CPCN Annual Conference
7th - 9th August, 2005
Delta Chelsea Hotel, Toronto

Jim Dorsey and Ian Smith were our representatives at this conference. They came
back suitably impressed and have put together the following highly informative report :

Attendance at the recent CPCN conference certainly justified the time and expense.
Without exception, all the presentations were quite excellent.
Dr. Gerald Chodak, one of the founders of Us Too International,
presented the keynote address entitled:
"Prostate Cancer: Where We've Been and Where We're Going".

He established one of the recurring themes of the conference: that better-informed
patients are key to effective treatment. In addition, he and other speakers suggested
that doctors - both general practitioners and specialists - must become more
open to other, often new, ideas and opinions.

Other aspects of the treatment of prostate cancer must be recognized such as
better predictors of disease progression. Many ongoing studies form the basis
of clinical trials both in Europe and soon in Canada designed to suggest ways
to reduce the incidence of "over-treatment" or unnecessary treatment of patients.

HIFU: Some topics were less familiar than others. For instance Dr. Edward Woods
presented a new treatment (in Canada) called High Intensity Focused Ultrasound
(HIFU) that complements rather than replaces hitherto standard treatments. In answer
to some of the many questions from delegates, Dr Woods said that for the majority of
younger patients present day treatments may be preferable. However for those patients
with other risk factors such as age or other medical conditions, HIFU may be appropriate.

European experience with HIFU shows minimal side-effects. Collateral damage to
adjacent tissue is minimized by extremely careful positioning of the ultrasound probe,
the use of cooling fluid and keeping the patient absolutely still. This latter feature is
facilitated by spinal rather than general anesthetic because the latter may still allow
involuntary movement by the patient. The equipment that Dr. Woods described is so
sensitive that it shuts down at the slightest movement by the patient.

The development of HIFU will be of interest to many survivors whose earlier treatment
by radiation may have been unsuccessful as HIFU can still be used. While the cost of
one of these treatments is presently around $17,000, that will surely decrease
as competitive treatment centers and equipment become available.

Brachytherapy: Presentations by Dr Juanita Crook and Dr Gerard Morton
gave added insights into brachytherapy techniques. Dr Crook mentioned that the
patient must be informed about different treatment options that may be applicable.
She compared results using External Beam therapy and brachytherapy. She went on
to explain the phenomenon of PSA bounce and to suggest that a temporary rise in
PSA value is not a reason to rush out and try to counteract that rise, perhaps
with hormone treatment.

Dr Morton expanded on the techniques of Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy.
He went on to explain how precise planning is necessary so that only the affected
tissue is irradiated. He explained how the prostate gland does in fact move slightly
over time making it necessary to plot the location of the tumor for each and every
treatment. By so doing the technician may lessen the possibility of radiation
damage to healthy tissue that would otherwise be exposed to radiation.

One major difference between this conference and last year's in Calgary was the 90-minute
workshop session. Delegates from the various support groups made notes for submission
to President Bob Shiell for the following day on topics ranging from group structure and
meeting places to various activities undertaken by them. CPCN has committed itself to
developing more consistency between the groups but without disrupting the groups' individuality.

On the final day, the first speaker was Irene Lange-Mechlen whose husband Rainer
succumbed to prostate cancer in June, 2000. Hers was the most moving presentation.
She held her audience delegates in rapt attention while she dealt with both the tragic aspects
of Rainer's illness and the mundane aspects of her own side of the ordeal. Her speech was
certainly applicable to any family that finds itself faced with any terminal illness. Irene is very
active with the Prostate Cancer Research Foundation of Canada and writes a column
on their web site. She invites anybody with a question "about prostate cancer or how it
affects men and their families" to contact her at:

http://www.prostatecancer.ca/english/living/askirene/index.html

or by telephoning her at (416) 480-5093.

She has access to leaders in the many fields involved, who help her to answer questions
on virtually any aspect of the living with PCa.

This year's proceedings will be available on DVD.

The CPCN's 3rd Annual conference is to be held August 6th to 8th, 2006 in Calgary.

Additional points of interest:

(a) MANY of the delegates were accompanied by their wives, who are actively
involved in their chapters and in their husbands' treatment

(b) In most chapters, the sexes either meet separately or they meet together for
half of the meeting and separately for the rest. The idea is that in most cases, neither
victims nor their wives are going to be willing to open up in front of members of the opposite sex.
Several of the chapters described their 'peer' meetings as resembling "Roasts"! No topic is too sensitive!

(c) Virtually all chapters sponsor information meetings open to victims, families and
any other interested parties, sometimes only once year, sometimes more often.

(d) Admission is often charged for these public events as a means of raising funds.

(e) Chapters can purchase magnetic Blue Ribbon PCa awareness decals
for car trunks at a nominal cost and sell them for $5 to raise funds.

(f) Blue wrist bands will also be available free from CPCN for resale.

(g) Impotence - On this subject that is so vital to men, several of the speakers
suggested that Viagra or an equivalent should be started as soon as possible
after treatment. This is to minimize long-term damage, not to restore full function quickly.
Also mentioned: If you were having issues BEFORE PCa, you will almost certainly have
even more issues AFTER treatment.

(h) Many people expressed regrets that they had to contract Prostate Cancer in
order to meet so many great people!

All were looking forward to August, 2006 in Calgary.
PLEASE consider joining us there.

To register please contact:
|
Fred Norris, Chairman: (905) 877-8092
e-mail: fred.norris@ustoo-brampton.com