People often ask what motivates some of us to spend as much time as we do researching and educating ourselves regarding prostate cancer, volunteering on the Coordinating Committee of the Wichita, Kansas Chapter, Us TOO Intl., Inc. Prostate Cancer Education and Support Group in order to arrange presentations for the general membership, be involved in community health activities, and be available to those seeking our counsel. The answer is that we feel an obligation to learn all we can in order to better understand our cancer so that, when providing counsel, we at least have a reasonable knowledge of our disease and enough understanding that we can refer those seeking our advice to appropriate materials to help answer their questions and, hopefully, satisfy their concerns.
With permission, we have taken words that appear in "A Primer on Prostate Cancer - The Empowered Patient's Guide" by Dr. Stephen B. Strum and Donna Pogliano to describe what we, as prostate cancer patients and survivors, should be making of our lives.
"You have now inadvertently joined the fraternity of prostate cancer. You have a responsibility to yourself and to your loved ones to get the best care and the most information you can. At a time appropriate to you, part of your evolution as a human being afflicted with a potentially life-threatening disease is to become an advocate for more support for PC research, early detection, early cure, appropriate treatment, and supportive care of the PC patient. You will learn that if you mentor those who come after you, as so many others have done, your life will be further enriched and made more meaningful. Know then that you have fulfilled Emerson's definition of success:
"To leave the world a bit better,
Whether by a healthy child, a garden patch
or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you lived,
That is to have succeeded."
We only pray that the work we do and the counsel we provide has made someone else "breathe easier."
With permission, we invite you to be further inspired to helping others by
visiting
If you are a prostate cancer patient or one who is a supporter of a prostate cancer patient and feel a similar calling, please let us know by accessing the "" link on this website, or send us an email explaining your interest and how to contact you.
DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions expressed
on this web site are not an endorsement or recommendation for any medical treatment,
product, service or course of action by Us TOO - Wichita Chapter. For medical,
legal or other advice, please consult appropriate professionals of your choice.
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, Us TOO - Wichita Chapter,
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