TheWalnuT • July/august 2013 Page 1

NeWsletteR OF PROstate CaNCeR CaNaDa NetWORK OttaWa July/augusT,2013P.O. Box 23122, Ottawa, ON K2a 4e2 • (613) 828-0762 • info@pccnottawa.ca

Toronto, ON – June 11, 2013 – Prostate Cancer Canada (PCC) is

proud to announce the recipients of the inaugural Movember Team Grants. The program promotes collaboration between not only researchers but also institutions, providing a united approach to prostate cancer research. The recipient group will receive $5 million in funding.

The 2013 Movember Team Grant has been awarded to Dr. Ralph Buttyan of the Vancouver Prostate Centre (Principal Investigator), who leads a team of 22 Co-Investigators. The title of their research is Tumour Cell Plasticity in Treatment-Resistant Prostate Cancer and their study will

focus on targeting aggressive and lethal cancer.

“The successful grant recipients epitomize the collaborative spirit of the Movember Team Grants award. Truly a coast-to-coast group, team members include investigators from Vancouver to St. John’s,” says Rocco Rossi, President and CEO at PCC. “These Canadian researchers are recognized as international leaders in the field of prostate cancer research – we’re proud to fund such an accomplished group.”

Prostate Cancer Canada firmly believes that by having experts from different disciplines working together, we will continue to make advancements in all facets of the cancer spectrum such as treatment, diagnosis and survivorship. This team approach allows researchers to tackle issues from all angles and propose innovative solutions while also providing a training environment for investigators starting their research career.

“It’s collaboration that helped Mo Bros and Mo Sistas raise over $42 million in 2012 and it’s only by working together that we truly will have an everlasting impact on the face of men’s health,” commented Pete Bombaci,

National Director, Movember Canada. “Knowing that the teamwork of the Mo community is helping to facilitate that of the research community is truly inspiring and we look forward to working together towards men’s health outcomes for Canada and the world.”

The Movember Team Grants Program is the largest open research competition in PCC’s history. Representing collaboration, one of PCC’s key program pillars, the initiative is one of the new research programs launched under PCC’s Research Strategic Plan.

ThankyoutoMovemberPCC would like to recognize the Movember Foundation as the sole funder of this program in 2013. For information about prostate cancer research, visit prostatecancer.ca

from prostatecancer.ca

CollaborationandInnovationinProstateCancerResearchawardedwith$5MillioninMovemberTeamgrants

summertime and the living is easy...

Please note that this issue is for both July and august.

the Walnut’s editorial stiffs, er, staff are bound by union rules not to do anything constructive for two months. Mind you, some would say this is a consistent theme.

Have a wonderful and restful summer. see you in september! (Wasn’t that a song, too?)

CRaCkIngoPenThIsWalnuT

See Collaboration on page 3

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P.O. Box 23122, Ottawa, ON K2a 4e2 613-828-0762 (Voicemail) email: info@pccnottawa.ca • pccnottawa.caPCCN OttaWa is a volunteer organization of prostate cancer survivors and caregivers. Our purpose is to support newly-diagnosed, current, and continuing patients and their caregivers. PCCN Ottawa is a member of the Prostate Cancer Canada Network.

Co-chairmen JohnarnoldandBillDolan Past Chair WilfgilchristVice Chair Vacanttreasurer JimThomsonsecretary JohnTemple

steeringCommitteeProgram Director BillDolanMentoring Director harveynuelleOutreach/awareness JohnarnoldVolunteer Coordinator BillleePeer support Director knowltonConstanceNewsletter editor: RichardBercuson layout:shannonking Photos:ChrisBrown, Margaretgibberd Distribution: andyProulx,arlandBenn Contributors: Wilfgilchrist,ChrisBrown Members at large DavidBrittain,lionelBurns, JohnDugan,gerrygilbert, Johnstonieradmin support team MikeCassidy,DougPayette, Martindeleeuw,FilyoungWebsite ChrisBrownDatabase Wilfgilchristthank you cards JoyceMcInnis

PCCN Ottawa does not assume responsibility or liability for the contents or opinions expressed in this newsletter. the views or opinions expressed are solely for the information of our members and are not intended for self-diagnosis or as an alternative to medical advice and care.

PCCnottawaMissionstatementWeprovideinformationonprostatecancertothoseinneed,gatheredfromavarietyofsources.Weparticipateineventsthatprovideavenueforpromotingawarenessofprostatecancerthroughourinformedmemberinteractionatpublicgatheringsorasspeakers.WecollaboratewithlocalorganizationssuchasTheottawahospital,theottawaRegionalCancerFoundation,theCanadianCancersociety,urologistsandoncologistsforinformationandsupport.

summaryofsteeringCommitteeMeeting,Thurs.,June27,2013BBQsocialPCCN Ottawa held its first BBQ social evening on June 20th. This was a successful event that was well attended by members, spouses and partners. Based on its resounding success, it will be an annual event for years to come.

outreachOn June 1, 2013, PCCN Ottawa had 37 of its members serve as an honour guard at the annual Motorcycle Ride For Dad involving some 1500 motorcyclists who raised approximately $4,000,000 for local prostate cancer awareness.

On July 20, PCCN Ottawa will be helping at the Sparks Street Car Show. If you are interested in participating, please call Will Lee our volunteer coordinator at (613) 825-1186. Should be great fun!

PCCCarRaffleIn a new fundraising effort, PCC will be holding a car raffle for a limited edition new Camaro worth approximately $80,000. Tickets are $20 each. There will be a maximum of 10,000 tickets sold for a chance to win this unique collector’s item. The draw will take place on September 18, 2013. Members of PCCN Ottawa will be selling these raffle tickets at various car shows and other local events over the summer. Anyone wanting to buy tickets for this worthwhile cause may contact David Brittain at (613) 820-1001.

Treasurer’sReportTreasurer Jim Thomson tabled the PCCN Ottawa Statement of Financial Reports as at May 31, 2013. PCCN Ottawa is financially stable. There were no major expenses this month. PCCN Ottawa was the recipient this past month of a $500 donation from a Haligonian.

Punishing…howdoyoumakeholywater?Boilthehelloutofit!Whenchemistsdie,theybarium.Ididatheatricalperformanceaboutpuns.Itwasaplayonwords.Ididn’tlikemybeardatfirst.Thenitgrewonme.Whatdoesaclockdowhenit’shungry?Itgoesbackfourseconds.

TheWalnuT • July/august 2013 Page 3

6:30p.m.: Prostate Cafe – Join our members, both new and experienced, for some relaxing conversation and good snacks including, we hope, tasty macaroons!

Both summer meetings will feature these informal talks.

WemeetthethirdThursdayofeachmonthatst.stephen’sanglicanChurch,930Watsonstreet.FollowtheQueenswaytothePinecrestexitandproceednorth,pastthetrafficlights,tost.stephen’ssteet

ontheleft.Parkingisattherearofthechurch.

PleaseReMeMBeRyouRConTRIBuTIonFoRThesT.sTePhen’sFooDBank.

suMMeRMonThlyMeeTIngs July18andaugust15

(noTe:WarriorsmeetingswillnowbetheTuesdayBeFoRetheregularmonthlymeeting)at the Maplesoft Centre for Cancer survivorship Care 1500 alta Vista Drive (at Industrial in Cancer survivors park, across from Canada Post)

WaRRIoRssuPPoRTgRouP July16andaugust13:1-3pm

TheWalnuT • July/august 2013 Page 3

PCCN Ottawa’s Chuck graham (2nd from left) represented us at City Hall on June 3 for the presentation of a plaque commemorating National Cancer survivors Day.Others in the photo include elaine Dean (far left), Mayor Jim Watson (holding plaque), and Jackie Manthorne (far right), President and CeO of Canadian Cancer survivor Network (CCsN).

aboutProstateCancerCanadaProstate Cancer Canada raises funds for the development of programs related to awareness and public education, advocacy, support of those affected, and research into the prevention, detection, treatment and cure of prostate cancer.

aboutMovemberMovember aims to forever change the face of men’s health through the power of the moustache by raising awareness and funds for men’s health issues, specifically prostate cancer and men’s mental health. Funds raised are directed to programs run by the Movember Foundation and its local men’s health partners in countries around the world. Since its inception in 2003, over 2 million participants have raised over $439 M for its causes globally. Currently Movember is officially taking place in 21 countries. For more information please visit movember.com or @MovemberCA. Movember is a registered charity in Canada – BN 848215604 RR0001.

Collaboration from page 1

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The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test measures an enzyme produced

almost exclusively by the glandular cells of the prostate. It is secreted during ejaculation into the prostatic ducts that empty into the urethra. PSA liquefies semen after ejaculation, promoting the release of sperm. Normally, only very small amounts of PSA are present in the blood. But an abnormality of the prostate can disrupt the normal architecture of the gland and create an opening for PSA to pass into the bloodstream. Thus, high blood levels of PSA can indicate prostate problems, including cancer. PSA blood levels are expressed as nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL).

PSA velocity is a measurement of annual changes in PSA values, which rise more rapidly in men with prostate cancer than in men without the disease. A study from Johns Hopkins and the National Institute on Aging found that an increase in PSA level of more than 0.75 ng/mL per year was an early predictor of prostate cancer in men with PSA levels between 4 ng/mL and 10 ng/mL.

PSA velocity is especially helpful in detecting early cancer in men with mildly elevated PSA levels and a normal digital rectal exam. It is most useful in predicting the presence of cancer when changes in PSA are evaluated over at least one to two years. In a study reported in the New England Journal of Medicine, a rapid rise in PSA level (more than 2 ng/ mL) in the year before prostate cancer diagnosis and surgical treatment predicted a higher likelihood that a man would die of his prostate cancer over the next seven years.

Moreover, a Johns Hopkins study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that a man’s PSA velocity 10 to 15 years before he was diagnosed with prostate cancer predicted his survival from the disease 25 years later. In the study, 92 percent of men with an earlier PSA velocity of 0.35 ng/mL or less per year had survived, compared with 54 percent of men whose PSA velocity was greater than 0.35 ng/mL.

aRealholIDayby Glenn Kletke

those glossy dazzling travel brochures never do it for me. they always drumbeat exotic cruises, faraway islands, big cities. Mountains of cheap travel destinations. a trip to be remembered for your lifetime.

Not quite what I want. so here I sit staring at my baffled travel agent and demanding a booklet on Psa escapes. a real holiday! No requisition forms and no blood samples. No doctor appointments. No Psa numbers.

and how long would you like to get away? easy, I shout, a few months, maybe a year. My travel agent looks me straight in the eye. Why that’s bloody irresponsible! think of it. you could do serious damage to your health!

as our tantrums fade, she agrees to help me. give me your medical emergency numbers. We need to plan. sure, I say, here they are. she vanishes and returns with her cellphone. It’s your doctor and he wants to talk to you.

Glenn Kletke’s poetry has most recently appeared in “Whistle for Jellyfish” published by Booklands Press

TheWalnutlaureate

healthCanadaapprovesabirateronegood news for castrate resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) patients!

Health Canada has announced that the drug Zytiga (abiraterone) should be accessible nationwide to all men wishing to take advantage of this new drug. We have been advocating for this with provincial governments for at least a year. success!

WhatWeCanlearnbyMeasuringPsaVelocityFrom Johns Hopkins Health alert

scenesFromaBBQPhotosbyChrisBrown

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heaRye!heaRye!heaRye!

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RaceResultsforultimateRun2013Place name Time Category CategoryPlace genderPlace 5/10kmsplit

Race Results 5 km

95 Fred Nadeau 0:25:01.8 M60-69 6/22 74/282

167 Jennifer Christie 0:27:26.0 F30-39 8/44 50/232

189 allan Rock 0:27:54.3 M60-69 8/22 133/282

226 John gibberd 0:28:54.2 M60-69 9/22 149/282

351 Randy Dudding 0:32:49.6 M60-69 14/22 210/282

383 lesley Bercuson 0:34:14.5 F50-59 22/31 160/232

394 stephanie Howard 0:34:47.0 F60-69 4/5 168/232

431 ed Brady 0:37:01.9 M70-79 7/11 242/282

453 Wilfred gilchrist 0:38:57.0 M70-79 9/11 251/282

465 Don Orr 0:40:10.1 M70-79 10/11 253/282

513 Ron Marsland 1:00:42.9 M80+ 1/2 280/282

Race Results 10 km

149 Quinn Redekop 0:54:27.8 M40-49 26/43 111/174 00:26:09

Race Results 15 km

28 Richard Bercuson 1:26:10.9 M60-69 2/3 19/24 00:57:21

ultimateRunwastheultimate!by Wilf gilchrist

the 2013 version of the ultimate Run took place on Father’s Day, June 16. It was a great day for running. the rain held off long enough for everyone to finish, including Richard Bercuson who did the 15 km run. the rain started just after he finished. this 15 km run is the only run at this distance in the Ottawa area. Perhaps it will become a popular race.

Congratulations to all who were there on the day, including volunteers parking cars, passing out water and serving pancakes.

some of the Prostate gurus pose prior to their Father’s Day runs/walks.