During September’s Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, Active Surveillance Patients International (ASPI) is sponsoring a webinar, “Applied Research and Lifestyles and Low-Risk Prostate Cancer,” from 12-1:30 p.m. Eastern, Saturday Sept. 30.

Topics covered will include; Role of Exercise for Deterring Prostate Cancer Progression/Death, Role of Diet for Men Living with Prostate Cancer/AS, Lifestyle Scores & Prostate Cancer Progression, Practical Advice on Diet for Men living with Prostate Cancer and cancer causes such as carcinogens/diet/hereditary and mental health mindfulness for cancer.

The program will feature Dr. June Chan and her research team at the University of California, San Francisco, who will demonstrate which research findings and pending research ties into exercise.

Dr. Stacey Kenfield, Urology Professor at UCSF, and Greta Macaire RD MA, a dietitian at UCSF, will discuss diet – recommendations, what is in food, published studies including Prostate 8 study, diet patterns, carcinogens in food preparation, supplements guidance.

Newly diagnosed patients with prostate cancer often ask if there is a particular diet plan they should follow.

Stacy Loeb, MD, a professor in the Department of Urology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine addresses diet and other lifestyle questions in the newest segment of AS 101, an ongoing “college-like” course to help these newly diagnosed patients.

Dr. Loeb is studying to be board certified in lifestyle medicine. With her urology expertise, she has researched the benefits of a whole food plant-based diet, including exercise and sleep, for patients with low-risk prostate cancer.

The free program will take place 12-1:30 p.m. Eastern on August 26, 2023. Register using the link at the bottom of this page that says “Website”.

Some men with prostate cancer may have a concurrent common issue…where is the next toilet, and can I get there on time? These urination issues are often caused by BPH, but there are other causes, e.g. overactive bladder. On July 1 at noon we will have Dr. Dean Elterman, an academic urologist at the University of Toronto, share his vast experience followed by a Q and A. We also plan to invite a couple of you who may offer some guidance. About a year ago , we invited Dr Kaplan to speak on this topic. This video serves as a good background for our July 1 meeting. https://youtu.be/Rmqm8wxooDU

Dean Elterman, MD, an academic urologist at the University of Toronto, is presenting a free webinar, “Pissed Off: The Many Ways Urination Can Go Wrong” to Active Surveillance Patients International at 12-1:30 p.m. Eastern on July 1, 2023.

Elterman’s research interests include voiding dysfunction, benign prostate enlargement, and men’s health.

He is the medical director of the Prostate Cancer Rehabilitation Clinic at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.

Elterman trained at the University of Toronto, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and Weill Cornell Medical Center. He lectures internationally on the topics of novel technologies for BPH and teaches courses at the American Urological Association. The session will be followed with a live Q&A. Send your questions in advance to ASPI Chair Mark Lichty at: mlichty@ptd.net.

On May 27th at noon we will present Imaging: The Leading Edge with Dr. Correa of Fox Chase. Two of our board members have Dr. Correa as their urologist due to his gentle manner, and listening spirit. He also does microultrasound imaging which is achieving comparable results to MRIs.

Dr. Jonathan I. Epstein is a Professor of Pathology, Oncology and Urology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He also serves as the Director of Surgical Pathology at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. He is recognized as a leader in the field of urological pathology.

The next episode of the Active Surveillance 101 video series, “Second Opinions and Biopsies”, featuring our intrepid researchers, PCa patient Larry White and his savvy wife Nancy White, discussing a second opinion on a biopsy with Dr. Epstein.

After the video, ASPI Board Members will be available to mingle with attendees and will respond to questions.

Do you know the difference between genetic and genomic testing and how it can impact your decisions on whether to follow Active Surveillance protocols vs. more aggressive surgical and radiation options? ASPI is premiering a segment of the AS 101 series aimed at educating patients about the differences between genetic and genomic testing.

AS 101, like an introductory college course, was launched in 2022 to explain in short video chats the basics of active surveillance for the newly diagnosed, those in the “gray zone” with rising PSAs but no biopsy confirming the presence of low-risk cancer, and also patients who have been on AS for a while but are looking for a refresher course.

We on the ASPI Board would love to hang out with you all on February 25 at noon EST with a presentation from three of us: Thrainn Torvaldsson, Joe Gallo, and our newest member, Govinda Ramakrishna, who, at different points during their Active Surveillance management protocols, needed to choose intervention and transition to treatment.

Each of us has gone through, and continues on, the prostate cancer journey with a different story. The latest estimate in the United States is that approximately 50% of men on AS need to transition for various reasons. Isn’t that the way with prostate cancer… it is a long, winding, and unpredictable road – a divergent experience for all of us. Every one of you has your own narrative.

You can read our own stories online, and we thought it would be compelling and informative to hear from those who have progressed. Many years ago, when many of us chose Active Surveillance, fear of a possible future finding of more aggressive cancer necessitating treatment with possible side effects gave us pause. The word on the street – and scientific studies – suggested high percentages of erectile dysfunction and incontinence once one chose intervention. Men are reluctant to speak of these issues. Our Board Members who have progressed have had challenges but have found ways to cope with and lessen their fears. Our intention for this hour or so is to speak freely of these issues – and other aspects of the transition to treatment – when we come together.

Save the date! We welcome you to join us on February 25 to hear several stories and participate in our regularly scheduled Q and A following. Our mission is to give you information to empower you to make informed choices during your shared decision-making process with your doctors. This program is a first – and we believe it is important to present and share it with you.

The Active Surveillance Coalition, a collaboration of leading support groups for active surveillance (AS) for prostate cancer, is sponsoring a webinar at 9 a.m. Vancouver/12 p.m. New York/5 p.m. London/6 p.m. Amsterdam on Thursday, Nov. 17 to discuss how we can move the needle on AS, close monitoring of prostate cancer.

AS leaders from Sweden, Holland, the United Kingdom, and the state of Michigan’s will share their “secret sauce” for reaching AS rates of near 90% and above.

AS 101 is a series of conversations between actual patients and their partners/spouses and leading experts. The goal of this series is to reach all AS candidates, including those who have not yet been diagnosed with prostate cancer but have rising PSAs (prostate-specific antigen) blood levels to p[rovide them with an introduction to AS. We want to provide the tools to help them formulate questions when they go to their family doctors, urologists, or oncologists.