[Hopespringpcsg] FW: [PPML] New, virtual, active surveillance support group

[Glen Tolhurst]

Hi all:
For those interested in Active Surveillance, below is info from a US blog.
Take care,
Glen

Subject: [PPML] New, virtual, active surveillance support group

As mentioned in a prior message, Prostate Cancer International has just started a new, virtual, active surveillance support group for men who are either interested in considering or are actually on active surveillance. The needs of men on active surveillance can be very different to the needs of men who have actually received treatment for their prostate cancer.

The support group will include the following:

(a) Regular group telephone calls and discussions that are moderated by an experienced facilitator with extensive knowledge of active surveillance and related issues.

(b) A "buddy system" through which we will do our best to connect potential and actual new active surveillance patients to a "buddy" who is already on active surveillance and has been for at least a while, so that new patients can learn from the experiences of others.

(c) The ability to communicate with others through the "Active Surveillance / Expectant Management" group on The "New" Prostate Cancer InfoLink social network (see http://prostatecancerinfolink.ning.com/group/activesurveillance/forum).

(d) The ability to join the active surveillance men's support group on Facebook (see https://www.facebook.com/asmensupport/), that is run by Thrainn Thorvaldsson (out of Reykjavik in Iceland). Thrainn has been on AS for more than 10 years, and the Facebook page is run in English.

And don't forget that on the main web site of The "New" Prostate Cancer InfoLink we provide regular updates on new medical and scientific knowledge about active surveillance and expectant management of prostate cancer (see https://prostatecancerinfolink.net/?s=active+%2B+surveillance).

If you are interested in being informed about the activities of this support group, please e-mail Jan Manarite (jmanarite at hotmail.com) and she will make sure you are kept in the loop. Also, if you are an experienced AS patient and willing to act as a "buddy" for other new or potentially new AS patients, please tell Jan that as well.

One of our goals is to make sure we will be working closely with others (PPML specifically included) to ensure that this is a valuable service for men who are either on active surveillance or are considering this as an initial management opportunity.

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