Landry
... Trevor and Tony for your donations to James Demarco
... Andrea for your donation to Stephen Faris
... Janet for your donation to Terry McCann

These donations take us past the $1,000 mark to $1,150.00.  Well done, Hairiers, and a big thank you to all our sponsors who have brought us this far. We love all of you, our friends and, especially, our Mo Sisters.

Greg and Taylor sent me this special shot of Mo father-son bonding taken after watching some Sunday Mo football and probably consuming mo' wobbly-pops than they planned to. Thank you, Mo Sister Margaret, for capturing this heart-string-tugging moment that must surely bring a tear to every eye.

Actually, there is a more serious side to Taylor. Here's his own account of what is driving his Movember effort this year: "Prostate Cancer is something that has affected my family. My grandfather had it, and bless him, beat it. Just want to raise awareness and some cash for a great cause. And who doesn't enjoy growing a MO from time to time? Third year running w/ the 'Mo Stashed Hairiers' - this will be the best year yet! LET THE MO GROW!!!"

... and it's great to have you on the team, Taylor!

10 Foods for a Healthy Prostate

Here's an online article from Reader's Digest:
10 Foods for a Healthy Prostate

One in six North American men will develop prostate cancer. A nutrient-rich, low-fat diet can play a vital role in preventing cancer from developing in this important gland.

Read on ...

Remember, remember the month of Movember

Remember, remember the month of Movember
Fun with Mo reason
For this is the season
For lips to grow stubble
So efforts can double
That cancer gets whipped
By those hairy lipped
And their sponsors who give
To the scientists who live
For the day when they find out the way
After all we've endured
That cancer gets cured.

Interview with Dr. Danny Vesprini

Movember Canada has published an excellent interview with Dr. Danny Vesprini, the Science Officer for Prostate Cancer Canada, who answers the following Questions about Prostate Cancer Testing:

1. What does PSA stand for?
2. How is the PSA test performed?
3. When should men begin testing?
4. What’s a bad PSA score?
5. If you get a bad PSA score what are the typical next steps?
6. What are the limitations around the PSA test?

Click here to get the answers.

Photo from Community Connects Newsletter of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Movember Meets Prostate Cancer Survivor Scott Patterson

Here is a brief, very honest interview with a young guy who went through treatment for prostate cancer.
See it here or go to You Tube