**Please note our April meeting will be held Tuesday, April 14th at 7PM at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 594 (5030 Howard Ave, Oldcastle, ON) as the room at Hospice will not be available).**

As always, the meeting starts at 7pm. You can also join remotely via ZOOM at this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6953623178

For our April meeting, we will be having a dual session including:

·       A 15-minute briefing by Christy Chan, PhD Candidate, MSN, BSN, RN, Men’s Health Research Program, Faculty of Applied Science | School of Nursing, University of British Columbia; followed by:

·        Spousal Q&A Session. In an effort to expand our support role to include the interests of spouses/partners, we will be hosting a Spousal Q&A session following the presentation by Christy Chan, so please invite your spouses/partners who may be interested in joining in. PCFC and other support groups, such as Ottawa, actively host “Partners in Prostate” events.

Christy is a registered perioperative nurse specializing in urology and has a passion for men’s health research. She is also serving as a clinical instructor at the School of Nursing at the University of British Columbia (UBC). Christy’s academic journey began at UBC where she pursued her undergraduate studies in nursing and embarked on a master’s degree in the same institution. She is currently associated with the Reducing Male Suicide Research Cluster, a collaborative effort aimed at understanding the intricate factors influencing men’s mental health and developing effective interventions at UBC.  

Christy will talk about her ongoing research on men’s post-prostatectomy experiences. Her research study has a focus on mental health, relationships, peer support, and healthcare service use. The aim of the research findings is to contribute to the development of targeted, gender-responsive interventions to help support men living with prostate cancer. 

Her presentation would be approximately 15-20 minutes.

Photo courtesy of Tim Cornett

This year’s Play For A Cure Tournament will be held on Friday, April 24th at Vollmer Recreation Centre, LaSalle. Thanks to all of you who offered to help with last year’s event. It was another tremendous success, raising over $400,000 for local cancer research. It was also a great opportunity for us to promote awareness of our group, and get our message of “Get Checked” across to a key demographic for us. Event organizers are always very appreciative of our involvement.

If you are able to volunteer some time this year, please let Jim Fair know ASAP  We need volunteers from 8:00am to 4:00pm. If you can only be there for the morning or afternoon shift, please indicate which one.

Thanks to those who have already offered to help out this year.

For more information on this year’s event, check out the Play for a Cure Website here:

Play for a Cure – Pro-Am Hockey Tournament 2026

Prostate Cancer Foundation Canada Father’s Day Walk/Run (June 21st, 2026) – This annual PCFC fundraising campaign is very important to us since the National Group provides immeasurable support to us. Simply put, we could not operate without their help and support. In addition, we get up to 50% equivalent return on money our members raise or donate.

Please join our PCS Windsor/Essex Team and/or donate to show your support at this link:

PCS Windsor Essex Father’s Day WalkRun

SUMMARY of OUTREACH EVENTS

The following summarizes recent and upcoming outreach events. Please mark your calendars; we will provide more details as we draw closer to some of the events that will require volunteers:

·       Sat 28 Mar – WE Spark Health Research Conference at Caesar’s Windsor (Jim Fair & Garry attended)

·       Tue 31 Mar – National Group Annual General Meeting (AGM) (Garry attended online)

·        Fri 17 Apr – Visit by Mark Mahl, Executive Director of Prostate Cancer Foundation Canada (Steering Committee attending)

·        23 to 26 Apr – Annual Hospice Dove Pin Fundraising Campaign (Volunteers required)

·        Fri 24 Apr – Play for a Cure Hockey Tournament Fundraising Campaign (Volunteers required)

·        Fri 1 May – Ontario Support Group Leaders Quarterly Meeting (Garry attending)

·        Wed 20 May – WRH Foundation Golf Tournament (Volunteers required)

·        Sun 31 May – Motorcycle Ride for Dad (Volunteers required)

·        Sun 21 Jun – Prostate Cancer Foundation Canada Father’s Day Walk/Run. This is one of two prostate cancer campaigns that we encourage our members to consider contributing to. The other is the Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation Grow-On campaign in the fall.

Let it Snow? Let It Snow? Let It Snow?

Prostate Cancer Support Windsor/Essex (PCSWE)

February 2026 Communique

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 4th, 2026 Doors Open @ 6:00 pm, Activities start @ 7:15 pm

WINDSOR POLICE vs WINDSOR FIREFIGHTERS

Nobody can explain this event better than the organizer, Jeff Casey, so please follow this link to hear all the details:

♫ The Battle of the Badges

Hopefully you’ve purchased your tickets already. If not, you can do so at the Play For A Cure website: (www.playforacure.ca/badges) We will be setting up and manning our awareness booth in the WFCU Centre Concourse, along with a number of other Windsor Community Activation Partners.  

As cancer survivors on World Cancer Day, what better way than this for all of us to show how thankful we are, by spreading the word about this event and purchasing a $20 ticket to attend.

PCSWE MEETING TUESDAY FEBRUARY 10th, 2026, 7pm

For our February meeting we are pleased to welcome Christina Dzieduszycki, PT Pelvic Floor Physio†herapist, Health Coach, and Speaker/Educator.

Moving from Kegels to HEgels: A New Approach to Men’s Pelvic Health

This presentation via Zoom introduces the HEgel™ Method, a practical and empowering approach to pelvic health for men preparing for or recovering from prostate cancer treatment. Many men are told to “just do Kegels,” yet continue to struggle with bladder control, sexual function, or confidence. This talk explains why that happens, and what can be done differently.

We’ll explore how the pelvic floor actually works, which muscles matter most, and how learning to activate the right muscles can improve continence, support erectile function, and help you feel more in control of your recovery. We’ll also discuss how pelvic health is influenced by whole-body strength, breathing, stress, and daily movement, not just pelvic floor muscle exercises (a.k.a Hegels).

This session introduces a 7-step, evidence-based framework offering clear, practical strategies you can begin using today with the support of a qualified pelvic floor therapist. It also empowers you to ask informed, meaningful questions when working with your healthcare team or pelvic health physiotherapist. The focus is on progress, not perfection, and on reminding you that recovery is possible and that you are not alone.

Bio

Christina Dzieduszycki is a Registered Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist and the founder and Clinical Director of Knew Life Physiotherapy in Ancaster, Ontario. She holds an Honours BA in Kinesiology from York University and an MSc in Physiotherapy from McMaster University, with additional training in applied clinical research and pelvic health. She continues to pursue advanced education through leading pelvic health and rehabilitation organizations in Canada, the U.S., and Australia.

With over 23 years of experience spanning personal training and physiotherapy, Christina specializes in pelvic health rehabilitation for men, women, and children, with a particular clinical focus on men recovering from prostate cancer treatment. She works closely with urologists and surgeons across the Greater Hamilton Area to provide individualized pre- and post-operative pelvic health care following prostatectomy, radiation therapy and ADT.

Christina is the creator of The Hegel Method™, a hybrid online, evidence-informed rehabilitation program for male pelvic health that moves beyond isolated exercises to support whole-body recovery, strength, and function. She is also the author of Moving from Kegels to HEgels.

Passionate about changing the conversation around men’s pelvic health, Christina is committed to reducing stigma, restoring dignity, and helping men reclaim continence, sexual function, resilience and confidence through care that is both evidence-based and deeply human.

Please join us Tuesday, February 10th @ 7 pm in person at Hospice of Windsor (6038 Empress St., Windsor – Front Building) or by Zoom at this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6953623178

MEETINGS by OTHER SUPPORT GROUPS

The following summarizes meeting dates for London/Sarnia/Wallaceburg support groups that may be of interest. Check (www.pcsupportgroup.ca) for further details.

London Prostate Cancer Support Group

• When: Every first Wednesday of the month (excluding July and August)
• Time: 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
• Location: UNIFOR Hall, 140 Pine Valley Blvd, London
• Dates: February 4, March 4, April 1, May 6, June 3

Sarnia Prostate Cancer Support Group

• When: Every second Tuesday of the month (excluding July and August)
• Time: 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
• Location: Fairwinds Lodge Retirement Residence, 1218 Michigan Ave, Sarnia,
• Dates: February 10, March 10, April 14, May 12, June 9

Wallaceburg Prostate Cancer Support Group

• When: Every second Thursday of the month (excluding July and August)
• Time: 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
• Location: UAW Hall, 88 Elm Drive, Wallaceburg
• Dates: February 12, March 12, April 9, May 14, June 11

OTHER NEWS

NATIONAL GROUP – PROSTATE CANCER FOUNDATION CANADA (PCFC)

National Group Website (www.prostatecanada.ca)

Monthly Information – Please remember that PCFC does an amazing job and provides significant valuable support to our group and support groups across the country.   We encourage you to visit their website; it is a mint of information that directly helps individuals. 

September 9th, we welcomed Dr. Sindu Kanjeekal, Chief of the Department of Oncology at Windsor Regional Hospital (WRH).

Prostate Cancer Support Windsor/Essex (PCSWE)

September 2025 Communique

From your Steering Committee, we hope everyone had a great Summer.  We have been busy organizing the winter program and have some very interesting speakers lined up.  We look forward to seeing everyone again this fall either in person or via ZOOM.

TUESDAY 9 SEPTEMBER 2025 MEETING (Dr. Sindu Kanjeekal)

Dr. Sindu Kanjeekal presented to our group on Tuesday 9 September at the Windsor Hospice (6038 Empress Street, Windsor).  Dr. Kanjeekal is a hematologist-oncologist and Chief of the Department of Oncology at Windsor Regional Hospital (WRH).  She is also an Adjunct Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Windsor and in the Department of Oncology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry (Windsor Campus).

The following is a synopsis of her prostate cancer related project.  Establishing a Biomarker Discovery Platform to Track Progression to Treatment Resistant Neuroendocrine Prostate Cancer.  Prostate cancer (PC) is the most prevalent cancer among men in North America, with a significant challenge in advancing treatments for castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and treatment-induced neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC).  While androgen-deprivation therapy and next-generation androgen receptor antagonists like enzalutamide have improved survival, resistance and progression to NEPC remain significant hurdles.  NEPC patients, who often face limited treatment options and poor survival rates, urgently need methods for early detection and more effective therapies.  By creating a platform for biomarker discovery, cell-free RNA (cfRNA) from blood samples will be analyzed to identify and characterize circulating tumour RNA (ctRNA) associated with NEPC. 

Remember that our meetings are hybrid-ZOOM meetings; if you can’t join us in person at Hospice, please join us remotely via ZOOM at the link below. All are welcome.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6953623178

FUTURE FALL MEETINGS

The following summarizes the currently planned fall program:

• Tuesday 14 October – Open forum question and answer session with Dr. Sorensen, a respected local urologist who is on your steering committee and founder of our organization;
• Tuesday 11 November – Jeffery Martin and Christian Kassa (Research Students, Cancer & Cellular Biology @ Porter Lab Department of Biomedical Sciences, UWindsor)
• December – Xmas Spaghetti Dinner at Legion 594, date TBD.

OUTREACH EVENTS

The following summarizes currently planned outreach events:

• Provincial Support Leaders’ ZOOM Meeting (1400 Friday 26 September 2025) – Garry will be participating
• Grow On Campaign – We look forward to participating in the upcoming Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation Grow-On Campaign this fall.  We will provide you with more details as we draw closer.

OTHER NEWS

NATIONAL GROUP – PROSTATE CANCER FOUNDATION CANADA (PCFC)

National Group Website (www.prostatecanada.ca)

Monthly Newsletter – Please remember that PCFC (www.prostatecanada.ca), does an amazing job and provides significant valuable support to our group and support groups across the country.   We encourage you to visit their web-site; it is a mint of information that directly helps individuals.  The following is a link to their latest monthly newsletter:

August 2025 Foundation Newsletter

May 13th, Dr. Caroline Hamm (Medical Oncologist, Cancer Program, Windsor Regional Hospital (WRH)) presented to our group.

From your Steering Committee, we hope everyone had a great April and didn’t gorge too much on chocolate bunnies.  We continued our winter program with a great presentation in April by Dr. Colvin Springer, a Windsor based Radiological Oncologist.  We look forward to an upcoming presentation by Dr. Caroline Hamm in May and our spaghetti dinner get-together at Legion Branch 594 in June. 

TUESDAY 13 MAY 2025 MEETING

We are planning to have Dr. Caroline Hamm (Medical Oncologist, Cancer Program, Windsor Regional Hospital (WRH)) present to our group.  Dr. Hamm is an Associate Professor in the Department of Oncology at Western University.  She is the Chair of the Windsor Division Oncology at Schulich School of Medicine and the Chair of WRH Academic and Research Committee, fostering academic excellence in the Windsor Essex region. She founded and leads the Clinical Trials Navigator program since inception, working with national partners to improve patient access to clinical trials including Prostate Cancer patients.  Dr. Hamm will discuss the Clinical Trials Navigator, and how we work, our successes to date; and review the prostate clinical trials available in Ontario, Canada and National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda Maryland.

The meeting is planned for 7pm on Tuesday 13 May at the Windsor Hospice Auditorium (6038 Empress St.)  You can also attend remotely via ZOOM; please use the following link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6953623178

Play For A Cure (Friday 9 May 2025) –

This year’s Play For A Cure Tournament will be held on Friday, May 9th at Vollmer Recreation Centre, LaSalle. Thanks to all who participated in last year’s event. It was another tremendous success, raising over $400,000 for local cancer research. It was also a great opportunity for us to promote awareness of our group, and get our message of “Get Checked” across to a key demographic for us. Event organizers are always very appreciative of our involvement.

Thanks to those who have already offered to help this year.

This year, Play for a Cure – Pro-Am Hockey Tournament, will also host a Cancer Research Symposium prior to the beginning of the event.

This Play for a Cure sponsored Symposium will focus on the state of Cancer Research and will provide an opportunity to hear directly from experts who are leading the fight against cancer – locally, nationally and around the world.  This 1.5 hour Cancer Research Symposium will be held at Caesars Windsor in the Augustus Room on Thursday May 8th at 2:30pm.

It will feature the following:

Jennifer Jones, Past President of Rotary International, and currently serving as a Trustee on Rotary International’s Rotary Foundation.

Dr. Andre Veillette, Executive Director of Marathon of Hope Cancer Centre Network, will discuss the Marathon of Hope Cancer Centre Network arrival in Windsor.

A panel discussion focusing on cancer research projects and care in Windsor.

For more information and/or to register, Ctrl +Click on this link:

Symposium Event Registrationplayforacure.ca

Please feel free to share this information with anyone you think might be interested in attending.

YOUR FEEDBACK ON OUR MONTHLY COMMUNIQUE FORMAT

As you are aware, we send out monthly communiques to update everyone on upcoming meetings and events.  We also forward a link and summary of the monthly National Group Newsletters.  We don’t always get the National Group Newsletters in time for our communiques and we also know that many of you already signed up to receive them.  We would like hear your comments on the format and content of our monthly communiques including whether you like the summary of the National Group’s Newsletters.

EVENTS REQUIRING VOLUNTEERS

Thank-you to all of you have volunteered for the Hospice Dove Pin Fundraising Campaign (24 to 27 April), upcoming Play for a Cure event (Friday 9 May), and the Windsor Regional Hospital (WRH) Golf Tournament (Wednesday 21 May).

Motorcycle Ride for Dad (Sunday 25 May)

We will need as many folks as possible for the Motorcycle Ride for Dad on Sunday 25 May 2025.  The primary effort is in the morning to help register hundreds of participants and direct motorcycle traffic.  After the main “launch” of motorcycles, most volunteers can go home.  There will be a need for a handful of volunteers at the “finish line.”

The “launch” is from 7am to 10am at Thunder Road Harley Davidson (2100 Ambassador Dr).  If you’re volunteering, please try be there at 6:30 am and park at the Williams Food.

The “finish line” will be at the Bourbon Tap and Grill in Belle River (405 Notre Dame St).  We ask volunteers to head over for around 11:30 before the riders arrive.  If you are volunteering, please bring a folding chair.

FUTURE MONTHLY MEETINGS

Tuesday 10 June 2025 Spaghetti Get-Together – The Tuesday 10 June 2025 meeting will NOT be held at the Hospice, but we will instead have a Spring Get-Together at Legion 594 (Howard Ave.) starting at 5:00 pm.  As with our Xmas get-together, this will coincide with that Legion’s bi-weekly $10 all you-can-eat spaghetti dinner; in the past, this has proven to be a very successful and affordable.

OUTREACH EVENTS

Prostate Cancer Foundation Canada Father’s Day Walk/Run (June 15th, 2025) – This annual PCFC fundraising campaign is very important to us since the National Group provides immeasurable support to us. Simply put, we could not operate without their help and support. In addition, we get up to 50% equivalent return on money our members raise or donate.

Please join our PCS Windsor/Essex Team and/or donate to show your support at this link:

Register | Father’s Day WalkRun

OTHER NEWS

NATIONAL GROUP – PROSTATE CANCER FOUNDATION CANADA (PCFC)

National Group Website (www.prostatecanada.ca)

Monthly Newsletter – Please remember that PCFC (www.prostatecanada.ca), does an amazing job and provides significant valuable support to our group and support groups across the country.   We encourage you to visit their web-site; it is a mint of information that directly helps individuals.  The following is a link to their latest monthly newsletter:

April 2025 Support Group Newsletter

November 12th, Dr. Junaid Yousuf, a Radiation Oncologist at Windsor Regional Hospital, presented to our group. His focus was radiation options for treating prostate cancer, with an emphasis on Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT), which was recently initiated at Windsor regional Hospital.

Fall is here and our program planning is doing very well; so, things are looking good.  The following is a quick summary of some relevant information and a link to the latest National Group’s monthly newsletter.

UPCOMING/CURRENT EVENTS

Tuesday 12 November Meeting – Dr. Junaid Yousuf (Windsor Radiation Oncologist)

Dr. Junaid Yousuf will be presenting. His focus will be radiation options for treating prostate cancer with an emphasis on Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT), which was recently initiated at Windsor regional Hospital. Again, special thank-you to Dr. Sorensen for arranging.

Dr. Yousuf is a Radiation Oncologist at the Windsor Regional Hospital where he leads a busy clinical practice across a number of disease sites including GU, breast, GI, thoracic, cutaneous and hematologic malignancies.  

He is an award winning medical educator and is actively engaged in training the next generation of physicians and allied health care professionals.  Dr. Yousuf is a sought after and dynamic speaker on various topics within Oncology.  He is a spirited leader and seasoned mentor who takes a keen interest in topics related to physician wellness and clinician burnout.  

Dr. Yousuf is a graduate from the University of Ottawa with his MD, and completed his residency in Radiation Oncology at Queen’s University.  He is currently an Assistant Professor at Western University and Adjunct Professor at the University of Windsor.

As always, this meeting starts at 7pm at the Hospice (Empress St.). For those who would like to attend remotely, please access via ZOOM.

For Zoom—click the following Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6953623178

Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation Grown On Campaign – Through the month of November, we are helping out with the Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation Grown-On Campaign that is raising funds for the new DaVinci Surgical Robot at Windsor Regional Hospital.

The DaVinci Surgical Robot has been a key factor in the treatment and survival of several of our members and this campaign will directly benefit local prostate cancer patients going forward. The WCCF also provides direct support to our group by helping us defray some of our operating costs. We strongly encourage our members to support the Grow On Campaign by joining our PCSWE Grow On Team, and/or donating what you can at this link:

https://fnd.us/a2SK0d?ref=sh_cDiXx1

RECENT EVENTS

Tuesday 8 October Meeting – Dr. Chris Langley (Chatham-Kent Urologist) – October’s monthly Hybrid-ZOOM meeting was excellent.  Dr. Chris Langley (Chatham Urologist) presented to the group on the Contemporary Surgical Management of Prostate Cancer.  The Sarnia/Wallaceburg, London, and Burlington groups also joined in.  We would like to thank Dr. Sorensen for arranging this speaker.

FUTURE EVENTS

Tues 17 Dec 24 (NOT 10 December) Xmas Dinner – We have decided to have an Xmas dinner at 5pm coincident with the Legion 594 bi-weekly all-you-can-eat Spaghetti Dinner.  This has previously proven to be an excellent event.  We will provide more details in next month’s communique.

January 2025 – We do NOT meet in January.

Tues 11 Feb 25 Meeting – Dr. Fernanda Berto (Chatham-Kent Urologist) will speak about complications following radical prostatectomy/radiation therapy and the treatment including urine and continence and all dysfunction and structure.  And once again, special thanx to Dr. Sorensen arranging.

Tues 11 Mar 25 Meeting – Dr. Ryan McLarty (Windsor Urologist) – Ryan McLarty will be giving an update on Robotic Prostatectomy.  And once again, special thanx to Dr. Sorensen arranging.

OTHER NEWS

Facebook Group – Olav is currently developing a Facebook Group for Prostate Cancer Support Windsor/Essex.  If you are a Facebook afficionado, please search for our Group. Prostate Cancer Support Windsor/Essex

If you have any suggested changes or ideas for what you would like to see on a Facebook Group, please let us know.

Prostate Cancer Foundation Canada (PCFC) National Conference – PCFC hosted a national conference on Saturday 26 October.  The following summarizes the main points of discussion:

• PCFC Plans for 2025 (and beyond) by the new Executive Director (Dr. Abby Collier).  The appointment of Dr. Abby C. Collier as the new Executive Director. She joins PCFC from the University of British Columbia where she has been a member of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences since 2013;
• National Programs and How they Complement the work of Prostate Cancer Groups;
• “First Aid” Kit Developed by The National Support Group Council; and
• Open Forum.

Please remember that Prostate Cancer Foundation Canada (www.prostatecanada.ca), does an amazing job and provides significant valuable support to our group and support groups across the country.   We encourage you to visit their web-site; it is a mint of information and help that directly helps individuals.  The following is a link to their latest monthly newsletter:

Your Monthly Debrief for October 2024 (mailchi.mp)

The following summarizes some of the more significant subjects:

Prostate Cancer Supportive Care (PCSC) Program:

The PCSC Program is a comprehensive survivorship program developed in 2013 at the Vancouver Prostate Centre for men with prostate cancer, their partners, and families from the time of initial diagnosis onwards.  Men can self-refer to this program or be referred by their doctor. 

The PCSC Program is a clinical, educational, and research-based approach to care, addressing the challenges of decision-making and coping along the entire disease trajectory to serve both the patient and their partner’s physical and psychological needs.

The PCSC Program currently includes eight modules which men can take part in with more modules in development.  These modules include group educational sessions and clinical services in the following areas:

• Primary Treatment Options;
• Sexual Health;
• Exercise;
• Nutrition;
• Androgen Deprivation Therapy;
• Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy for Bladder and Bowel Concerns;
• Counselling Services; and
• Metastatic Disease Management.

University of British Columbia Bone Metastases and Exercise Hub

The Bone Metastases and Exercise Hub provides access to resources on exercise recommendations for people with bone metastases.  These resources created by the Bone Metastases and Exercise Knowledge Mobilization Team are intended to work together to inform and support patients, exercise professionals and health care professionals. 

Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials in Canada

National Support Group Meetings including:

National Active Surveillance Support Group Meeting

National GBTQ Support Group Meeting

National Partners in Prostate Support Group Meeting

National Advanced Prostate Support Group Meeting