Review - MS Society

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Review Spring 2011 Okanagan Chapter MS Review newsletter deadline for the summer issue is June 5th, 2011 email content to: [email protected] If you are interested in submitting a personal story about life with MS, caring for someone who has MS, or anything else that may be of interest, we would be happy to review it for publication in the newsletter. If you are unable to write, we can also interview you or help you write it! The deadline for the next newsletter is June 5 th , 2011. You can email all submissions to: [email protected] CHAPTER INFORMATION New Program MS Walking/Rolling Group The MS Society of Canada- Okanagan Chapter has started up a walking/rolling group. The group will meet at different loca- tions throughout the city on the first and third Monday of the month at 10:45am. Whether you are a fast walker, a slow walker, in a wheelchair, use a cane, or use a walk- er, come and join us! We will go at your pace and for the distance that you like! It has proven to be a bit chilly at times, so dress warm. Please contact me at the office at 250-762-5850 or email me at [email protected] to find out the next location for our walking group! OUR MISSION: To be a leader in finding a cure for multiple sclerosis and enabling people affected by MS to enhance their quality of life. Current Board Members Tracy Tremble Chair and Fund- raising Jamie Cameron Treasurer Jane Gates Secretary and Cli- ent Services Bill Carty Social Events Laurie Moring Education and Communication Milton Dilworth Member at Large

Transcript of Review - MS Society

Page 1: Review - MS Society

Review Spring 2011 Okanagan Chapter

MS Review newsletter deadline for the summer issue is June 5th, 2011 email content to:

[email protected]

If you are interested in submitting a personal story about life with MS, caring for someone who has MS,

or anything else that may be of interest, we would be happy to review it for publication in the

newsletter. If you are unable to write, we can also interview you or help you write it! The deadline for

the next newsletter is June 5th, 2011. You can email all submissions to: [email protected]

CHAPTER INFORMATION

New Program MS Walking/Rolling Group The MS Society of Canada-Okanagan Chapter has started up a walking/rolling group. The group will meet at different loca-

tions throughout the city on the first and third Monday of the month at 10:45am. Whether you are a fast walker, a slow walker, in a wheelchair, use a cane, or use a walk-er, come and join us! We will go at your pace and for the distance that you like! It has proven to be a bit chilly at times, so dress warm. Please contact me at the office at 250-762-5850 or email me at [email protected] to find out the next location for our walking group!

OUR MISSION:

To be a leader in finding a cure for multiple sclerosis

and enabling people affected by MS

to enhance their quality of life.

Current Board Members

Tracy Tremble

Chair and Fund-

raising

Jamie Cameron

Treasurer

Jane Gates

Secretary and Cli-

ent Services

Bill Carty

Social Events

Laurie Moring

Education and

Communication

Milton Dilworth

Member at Large

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Spring 2011 2

STAY CONNECTED

Hello Again, With spring comes a lot of exciting events for the MS Society. The main one being the Scotiabank MS Walk taking place May 1st, 2011. Miriam King has certainly hit the ground running with orienting herself to the walk to ensure another successful event! With the nice weather, I have been working with a few clients trying to organize a walking group in Kelowna. Thanks to those who have braved the cold weather to come out! If you are interested in joining this group, please feel free to contact me at the office and I can

provide further details. Our Movie Days program is now up and running. We attend a matinee the third Saturday of the month. The MS Society of Canada-Okanagan Chapter provides $5.00 for a member to attend the movie.

Registration for this even seems to be climbing each month! Again, please contact me at the office for further details. If you have any questions or comments please don’t hesitate to contact me [email protected] or 250-762-5850! My schedule will be changing a bit. Starting the week of April 10th, I will be here Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays.

Shannon ThomasShannon ThomasShannon ThomasShannon Thomas Community Services Community Services Community Services Community Services

CoordinatorCoordinatorCoordinatorCoordinator

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT the Annual General Meeting of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, Okanagan Chapter will be held at St Aidans Anglican Church, 380

Leathead Road on April 16, 2011 at 10:30 am.

The purpose of the AGM is to report on the activities of the previous year, review the financial status of the chapter, and to elect a new board of directors. The election grants the Board of Directors the authority to act on behalf of the members, within the MS Society policies and procedures. Jane Gates , Secretary, Okanagan Chapter Board of Directors

10:00 – 10:30 Registration 10:30 to 11:15 AGM 11:15 to 12:00 Guest Speaker Brenda Forster, M. Ed. Mindfullness(Meditation) Tools for Living a Full Life 12:00 Lunch by Specialty Bakery Registration for this event is required for lunch participants numbers. All registrations must be received

by April 11, 2011. For more information about this event or to register please contact the Okanagan

Chapter at 250-762-5850 or [email protected]

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

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SUPPORT FROM OUR COMMUNITY

SHOPPERS HOME HEALTH CARE (Tracy Tremble)

We have many reasons to thank Shoppers Home Health Care for the support they provide to our

chapter. Last year, their Kelowna store registered a corporate team for our MS Walk, and their en-

thusiastic team found unique ways to raise funds and awareness about MS in our community. We

look forward to seeing them again this year on May 1st at our new Walk location…The Kinsman

Fieldhouse at the Mission Sports Field.

Shoppers Home Health Care also provides equipment and service to our clients through our equip-

ment provision program. Our chapter is grateful for the discounted rate we receive for the equip-

ment purchases we make on behalf of our clients and for the gently used equipment that Shoppers

Home Health Care donates to our chapter. This month, they are partnering with our provincial MS

Society staff and our community health care workers to participate in a teleconference about our

equipment program. This will ensure that our clients will receive the best possible care and sup-

port from the MS Society.

So, next time you are in contact with the Kelowna Shoppers Home Health Care store, be sure to

thank Peter, Craig, Doug & Heather for all their support!

Spring 2011 3

Message from your Chair Spring is in the air…almost! I just arrived home from a four kilometer run on the Greenway with my daughter Samantha (in her trail stroller) and my dog Keena. How refreshing to get outdoors and not be freezing! I look forward to more days like this as the month of March wears on. Perhaps the warmer spring weather will encourage you to come out to a few of our new programs…Movie Day, or our Walking/Rolling group. Spring also signals the time of year for our AGM. We hope you join us for a review of all the positive changes we have made within our chapter this past year, as well as socialize, learn, and enjoy lunch together. Spring also brings renewed hope for a better life for those living with MS. CCSVI is still a valuable procedure for some of our members, and our community is fortunate to be able to learn more about CCSVI at a seminar in West Kelowna in April (see page 9 for more information). I hope people will come away from this educational session with a better understanding of how this procedure works, and how it could be of benefit to those living with MS. Until next time… Tracy Tremble MSc.PT, BSc.Kin. Chair MS Society Okanagan Chapter

A MESSAGE FROM YOUR CHAIR

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MEMBER TO MEMBER

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MOVE OVER MS, I’m COMING THROUGH! OK, so you did it; you completed that ‘impossible mile’. YAY! So now what? My new found ‘freedom’ has afforded me much more independence…I’m doing tasks that I haven’t done for twenty-nine years ! I’m using my fancy ebony cane with an assistant.. I’m even able to do my own manicure (OPI racy-red) in just two hours instead of two days! Thank you, GOD! My life seems much more complete now since I reached that goal in September…Oh, the sweet smell of success…it’s

addicting, that success…How does one perpetuate it? Challenge it, of course! DREAM it; BELIEVE it! The next logical step for me is to register for the MS BIKE TOUR 2011 (that way I’m bound to give it my very best shot from the get-go…) My next ‘consideration’ is ‘me first’. I’ve always put others needs first; this year, I’m doing the ‘ME’ thing (pretty selfish, huh?). I WILL ride that stationary bike downstairs every day until Sept. 17th…(even if it’s only one minute, I will…) I have solicited four very fine ‘minds’ to help me with the management of our “GO GRANDEE” team this year. We have the help of the Kelowna Christian School kids for fund raising & we have the ‘experiences’ of last year to assist us. We ARE red & white so we do need a few red & white tee-shirts. We KNOW how big the banner should be; we KNOW what music we want; we KNOW we need ONE person to take photos. We KNOW our ‘cheer’..SUPERKALAFRAGILISTICEXPIALODOCIAS…………… While perusing last years journal, I realized that to ‘keep on dreaming’ is my lifes’ work so off we go again, albeit not so blindly this year. Our dream continues…this year our goal is 5KM aboard our very OWN 3wheel cycle, (yes, & remember the ‘borrowed’ one we used last year ?) This will be provided courtesy of the fund-raising efforts of OUR school kids & support from the MS Society, Okanagan Chapter. Time to notify team GO GRANDEE participants ; my they are a year older now. Noah is fourteen ; brother Caleb is twelve; Lucas (who just learned to ride a two-wheeler last year) is seven. They are sons of my number one son, Sean; they hail from North Vancouver. The two other grandchildren are of son Brad who is here…they are Maxwell age ten & Miss Veronica, who is seven. The excitement was overwhelming at all “Rogers Kingdom”s ; they are ready to see GRANDEE in action! They are excited to be part of this prestigious event. They BELIEVE in our DREAM… It seems to me that we’ve covered all bases, ‘tis time to ‘spend some time on our knees’ or more appropriately on our ‘seats’… Right, God?’ We’re almost ready… And, so it goes…

(Dee Rogers)

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VOLUNTEER CORNER

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(Laurie Moring)

So much of what we do at our chapter of the MS Society would be impossible without the support and hard work of our amazing volunteers.

Sandy Block For many of us in the Okanagan chapter of the MS Society our first introduction to Sandy is over the phone when she calls to brighten our day with a birthday phone call. She took on the role of being a birthday caller in 2003 and after eight years of making around fifteen calls a month her enthusiasm and love of the job is apparent to anyone who talks to her about it. When she makes a birthday phone call, she doesn’t just wish people a quick happy birthday and say good-bye, but she takes the time to get to know people, asking about how they will celebrate their birthday, inquiring about how things are going in their lives and letting them know that she also has MS to open the door to allow them to discuss their daily challenges if they choose. Sandy brings a sense of humour and warmth that leaves people feeling a little better after haven spoken to her. She takes the job seriously and keeps a notebook of information about each person so she can remember to ask what the grandchildren are doing or how they enjoyed that big vacation they took last summer. She says she has met some absolutely wonderful people making phone calls for us, and she loves to meet the people she calls in person at MS Society events or in the community. She appreciates the gratitude she is often shown for remembering a birthday but she is quick to point out that she finds it deeply rewarding and she gets at least as much out of the experience as the people she calls.

Don Pidgeon Don is a volunteer who has twice been second in line for volunteer positions that later became his roles. He first became interested in volunteering for us while he was looking for employment for a planned move to Kelowna. He came across a request for volunteers for the Rona MS bike tour last fall and expressed an interest in becoming the photographer. However, many photographers applied and another one was chosen. As the weekend for the bike tour drew closer, the chosen photographer was nowhere to be found, and when Don inquired about where else he could help out, he became our tour photographer. He said he and his wife had a great time taking photos of the cyclists riding up steep hills with big smiles on their faces. A few months ago he again saw that the office was looking for volunteers, this time someone to take care of updating the web site. Again, he was not initially given the position, and once again, the person it was given to fell by the wayside and Don became the man for the job. Don is not only persistent, but he also has a sense of humour that is apparent even through e-mail. He is responsible for updating the web site for our chapter of the MS Society, adding new information as required and he is, in his words, the English teacher for the information that is sent to him, double checking grammar and spelling. His goal for the web site is to get it looking both more professional and more fun. We will be able to see Don this spring with his camera when he takes pictures for us at the upcoming MS Walk.

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FUN-TASTIC FUNDRAISING

Taking Steps to End MS Each person can take a step to end MS and if each person takes a step together we will end MS! When I was what I called a ‘professional volunteer’ as my children were growing up I had the opportunity to attend a conference on volunteerism in Calgary Alberta. One of the guest speakers at this conference said two things that have stuck with me ever since then. He held up a pencil and said this pencil represented one of you, and then snapped it in half. Then he took a whole

handful of pencils and told us that these pencils represents all of us, and then he tried to snap them in half and of course he could not. The message I took from this was that if we all work together we become a strong force that is unbreakable. Each one of you are part of a powerful force working together to make the strong statement, "We will End MS!" So what can one person do to make this happen? You can be a part of Team MS, to do this register your team for the Scotiabank MS Walk or the Rona Bike Tour. You can make your team stronger by inviting five to ten friends and family to be a part of your team. Together you can each reach out to co-workers, friends and family; world wide and have them make a donation to you or your team. Every step matters and everyone matters so lets work together to make this a fantastic year for fundraising. If you need help or just want some fresh ideas please contact me at the office (250) 762-5850 , cell (250) 470-2604 or by email [email protected]

Registration: www.mswalks.ca Date: May 1, 2011

Location: Kinsmen Fieldhouse at the Mission Sports Field

Check In: 8:30 AM Warm Up: 9:55 AM

Start: 10:00 AM

Route: Down Lexington to Gordon, past the H2O and Capital News Centre, around on the ring road back to Lexington and the start/finish line.

Entertainment: 11:00 AM

Kid Zone: By the playground we will have a special tent for the children with crafts & more. Awards Ceremony: 11:30 AM

A BBQ lunch will be waiting for you when you return.

Spring 2011 6

Miriam King Fundraising Co-ordinator

SCOTIABANK MS WALK

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RONA BIKE TOUR

Okanagan Grape Escape Event

Registration: www.msbiketours.ca

Date: September 17 & 18, 2011

Start/Finish Location: Sandman Inn Kelowna

Route: Details to be Determined

Banquet: September 17, 2011

For further assistance, details, volunteer opportunities or to participate, please call Miriam at 250-762-

5850 or 250-470-2604 or email: [email protected]

Eat like a Caveman: The Paleolithic diet. The idea of the Paleolithic diet (or “Paleo” for short) was dreamt up by Gastroenterologist Dr. Walter Voegtlin. The premise is essentially to eat the same foods that our ancestors had eaten 10,000 years ago and prior. Assuming that throughout millions of years of evolution, our genomes have adapted our bodies to this regimen and consumption of processed foods has thrown a wrench in the gears. With the conception of agriculture, humans began eating dairy products, cereals, and refined natural products (oils, sugars, salt). Dr. Voegtlin suggests that our species hasn’t had time to catch up to our dietary adjustments within the past 10 millennia, and that imbalance coincides with the large rise in “Western disease” (autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular disease, cancers) during the same timeframe. The Paleo diet is highly controversial, with medical professionals both advocating and opposed to the dogma. Even the makeup of what is and isn’t acceptable is debatable, however the consensus is essentially seafood, meat, fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds while staying away from grains, legumes, salt, dairy, refined sugar and fermented beverages. Researchers at the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine conducted a metabolically controlled experiment (on and admittedly small sample size) on 9 non-obese adults with sedentary lifestyles. It consisted of these individuals continuing their normal diet for 3 days, followed by 7 days of a high fiber, high potassium diet, followed by a 10 day Paleo diet. Results taken after the Paleo stage indicated a statistically significant decrease in 8 of the 9 subject’s blood pressure, insulin sensitivity, total cholesterol, LDL’s (bad cholesterol), and triglycerides.

HEALTH CORNER

Continued...

(Chris Sackmann)

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QUESTION AND ANSWER

Nutritionist and Biochemist Dr. Marion Nestle has a skeptical opposing view on the diet as a whole. By analyzing anthropological data collected from palaeontologists and anthropologists, Dr. Nestle examined the suspected diets of our ancestors (examination of fossilized teeth, stomach contents and feces). Dr. Nestle’s list of prehistoric nutrition is quite comprehensive, and indicates throughout time a shift from be-ing almost exclusively herbivorous (hominid primates) to 45%-65% animal products within the previous 1000 years. She implies that the benefits of the Paleo diet can be attributed to the increased intake of plants and fruits over processed foods. This balanced diet along with an active lifestyle is what Dr. Nes-tle credits the benefits of the Paleo diet to.

The Paleo diet seems to be beneficial towards general health as you might expect a high vegetable, low processed food diet to be, but what are its implications to MS? A quick Google search of “Paleolithic diet and MS” brings up loads of anecdotal evidence indicating that Paleo diet as a cure all for MS. The doc-trine is similar to that of the Gluten free diet examined in our previous newsletter: processed foods are stirring up a heightened immune response as the body views these unnatural processed foods as for-eign material. It’s absolutely possible that this is a confounding factor to the pathology of the disease, but a slim chance in being the sole cause. There is a lot of research indicating that the Paleolithic diet pro-motes good health in general, but whether it can improve symptoms of MS is still out for debate (most of the research in this field is directed towards inflammatory bowel diseases). In similar fashion to the Glu-ten free diet, it may or may not improve symptoms, but it’s certainly worth a try even if just for the gen-eral health improvement. (The MS Society of Canada-Okanagan Chapter does not approve, endorse or recommend specific products, services, or treat-

ments and respects an individual’s right to make their own health management decisions)

(Shannon Thomas)

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HEALTH CORNER

Q :Are there any indications for the progression of MS based on the age of

onset?

A : All of us would like to predict the course of a disease that is very unpredictable. Over the years

people have looked for trends to see if some ability to predict would show itself. It appears that people who get MS very young, in the pediatric age group, actually do better than expected but have longer lives ahead of them and may have more time to progress. It has been said for a long time that people who get MS at an older age group (older than 55) are more likely to develop a progressive course to their disease. This has been particularly true for males. I suspect this is because they tend to develop the spinal cord primary progressive form at that time. Having said all of that, it truly is dangerous to think we can really predict the course in any one person, even when it looks progressive at the time.

Do you have a question that you would like to ask the MS Society– Okanagan Chapter to have printed in the newsletter?

The staff and volunteers will do their best to find the answer for you. Please submit all questions to [email protected] or call

(250) 762-5850.

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COMMUNITY INFORMATION

(The MS Society of Canada-Okanagan Chapter does not approve, endorse or recommend specific products, services, or treatments and respects an individual’s right to make their own health management decisions)

Westbank Public Meeting

Saturday, April 9, 2011 – 11am to 2 PM CCSVI-MS–Liberation Treatment & Stem Cells.

FREE ADMISSION Emmanuel Church 2600 Hebert Rd., West Kelowna (Westbank) BC.

Medical Pioneers as Key Note Speakers:

1. Asst. Prof. Ivo Petrov, PhD, Chief of Cardiology & Angiology Clinic, Tokuda (Japanese) Hospital. Successfully treated 750+ MS patients with CCSVI.

2. Dr. Chavdar Botev, MD., co-founder and Medical Director of the Procel Medical Center in Sofia, Bulgaria – 800+ patients have been treated with stem cells.

3. Surprise Speaker 4. Testimonials from several liberated MS patients

Answers from Doctors - Testimonials from Patients: · Can I find relief and get better now?

· How much? Where & When Can I get treated?

· Risks? Do I select a clinic or a hospital?

· Why not in Canada and when, if ever?

· Why MS “experts” are doubtful, & urge caution?

· Objections & jargon explained: “experimental”, “placebo affect”, “unproven”, “scientific”,

“controversial”, “expert”, “double blind”, “clinical trial”.

· Suffer & decline or get treated? Learn and decide.

Reserve a seat: 250-768-4834, 250-768-4677 or email [email protected]

Wheelchair access, refreshments, door prizes, free will offering.

Watch the videos www.reformedms.org

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MEDICAL UPDATE

(Laurie Moring)

First Oral Disease-Modifying Therapy Approved in Canada (Gilenya™)

Summary On March 9, 2011, Health Canada approved Gilenya™ (fingolimod) capsules, the first oral disease-modifying therapy developed for relapsing-remitting MS. Gilenya (prounounced Jil-EN-ee-ah) has been approved for use in people who have tried one or more MS therapies, but are unresponsive or intolerant to them. It is indicated for use as a monotherapy for the treatment of people with the relapsing-remitting form of MS to reduce the frequency of clinical exacerbations (relapses) and to delay the progression of physical disability. Health Canada’s approval is based on results from two large-scale placebo-controlled clinical trials, each with over 1,200 participants. Gilenya is a new class of medication called a sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor modulator, which is believed to act by retaining certain white blood cells (lymphocytes) in the lymph nodes, thereby preventing those cells from crossing the blood-brain barrier into the central nervous system (CNS). Preventing the entry of these cells into the CNS reduces inflammatory damage to the nerve cells.

Details The medication will be available in Canadian pharmacies by April 1, 2011. According to Novartis, the company will apply immediately to private/employer health care programs to have Gilenya covered. It is expected that most private insurance plans will cover Gilenya. The company will also apply to the Common Drug Review (CDR) and Conseil du Médicament (Québec) within the next few weeks. The Common Drug Review advises whether or not a drug is cost effective and should be covered by public drug programs. Provincial drug programs then use this information in making their decisions. Depending on the province, this can take anywhere from 8-24 months from initial submission to final recommendation. It should be noted that Quebec conducts its own review, independent of the CDR.

Potential Benefits and Risks: Gilenya has a well-studied safety and tolerability profile. It has been studied in over 4,000 MS patients around the world. Some are in their seventh year of treatment. Health Canada’s approval is based on results from two major Phase III trials. Each study was double-blind and controlled in design meaning patients and evaluating physicians did not know whether they were on the Gilenya or the comparison drug. One trial involving 1,272 individuals with relapsing-remitting MS (FREEDOMS) lasted two years and compared Gilenya to a placebo (New England Journal of Medicine, January 20, 2010). Over two years, Gilenya was able to significantly reduce relapse rates (the primary endpoint of the study) and slow disability progression (a secondary endpoint) compared to those on inactive placebo. Gilenya reduced relapses by 54% and reduced the risk of disability progression by 30% as compared to placebo. Gilenya also reduced brain tissue injury and brain atrophy as measured by MRI. Continued….

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MEDICAL UPDATE

The second trial, a one-year trial with 1,292 individuals with relapsing-remitting MS (TRANSFORMS study), compared Gilenya with Avonex® (interferon beta-1a). In the study, Gilenya (at a dose of 0.5mg) reduced relapses by 52% as compared with Avonex. It also reduced disease activity as measured by the number of new and newly enlarged T2 lesions on MRI scans as compared with Avonex (1.2. v/s 2.6, respectively at one year), and reduced brain lesion activity as measured by MRI. While benefit of the therapy has been demonstrated, the risks are greater than for those on beta-interferons or glatiramer acetate. The MS Society will closely monitor all information with respect to Gilenya’s safety and efficacy profile and will provide updates as required. In both studies, two doses of Gilenya were investigated (0.5mg and1.25 mg). The studies determined that the lower dose of Gilenya (0.5mg) was better tolerated and was just as effective. For this reason, only the safer low dose (0.5mg) of Gilenya has been approved for use. A few participants experienced a transient reduction in heart rate and partial blockage of heart conduction (second-degree atrioventricular conduction block) after the first dose of the medication which normalized spontaneously after several hours. During the second month of therapy, a slight increase in blood pressure was reported in some of the participants. Occasional instances of macular edema (swelling of the center of the retina inside the eye) were seen especially in those on the higher dose of Gilenya in both studies. Skin cancers were reported more frequently in those on Gilenya in the one-year TRANSFORMS study, but not in the longer 2 year FREEDOMS study. Malignancies were more common in those on placebo in the two-year FREEDOMS study. Elevations in liver enzymes, without accompanying symptoms, were common in those receiving Gilenya. In both studies, a small number of herpes infections occurred such as shingles and there were two deaths from herpes infections that occurred in the TRANSFORMS trial in people taking the higher (not approved) dose of Gilenya. The safety of Gilenya during pregnancy is uncertain but the drug could potentially cause birth defects. The long-term safety of Gilenya is unknown at this time. Other Phase III clinical trials of Gilenya, including one involving people with primary progressive MS, are still under way, as are extension studies involving those who have already completed trials. The MS Society of Canada will closely watch these and other post-approval studies for further information on the long-term safety and efficacy of this oral drug.

(The MS Society of Canada-Okanagan Chapter does not approve, endorse or recommend specific products, services, or treatments and respects an individual’s right to make their own health management decisions)

————————————————————————————————————- Wanting to join a team for the Scotiabank MS Walk? The Yummy Mummies are

recruiting team members. Our chapter chair, Tracy Tremble, is a member of this team. For more information, please call the office at (250) 762-5850.

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Saturday Social 11:00am 2nd and 4th Saturday of the Month 1540 KLO Road, Phase 1, Activity Room, side entrance

Vernon Coffee 1:00pm 2nd Thursday of the Month People Place - 3402 27th Ave

Vernon Potluck 12:00pm 4th Thursday of the Month People Place - 3402 27th Ave

Westside 10:00am 2nd and 4th Thursday of the Month -Zellers in West Kelowna

Peachland 10:00am Every second Thursday Rocky Top Coffee Co.

Mountainview Village 10:45am 2nd and 4th Monday of the Month 1540 KLO Rd, Phase 1 Activity Room, side entrance

MS Review Spring 2011 MS Review is intended to provide news and information to people living with MS, their

families, caregivers, medical professionals and other stakeholders. Information/opinions contained in this newsletter are obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but their

accuracy cannot be guaranteed. The MS Society does not approve, endorse or

recommend specific products, services, or treatments and respects an individual’s right to make their own health management decisions. However, we can provide information to assist people in their decision process. For specific, personalized information, please

consult your physician or other health care professional.

MS Society of Canada | Okanagan Chapter | #230-1855 Kirschner Rd, Kelowna, BC V1Y 4N7

Ph: 250-762-5850 | Fax: 250-762-5897 | Email: [email protected]

Are you a member? As a member of the MS Society you: Have a say in the future of

the MS Society; Allow us to speak with a more powerful voice on behalf of Canadians with MS; Receive Chapter, Division and National newsletters;

Have access to MS Society programs and resource library. Annual membership $10. Become a member today

250-762-5850

Spring 2011 12

SOCIALS AND COFFEES AT THE OK CHAPTER

BOOK REVIEW A sensitive, hopeful exploration of maximizing your quality of life while living with chronic illness Chronic physical illnesses-such as lupus, Sjogren's syndrome, fibrom-yalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, inflammatory bowel disorders, Lyme disease, inter-stitial cystitis, multiple sclerosis-take their toll on every aspect of a person's life. Though millions of people manage to cook, care for children, or work despite their disability, they do so with fatigue, pain, and the grinding uncertainty of living with chronic illness. A thoughtful exploration of this experience, A Delicate Balance pro-vides both up-to-date practical advice and inspiration for the millions of Americans who struggle daily against chronic illness. From locating a suitable health-care pro-vider and making sense of the powerful emotions that accompany chronic illness, to seeking accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act and applying for Social Security Disability Insurance, A Delicate Balance is informed by in-depth, per-sonal interviews with patients, care providers, and family members. The result is a

compassionate and immensely hopeful book for anyone touched by a chronic disease.