With September’s arrival, a new season can feel like a fresh start, but it also represents an annual opportunity to recognize one of the most common cancers impacting men globally.
In Canada, one in every nine men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. Like many cancers, prostate cancer’s physical effects on the body can be detrimental, but men’s health charity Movember is reminding Canadians that it’s equally important to recognize the impact a prostate cancer diagnosis can have on a man’s mental health.
In Canada, one in every nine men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.
Many men continue to struggle with the concept of vulnerability, particularly so for older generations of men (aged 45 and over), who represent the demographic most at risk of developing prostate cancer. Prostate cancer strips patients of their physical health, but the symptoms associated with the disease — erectile dysfunction, incontinence, and weight gain — can also contribute to feelings of depression and anxiety. For men who grew up during a time when they were expected to stay “strong and silent,” the mental health impacts can be some of the hardest to face.
September may be prostate cancer awareness month, but it also offers an opportune time to check in with the men in your life — not just reminding them to keep an eye on their physical health but to prioritize their mental health as well. By fostering an open and supportive environment, we can better support the men we love — whatever battle they may be facing.
