Support Group Meetings

We host support meetings from 12:30 – 2:30 on the first and third Saturdays of most months.

Presentations will be held at the beginning of meetings, last for about 40 minutes, and are followed by a time for questions and discussion.

If you have questions about meetings, please email PCSANM at pchelp@pcsanm.org or call 505-254-7784. We hope you’ll join us. We are here to provide you with the information and support you need.

If you would like to receive additional support, we are also available to provide private support for you and your loved ones. Please call 505-254-7784 or 800-278-7678.

Meeting Location:

Bear Canyon Senior Center,
4645 Pitt St. NE, Albuquerque

Some meetings are also available via Zoom. Please see meeting date a few days before the meeting for information on how to join.

Upcoming Meetings

August 1

Sharing session

August 15

Presentation by Melissa Pochiro, Sports & Fitness, Health and Wellness Supervisor, City of Albuquerque Department of Senior Affairs: Movement is Medicine As We Age

Remaining physically active as we age provides many physical, mental, and cognitive benefits. This presentation will explore the benefits of being active for adults including those adults surviving cancer or still on their journey. Attendees will learn the different components of physical fitness, how to get started on an exercise routine and demonstrations of a few simple balancing exercises. Lastly, an overview of programs and activities that the Department of Senior Affairs offers will be provided to help you stay active and thrive as you age.

Presenter Bio: Melissa Pochiro, Health and Wellness Supervisor with the City of Albuquerque, Department of Senior Affairs Sports & Fitness Program. ACSM certified Exercise Physiologist. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science from Youngstown State University in Ohio. Melissa started working in the fitness industry in 1996 working at a local gym. When she graduated college, she spent 12 years working in the Corporate Fitness Industry before starting a career with the City of Albuquerque where she has been for the past 15 years.

September 5

No meeting (Labor Day weekend)

September 19

Presentation by Dr. Patrick Beagen, Radiation Oncologist, Lovelace Medical System, (topic and details TBA)

October 3

Presentation by Dr. Jose Avitia, New Mexico Cancer Center: Optimal Duration of Hormone Therapy (details TBA)

October 17

Sharing session

November 7

Presentation by Bob Watson, a Lead Researcher of the Estriodol Initiative: Transdermal Estradiol for Androgen Deprivation Therapy

A resident of New Mexico, Bob Watson (PhD), will present pros and cons of using transdermal estradiol patches or gels to treat prostate cancer by suppressing testosterone and PSA equally as well as Lupron ADT, but with no increased cardiovascular events, and with far fewer adverse side effects (such as hot flashes, osteoporosis, and osteoporotic fractures), and at significantly reduced costs.

Presenter Bio: Bob Watson is 70 years old and is a retired PhD nuclear engineer. He currently works as a patent agent writing patent applications. He has been a prostate cancer patient for 2 years now. His Gleason score at diagnosis was 4+3, and MRI scans confirmed 2 tumors in his prostate. His peak PSA reached 10, at which point he took Dutasteride for 5 months. His PSA dropped from 10 to 2.4 over that time. Next, he did SBRT radiation treatment (5 sessions) and then did Orgovyx ADT treatment for 6 months, while simultaneously taking high-dose, transdermal estradiol gel (1% E2 concentration) to prevent osteoporosis. His lowest PSA was undetectable (< 0.02). He had no hot flashes while on ADT, and his bone mineral density increased by 10% during the 8 months that he was using transdermal estradiol gel.