Diagnosed with prostate cancer?
We are a Prostate Cancer Support Group helping men in Oakville, Mississauga, Milton and surrounding areas. We offer fellowship and guidance through personal experiences. We have made the journey! We can help.
In this difficult time of shut-downs and physical distancing, support for men with prostate cancer is even more important. Please note that we are always available to help by phone or email. If you have questions, concerns or would just like someone to talk to, please get in touch. This is a challenging time for all and doubly so if you have just been diagnosed or are undergoing treatment for prostate cancer.
Remember YOU ARE NOT ALONE
Our Meetings
(Until further notice, Wellspring Birmingham Gilgan house is closed due to Covid-19). All meetings, including ours, are held by Zoom).
Zoom videoconferencing may not be ideal but, at times like these, it allows us to get together, see old friends, listen to guest speakers, and share our successes and our concerns. One definite benefit of group meetings by Zoom is that it breaks down geographical barriers and lets us join in meetings and listen to expert speakers elsewhere in Ontario and across the country. Join our mailing list to see what’s available to you.
When the Covid-19 pandemic is behind us, we will revert to meeting every month in the friendly, confidential, no-pressure environment of Wellspring Birmingham-Gilgan House Whether you want to come once or on a regular basis, please know that visitors are always welcome and the group is there for you, ready with experience, encouragement, understanding and support.
What If I Don’t Want To Go To a Support Group Meeting?
We understand that not all men are comfortable in a group setting and having to speak about their symptoms and side-effects in a room full of other men.
If that’s you (or your loved one), we are happy to arrange one-on-one, confidential discussions with another member who shares, and can understand, your issues with prostate cancer. Please get in touch.
What Can Wellspring Do For You?
More than 85 per cent of cancer patients experience the non-medical consequences of cancer and its treatment: the fear, anxiety, pain, isolation, financial worries and guilt. Through one-to-one peer support, group support activities, learned coping skills, rehabilitation and nutrition programs, and much, much more, Wellspring has helped thousands of people take an active role in controlling their cancer experience to improve their quality of life.
See the full range of helpful Wellspring programs online at Well on the Web
Many patients whose cancer is not eliminated in primary treatment will end up with a “chronic” cancer – it cannot be cured but is treatable with a range of different therapies. This is a difficult “rollercoaster” journey with its own unique challenges. Wellspring now has a Support Group specifically designed to help.
Check out the Living with Chronic Cancer Support Group
Thank You to Wellspring Birmingham Gilgan House for your support and for providing the facilities for our meeting.
Current Meetings & Events
Due to understandable concerns over Covid-19, Wellspring has closed its buildings and moved to on-line and webinar support. We have followed suit and cancelled our group get-togethers at Wellspring until further notice. We still meet monthly by Zoom videoconferencing.
Meetings by Zoom (3rd Wed @ 7pm)
SEP 15th Unfortunately, our dreams of being back to in-person meetings in the fall have faded with the rise of the Covid-19 Delta variant so we will have to continue with Zoom meetings for a few more months. Current Wellspring plans are to have their Centres ready to reopen in January, so let’s cross our fingers.
We will once again get together by Zoom on Sept 15th. Please get in touch by email if you’d like to know more prior to attending your first meeting. You will get the Zoom videoconference link by return.
Remember
Individual support is still available. In the past months, several men have got in touch with us and have been connected with others who are at the same stage of treatment or who are dealing with the same side-effects. Thanks to the great networking of support groups across Ontario, we can reach out to other groups if necessary to find the right person for you to talk to.
Prostate Cancer Updates
September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. To raise awareness in communities across Canada, Prostate Cancer Support Canada, in conjunction with local support groups, have arranged for many local landmarks to “Light Up In Blue”. Oakville Town Hall Sept 3-6; Mississauga Clock Tower Sept 3-6; Burlington Brant St Pier Sept 2-6;
Also, see the national calendar of events for Speaker Series presentations as part of Prostate Cancer Awareness month.
https://prostatecancersupport.ca/calendar/
The Prostate Cancer Research Institute also has a September Conference of note.
https://pcri.org/2021-conference#the-invitation-4
The Prostate Cancer Foundation (US) produces an excellent, up-to-date comprehensive guide to prostate cancer and its treatment. You can access the updated PDF version of the Prostate Cancer Patient Guide here.
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Other PCS Group Meetings (all are welcome to attend)
PCS Brampton – 2nd Tuesday each month, 7pm – by Zoom for the time being. Contact jfdorsey@yahoo.com. Next meeting Sept 14th, 7pm “The Emerging Role of SABR/SBRT in the Treatment of Metastatic Prostate Cancer”.
PCS Burlington – Last Tuesday of every month at 7 pm – virtual meetings during the Covid-19 shutdown. Contact pccnburlington@gmail.com
PCS Toronto – this Toronto-based group has great quarterly “Awareness Nights” as well as regular twice-monthly Peer Support meetings. Next meeting Sept 30th at 7pm “Managing Prostate Cancer in a Pandemic”
PCSG Waterloo-Wellington – 4th Tuesday each month at 7 pm. Meetings being held by Zoom videoconference until further notice. Contact the group at info@pccn-waterloo-wellington.ca for further information.
PCS Toronto – Warriors Group (for Advanced Prostate Cancer)
A sub-group for men and women dealing with advanced prostate cancer. Here is an opportunity for men and their partners to meet and learn from knowledgeable fellow survivors. If you feel this may be applicable to you, you might want to join their meetings or join their Facebook group.