Oxfordshire Prostate Cancer Support Group
October 2017
NEXT GROUP MEETING - Monday 16 October 6.30 for 7.00 p.m. at Oxford Golf Club, Hill Top Road, OX4 1PF: Prof. Simon Leedham, Director, Centre for Personalised Medicine, Cancer Research UK, Clinical Scientist, and Dr. Shazia Irshad on ‘Personalised medicine, and stratifying Indolent from aggressive prostate cancers.’ This promises to be a fascinating insight into the possible future in which treatments are personalised according to the history and condition of the individual patient.
There will, of course, as always, be time for members to meet and discuss prostate matters before and after the talk. New members always welcome. We are very grateful to Oxford Golf Club for the continued use of their premises at a very favourable rate. Their collaboration is much appreciated.
SKITTLES EVENING – SATURDAY 9 DECEMBER
This year’s skittles evening will be held on Saturday 9 December, 7.00 p.m., at The Ferryman, Bablockhythe, OX29 5AT. (For satnav use only the post code given or you could end up on the wrong side of the river!). For £9.50 you will have a chance to win the various skittles competitions, and to enjoy chicken and chips, fish and chips, sausage and chips or vegetarian. Sweets will be available on the day at an extra cost. If you wish to attend please contact John Goldsmith with your choice of main course and send him a cheque made out to Oxfordshire Prostate Cancer Support Group to 21 Freeborn Close, Kidlington, OX5 2BH. Or you can pay on the night at a group meeting. If you require further information you can contact John Goldsmith on 01865 580152 or Mob 07535 851337.
OPCSG OUT AND ABOUT AT EVENTS
A crucial part of OPCSG’s work is raising awareness of prostate cancer and spreading the word to men – Get Checked! Our team of volunteers has been active at a number of recent events including Uffington White Horse Show on August Bank Holiday Monday, and the Distinguished Gentlemen’s Ride at the Victoria Arms, Marston on 24 September. We sponsored a class in the dog show at Uffington so somehow your Chairman found himself taking on a new role as judge of dogs – see photo. It was terrifying: there were 18 entries so with only three winners there were bound to be 15 disappointed owners (and dogs). I expected to get lynched but owners and dogs showed great restraint! And our information leaflets went to all the winners on both days of the Show.
We have been to Uffington for several years, and of course you sometimes see the same people again. This year one man came up to me and said, ‘I took one of those leaflets of yours last year’. ‘Good,’ says I. ‘But,’ he adds, ‘I haven’t read it yet.’ Ah well, there is always next year….
THE FUTURE FOR OPCSG
You are aware from previous Newsletters that we need more volunteers to run this Group effectively. As things stand we have a possible Treasurer from next March’s AGM onwards (depending on the other commitments of the person concerned), but no Chairman or Secretary. We have been combining roles this year. The burden is getting too great. If you feel you can help, please contact me urgently to discuss. If we get no more volunteers for the Committee the activities of the group will be severely curtailed after March, or maybe abandoned altogether.
UCARE EVENT – LIVING LIFE TO THE FULL – 29 NOVEMBER
UCare are inviting OPCSG members to join them for an event called “Living Life to the Full”-
“Life after a Urological Cancer Diagnosis”. Wednesday 29 November, 10-2pm, Venue: The Millennium Village Hall, Horton Cum Studley, OX33 1AD. Talks to include: Oxfordshire MIND Well Being; Hummingbird Centre; Mindfulness; Coping with the long term side effects of treatment; Health Wise - Physical activity scheme; Psychology team; Physiotherapist/ Occupational Therapist; Personal experience.
OPCSG will have a stand at this event.
Please register your interest by emailing: gemma.ucare@gmail.com (full agenda will be emailed nearer the time). If you do not have access to email, call me and I will register you.
THANK YOU TO …
… customers of Waitrose in Witney, who gave OPCSG their support in August with tokens to the value of £445. We are grateful to Waitrose for this support.
… the estate of the late Elsie Cooper who left a most generous donation in her will.
… North Oxford Golf Club who raised the magnificent sum of about £800 for OPCSG at their annual charity golf day – special thanks to organiser Paul Baker.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY 2017/18
2017 SOCIAL EVENT: Saturday 9 December skittles.
2018 GROUP MEETINGS, Mondays 6.30 for 7.00 p.m. at Oxford Golf Club, Hill Top Road, OX4 1PF. We are working on an exciting list of speakers for next year. To date the following have been confirmed:
22 January, Dr Andrew Protheroe on locally advanced and metastatic prostate cancer + abiraterone, with reference to recent studies.
5 March AGM with Mr Simon Brewster on fusion biopsy and MRI.
If you no longer wish to receive this Newsletter please let me know on johngrundy191@gmail.com or 01865 730110. For news updates keep an eye on our website at www.opcsg.org.
John Grundy Chairman, OPCSG