The MAN VAN - Photo Courtesy Prostate Cancer Centre Facebook

By Lisa Parent

MOVEMBER

Prostate Cancer Centre encourages men to prioritize mental and physical health

Nov 22, 2023 | 3:17 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – It’s nearing the end of November, a busy month for many advocates of men’s physical and mental health.

During ‘Movember’, many men grow out their moustaches and raise money for different men’s health organizations.

However, for one of those organizations, mens health is a year round focus.

“The Prostate Cancer Center is something very unique to Alberta, very unique to Canada,” Prostate Cancer Centre CEO Jeff Davison, said.

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“We’re one of the only organizations around the world that really does what we do and that’s focus on the wraparound wellness care when it comes to prostate and other urological cancers.”

One in six Alberta men face prostate cancer and the centre’s goal is to raise awareness about the disease, especially this month.

If you’re between 50 and 70, the Prostate Cancer Centre recommends getting annualized prostate cancer checks, in the form of a Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Test.

If you are Black, Caribbean, Indigenous or have a family history of prostate cancer, you should look at getting checked even earlier.

The centre also advocates for men’s mental health, something that can take a direct hit when facing cancer.

One Prostate Cancer Centre initiative that upholds these goals is the MAN VAN. It’s a clinic on wheels that travels to different cities around Alberta and provides free prostate cancer blood tests.

“You know, men, we’re not the best at talking about our health and often have trouble seeking that help,” Davison said.

“From from a very early age, women are taught annualized checks are the way to go. But then we’re surprised when men are 65 and a doctor tells them, ‘you need to check something annually,’ and it’s hard for them to do,” he added.

“We’re really trying to get out into the community early and talk to men about their health and start to think about the now one in six men that are getting prostate cancer and take a proactive way of getting into the community and dealing with that.”

The MAN VAN is making plans to stop in Medicine Hat next year. For more information on getting tested for prostate cancer, speak to your family doctor.

For more information on the MAN VAN, visit the Prostate Cancer Centre website.

The Prostate Cancer Centre operates almost entirely on public donations. Those interested can donate here.