Monday, 22 June

Oxfordshire Prostate Cancer Support Group

Newsletter      June  2015

IMPORTANT: RIVER CRUISE SUNDAY 28 JUNE – CHANGE OF DEPARTURE POINT

This year’s river cruise with Salters’ Steamers (2.30 p.m. on Sunday 28 June, return 5.30) will depart from Abingdon Bridge Marine.  This is located down some steps immediately opposite the Nag’s Head pub in the middle of Abingdon Bridge. The nearest car park is at Rye Farm at the far end of the bridge from the town. Charges: up to 2 hours free, up to 3 hours £1.50, up to 4 hours £3.10.

PLEASE EXERCISE EXTREME CARE WHEN CROSSING THE BUSY ROAD FROM THE CAR PARK.

The cost of the cruise is £11 per person, including cream tea and jazz band.  There are very few places left: reserve yours now by contacting George Goldsmith secopcsg@btinternet.com or 01235 763486.  If you book now, please bring £11 per person on the day.  There will be a fully stocked bar on board!

MAKING APPOINTMENTS AT THE UROLOGY DEPARTMENT, OXFORD

Have you ever had any difficulty making or changing appointments at the Urology department at the Churchill?  It can be frustrating having to go through the hospitals’ central appointments system, who then have to refer to urology and back to you.  Urology have given me the following Oxford (01865) numbers which will connect you directly to Urology Appointments: 227075, 227076, 572123, 270142.  Please let me have feedback on whether this method is helpful.

GROUP MEETING MONDAY 15 JUNE – BRACHYTHERAPY

David Laskow-Pooley, CEO of London Pharma, gave a talk about brachytherapy which was very well received and answered many questions afterwards.  The event was filmed for us and a video of the evening will appear on our YouTube site in due course.  Our thanks to the speaker.

INTERNATIONAL TWINNING

OPCSG is proud to announce that it is now twinned with the Mornington Peninsula Prostate Support Group in Victoria, Australia.  When our Treasurer John Goldsmith was on holiday in Australia he happened to meet Roy Francis, Convenor of the Mornington group and they discovered their mutual interest.  It is fascinating to read how their concerns (awareness among men, access to treatment, follow-up options) are so similar to ours.  We shall continue to exchange news and views.  Your Committee thinks that a sponsored visit to Australia would be a positive move.  Any offers????

AWARENESS EVENTS 2015 – GET CHECKED!

As always, volunteers are needed to help us spread the word about PCa at the following events.  If you can help, even if only for an hour or two, please let John Goldsmith know: 01865 580152.

Monday 29 June – Cassington Bike Night, evening event

Saturday 18 July – Witney Steam Fair

Sunday 30 August – White Horse Show, Uffington

Sunday 4 October – Banbury Boat Day

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY 2015

Group meetings 2015 - venue (except for river cruise and skittles): The Oxford Golf Club, Hill Top Road, Oxford, OX4 1PF

Sunday 28 June - river cruise see above for details;

Monday 14 September – representatives from Maggie’s Oxford and Hummingbird Centre, Launton, to talk about their services;

Monday 19 October Ken Fitt: ‘The growth of popular music in the twentieth century’;

Saturday 5 December - skittles evening.

Details of each meeting will be published in following Newsletters and on the website at www.opcsg.org/homepage - do keep looking there.

If you no longer wish to receive this Newsletter please let me know on john@grundybell.demon.co.uk or 01865 730110.

John Grundy                                                                 Chairman, OPCSG