Victoria is full of last-minute-kind-of-people, and I’m one of them.
But why do I shy away from making solid plans?
Probably because I’ve been spoiled by choice!
It seems like there is always something awesome happening in and around Victoria. The smorgasbord of offerings – especially in the summer – includes festivals, organized runs and walks, garden tours, sports games, fairs, theatre performances and more.
I’m notorious for deciding at the last possible moment to join in on something great – which means I miss out on more things than I’d care to admit. But not this year…
My fellow last-minuters, the last minute is here!
The Raymond James Father’s Day Walk Run is this Sunday at 10am. Register for either the 10km or 5km race now by clickinghere or come see us at Island Prostate Centre from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm on Friday or Frontrunners on Vancouver Street from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm this Saturday, June 18th!
Sure, you will still be able to register for the races as late as the morning of, but why wait?
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter as well as the hashtags #doingitfordad#fathersday and #yyjto join in the conversation!
This is one last-minuter who knows exactly where she’ll be this Sunday morning.
‘You have cancer!’ These are not the words anyone wants to hear, but they are heard day in and day out throughout our capital region.
Last year, my wife and I heard those words as I was diagnosed as having prostate cancer. In some respects, those words were horrible and yet a relief. I say relief because I had had three biopsies before this cancer was found. I knew something was wrong. My PSA was rising, but no one could tell me what was wrong.
So now I know, but we’re not out of the woods yet. I says “we” because no on travels this road alone. Friends, family, co-workers, whomever you share your facts and fear with travel with you. It hasn’t changed just my life, it’s changed my wife’s and our family’s as well.
I was operated on, on January 15, and the radical prostatectomy in which they removed my prostate and surrounding lymph nodes was a success. Unfortunately, when they subsequently did a biopsy on my prostate and lymph nodes they found that the cancer had spread to my lymph nodes.
This brings us to the present. I am about to begin radiation and hormone therapy. A lot has happened in the five months since I heard those three words ‘you have cancer’. I don’t know yet what the rest of my story holds, but since I’ve been diagnosed, many men have told me their stories. They are all different, but they have been encouraging. It’s good to know others have walked this road and lived to talk about it; and talking about it is important because awareness is important.
From my experience here are some of the things men, and the men and women who love them should be aware of.
Firstly, you have to look after yourself. There is no automated alarm system built into our bodies that warns us we have prostate cancer. If you sense something is wrong, tell your doctor and have your PSA checked. At least you’ll have a baseline.
Secondly, while we have many skilled doctors in our region capable of helping us, they have many other patients and it is up to us to be advocates of our own health. Follow up on your test results and ask for a specialist or a second opinion if you still have concerns.
Thirdly, we need more resources here on the island to address, diagnose, and treat prostate cancer. At the present time, I would compare biopsies with the game of blind man’s bluff. It’s better than doing nothing, but it’s not effective as it could be. The good news is there are improvements being made all the time. Just recently, here on the Island, we have had access to biopsies conducted with the help of ultrasound. It was this technique that found my cancer. However, there is an even more effective technique available using an MRI and a biopsy. It’s available in Vancouver but we need to push to have it here as well.
Early diagnosis can change outcomes. It can save lives. Research into new technologies and understanding of prostate cancer can do the same. There was a time when prostate cancer was a death sentence. Thanks to research and early detection, for many men, this is not the case. But the first step is yours. If you are over 50, ask your doctor for a PSA test. If you have some spare change, invest it in supporting Island Prostate Centre. Believe me, we all benefit from the work they are doing to support men who have this disease and ensure we have the best diagnosis and treatment options right here on Vancouver Island.
The Westcoast Motorcycle Ride to Live is happening this Sunday, May 29th and it is the hope of the organizing committee that the event will raise $75,000 which would push their total raised over the last six years to over $500,000!
All funds raised from this Ride to Live helps to support the ongoing education programs and services of Island Prostate Centre as well as providing funds to local prostate cancer research initiatives right here in our own community. The motto of the Ride to Live – “What’s Raised on the Island, STAYS on the Island”!
This year’s ride is about supporting men and their families who have prostate cancer. Cancer affects everyone: family members, co-workers and friends.
On May 29th, we are starting at Ogden Point and will travel out to the Viscount Aero Centre near Sidney.
We are going “Cruise Ships to Airplanes” this year.
Once out at the Aero Centre, we are thrilled to have The WEEDS playing, lunch will be served and a great time planned for everyone!
Island Prostate Centre is happy to announce our new Chair of the Board of Directors, Duff Lang.
Duff currently serves as the President of Health Services for MAXIMUS Canada and we are thrilled to have his leadership at the Board level.
We also welcome our other new members as well – Jeff Perks, Kathy Brown and Monte Wiederhold.
Thank you also to Murray Tough, who now fills the position of Past President, and to Kris Wirk and Jag Tamber for their service as outgoing Board members.
er!’ These are not the words anyone wants to hear, but they are heard day in and day out throughout our capital region.
Island Prostate Centre is happy to announce our new Chair of the Board of Directors, Duff Lang.