Active Surveillance Patients International Presents Their First International Webinar "Learning from Active Surveillance Patients Experience"

Active Surveillance Patients International is pleased to announce the launching of its first international webinar:

Learning from Active Surveillance Patients Experience

on Jan. 30 at 12 PM EDT.

Towards that end we will be having a panel discussion representing patients from 4 countries.  Each will speak briefly and then attendees may ask questions. There has been so much helpful information from webinars featuring doctors, but this webinar will allow you to learn from patients who have been through the process.

Each speaker will address the audience about his experience with A.S. and then attendees may share their experiences and may ask questions. Towards that end there will be a panel discussion representing patients from the 4 countries.

This Webinar will be a unique opportunity to learn from the personal experiences of men who have been on AS for up to 15 years. There has been helpful information from webinars featuring doctors, but this webinar will allow you to learn from patients who have learned to live with their prostate cancer.

Our Jan. 30 Zoom meeting will begin at 12 P.M. EDT.

Please click the link to register before the event: REGISTER HERE

To learn more about ASPI, visit their website at aspatients.org

Anthony Henry is from the Greater Toronto area (Canada) and is First Vice-President at The Walnut Foundation, a men’s health support group that caters to African Canadian men. He also volunteers as a Peer Navigator through the True North Peer Navigator program administered out of Princess Margaret Hospital. The program provides peer to peer support to men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer. He has been on Active Surveillance for 6 years.

Martin Gewirtz was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2017 from a random TRUS biopsy based on a previous PSA jump to 5.0. The pathology report showed a Gleason score of 3+3=6 in 2 of 12 cores, one at 15% cancer and the second at 20%. A later second biopsy (in-bore MRI guided trans-perineal based on an MRI reading of Pirads 4) yielded nine benign samples. After extensive research and consultation with doctors, specialists, other patients, and participation in support groups, Martin decided to embrace Active Surveillance.

Mark Lichty, the moderator, was diagnosed with prostate cancer over 15 years ago. Due to the tragic overtreatment of his father’s prostate cancer, he was inspired to explore the uncertain terrain of what was then called Watchful Waiting, now Active Surveillance. His journey involved major lifestyle changes including adopting a plant-based diet. Mark has written of his journey on the website (aspatients.org). He hopes to inspire men to take charge of their A.S. journey. He is grateful for the support and leadership that PCRI and ASPI has provided which has given him the strength of spirit to continue his journey.

Cosimo Pieri (68) is an Italian living in Milano. Cosimo was diagnosed with Prostate cancer in 2017 at the age of 65 with low-grade prostate cancer and was correctly suggested AS by a good urologist applying an effective multidisciplinary approach. This is also a brilliant result of the effective 10 years action of European Patients Associations, like Europa Uomo, to demand multidisciplinary approach to PC therapy.
Cosimo is currently member of the board of Europa Uomo Europe, https://www.europa-uomo.org/

Philip Segal has been on Active Surveillance since his initial diagnosis in 2007. At the time he joined a peer support group, now called Prostate Cancer Support Toronto, and has been an active participant and Board member of this group.
As well as being a continuing education process, it has also helped greatly in living with prostate cancer.

Thrainn Thorvaldsson (76) is born and raised in Iceland living in Reykjavik. Thrainn was diagnosed with Prostate cancer in 2005 at the age of 61 and against doctor´s advice choose Active Surveillance. After 14 years in AS he completed a radiation treatment in February 2019 and is currently in the last stage of hormone therapy treatment. Thrainn is a chairman of a prostate cancer association in Iceland called Framför (Progress) which is a member of the Icelandic Cancer Society. Thrainn will speak about his experience of Active Surveillance and the following radiation treatment.