Thursday, 25 February

Oxfordshire Prostate Cancer Support Group

Newsletter February 2016

IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE?  YES!!

Many thanks for the many positive responses to my request in the January edition for feedback on the usefulness of these Newsletters.  Of all the replies, one particularly made the effort seem worthwhile: “I would just like to tell you that even though I have not yet attended any of the group meetings I do look forward to and fully read the newsletter. Its content re-assures me that I am not alone in experiencing this condition.”

 

AGM 14 MARCH

Sadly there has been very limited response to the request in the last two Newsletters and at the January group meeting for members to volunteer to help out on the Committee running this group.  Two existing Committee members will be standing down at the AGM and George Goldsmith is giving up the Secretary post.  The remaining six members of the Committee will be spending time at their next meeting in few days discussing how to run the group on a reduced basis, should that become necessary.  Options up for discussion include ceasing to send out Newsletters, reducing the number of awareness events we attend, stopping the fundraising and awareness visits to supermarkets, cancelling some group meetings, withdrawing from national information events.  No final decisions will be made because we still hope that one or more volunteers may come forward at the AGM.  Over to you.

 

OPCSG’S LOCAL PUBLICITY/AWARENESS CAMPAIGN IN MARCH

March has traditionally become known as ‘Prostate Cancer Awareness Month’.  With our finances in good order, your Committee decided to mark the month with a big local awareness drive.  If you read any of the Newsquest papers (Oxford Mail, Oxford Times and associated county papers) you should find our flyer in one of the March editions.  Listen out for us on local radio and TV as well.  The message, aimed at men of 50+, is simple: ‘Get Checked’.  When you have the flyer in your hand, please take the opportunity to discuss it with men of your acquaintance.  And make sure your friends, work colleagues etc. know about OPCSG and why they should be aware of this disease.

 

VOLUNTEERS TO TALK TO NEWLY DIAGNOSED MEN AND OTHER ENQUIRERS

Many of the calls we get on our enquiry line come from men who have recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer.  Often they have been offered a choice of treatments and would like to speak to men who have been down the various routes.  We are grateful to a number of volunteers who are ready to speak to men about their own experience of treatment, but it would be good to have a slightly longer list.  Could you help out by being ready to take an occasional call like that?  Please let me know if you feel able to help.

 

WORLD CANCER DAY IN OXFORD

OPCSG was well represented at the event in Oxford Town Hall on 4 February.  There were presentations by several groups involved in cancer care and research, and a dominant theme was how fortunate we are to have such good cancer services and research programmes working in tandem in Oxford.  The contrast was with patients who experience cancer in less advanced areas of the world.  Cancer has now overtaken Aids and malaria as a killer in Africa, for example.  In the evening an inspiring concert in the Holywell Music Room featured wonderfully talented Oxfordshire youngsters, and raised money for a cancer treatment programme in Africa.

 

EXPANDING OUR INTERNATIONAL LINKS

During World Cancer day I had the pleasure of meeting Nikita Sushentsev, a third year student in the Faculty of Medicine at First Moscow State Medical University, who was visiting Cancer Research UK.  In his faultless English he told me a little about his studies and the commitment to cancer research in Russia.  OPCSG’s Newsletters now go to Australia and Russia.  Which other country next?

 

AWARENESS EVENTS THIS YEAR – COME AND HAVE A DAY OUT HELPING OPCSG

Can you spare an afternoon or a few hours to help us handing out leaflets, talking to passers-by, and enjoying an event?  OPCSG will be at the following events this summer.  If you can spare some time, please contact John Goldsmith on 01865 580152.  You get free entry to any of these events, and time to enjoy the show while you are there.

Saturday 16 April – at Oxford United FC vs Luton Town (we need at least 12 to 14 collectors for this event)

8 May – Wallingford Car Rally

29 June – Cassington Bike Night

23 July – Witney Vintage Steam Fest

28 August – White Horse Show, Uffington

5 October – Banbury Boat day

 

DONATING TO OPCSG FUNDS

Running a fundraiser?  Have friends who would like to support us financially?  Don’t forget that donations can be made online via our MyDonate page at https://mydonate.bt.com/charities/oxfordshireprostatecancersupportgroup.

25% can be added via Gift Aid if appropriate. 

DATES FOR YOUR DAIRY 2016 – MEETINGS AND SOCIAL

The committee have agreed the following dates in 2016:

14 March AGM with Simon Brewster and Dr. Andrew Protheroe;

18 April quiz night with St. George theme;

20 June UCare;

Sunday 26 June river cruise from Wallingford;

12 September Macmillan Cancer Care;

17 October tbc;

10 December skittles. 

More details will follow nearer the time of each event.

If you no longer wish to receive this Newsletter please let me know on john@grundybell.demon.co.uk or 01865 730110.  For news updates keep an eye on our website at www.opcsg.org.

John Grundy                                                                          

Chairman, OPCSG