Our September meeting was unusual in the sense that men came who were confused about what their PSA meant or their treatment options.  Part of the misunderstanding is the rather parochial nature of some of our local medical community.  What worked in the past is good enough--it usually is.  And PSA is unreliable - it is if you have an enlarged prostate.  It was useful to those who came to get a view of the larger medical community's experience, based on Program Director Henry Plunkett's reading and on his discussions with medical personnel (doctors), either through in-person discussion, past meetings or via the Internet.  The September meeting was unusual, also, in that it involved attendees who came to discuss a particular aspect of prostate cancer diagnosis and its tools.  We have had a large portion involved in the past, but not almost exclusively involved members.

 Improved Outreach: 

Telephone tree:  We had 14 members at our June meeting which was held at an unusual time of the year, in order to test the telephone tree.  At least 5 attendees said they came because we called them; they usually forgot in the past.

One-on-One Counseling:  We have always offered one-on-one counseling, but we want to use the advertising dollars from the off-meeting months to announce the fact.  Henri has counseled several men based on the ad.  Tom and I also have also counseled a few men.

Have a nice fall - Jerry Bylander

Date:   Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Time:  6:30 pm - Social & Coffee  7:00 pm - Program
Location:  Classroom 1,  Wilson N. Jones, 500 N. Highland, Sherman, TX                              
Speaker: Henri Plunkett

Topic:  What is the Latest and Greatest in Radiation Therapy?

About the Speaker: Henri is our local program chair and well up-to-date on prostate cancer issues - mainly through continuous study.

About the Program:  Henri will tell us where to find the various radiation treatment centers of interest to newly-diagnosed members.  There is proton beam therapy now available at M. D. Anderson as well as other places.  One of our members traveled to California for proton beam therapy.  Other members have gone to Oklahoma City, San Francisco, Paris (TX) and Georgia as well as locally, for various types of radiation.  Henri will also discuss the location of other sites such as those for neutron therapy.  He will also be open to questions about the pros and cons of the various types.

New Meeting Plans:  We plan to continue our telephone tree to help get the word out.  We will ask those who want us to continue meeting, to take some names and call before the next meeting.  Please send us names and phone numbers of interested men.

As always the group does not recommend any particular treatment, therapy, physician, or hospital. US TOO Sherman is a prostate cancer group formed for the purpose of sharing information, education, and mutual support.

SPEAKER:  MR. HENRI PLUNKETT.  He is our program director

TOPIC:  CRYOTHERAPY FOR EARLY PROSTATE CANCER

Mr. Plunkett discussed various tests for PC diagnosis and where to obtain those not readily available locally.  

ABOUT THE SPEAKER:  Mr. Plunkett is well-versed in the use of PSA and associated tests to determine the nature of prostate cancer, through extensive study and research.

Material posted here is intended for educational purposes only and must not be considered a substitute for informed medical advice from your own physician.

 Jerry Bylander, Editor