Being poked and prodded in the most private places is part of the process when you've got prostate cancer.
Ole Olson, a prostate cancer survivor, is very grateful for the Prostate Cancer Support Group, whose members share information and helped him through his cancer diagnosis, treatment and recovery.
The group is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Prince George, which holds its third annual fundraiser, the Big Blue Ball, on Saturday at the Coast Inn of the North. Proceeds of the event, which raised $50,000 last year, will go to the support group as well as other men's health initiatives like prostate cancer and cardiovascular screenings.
Olson, 63, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in October 2013.
"When you first get told you have prostate cancer - or any kind of cancer, I imagine - you're a little shell shocked and there's some bewilderment because you don't know if you're going to wake up the next morning because you don't know much about it at the time," said Olson. "You don't really look into it until it's yours. Then you own it and you have to try to find out what the heck it is."
Olson wondered if it could it be cured or was it fatal? It took him a week to tell his wife, Sherrill Christie, after he was diagnosed because he just couldn't face her with the terrible news.
"It's quite a traumatic bit of news you get," said Olson, who was a truck driver for more than 40 years and heading for retirement when he was diagnosed. "Your mind runs a little wild and you ask what do I do? Can I fix this? Are you going to see Christmas, are you going to see next spring?"
Not being particularly computer savvy, Olson had to rely on good, old fashioned resources, like books and doctors and nurses to provide information. But that didn't seem to be enough information and through an acquaintance, he heard about the Prostate Cancer Support Group.
It was time to be proactive.
"The support group was really informative and really helped me understand what my situation was and how to cope with it," said Olson. "You can talk to the guys in the group more than you can with your family or friends and you're a little more open because they've been through it. They understand - OK, you're going to lose control of your bowel movements - it's the stuff they don't tell you in the clinics because if you heard that you'd say 'oh, no, I'm not going through that!' They also help you understand that the people that probe and prod you are only doing it to help save your life but your modesty is gone."
Family members are invited to attend the support group meetings to get the information they need from those who have been through it or are currently going through it.
Olson's radiation treatment was successful but he's still recovering from the effects of the cancer and treatment and, of course, the support group is helping him with that, too.
The Big Blue Ball features guest speaker Lloyd Axworthy, past federal minister of foreign affairs, past president of the UN Security Council, and nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize. He will be presenting the non-partisan talk about The Responsibility to Protect.
During the event there will be a live and silent auction and it's a denim formal with live music and and DJ later in the evening. Doors open at 5:30, dinner is at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $75 at the Coast Inn and from Rotarians.
