This volunteer support group is centered in Thunder Bay, but extends its educational services elsewhere in Northwestern Ontario.*

It is frequently asked to do a presentation for groups or clubs or organizations or businesses, and attending one will be both interesting and worthwhile. (In North America, prostate cancer for men is about as common as breast cancer for women. While the latter is very well publicised, prostate cancer receives very little press -- so folks should take advantage of a good opportunity to learn more about it.)

One of the Thunder Bay Prostate Cancer Support Group's goals is to encourage the formation of similar support groups elsewhere in Northwestern Ontario. If you cannot find a more local group, you can contact this one in Thunder Bay.

The Thunder Bay Prostate Cancer Support Group can be reached:
by mail: P.O. Box 10063, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 6T6
by phone: (807) 627-0333
by e-mail: info@tbayprostatecancersupport.org

This group holds a meeting on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 7:00 PM at the Thunder Bay 55 Plus Centre located at 700 River Street. The meeting is for current members and any prospective new member -- no commitment is necessary, just come and find some good folks and friendly help. Spouses or friends and family are also welcome to attend so that they too can gain a greater understanding of the medical and support issues prostate patients are facing.

Monthly meetings generally last about one to two hours and often have guest speakers. Before and after the formal meeting, folks have the opportunity to pick up the latest free literature and talk to others on a personal level. You can count on finding someone there who has experienced what you are going through, and who will gladly share their personal experiences and tips and advice.

Volunteer Phone List. The support to current and prospective members includes a phone list of about 10 volunteers from the group that have made themselves available to talk to those in need of help, and provide a friendly, knowledgeable ear.

The current list provides the volunteers' names and home phone numbers, and details when and what treatments they have undergone. Consequently it is easy to find someone whose experience will be very useful to your particular situation.

Talk to several on the list and you will begin to get a very well rounded picture about the disease, and side effects of treatments, and how many folks resolve problems. And don't be shy -- ask about anything in the process that concerns you. Members are very open and willing to share knowledge.

And these are wonderful folks to talk with. When I first learned I had prostate cancer, I was overwhelmed by the enormity of the idea of having cancer. I was also buried by the avalanche of information available. Sure I had talked with the doctors, and shared everything with my spouse, but still felt alone somehow. Yes I was scared. That's normal.

Then I talked with several members on the list, and my attitude changed. I was not alone. These folks were survivors and could understand the medical problems from personal experience, not theory. Their friendly support was most encouraging, and I then really felt that I was going to beat this too.

Attending the meetings puts a face to those on the phone list, and the personal encouragement I found there was tremendous.

This group meets on the first Saturday of the month at the Companion Restaurant for lunch. They normally have a guest speaker on a topic related to cancer, any cancer. The prostate cancer section of this group participates in the video conferences at the Hearst Notre Dame Hospital arranged by the Thunder Bay Prostate Cancer Support Group. Marcel Girouard is leader of the Hearst Cancer Survivors, and is also a member of the Thunder Bay Group.

Marcel Girouard can be reached:
by mail at: P.O. Box 1182, Hearst, ON P0L 1N0
by phone at: (705) 362-8154

So contact a Prostate Cancer Support Group and never be alone.

* Population centres in Northwestern Ontario that may contact and/or access the Thunder Bay Prostate Cancer Support Group include (but are not limited to) the following: Armstrong, Atikokan, Beardmore, Dryden, Ear Falls, Emo, Fort Frances, Geraldton, Greenstone, Hearst, Ignace, Kenora, Longlac, Manitouwadge, Marathon, Nakina, Nestor Falls, Nipigon, Pickle Lake, Rainy River, Red Lake, Red Rock, Schreiber, Sioux Lookout, Sioux Narrows, Terrace Bay, Upsala, and Vermilion Bay.

If other prostate cancer support groups exist now or start in NWO, please send this website (email address is on Home Page) your contact information so that it may be added here.

On 16 April 2009, the Thunder Bay group's name was changed from its previous "Thunder Bay and Area Prostate Support & Awareness Group".

Return to Home Page for Prostate Cancer Help in Northwestern Ontario

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