Events

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June 20

Sharing session

Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87577100669?pwd=Q6i2HGQUtPRKo7PTIo9YU9VTQ2oMnS.1

Meeting ID: 875 7710 0669

Passcode: 216178

 

 

July 4

No meeting (holiday)

 

July 18

Presentation by Dr. Vanessa al Rashida, Guiding Butterfly Integrative Internal Medicine and Wellness

Guiding Survivorship: A Whole-Person Strategy for Prostate Cancer Recovery, Integrative care strategies to support recovery, balance, and long-term wellness

 

Finishing treatment is not the end of your journey– it’s the beginning of a new phase of healing. In this community-focused talk, you’ll learn how nutrition, lifestyle, stress management, and evidence-informed integrative therapies can support your body after prostate cancer treatment. We’ll explore practical, realistic ways to improve energy, support hormonal and metabolic balance, and lower the risk of recurrence- so you can move forward with confidence and clarity. Designed for patients and families, this session offers actionable steps to help you feel empowered in your next phase of care.

 

Presenter Bio: Dr. Vanessa al Rashida is an internal medicine physician in New Mexico. She completed her medical degree at the University of Missouri-Kansas City 6-year BA/MD program and attended internal medicine residency at the University of New Mexico. She completed her Master of Public Health degree at the University of Chicago with a concentration in Health Policy and Administration with a certificate in Health Disparities Research. She has also completed a fellowship in Integrative Medicine at the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine in Tucson, AZ. She holds multiple leadership roles in local and state organizations.

 

She is engaged in the New Mexico community by organizing community events that involve services such as health and dental screenings, health education, and access to health resources. Her focus includes motivating patients to be their best selves and live their best lives, health education and promotion, and advocating for health policies that prioritize accessibility to the health care system and increase quality of care. In her free time, she enjoys the fine arts, hot-air ballooning, bowling, playing volleyball, horseback riding, and trying her hand at new things. She plans to open a private practice in Albuquerque towards the end of this year.

 

August 1

Sharing session

 

August 15

Presentation by Melissa Pochiro, Sports & Fitness, Health and Wellness Supervisor, City of Albuquerque Department of Senior Affairs: The Importance of Exercise As We Age

 

September 5

 

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.