Albany Prostate Cancer Support Group
Karen & Barry Rendell can be contacted anytime. Phone Home: (08) 9844 1812 Mob: 0408 955 910 Email: karen.rendell@bigpond.com Address: PO Box 5716 Albany   WA   6332	a Karen Rendell Convenor/Coordinator Karen with PC survivor husband, Barry
Support Group Meetings are held in Albany every 6 weeks at Lotteries House, North Road, opposite the Caltex Service Station. Please phone for the dates. All welcome. LINKS: Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia Lions Australia Prostate Cancer	Karen (Kaz) began the Albany Support Group in 2003 after her husband Barry (Baz) was diagnosed with prostate cancer at age 59.  The only support group in Western Australia at that time was in Perth, the states capital, over 400 km to the north.  Much has happened since then and now in 2006.  There are a number of groups operating from Geraldton to Esperance, including Busselton and Mandurah, many of which Karen helped to establish.  Karen is now on the Support and Advocacy Committee (SAC) of the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and is the designated state representative for WA attending regular conferences in Sydney and Melbourne. Karen has been involved in the health system for many years as a nurse, doctors assistant and nursing home supervisor.  She is also a dedicated and fully qualified St John Ambulance Officer. Karen has also conducted power point presentations at Collie Coal Mines to raise awareness of prostate cancer and has arranged to visit both Kalgoorlie and Ravensthorpe mining operations.  She is happy to speak to small groups and also individuals on a personal basis including home visits around Albany.  Prostate cancer affects about 10% of the male population and is an insidious disease, which is best treated whilst still encapsulated.  Early diagnosis is essential and raising awareness in the community to prostate cancer is paramount.  Contact Karen at any time for a friendly discussion.
Barry's story Barry Rendell I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in early 2003 and at age 59 immediately underwent a radical prostatectomy.  Whilst I had absolutely no symptoms and had a quite low PSA reading, the cancer had spread outside the capsule and had invaded one of the seminal vesicles.  My experienced urologist had found a slight hardening of the prostate via a DRE (Digital Rectal Examination) and 3 of the 6 probles of the biopsy all showed the presence of what turned out to be an agressive cancer.  Prior to my diagnosis I knew virtually nothing of prostate cancer and only had the relevant tests done after the sudden death from prostate cancer of a close friend. This indicated clearly the huge importance of early diagnosis.  I cannot stress enough this point because treatment of prostate cancer once the disease is out of the capsule is most difficult.  Whilst there can be emotional and physical downsides to surgery, that is far more preferable than not being able to watch your grandchildren grow up!! You menfolk owe it to your family to get yourself checked out annually, preferably from age 50 (or 40 if a family history of prostate cancer).  Had Karen not "bullied" me into having the tests done then it would probably have been too late.  Wives/partners have a very important part to play here as many men have a macho "she'll be right" attitude and consider their nether regions to be secret men's business.  I am only too happy to discuss any ramifications of surgery etc with interested parties.  My own health post operatively is good and I thank my lucky stars for that on a regular basis!! Your good health is your greatest blessing. Karen with Andrew Vlahov at the Be A Man Campaign in Perth.
SUPPORT GROUP PICTURES   Ross Stutley lighting candles at Relay for Life Karen with Julie Bishop Federal MP and Peter Watson - Labour MP at the Be A Man campaign held in Perth. Dr Graham Jacobs MP Dining out Adelaide conference Support Advocacy committee in Adelaide 2007 Relay for Life 2007 The Captain and The Coach. Karen with John Todd