Baton
Rouge
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Man to Man (M2M) is a prostate cancer support program offered free of charge by the American Cancer Society. Protocols discussed at M2M meetings are sometimes based on anecdotal information and medical advice is not dispensed. It is always advisable to consult a physician before adopting any form of treatment. |
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<The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the American Cancer Society.>> |
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Baton Rouge Newsletters
History of the Baton Rouge Support Group By: Lamy J. Chopin, Jr. Prior to January 1994, there were no American Cancer Society sponsored prostate cancer support groups in the state, and to the writer’s knowledge, there were no prostate cancer support groups in Louisiana. There was, however, a vision of such a group. In fact, in Baton Rouge there were two separate visions, at that time unknown to each other. Pam Moore, Area Director of the American Cancer Society (ACS) in Baton Rouge had recognized a need for a prostate cancer support group and had included the forming of such a group as one of the area goals for 1994. Unknown to Pam, several prostate cancer survivors from the Baton Rouge area were discussing among themselves the benefits of forming a support group. The group included Gary Kinchen, Gus Richard, Grady Hines and Lamy J. Chopin. The group contacted Pam Moore and after several meetings over a three to four month period the prostate cancer support group in Baton Rouge was formed in late April or early May 1994. At the time the support group was established there was no state model to follow, there was no national model to follow and resources were few. The Baton Rouge group was successful in locating a group in Florida which had established a successful prostate cancer support group. The Sarasota Florida group was most helpful in providing advice, a model to follow and allowing us to use their name. It was with this help and encouragement that the Baton Rouge area "Man to Man" prostate cancer support group was founded. In addition to the efforts of the volunteers, the advice and support of Pam Moore, Area Director, ACS, and Ms. Betty Ramsey, R.N. of Our Lady of the Lake Medical Center, Department of Sexual Medicine were essential to the early development of the support group. . The support group meetings were originally held at a couple of other locations prior to our longstanding arrangement of meeting on the first Monday of each month at the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center. The Baton Rouge Chapter was founded and has continued to be successful for more than eight years due to the dedication and effort of volunteers and the support of the American Cancer Society. Our continued success will depend on members who are willing to step up and assume leadership roles in the Chapter and will reach out to family and friends who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Members that have served as President/Facilitator of the Baton Rouge Chapter include Gary Kinchen, Lamy J. Chopin, Mark Cavell, Joe Ricapito, Fred Smith, and Marvin Bender.
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