Expressions of a Cancer Journey

Our Cancer Center has been selected by Lilly Oncology to be one of a select few cancer centers and hospitals nationwide to have the opportunity to showcase a gallery of artwork done by cancer patients and survivors who entered a national contest and won. “The Lilly Oncology on Canvas: Expressions of a Cancer Journey” is a biennial competition that invites individuals diagnosed with any type of cancer to express, through art and narrative, the life affirming changes that give their cancer journeys meaning.”  This artwork is spending a year traveling to the selected cancer centers and hospitals and spending approximately one week at each facility. Our week starts Jan 28, and coincides with our Oncology Symposium (also on Saturday). I invite you to stop by the Cancer Center Monday, January 30 to Friday, February 3, to see this artwork.

Maureen G. Mann
Executive Director
Michael and Dianne Bienes Cancer Center

Tags: cancer survivors, cancer survivorship
Posted in Cancer Support |

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Day of Research & Hope

We hope to see you at Day of Research & Hope, presented by Susan G. Komen for the Cure, on Saturday, March 17, 2012, from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm, at Signature Grand, 6900 State Road 84, Davie, FL 33317.

Presentations include new cancer detection methods, access to clinical trials (such as those offered at the Holy Cross Hospital Micheal & Dianne Bienes Cancer Center) and newly approved drug treatments.

The panel of experts will feature physicians from local hospitals, including, Holy Cross; and breakout sessions by Barry University, Florida Cancer Care, FIU and more. 

CEUs are available for nurses and social workers.

This event is free to the public; there is a $25 charge for CEUs. The first 50 to RSVP will receive preferred seating and a door prize. Seating is limited.

RSVP to Betsy at 954-763-6776 or betsy@gildasclubsouthflorida.org.

Tags: cancer survivorship, clinical trials, community clinical oncology programs, survivorship
Posted in Cancer Support, General Medical, Research and Genetics |

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Join us at HOPE Relay for Life

Hi All-

“HOPE” you are all doing well. We have some exciting news to share. First, on Friday, we received our first official sponsorship from the Holy Cross Medical Staff – a $5000 commitment!!!

Second – Julie has been hard at work and our Facebook page is up and running go to the following to see her efforts!!!

https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/HOPEOakland-Park-Relay-For-Life/218130118272274?sk=wall

As you have any successes or ideas or concerns or anything please feel free to reach out to me any time.

Thanks,
Maureen

 Maureen G. Mann, MS, MBA, FACHE
Executive Director
Michael and Dianne Bienes Cancer Center
Holy Cross Hospital
Telephone: 954-351-5955
Email: maureen.mann@holy-cross.com

Tags: Cancer Awareness, Community Events, hope relay for life, Support
Posted in Cancer Support |

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Controversy on PSA testing

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recently advised against the use of PSA screening.  Co-vice Chair Michael LeFevre, M.D., stated, “we have no good evidence that PSA-based prostate cancer screening does any good.” An interesting statment given that prostate cancer mortality has decreased significantly since routine PSA screening began in the 1990s.  It should also be noted that Dr. Levre is a physician who doesn’t treat prostate cancer.

He said that for every 1,000 men treated for prostate cancer, five die of perioperative complications; 10-70 suffer significant complications but survive; and 200-300 suffer long-term problems, including urinary incontinence, impotence or both.

“The evidence is convincing that for men aged 70 years and older, screening has no mortality benefit,” the task force wrote. “For men aged 50 to 69 years, the evidence is convincing that the reduction in prostate cancer mortality 10 years after screening is small to none…Ninety-five percent of men with PSA-detected cancer who are followed for 12 years do not die from that cancer, even in the absence of definitive treatment.”

In this country, almost 200,000 are diagnosed with prostate cancer, resulting in 30,000 deaths.  These numbers highlight the fact that prostate cancer is a relatively slow growing disease that isn’t always life-threatening. Prostate cancer kills men by causing wide-spread destruction of bones and bone marrow, resulting in fractures, and the inability of the body to produce cells which are required to carry oxygen, stop bleeding, and fight infections.  Many more men in this country suffer from bone metastases from prostate cancer than actually die from prostate cancer. If the only endpoint researchers look at is death from prostate cancer, then they are completely missing the main problem: prevent suffering caused by prostate cancer (not just death). 

PSA screening not only decreases the mortality rate of prostate cancer, it decreases the risk of spread to the bones.  Unfortunately, most of the studies relating to prostate cancer do not report this.  The result of this omission is misguided recommendations from physicians who do not actually treat prostate cancer.

Not every patient diagnosed with prostate cancer needs treatment.  Patients who are likely to suffer bone metastases and/or death from prostate cancer typically have at least one of the following features: 1) Gleason score of 7 or above; 2) PSA of 20 or above at the time of diagnosis; 3) Fast rising PSA at the time of diagnosis.
 
The point is not to stop screening to avoid unnecessary treatment.  The goal should be to screen appropriately and offer sound advice on treatment options.  The widespread use of surgery, in particular, robotic prostatectomy, too often results in unnecessary treatment resulting in impotence, incontinence, and poor use of health care expenditure.  More urologists are not adequately trained to properly counsel patients on treatment options.  Most urologists have never read any literature on non-surgical treatments, never attended any non-surgical lectures or conferences, never attended any non-surgical clinics, nor are they familiar with modern radiotherapy techniques.  In addition, most urologists are in a position of financial gain when discussing surgical options.

The answer is not to discourage PSA screening.  The answer is to better counsel patients on when treatment is necessary, and then refer ALL patients to a multi-disciplinary (multi-D) clinic in which patients have ALL options presented to them without the typical bias from for-profit grandstanding urologists.  These options should include: 1) Surgery; 2) Radiotherapy; 3) Watchful Waiting. 

Cryotherapy and/or HIFU should NEVER be offered to patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer due to lack of data. 

At Holy Cross Hospital, all patients are treated as individuals.  We encourage all newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients to attend our multi-D prostate clinic before making any treatment decisions.  In addition, our prostate cancer support group, which meets on a monthly basis, can be a source of support, education and advice from fellow prostate cancer patients and family members.

Tags: men's health, prostate cancer screening, prostate health, PSA
Posted in Cancer Support, Prostate Cancer |

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