Updated: March 24, 2011
See Cancer Treatment for more information.
Vancouver Centre (VC)
John Christopherson, oncology social worker, is available to assist men, their partners, and families with concerns related to the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer. Concerns that may be addressed by a counsellor include learning stress and anxiety reduction strategies, relationship difficulties and issues related to sexual function, for example. John is involved with the steering committee of the Vancouver PSA Group and attends the monthly meetings of the Vancouver Advanced PSA Group and the Vancouver PSA Group.
Appointments can be made through Patient and Family Counselling Services at the Vancouver Centre (604) 877-6098 extension 2194.
Other support services are available through Patient and Family Counselling Services. These include a relaxation program, therapeutic touch, art therapy, a children's program and rehabilitation counselling. Counselling is provided by Masters level counsellors. For more information please contact Patient and Family Counselling Services at (604) 877-6098 extension 2194.
Prostate Support Groups
There are now more than 20 Prostate Support and Awareness (PSA) Groups throughout BC. These are self help groups chaired by trained facilitators who are prostate cancer survivors. Local communities, medical and allied health professionals, the BC Cancer Agency and the Canadian Cancer Society may all be involved in various aspects of these groups. Most groups meet once a month.
The groups are open to new participants all the time. Men diagnosed with prostate cancer and their partners are welcome to attend. Registration is not required. The purpose of the PSA Groups is to provide men with an opportunity to meet others who have experienced prostate cancer, to create a forum to discuss issues and concerns related to prostate cancer, to build an ongoing support group for men with prostate cancer and to provide educational resources and guest speakers on topics of interest to the group.
PSA Groups in the Lower Mainland:
- Vancouver: meets the first Thursday of the month from 11:00am-1:00 pm in the Board Room of the Canadian Cancer Society, 565 W 10th Avenue. For more information please contact the chairman, Len Gross at (604) 434-2100
- Advanced PSA Group, Vancouver: For men who have a diagnosis of advanced disease and their partners. Meets the third Thursday of the month from 10:30am-12:30 pm in the Board Room of the Canadian Cancer Society, 565 W 10th Avenue. For more information please contact Gordon Dunn (604) 739-5900 or John Christopherson (604) 877-6000 extension 2191
- Burnaby: Meets the first Saturday of the month. Contact Lorne McRae at (604) 521-4485 for more information
- North Shore: Meets evenings, the fourth Tuesday of the month. Contact Jack Carlisle at (604) 929-5183 for more information
- Richmond: Contact the Canadian Cancer Society for more information. (604) 279-7150
- Tri City (Coquitlam, Port Moody, Port Coquitlam): Meets evenings, the first Tuesday of the month. Contact Keith Evans at (604) 936-9886 or Norman Sherling (604) 936-8703 for more information. Treasurer is Allen Dolden (604) 513-1463
PSA Groups in B.C.:
- Campbell River: Meets evenings, the third Tuesday of the month. Contact Al Hodgkinson at (250) 923-1357
- Courtney-Comox: Meets evenings, the second Wednesday of the month. Contact Bob Koester (250) 334-0283 for more information
- Cranbrook: Meets evenings, the third Tuesday of the month. Contact the Canadian Cancer Society at (250) 426-8916 for more information
- Cowichan Valley: Meets evenings, the third Wednesday of the month. Contact John or Coby Beddis at (250) 743-2046 for more information
- Kamloops: Meets the first Saturday of the month. Contact Craig Bidnell at (250) 374-2510 for more information
- Kelowna: Meets the second Saturday of the month. Contact Bren Witt at (250) 762-3168 for more information
- Nanaimo: Meets evenings, the third Monday of the month. Contact Dean Gaily at (250) 751-7747 for more information
- Penticton: Meets evenings, the first Monday of the month. Contact Terry Cassidy at (250) 492-5204 for more information
- Port Alberni: Meets evenings, the second Thursday of the month. Contact the Canadian Cancer Society at (250) 723-3967 for more information
- Powell River: Meets evenings, the first Thursday of the month. Contact Harold Brown at (604) 487-1400 for more information
- Prince George: Meets evenings, the last Tuesday of the month. Contact Nick Ramage at (250) 967-0161 for more information
- Qualicum Beach/ Parksville: Meets evenings, the first Wednesday of the month. Contact Gordon Ireland at (250) 248-8428 for more information
- Salmon Arm: Contact Ken Waite at (250) 832-2049 for more information
- Squamish: Meets evenings, the second Thursday of every month. Contact Art Bartsch at (604)892-5701 for more information
- Salt Spring Island: Meets evenings, the third Tuesday of the month. Contact John Woodward at (250) 537-4503 for more information
- Sunshine Coast: Meets evenings, the first Tuesday of every other month. Contact John Stevenson
(604) 885-4282 for more information
- Vernon: Meets evenings, every second Tuesday of the month. Contact Ed Eyford at (250) 545-6220 for more information
- Victoria: Meets once a month from 7 - 9pm. Contact the Canadian Cancer Society 1-800-663-7892
Vancouver Island Centre (VIC)
Patient and Family Counselling Services provides the following services for prostate patients:
- Individual, couples and family counselling focusing on grief and loss, sexuality and lifestyle changes. Services are provided by professionally registered counsellors who are trained at a Masters degree level. Other services include Relaxation Therapy on an individual and group basis and Art Therapy
- Nancy Payeur MSW, RSW, Regional Clinical Coordinator, provides consultative services to support groups in Victoria and on Vancouver Island
Contact: Patient and Family Counselling at (250) 519-5525 or (250) 519-5526 (Nancy Payeur).
PSA Victoria (Prostate Support Association of Victoria)
Provides a monthly support group and one-on-one support for prostate patients. The group meets once each month from 7-9 pm at Begbie Hall at the Royal Jubilee Hospital (2101 Richmond Road). Spouses and family members are welcome.
Contact:
- Jan Willoughby (250) 474-3860
- Peter Hughes (250) 360-0766
- Basil Katz (250) 721-5814
- Sid Joss (250) 477-7992
- Arn Westlake (250) 592-7664
- Patient and Family Counselling - Victoria (250) 519-5525
Note that this Group is affiliated with both the Canadian Cancer Society and the BC Cancer Agency.
PSA Salt Spring Island
Provides a monthly support group for Island men and their families as well as one-to-one support. Contact: John Woodward at (250) 537-4503.
Comox Valley PSA and Awareness Group - Courtenay
Contact: Bob Koester at 1-250-334-0283
Cowichan Valley Prostate Support and Awareness Group – Cowichan
Contact John or Coby Beddis at 1-250-743-2046
Nanaimo Prostate Support and Awareness Group – Nanaimo
Contact Dean Gaily at (250)751-7747.
Port Alberni Prostate Support and Awareness Group – Port Alberni
Contact the Canadian Cancer Society at 1-250-723-3967
West Coast Prostate Awareness Society – Campbell River
Provides a monthly support group meeting with one-to-one support. Contact: Al Hodgkinson (250) 923-1357
Fraser Valley Centre (FVC)
Geoff Straw and other counselling staff are available to assist men and their partners with concerns related to changes in sexual functioning that may be a result in the treatment of prostate cancer. Confidential appointments can be made through Patient and Family Counselling Services at the Fraser Valley Centre, (604) 930-4000.
Other support services are available through Patient and Family Counselling. These include a relaxation group which is open to all cancer patients and their caregivers, as well as therapeutic touch, and individual counselling facilitated by Masters level counselors. Our educational library offers valuable resources and information relating to prostate cancer and its treatment. For more information, please call Patient and Family Counselling at (604) 930-4000.
Surrey Prostate Support and Awareness Group - provides an opportunity to meet with other men who have experienced prostate cancer, as well as a forum for discussion of issues and concerns for patients and families. Guest speakers provide emotional and educational resources. A trained volunteer facilitates these meetings, which are held the last Saturday of every month, 10:00 - Noon. Contact Ron McGuinness at (604) 857-9622 for further information. Other groups in the Fraser Valley Area are as follows:
- White Rock - meets the second Saturday of each month. Contact Bill Blackman at (604) 535-1331
- Abbotsford - meets the third Monday of every month. Contact Val Strijack at (604) 856-5863
- Chilliwack - meets the first Tuesday of each month. Contact Don Corbett at (604) 792-1660
- Langley - meets the second Wednesday of each month. Contact Canadian Cancer Society at (604) 533-1668
Centre for the Southern Interior (CSI)
Support services available through Patient and Family Counselling include:
- Individual, couple and family counselling provided by Masters level trained counsellors. Appointments can be made through Darlene Denney at 1-250-712-3963
- Relaxation Group: offered weekly, Tuesdays 10.00- 11.30 a.m. Attendance is on a drop- in basis. This group is open to men living with cancer, their family and friends
- Therapeutic Touch
- Art and Music Therapy
For further information, please call Darlene Denney at 1-250-712-3963.
Kelowna Prostate Cancer Support Group meets on the 3rd Saturday of every month from 9.00- 11.00 a.m. This group is an opportunity for men and their spouses to meet others in a similar situation to theirs, to explore resources and information available. Guest speakers provide educational and emotional resources.
For further information contact Bren Witt at 1-250-762-3168.
Other prostate support groups offered by the Canadian Cancer Society include:
- Kamloops: Contact Craig Bidnell at (250) 374-2510
- Kitimat: Contact Ron West at (250) 632-3730 for more information
- Mission: Contact Richard Butchart at (604) 820-3384 for more information
- Penticton: Terry Cassidy at (250) 492-5204
- Prince Rupert: Contact Judy Rea at (250) 627-0533 for more information
- Quesnel: Contact Ronald Campbell at (250) 992-2726 for more information
- Revelstoke: Fred Cameron at (250) 837-2847
- Salmon Arm: Ken Waite at (250) 832-2049
- Vernon: Ed Eyford at (250) 545-6220