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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 13, 2017)
SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2017 Police offer tips to prevent theft during holidays The Florence Police Department has taken 11 reports of stolen vehicles with- in the city limits of Florence since late August. In seven of those incidents, the keys were left inside the vehicles, mak- ing the vehicle an easy oppor- tunity for theft. Florence police remind resi- dents to protect themselves and their property by never leaving a running vehicle unat- tended and to always lock Us TOO Flor ence Behind the headlines vehicle doors. “With the holiday season upon us it is also important to not leave packages or other items of value in your car that can be seen from outside your car, and again always lock your doors,” said Commander John Pitcher. “ A lot of crimes that are committed are ‘crimes of opportunity,’ where if we take away the opportunity or make ourselves a harder target the thief will likely move on.” B Y B OB H ORNEY U S TOO F LORENCE FACILITATOR P ROSTATE CANCER SURVIVOR Let Paul show you a new car or truck. Stop by today! 2150 Hwy. 101 • Florence (541) 997-3475 • 1-800-348-3475 Holiday Open House for the Chicken Coop Fri., Dec. 15, 4-7 Sat., Dec. 16, 12-5 The Chicken Coop 129 Maple Street Florence 541-991-7739 Refreshments, drawings, and fun for everyone! Lots of Christmas gift giving ideas! Last month, the good news was that a 2017 re-analysis of the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian trial (PLCO) showed that PSA screening does, in fact, reduce prostate cancer mortality by 25-32 percent. Unfortunately, we’ve had about six years of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) holding firmly to the exact opposite, i.e., PSA screening results in more harms than benefits. The USPSTF makes “evidence- based” recommendations about clinical preventive services (including PSA screenings), and these recommendations then guide the practice of primary care physi- cians. “Discourage the use of this service,” is what the USPSTF told our primary care physicians when it gave PSA screening a “D” grade in 2012. The phrase used in the Annals of Internal Medicine was even more blunt: “Do not use prostate-specific antigen (PSA)- based screening for prostate can- cer.” So, what happened when the USPSTF recommended doctors eliminate routine PSA testing for all men? We learn from the Chicago Prostate Cancer Center (CPCC) that it had an immediate effect of fewer men being offered periodic PSA testing — and digi- tal rectal examination (DRE) — even at annual physicals. With fewer PSA tests, DREs, biopsies and diagnoses, what has been the experience at the CPCC? Exactly what was feared. “With less screening, there has been a significant rise in the rate of men who are now requiring treatment for more advanced prostate cancers, men who missed early stage detection and treat- ment,” the CPCC report said. Naturally, with less screening and fewer DREs, urologists (who perform biopsies, make prostate cancer diagnoses and treat prostate cancer patients) seldom see the patient with no symptoms. In short: No test results, no referral. The urologists will see the men if or when they develop advanced symptomatic prostate cancer, at a point that is often beyond the win- dow of curability. Here’s more: A 2015 study led by Vanderbilt University Medical Center investigators found new diagnoses of prostate cancer in the U.S. declined 28 percent in the year following the USPSTF rec- ommendation against routine PSA screening for men. Twelve months after the USPSTF guidelines were published, diagnoses of new low- risk prostate cancers had fallen by 37.9 percent. The study also identified a drop of 28.1 percent in diagnoses of intermediate-risk disease and 23.1 percent in high-risk prostate can- cer one year after the draft guide- line. Nationwide, about 33,519 fewer men age 50 and older received a diagnosis of prostate cancer in 2012 than in 2011, drop- ping from 213,562 to 180,043. Tragically, too many of those men, plus others in subsequent years, only delayed their diagnosis from curable to incurable. Using a simulation model, Roman Gulati and colleagues pre- dicted that compared with contin- uing screening, completely dis- continuing screening in the United States would increase prostate cancer mortality by 13 to 20 per- cent. That should cause serious con- cern for the years ahead as we deal with the effects of six years of USPSTF discouraging use of the PSA test. The big question now is: Will PSA testing pick up again with the re-analysis of the PLCO along with the USPSTF “C” recommen- dation that men should discuss the benefits and harms of PSA testing with their doctor and then decide what they want to do? A key to it picking up will be the primary care physicians hav- ing meaningful discussions about the benefits and harms of being tested and acknowledging that PSA screening has been clearly proven to reduce prostate cancer mortality. Perhaps the big inhibitor of this taking place now is the minimal amount of time that doctors are allotted for seeing patients. For the men who really want to have that discussion, they may take their questions and concerns directly to the experts who diag- nose and treat prostate cancer (urologists at Oregon Urology Institute). There are two opportu- nities each month to do that — and without the cost of an office visit. Attend an Us TOO Florence meeting and talk with survivors as well as a urologist. Meetings are the second Tuesday of each month, from 5 to 7 p.m., at the Presbyterian Church of the Siuslaw with Dr. Bryan Mehlhaff. Or come to the meeting held on the third Tuesday of each month, from noon to 1 p.m., at Ichiban Restaurant on Highway 101, with Dr. Roger McKimmy. Bring your questions and leave with answers. For more information, call Bob Horney at 541-999-4239. Citizens sought to fill county commission positions The Lane County Board of Commissioners is seeking applications from citizens inter- ested in serving on the commis- sion listed below. This commis- sion serves in an advisory capacity to the Board of Commissioners on a wide vari- ety of topics and issues. Details about the committee and its meeting schedule and specific duties: • Lane County Planning Commission: This Commission makes recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners regarding com- prehensive plan issues and amendments. The commission also advises and cooperates with other plan- ning agencies within the state and may provide reports to local government officials on issues concerning county, regional or metropolitan planning. The commission serves as the Citizen Involvement Program Committee for Lane County on matters relating to land use and promotes public interest in and understanding of the comprehensive plan and of planning and zoning in general. The commission meets twice a month, generally the first and third Tuesday of every month with occasional special meet- ings on other evenings. The board includes nine members. Currently there is one vacancy. Let me Showcase your property. Jan Jagoe Broker 541 999-0879 Manzanita Drive #1100 – Corner lot with room to build your dream home! Well and septic are in so all you need are the plans! $95,500. #2761-17458403 1749 Highway 101 • 541-997-1200 e 5 A Nutcracker A holiday adition for the entire family! Tuesday, Dec 19 | 7:00 pm Florence Events Center eventcenter.org | 541-997-1994 Events Center Box Offi ce State Farm Insurance Customer Appreciation Christmas Open House Open House Wednesday, December 13 10am to 2pm Stop by for some hot cider, homemade goodies & Holiday cheer! PERFORMANCE SPONSORS @ the State Farm Offi ce: 1275 Rhododendron Drive The board will make a rea- sonable attempt to select voting membership from different geo- graphic areas of the County. For other requirements, see Lane Manual 3.575. Among them, no more than two voting members of each Planning Commission will be engaged principally in the buy- ing, selling or developing of real estate for profit as individu- als, or be members of any part- nership or officers or employees of any corporation that is engaged principally in the buy- ing, selling or developing of real estate for profit. No more than two voting members of each Planning Commission will be engaged in the same kind of occupation, business, trade or profession. Applications will be evaluat- ed for consistency with mem- bership criteria by Board sub- committee. The application deadline will remain open until it is filled. Applications are available at the Lane County Public Works Customer Service Center, 3050 N. Delta Highway. Hard copy applications can be turned in at the Lane County Public Works Customer Service Center between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. For more information or online applications, email Keir. Miller@co.lane.or.us. Friends of the Library meet Dec. 14 The Friends of the Siuslaw Public Library (FOL) will hold its annual meeting on Thursday, Dec. 14, at 11 a.m. in the Bromley Room at the library, 1460 Ninth St. Anyone interested in sup- porting the library or learning more about the FOL is invit- ed to attend. Officers and board mem- bers for 2018 will be elected at this meeting. Light snacks and bever- ages will be offered. The group encourages peo- ple to join and learn more about FOL. The Friends meet the fourth Thursday of each month, except for November and December when they meet on the third Thursday. The group’s purpose is to support the Siuslaw Public Library District through advocacy and fundraising. For more information about FOL, contact siuslaw libraryfriends@gmail.com.
