CCSN October 30th Webinar Prostate Focus Group.pptx

About this Webinar – CCSN hosted a virtual prostate cancer patient focus group to gain insights on the experiences of individuals receiving treatment for prostate cancer, focusing on management approaches, side effects, and overall impact on quality of life. It was also discussed how we could identify strategies to optimize support for those living with prostate cancer. This webinar will go over the findings of that focus group. We will also be hearing from those who went through the focus group about their experiences with prostate cancer.

1. The Results of CCSN’s Prostate Cancer Focus Group

2. Andrew G. Matthew , PhD., C.Psych is a Health and Clinical Psychologist as well as a Clinician-Investigator in the Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, and an Associate Professor in both the Departments of Surgery and Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. He serves as the Lead Psychologist, Director of the Sexual Health Program, Director of Psychology Training, and Head of the GU Survivorship Program at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto, Canada. His clinical care and research are centered on urologic cancers, focusing on prevention, sexual health, survivorship, and improving patient quality of life.

3. Christopher Wallis MD, PhD is a Urologic Oncologist at the University of Toronto Mount Sinai Hospital and University Health Network. He has an active clinical practice focused on prostate, kidney, and bladder cancer as well as an extensive research portfolio which, to date, encompasses more than 250 publications in peer-reviewed journals including The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), The Lancet, The BMJ, JAMA Oncology, and many others.

4. Boyd Harrison retired from the Regina Police Service in July 2009 after 30 years of policing. He then worked for the Wascana Centre Authority and the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region (which later formed part of the Saskatchewan Health Authority) until 2020. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in early summer of 2019 and received a radical prostatectomy in November 2019. His PSAs began to rise in August 2022 and he began ADT in April 2025. Throughout his journey, he faced many challenges in navigating our health care system, but with the support of my family, he was able to successfully navigate it. From his experience, he truly believes that prostate cancer patients such as himself need support and guidance through the process.  Lorrie Harrison has been married to Boyd for 50 years, who was diagnosed with PCa in 2019. PCa is known as the Partner’s Disease and impacts couples lives in many ways, physically and psychologically. A retired RN of 40 years, Lorrie struggled between her roles of wife and health care provider to best support Boyd.  As a couple they discovered to best cope with PCa , was helping others going through similar cancer journeys. Lorrie sat as a board director on the Prostate Cancer Support Regina and represented Saskatchewan on the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Canada (PCFC) National Council till January 2024. On May 2024 Lorrie became the PCFC recognized group leader for the Regina Partners of Prostate Cancer Support group.

5. Q&A