PCSANM News:
Saturday, Oct. 26, four medical professionals familiar with the ever-changing landscape of prostate cancer will speak at the 13th annual state conference of the Prostate Cancer Support Association of New Mexico (PCSANM).
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men in the United States. It affects about one in eight Caucasian men in their lifetime and about one in seven African American men.
The free event, which requires no registration, will be held at Sandia Preparatory School, 532 Osuna Road NE, 87113. It will begin at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at 1 p.m. No advance registration is necessary.
The conference will begin with a presentation by Dr. Laura Mihalko, a urologist at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Albuquerque. She will offer updates about the role of diet when battling prostate cancer and testosterone replacement therapy.
Up next will be Dr. Gregg Franklin, New Mexico Cancer Center. He will provide updates about use of PSMA (prostate-specific membrane antigen protein) and radiopharmaceuticals for diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer.
Medical oncologist, Dr. Andrea Teague, Christus St. Vincent Hospital, Santa Fe, will focus on updates in advanced and recurrent prostate cancer.
To close the conference, Christi Capers, field medical director for Pfizer, will review advances over the past 5-7 years in testing for biomarkers that can help determine treatment approaches most appropriate for a particular patient.
The prostate cancer support association, a 501c3 non-profit organization, began operation more than 30 years ago making it one of the longest continuously operating such support groups in the country, Rod Geer, board chairperson of the organization said.
In addition to hosting the annual conference, PCSANM holds free support group meetings the first and third Saturdays of most months at Bear Canyon Senior Center, 4545 Pitt St. NE, in Albuquerque. PCSANM also provides free, one-on-one support for those affected by prostate cancer and their families.
The support group office at 2533 Virginia St. NE, Suite C, in Albuquerque, is open, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday and by appointment. For more information or support, visit www.pcsanm.org, call 505.254.7784, or email pchelp@pcsanm.org.