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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 14, 2015)
2 B SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015 Us TOO Flor ence My Prostate Cancer Journey — Part 1 et me start by saying that prostate cancer runs in my family with my grandfather, father and a first cousin all diagnosed with prostate cancer. Because of this I have been vigilant with my health care. In spite of that, my cancer wasn’t caught as soon as it should have been. I encourage everyone who reads this to be proactive in their health care. Do not pro- crastinate because early detec- tion is the key to recovery. Education about prostate health is readily available right here in Florence. Attend one of the two Us TOO Florence Prostate Cancer Education and Support Chapter meetings held monthly. Call Bob Horney at 541-997-6626 for information. My journey started In L B Y T OM W ILSON CANCER SURVIVOR Following is part of a series of true personal stories about men’s experience with prostate cancer. These men tell their sto- ries with the hope that they will help someone else traveling the same road. California with a colonoscopy in June 2004. The doctor noted a nodule on my prostate and recommended that I see a urol- ogist. On my visit with the urolo- gist in November 2004, my PSA was 2.8. On my next visit in April 2005, my PSA was 3.96 and, in May 2005, I had my first biopsy — which was negative. I had three PSA tests in the next 12 months, each higher than the last. In November 2006, I had my second biopsy, which was also negative. From March 2007 to August 2009, I had six PSA tests ranging from a low of 3.9 to a high of 6.0. Since I was exhibiting some of the classic symptoms of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), my general practitioner started me on Avodart. In December 2009, my wife and I moved to Florence and I was no longer under a urolo- gist’s care. In July 2010, my PSA was 2.5 and my GP here in Florence didn’t feel that was high. I had no idea that Avodart would lower my PSA results by half and that 2.5 was actually 5.0. I had read many of the prostate cancer journeys in the Siuslaw News and thought many times that I should attend one of the local Us TOO Florence meetings. If I had, I would have found out that my PSA should be doubled while taking Avodart and would have had the benefit of talking to Dr. Bryan Mehlhaff, a urologist from Oregon Urology Institute (OUI) who attends the meet- ings. I am certain that my can- cer would have been caught sooner and treatment would have begun years sooner had I not procrastinated in attending these meetings. I had the same GP from 2009 to 2013 with the following PSA numbers: July 2011, 2.8; July 2012, 2.7; and July 2013, 3.9. All of these numbers should have been doubled. In July 2014, I was assigned a new pri- mary care physician. My PSA for that visit was 5.1 with a sus- picious digital rectal exam. He was the first to tell me that my 5.1 PSA was actually a 10.2. He referred me to the Oregon Urology Institute and on Sept. 4, 2014, I met with Dr. Walker from OUI. He recommended a biopsy and, on Sept. 24, 2014, I had my third biopsy; this one was positive. The cancer was on both sides of my prostate. Nine of the 12 samples were positive, with seven having a Gleason Score of 3+4 and two were 4+3. On Oct. 6, 2014, I had a CT and a bone scan. The tests indi- cated that the cancer was prob- ably not outside the prostate, but weren’t conclusive. On Oct. 14, 2014, I attended my first Us TOO Florence meeting. This was a very posi- tive experience for me and my wife, Karen. We heard prostate cancer journeys from men and their wives who had experienced them, and the support from the group and Dr. Mehlhaff was outstanding. My journey will continue next month. CROW A new retrospective exhibit by Florence artist Gene Olson is on display at Gallery One at the Florence Events Center, 715 Quince St., during January. This show explores the Olson’s transition from mainly maritime subject matter to his new field of interest, the human being as an integral part of nature. The subject matter transition also initiated a total change from acrylic paints to water- based oil paint, allowing Olson to mix color more thoroughly and to create softer edges. Olson also has attempted, over this period of time, to incorporate stronger dark and light spaces and the use of a larger range of colors in each space. The approach to the human subject is to explore softer rela- This and other paintings by Gene Olson are on display at the FEC gallery during January. (courtesy photo) tionships between and in spaces and less delineation of the form. Olson is a graduate of Portland State University’s art and education programs, with advanced degrees in each area. He has taught art in high school, at the university level, and served as a cultural direc- tor for the city of Concord, Calif. from 1B Heard said, “I keep saying it’s like a nest. Like a home away from home. We want to make it truly a place where the kids feel safe. If you go on the website and look at our mission statement, one of the things that CROW strives to do is provide safe educational opportunities for kids in the arts.” Fleming agreed. “I’d like to see us have after-school programs all through the year like we do with camp. If we had a build- ing, we could have a place the kids could even walk to,” she said. Hundreds of students attend CROW’s summer camp pro- gram. More than 1,000 students attend CROW’s outreach per- formances at Florence Events Center. Each show, like the upcoming “Once Upon a Mattress,” includes around 50 students, with some of those offstage and most of them act- ing. “CROW impacts a lot of kids in different ways,” said Heard. That is along with the near- ly 100 adult and community volunteers who help CROW. “So all under one roof would be an amazing thing for CROW right now,” Heard said. “It’s been a challenge. And we’re happy. And we’re happily going forward because we’re excited that we have these challenges. How cool that we have the success and the track record that we have! It’s based on the fact that it’s Florence. And this is a great community.” Included with the upcoming “Share Your Heart” fundraiser, CROW also will need items for the silent auction and vol- unteers to seek donations from local businesses. To find out more about CROW’s project, attend the informational meeting on Jan. 17 from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Bromley Room or contact Su b scribe ay d o T or Renew Siuslaw News and rec COURTESY PHOTOS CROW currently holds theater camps each year during the summer for local youth at the Florence Playhouse. Melanie Heard at 541-999- 8641. To learn more about CROW, visit the website www.crowkids.com. When Your illness, aches and injuries won’t wait for an appointment Our Walk-in Clinic is here for you, providing high quality care when you need prompt medical attention for non life-threatening conditions. The Walk-in Clinic is available to treat conditions such as: t General Check-up t Asthma t Sore Throat/Strep Throat t Skin Condition t Sinus Infection t Nausea/Vomiting/Diarrhea t Joint Pain t Cough/Fever t Urinary Tract Infection t Nasal Congestion t Back Pain t Ear Ache t Seasonal Allergies t Headache/Migraine Check–In: Monday–Friday Monday–Wednesday . . 6:45 am–6:30 pm Check–In: 6:45am–6:30pm Thursday . . . . . . . . 7:30 am–6:30 pm Saturday 7:45am–5:30pm Friday & Saturday . . . 7:30 am–5:30 pm PeaceHealth PeaceHealth Medical Group Medical Group 380 Ninth St., Florence, OR 97439 380 541-997-7134 Ninth St., Florence, OR 97439 | 541-997-7134 www.peacehealth.org www.peacehealth.org/phmg/fl orence eive a FREE Dutch Bros. Coffee (any size) Basic Plan – $18 every 10-weeks (20 issues) Annual Plan - $71 -52 weeks (104 issues) Three ways to subscribe or renew 1) Call 541-997-3441 2) Online www.thesiuslawnews.com 3) Mail PO Box 10 Florence OR 97439 Name: ____________________________________ Address ___________________________________ __________________________________________ Phone number: _____________________________ Amount: _________________ Check#___________ CC# ______________________________________ Exp:________ Security Code: __________________ To receive your Dutch Bros. Coffee gift cards, please come to the Siuslaw News offi ce at 148 Maple St. in Old Town Florence. Customer Service/Offi ce Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Mon.-Fri. CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Olson retrospective featured at FEC
