At A Glance
Offering help and hope to men by providing prostate health information
Our Purpose
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In the early 1990’s our founders saw a need for patient driven education and support. They understood that men could make better decisions about their treatment if they became informed about treatment modalities. Further, they understood that low risk prostate cancer patients are often candidates for “watchful waiting” now called “active surveillance.” Those opting for active surveillance could delay or even avoid entirely the side effects caused by prostate removal, hormone therapy, or radiation.
Prostate Forum of Orange County remains committed to furthering a patient’s search and understanding of medical information WITHOUT GIVING MEDICAL ADVICE.
Who We Serve
Men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer (PCa) at any point in their diagnosis, treatment and recovery. Anyone, including women, who wants to support someone fighting prostate cancer and/or who needs more information.
Traditionally, we’ve focused on Orange County and to a lesser extent Southern California, but anyone who wants to come to our meetings are encouraged and welcome. We’ve sent our flyers all over the USA.​
What We Provide
Emotional Support, Information, and Education for those fighting newly diagnosed or advanced prostate disease and the side effects of prostate cancer treatment.
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Presentations by distinguished physicians and surgeons. We have one expert speaker presentation every 4th Thursday of the month from January to October at 7:00 p.m. Before our Main Meeting at 5:00 p.m., we have a special meeting just for Newly Diagnosed and also an Advanced Prostate Cancer Sharing Group. The public is always welcome. The presentations by medical professionals are an outstanding way to meet and ask questions of your treatment professional before committing to treatment.
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Our website provides access to videos of our speakers discussing imaging, radiation modalities, medications, surgery, and other areas. Please review the information and find out how we can empower you with hope and evidenced based information.
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Our Prostate Forum Orange County Hotline for those concerned about prostate cancer staffed by our experienced volunteers. This is our main telephone number: 714-459-2058.
We have videos of past presenters and lending library with books, videos, etc.
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Outreach
We attend the annual Prostate Cancer Research Institute Conference in September. We staff a booth for this 3-day event. It is incredible!
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We make our membership aware of this event every year and encourage their attendance and participation at our booth.
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We attend the annual Crusin’ for a Cure Orange County. One day event at the Orange County Fair and Events Center featuring classic cars and trucks, food, beer, games for the kids, scores of vendor booths and most important an opportunity to have a Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood draw and a digital rectal examination done in one place for free.
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We staff a booth at this event to distribute literature and introduce our organization. Learn more Crusin’ for a Cure 2019.
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The Prostate Forum of Orange County presented its mission and relevant information about prostate cancer to the Orange County Board of Supervisors in September. During the presentation, the Orange County Board of Supervisors proclaimed September “Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.”
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Funding
We never charge for services.
Our meetings are free as is access to our website. We do NOT have memberships. We have existed for 25 years on donations alone.
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We have a mail driven / email driven fund-raising drive in November directed at those who want to leave their name and contact information. We are a 501 (c) (3) organization.
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A basket is passed during meetings. We do not have paid staff, or consultants of any kind.
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A special thank you to Robert Pugach, M.D. and HIFU Prostate Services for providing for the modernization of our website and enhancements to our social media site. He and his associates have been very generous and we are most grateful.
2019 Goals: More People to Our Meetings & to Our Website
In February 2019 we launched this updated, modern website and a new social media presence on Facebook and Twitter. And we will enhance our YouTube channel.
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We are working to improve outreach to increase attendance at meetings and traffic to our website.
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We will staff more booths at health fairs, retirement planning events, cancer events, Etc.
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We will issue press releases in August and September. September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.
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We will increase face to face contact with organizations with potentially underserved populations such as the Veteran’s Administration, senior centers and retirement centers.