Us TOO continues its work
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By Jody Ferres | Friday, March 09, 2007 |
Bill Palos calls on a quiet gentleman sitting in the back.
“Do you want to share your story?” he asks, beckoning the fellow to make his way to the front of the room.
The other 40 men and women listen intently as the newcomer tells the group he just found out two weeks earlier that he has prostate cancer.
“I don’t even know where to start. I’m going back to the doctor again in two weeks,” he says. No sooner has he finished than men from across the room begin sharing their diagnosis stories and treatment decisions.
For the past 10 years, a Quad-City group has been consoling, educating and befriending those who never thought they would get prostate cancer. Though they may be scared, anxious, worried and full of questions, those who come to Us TOO know they are not alone.
Us TOO was begun in 1990 by prostate cancer survivors as a national grass-roots organization to help those diagnosed with the disease.
For Bill Palos, getting Us TOO established in the Quad-Cities during 1996 was especially important.
Palos, a retiree from the Rock Island Arsenal, has a history of prostate cancer in his family. After his father and two brothers died of the disease, Palos knew he had to be tested.
“I found in 1994 that I had prostate cancer. There really was no information and no one to talk to about it. The doctors were great, but they only did so much,” he said. “I knew there were others like myself who needed to get out and talk to people in a ‘been there/done that’ atmosphere.”
There are more than 350 members of the Quad-Cities Us TOO chapter.
On the third Thursday of every month, the chapter meets at either the Trinity or Genesis Medical centers. During the first hour, the chapter brings in a guest speaker, usually a doctor or other knowledgeable professional, to discuss current topics or medical terms for those affected by prostate cancer. During the second hour, the floor is open for members to share their questions, concerns and gain a sense of knowing they are not going through it alone.
“You’ll never find doctor-bashing, but we do allow members to talk to each other about their experiences,” Palos said. “Newly diagnosed people are scared to death. They don’t realize what they’re going to go through isn’t as complicated as they think.”
Bettendorf resident Fred Anderson was one who did not think he would ever have prostate cancer.
“At 61, I felt fit as a fiddle. I had excellent health and I could still do vigorous exercise,” he said. After a close friend, who was younger and fitter, had a heart attack, Anderson thought he’d better have a checkup.
That may have saved his life.
After going to the doctor, Anderson found out he had an elevated Prostate Specific Antigen, or PSA, level, which is one of the primary means used to detect prostate cancer via a blood sample.
During the process of being diagnosed, Anderson learned of Us TOO through his urologist and also got a personal visit from Palos.
“I’ll never forget sitting on my back deck for an hour-and-a-half or so, just talking,” Anderson said. “We began the process of being knowledgeable about it and noting all of the therapies that are available.”
Even though Anderson has been cancer-free since August, he is, and always will be, a regular at the monthly meetings.
“Life’s experiences should leave us two things, to learn and to share it with others,” he said. “Us TOO gives the opportunity to help others through what can be a very difficult thing.”
Dr. David Rohlf spoke at the group’s February meeting. Rohlf feels that Us TOO can be a real benefit to those going through the same experience.
“Any support group that can share stories is a great support mechanism,” he said. “The group is very knowledgeable and experienced.”
For Palos, it is a labor of love.
“We have men as young as their 40s who have come to the meetings. It’s not just cancer survivors that come,” he added. “There really needs to be more awareness of prostate cancer.”
The city desk can be contacted at (563) 383-2450 or newsroom@qctimes.com.
SNEAKERS TO WORK
Us TOO, a grass-roots organization for prostate cancer survivors, is sponsoring a Sneakers to Work Day. For $5, individuals, businesses and organizations can purchase a pair of blue shoelaces to be worn on June 15 and help increase awareness of prostate cancer, the second-leading cause of cancer death among men. The registration deadline is April 15.
For more information about Sneakers to Work Day or Us TOO, contact local Us TOO organizer Bill Palos at (309) 799-3621.
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