We will provide light snacks and drinks at the meeting. The meeting is being held March 14th, at the Westend Seniors Activity Centre (9629 176 St). Doors open at 6:30. Meeting call to order at 7:00pm.

 

As always, you are encouraged to bring along a friend or family member that may be facing a PC diagnosis. If you are aware of someone struggling with PC, let us know and we will try to help. 

 

If you have questions or suggestions before the meeting, call Terry.

 

Terry Kirkland

780 909-9960

 

National Council Activities:  www.prostatecancersupport.ca

 

Dear Honourable Jason Copping;
As President of the Edmonton Prostate Peer Support Society, it has come to my attention that Alberta Health has curtailed funding to the UAH PSMA-10 7 project This project offers more precise imaging for detection of prostate cancer tumors and more precise delivery of radiation to the tumors. There are at least 60 prostate cancer patients in the queue for PSMA PET scans, which is now the standard of care imaging test in multiple prostate cancer guidelines.
Unfortunately, as a result of funding, AHS has not offered operational approval for this project after recruiting, enrolling and consenting patients had begun for an imaging test that has shown to change treatments today.
The trial will not start until specific funding is provided to Alberta Health Services Diagnostic. Apparently, at the provincial level, Director discussions lean toward organizational structural changes that will extend access to PET scans into the evenings and weekends. Although desirable, organizational changes are not expedient to implement. In the interim AHS Diagnostics Imaging intends to issue direction to referring physicians that PSMA PET scans will not be booked at UAH pending further funding/notice, despite this being against the patient’s best interest.
The delays this will cause to men waiting for these diagnostics will negatively impact their health outcomes. Just as early detection has proven to save health dollars, early treatment with more accurate information will yield the same significant savings.
Minister Copping, my plea to you is to ensure the diagnostics men have been led to believe they were to receive, are delivered on a timely basis. To do otherwise would be an agonizing delay for these patients.
Sincerely
Terry Kirkland

 

Doctor Emery
As a brief introduction, I chair the Prostate Edmonton Peer Support Society.
I have been following the new PSMA PET imaging protocols being introduced to locate tumours within the prostate and in the case of planned external beam radiation treatment, the imaging used to precisely direct the radiation.
My understanding is there are over 60 men that have been recruited to participate in a clinical trial to prove the efficacy of these imaging protocols. Apparently, recent internal discussions are considering the extensions of imaging hours and will include Saturday. Certainly a laudable and apparently necessary undertaking. However institutional changes are not expediently achieved.
I understand that AHS DI will issue a communication notice to all referring physicians that PSMA PET scans will not be booked at UAH ending further funding/notice. If my information is correct, the planned changes will impact the timely availability of PSMA PET scans for those 60+ men on the requisition list.
As you know, anytime you are tagged with a cancer diagnosis, anxiety becomes a daily brain worm. If the PSMA Pet scans are curtailed or delayed, the men that have volunteered to participate in the clinical trials, will be devastated. As early detection saves AHS dollars, timely treatment will yield the same AHS dollars savings.
It is my hope that the 60+ recruits can complete the clinical trial process they were led to believe would assist in the treatment of their prostate cancer. To do, otherwise may put a chill on future clinical trial participants. It certainly will elevate the anxiety of the patients.
Thanks for your consideration on this matter.

Terry Kirkland

In keeping with the wishes expressed at the November 8th meeting, we will hold our monthly meeting at the “cafe” located at Westend Seniors Activity Centre (9629 – 176 St). Doors open at 6:30 meeting 7:00 PM.  Adjournment 9:00 PM.

 

We will provide light snacks and drinks at the meeting. We do not have a speaker scheduled for this meeting. The intention is to hold an open forum so members can share their PC experience or seek peer assistance with any treatment challenges they are facing.

 

As always, you are encouraged to bring along a friend or family member that may be facing a PC diagnosis. If you are aware of someone struggling with PC, let us know and we will try to help. 

 

If you have questions or suggestions before the meeting, call Terry.

 

Terry Kirkland

780 909-9960

 

National Council Activities:  www.prostatecancersupport.ca