CONQUER & CURE:

The Electronic Newsletter of the Massachusetts Prostate Cancer Coalition

Volume 5, Number 2, June 2008

(© 2008 Massachusetts Prostate Cancer Coalition)

Dear Subscriber,

We hope you enjoy this issue of Conquer & Cure, a periodic online Enewsletter published by the Massachusetts Prostate Cancer Coalition. The newsletter provides current news, regional information, research, and web-based resources about prostate cancer for newly diagnosed individuals, survivors and their families, as well as for health care professionals.

11^th ANNUAL MASSACHUSETTS PROSTATE CANCER SYMPOSIUM

With more than a dozen informative presentations and panels, and a challenging keynote by Susan F. Sovin, MD, PhD (Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center), this year’s annual symposium continued was an outstanding event, covering a range of issues, including the significance of immunological approaches for prostate cancer, information regarding new clinical trials, reviews of prostate cancer screening and treatment modalities, information regarding the meanings and messages of PSA tests, discussions of proton beam therapy and the cyberknife, as well as panels addressing how to increase awareness of men’s health and prostate cancer in the African-American community and beyond.

Click here to see the symposium program

Click here to see the list of presenters

Click here to see photos of the event

Save the date! It is not too early to mark your calendar now for The 12^th Annual Massachusetts Prostate Cancer Symposium, to be held Saturday, May 16, 2009 at Marriott Boston Copley Place.

NATIONAL NEWS

A recent study reveals that prostate cancer deaths fell substantially in the decade after one Austrian state began free PSA screening tests for all men ages 45 to 75.

http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSKEN96674820080509?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews

COMMONWEALTH NEWS & EVENTS

A variety of prostate cancer-related events are upcoming, including:

Ask the Doctor about Prostate Cancer on Thursday, June 12, 2008, 6:30 – 8:30pm—join Glenn Bubley, MD, Co-Director of the Prostate Cancer Care Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, for an informative session for people living with prostate cancer and their loved ones. (Advanced registration is requested online). 

http://www.twcgreaterboston.org/id224.html

Boston Prostate Cancer Walk on Sunday, June 15, 2008, with registration between 9 – 11am at the Boston Common.

http://www.bostonpcwalk.org/

Visit the MPCC booth at the 7News Partners Health and Fitness Expo on Saturday, June 21 – Sunday, June 22, 10:00am – 5:00pm, at the Hynes Convention Center.

http://www.bostonhealthexpo.com/

5^th Annual Tee Off to Fight Prostate Cancer golf outing on Wednesday, June 25, 2008 at Franklin Park Golf Course. Proceeds help fund PHEN outreach initiatives.

http://www.prostatehealthed.org/golf/register_golf_2008.php

The Third Annual Central Massachusetts Prostate Cancer Symposium on Monday, September 8, 2008, 8:30am – 3:30pm, at Crowne Plaza Worcester, 10 Lincoln Square, Worcester, MA.

NEWS FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE

The New Hampshire Prostate Cancer Coalition has successfully concluded its second annual strategic planning day, received a grant from the State Cancer Plan, and organized a variety of activities and events.

http://nhprostatecancer.org/

LIFESTYLES

Nutrition and prostate cancer—day after day, the effects of dietary and lifestyle changes on the development and progression of prostate cancer are being discussed and explored by leading researchers in the field.

http://www.prostatecancerfoundation.org/site/c.itIWK2OSG/b.47431/k.8A27/Nutrition_and_Lifestyle.htm

RESEARCH

According to a newly published study, financial pressures from Medicare reimbursement changes may have caused physicians to switch from providing hormonal-induced castration to providing surgical castration for men with prostate cancer.

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/MED/content/MED_2_1x_Medicare_Reimbursement_Changes_Likely_Influenced_Changes_in_Prostate_Cancer_Treatment.asp

MULTIMEDIA

A paper examines the development and provides a preliminary evaluation of multimedia interactive education systems for prostate cancer patients.

http://www.jmir.org/2004/1/e3

MPCC NEWS

Our 10^th Annual Conquer & Cure Dinner will be held on Thursday, November 20, 2008, from 6:30 – 9:00pm at the EMC Club, Fenway Park, Boston. Former professional football star and Super Bowl IV MVP Lend Dawson will be our keynote speaker. Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987, Dawson enjoyed one of the longest—and most accomplished—careers in professional football history. He is also a prostate cancer survivor and a spokesman or the American Cancer Society. Please save the date and plan now to join us for what promises to be an inspiring evening next fall!

Click here for information on Dawson and a registration form.

MPCC is saddened to learn of the passing of Hamilton Jordan, a keynote speaker at the 10^th Annual Conquer & Cure Dinner.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/21/us/21jordan.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin

WEB RESOURCES

Want to help in the fight against prostate cancer? The American Cancer Society can help you donate, participate, volunteer, and advocate.

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/HOME/sup/sup_0.asp

TESTIMONIALS

Men with prostate cancer pursue high intensity focused ultrasound outside of the US.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/18/health/18prostate.html