> Patient Education

Since its inception, CPDR has strongly supported patient education at Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) and within the National Capital Region. In August 1991 at WRAMC, COL Judd Moul and COL David McLeod initiated one of the charter US TOO, International prostate cancer support groups in the country. The group had a head start after Senator Bob Dole and Senator Ted Stevens each underwent a radical prostatectomy at WRAMC and subsequently joined the WRAMC US TOO chapter. In fact, in 1992 and 1993, the Senators hosted several WRAMC US TOO meetings at the US Capitol.

WRAMC US TOO, in partnership with CPDR, provides education and support to patients with prostate cancer and their families through its popular Guest Speaker Program. Health care professionals are invited to speak to the group on important issues for men with prostate cancer. This quarterly event, hosted at WRAMC in Joel Auditorium, has drawn as many as 120 attendees. The presentations, as well as other pertinent items of interest, are published in the WRAMC US TOO quarterly newsletter. The newsletter readership has increased significantly in the last few years. In 2000, the circulation was approximately 1,400 prostate cancer survivors, both military and civilian. Today, the circulation is 2,000. In addition, each issue of the newsletter is available and archived on the CPDR website.

WRAMC US TOO also supports patients and their families through its Peer Support Counselor Program. The counselors are prostate cancer survivors (and wives) who volunteer to be available by telephone to talk with prostate cancer patients and their families about their concerns. This group of telephone counselors has more than doubled in the last few years. In 2000, there were 20 counselors. Today, we have over 40 counselors.