USMA1957/PC
'57 Prostate Cancer Support Group

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Reacting to a perceived need, and encouraged by the example of the Class of '58's Prostate Cancer (PC) information program, we have started a Class of '57 Prostate Cancer Support Group that will use the internet and an e-mail  list server to record and exchange information for our use. 

  • The list server (usma1957-pc@west-point.org) will be similar to the class forum, but restricted to use by those who have experienced prostate cancer or who have a desire to learn more of this condition.  Classmates who sign up for this support group will exchange e-mails with others in the support group (or monitor traffic among members of the group).   On this server we hope to conduct exchanges between members willing to shares their experiences or willing to counsel those who need to know more of this form of cancer. 

  • The website (www.usma57.org/pc) will be used to input information into our class prostate cancer database as well as a repository of questions & answers on prostate cancer.  The website will also provide internet links (suggested by classmates) to websites with in-depth information on prostate cancer. 

  • To join our support group we ask that classmates go to www.usma57.org/pc/signup.htm and complete the signup/update form.  There you will find a form on which you can enter your name, basic information about your condition (or interest), whether or not pc-diagnosed, date of diagnosis, Gleason score at diagnosis PSA at diagnosis, and the type of treatment (e.g., radiation) that you have had, or plan to have.  Once completed, you will be added to the support group and will begin communicating with others in our class with experiences/interest in prostate cancer.   The support group will be moderated by Fred Smith and will be a single-issue "chat room" to provide an exchange and pool of information to help with individual choices.  We expect support group participants to relate their experiences and/or questions on prostate cancer.  

PC may well strike a number of us as we move further into our senior years; we know for sure of at least a dozen classmates who have been diagnosed.  As you know, Jack Gleason died of PC not long after sending the class a message urging us to pay attention to early diagnosis and treatment.  If our experience parallels that of '58, there are currently more like 40 or 50 class members dealing with diagnosis, treatment and subsequent follow-up.  From our collective experience we should be able to provide a wealth of information for those not yet encountering PC,  may offer perspectives that will encourage increased vigilance, and give confidence that the disease, and life after diagnosis and treatment, can be dealt with successfully.

The class of 1958 suffered two prostate cancer diagnoses so far this year bringing the known total to 65, and running three below the national average.  Take a look at our PC Diagnosis Distribution Table at <http://www.west-point.org/class/usma1958-pc/usma58pc.htm> on our PC Support Group web site that Dale Cockle maintains for us at <http://www.west-point.org/class/usma1958-pc/index.html>.

'58 anticipates a total of four for the year, and you can help us to not get there by making a serious effort to follow our PC Prevention and Control Guide at <http://www.west-point.org/class/usma1958-pc/PCPrevGde.htm>.  You can download a copy in various formats at <http://www.west-point.org/class/usma1958-pc/pcprevgd/index.html>. Give your significant other a copy so she can beat you over the head with it now and then. :-)  And it's not just for fighting off PC, but for all around wellness.

A PC diagnosis is a wake-up call that says one's lifestyle up to that point didn't work for him and that major changes are in order.  Don't wait for that to happen.  Prevention beats control any time.  Start now, if you haven't already.  And here's a tip -- an excellent companion to the Guide is Dean Ornish's recently published book "The Spectrum", spelling out the 'why' and the 'how' to accompany the Guide's 'what'.

The '58 Group currently stands at 145 classmates with 45 having been diagnosed with PC.  The other 100 don't want to go there, which is why we put a lot of emphasis on prevention.

Our numbers are considerably less than this.  Why I do not know!


MISSION STATEMENT

Prostate cancer will affect a majority of males as they pass through middle and into old age.  Individual decisions will be necessary for each of us, whether diagnosed, undiagnosed or currently disease-free.  The '57 Prostate Cancer Support Group will solicit information, experiences and questions from classmates as they relate to prostate cancer.  We will do this interactively by e-mails on the '57 Prostate Cancer list server and use the resources of this website to archive information for all to use.

We do not intend for this to deal with anything except prostate cancer -- possible causes, effects and treatments, and lifestyle questions and solutions centering on living with the disease, its treatment protocols and results. Other medical issues are excluded of necessity, to keep our focus sharply on a disease which will affect so many of us. 

Those wishing to monitor information on Prostate Cancer without  joining our Support Group, are encouraged to visit this web-site frequently and review information posted upon it.  In this way you will obtain information, but remain unknown. 

 


Perceived Need

Reacting to a perceived need, and encouraged by the example of the Class of '58's Prostate Cancer (PC) information program, we have started a Class of '57 Prostate Cancer Support Group that will use the internet and an e-mail  list server to record and exchange information for our use. 

  • The list server (usma1957-pc@west-point.org) will be similar to the class forum, but restricted to use by those who have experienced prostate cancer or who have a desire to learn more of this condition.  Classmates who sign up for this support group will exchange e-mails with others in the support group (or monitor traffic among members of the group).   On this server we hope to conduct exchanges between members willing to shares their experiences or willing to counsel those who need to know more of this form of cancer. 

  • The website (www.usma57.org/pc) will be used to input information into our class prostate cancer database as well as a repository of questions & answers on prostate cancer.  The website will also provide internet links (suggested by classmates) to websites with in-depth information on prostate cancer. 

  • To join our support group we ask that classmates go to www.usma57.org/pc/signup.htm and complete the signup/update form.  There you will find a form on which you can enter your name, basic information about your condition (or interest), whether or not pc-diagnosed, date of diagnosis, Gleason score at diagnosis PSA at diagnosis, and the type of treatment (e.g., radiation) that you have had, or plan to have.  Once completed, you will be added to the support group and will begin communicating with others in our class with experiences/interest in prostate cancer.   The support group will be moderated by Fred Smith and will be a single-issue "chat room" to provide an exchange and pool of information to help with individual choices.  We expect support group participants to relate their experiences and/or questions on prostate cancer.  

PC may well strike a number of us as we move further into our senior years; we know for sure of at least a dozen classmates who have been diagnosed.  As you know, Jack Gleason died of PC not long after sending the class a message urging us to pay attention to early diagnosis and treatment.  If our experience parallels that of '58, there are currently more like 40 or 50 class members dealing with diagnosis, treatment and subsequent follow-up.  From our collective experience we should be able to provide a wealth of information for those not yet encountering PC,  may offer perspectives that will encourage increased vigilance, and give confidence that the disease, and life after diagnosis and treatment, can be dealt with successfully.

The class of 1958 suffered two prostate cancer diagnoses so far this year bringing the known total to 65, and running three below the national average.  Take a look at our PC Diagnosis Distribution Table at <http://www.west-point.org/class/usma1958-pc/usma58pc.htm> on our PC Support Group web site that Dale Cockle maintains for us at <http://www.west-point.org/class/usma1958-pc/index.html>.

'58 anticipates a total of four for the year, and you can help us to not get there by making a serious effort to follow our PC Prevention and Control Guide at <http://www.west-point.org/class/usma1958-pc/PCPrevGde.htm>.  You can download a copy in various formats at <http://www.west-point.org/class/usma1958-pc/pcprevgd/index.html>. Give your significant other a copy so she can beat you over the head with it now and then. :-)  And it's not just for fighting off PC, but for all around wellness.

A PC diagnosis is a wake-up call that says one's lifestyle up to that point didn't work for him and that major changes are in order.  Don't wait for that to happen.  Prevention beats control any time.  Start now, if you haven't already.  And here's a tip -- an excellent companion to the Guide is Dean Ornish's recently published book "The Spectrum", spelling out the 'why' and the 'how' to accompany the Guide's 'what'.

The '58 Group currently stands at 145 classmates with 45 having been diagnosed with PC.  The other 100 don't want to go there, which is why we put a lot of emphasis on prevention.

Our numbers are considerably less than this.  Why I do not know!



 

HOW '57 PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT GROUP CAME TO BE

The class of '58, under the leadership of Stan Bacon, established an on-line prostate cancer support group.  This group currently has some 114 corresponding members, comprising those diagnosed with prostate cancer and those who, given the wide likelihood of prostate cancer among “senior” males, are desirous of obtaining current information on the disease. 

The classes of '56 and '59 have recently expressed interest in forming such collaborative groups, and Stan, through John Stokes, asked Fred Smith if he would undertake such an initiative for '57.

 

. . . . AND WHERE WE HOPE TO TAKE IT

With four contiguous classes, it might be possible at some point to draw some significant, though now unknown, statistical conclusions from their collective experiences. Moreover, a wider forum for exchange would result in current and potential prostate cancer patients having an improved database for individuals to make necessary treatment decisions.

 


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