In this deeply honest episode of the PC-PEP Podcast, Gabriela sits down with Wayne, a 63-year-old prostate cancer survivor who identifies as a gay man, to explore what it really means to receive “the big C” diagnosis in a world that is still profoundly heteronormative. Wayne walks us through his journey from a routine PSA check to a rapid PSA rise, biopsy, Gleason 7 diagnosis, and robotic prostatectomy—describing not only the medical events, but the psychological “dark night of the soul” that followed.
Wayne shares how he accidentally discovered PC-PEP in a tiny line at the bottom of an email—three months before surgery—and how the program became a true game changer: daily messages, pelvic floor exercises, strength training, monitoring, and, crucially, a gay men’s group where nothing is off the table. He speaks candidly about incontinence, doing Kegels three times a day, ongoing erectile dysfunction, and his decision to move forward with a penile implant—not as a luxury, but as a way to reclaim his sexuality and quality of life.

Together, Wayne and Gabriela explore why aftercare and empowerment are not “extras,” but essential parts of cancer treatment. They talk about the legacy of HIV/AIDS activism (“Silence Equals Death”), the power of speaking openly in gay men’s communities, and how evidence from PC-PEP shows that self-efficacy and patient activation can transform mental health—above and beyond urinary or sexual function alone. Wayne’s message is clear: men with prostate cancer need more than surgery and scans. They need tools, community, and a roadmap handed to them at diagnosis, not discovered by accident.

Key Messages of Inspiration and Empowerment for Men Diagnosed with Prostate Cancer:

1. A cancer diagnosis is a psychological earthquake—aftercare is not optional. Wayne describes the weeks after hearing “you have cancer” as a terrifying free fall. He reminds us that leaving men alone with Google and fear is dangerous—and that structured support like PC-PEP can be the “hand on the shoulder” after the consultation ends.

2. Silence equals death: talking openly can save your sanity and your life.
Wayne explains how speaking honestly about bodies, sex, fear, and identity is a survival skill. For gay, bi, and men who have sex with men, open conversation is not oversharing—it’s medicine.

3. Empowerment and self-efficacy change your mental health more than function alone. Wayne’s story echoes PC-PEP research showing that feeling informed, active, and in control explains much of the improvement in distress—not just better continence or erections. Small, consistent actions—like Kegels, exercise, and daily program tools—build a sense of “I’ve got this.”

4. You still deserve pleasure, intimacy, and a sex life after prostate cancer.
Wayne speaks movingly about grieving the loss of ejaculation, the shock of post-surgery erectile dysfunction, and his choice to pursue a penile implant. His message: you are not dead, not broken, and not selfish for wanting an active sex life at any age. Seeking solutions is an act of self-respect, not vanity.

5. Healthcare must hand you a roadmap at diagnosis—ask for it.
Wayne is clear: the urologist’s office is “where the rubber hits the road.” Men should leave with a simple sheet listing programs and trusted resources—PC-PEP, —so they don’t fall down the doom-scrolling rabbit hole alone. If you weren’t given one, ask.

6. Your story matters—and may be exactly what another man needs to hear. Wayne spent months wanting to keep his diagnosis private, then reframed that instinct as a missed opportunity to help others. His willingness to speak openly is a powerful reminder that every survivor’s voice can light the way for someone still in the dark.

🎧 Listen and Watch this episode on You Tube: https://youtu.be/0b-ivr9INas

EMPOWER YOURSELF!

Welcome to another episode of the Prostate Cancer Patient Empowerment Program (PC-PEP) podcast, proudly funded by Movember through a Health Equity grant awarded to Drs. Gabriela Ilie and Rob Rutledge and delivered in partnership with PC-PEP™ at Dalhousie University.

In this episode, Gabriela speaks with Richard from Ottawa, a warm and thoughtful stage 4 prostate cancer survivor who calls PC-PEP “the missing chapter” and “the missing leg of the chair” in his cancer journey.

Richard was diagnosed during COVID after months of crippling lower back pain, a trip to the ER, and an MRI revealing widespread metastatic disease. Given a prognosis of only a few years, he immediately became his own advocate—pushing for faster appointments, joining a clinical trial that included immunotherapy, and saying yes to anything that might help him live well for as long as possible.

But the most powerful parts of this conversation go well beyond treatment.

What Richard Shares in This Episode

1. The shock of a stage 4 diagnosis, delivered alone

With his wife listening by phone from home, Richard heard the words “lesions too numerous to count” in his lungs, bones, and prostate. The hospital was quiet and half-empty due to COVID. He was told he likely had 2–4 years to live.
He has already outlived that estimate.

2. The profound fatigue of treatment— and choosing adaptation, not resistance

Radiation and systemic therapy left him exhausted for months. Instead of fighting his body, he allowed himself to rest and recover:
“If this is my life right now, I’ll sleep. I’ll rest. I’ll work with it.”

3. The steadying power of faith and gratitude

Richard describes a deeply personal moment—feeling a hand on his shoulder and hearing the words “Everything’s going to be all right.”
This, combined with a daily gratitude practice, shifted how he related to fear, illness, and uncertainty.

4. Community, friendship, and rediscovering joy

Weekly buddy calls, dragon boat races, and the global PC-PEP family gave Richard a sense of purpose, camaraderie, and even playfulness:
“I felt like a teenager again—feet in the sand, under the tent with friends.”

5. PC-PEP as the missing chapter

After attending Gabriela and Rob’s talk in Ottawa in 2022, Richard signed up before the presentation even ended. PC-PEP gave him structure, strength, and connection through:

• Daily exercise and Kegels
• Breathing and meditation practices
• Nutrition and cooking guidance
• Relationship and social tools
• Meaning-making and spiritual reflection
• Monthly video conferences offering updated science and real community

6. Heart health and prostate cancer—an often-overlooked link

Motivated by PC-PEP’s emphasis on heart-health monitoring for men on ADT, Richard helped organize mobile cardiac screenings in Ottawa. Several men were referred to specialists—issues that otherwise would have gone undetected.

7. A radiologist’s advice that became a philosophy

One of his doctors told him something he’ll never forget:
“Every day, be good to yourself.”
For Richard, that means resting when tired, staying socially connected, understanding his medications, moving his body, and allowing himself joy—without denying the reality of cancer.

Key Takeaways for Cancer Survivors

• Be your own advocate.

“No one is more interested in your health than you.”
Ask questions, request second opinions, call the hospital, understand your meds, and bring concerns to your medical team.

• Adaptation is strength.

Fighting fatigue often backfires. Allowing your body to rest can be life-giving.

• Spirituality, gratitude, and inner grounding matter.

Whatever you

EMPOWER YOURSELF!

Welcome to Episode number 10 of our Prostate Cancer Patient Empowerment program (PC-PEP)!

This initiative is proudly funded by Movember through a Health Equity grant awarded to Drs. Gabriela Ilie and Rob Rutledge and delivered in partnership with the Prostate Cancer - Patient Empowerment Program (PC-PEPTM) at Dalhousie University.

This is a deeply moving conversation with David Johnston—a retired environment, health and safety professional, corporate director, passionate volunteer, and prostate cancer survivor—whose story brings us face-to-face with what it truly means to live through cancer, not just as a patient, but as a partner, a caregiver, and a quietly powerful advocate for change.

Diagnosed during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, David’s journey included robotic prostatectomy, radiation therapy, and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). But the real heart of his story isn’t just in the medical milestones—it’s in the way he held space for his wife’s own cancer treatment while recovering from his own. It’s in the beard he grew to reclaim his sense of self. It’s in the gratitude practice that helped him stay grounded. And it’s in the moment when one man’s mentorship helped him remember: he didn’t have to face it alone.

This episode is not just about side effects and survival—it’s about resilience in the face of role reversal, grace under pressure, and the quiet, steady power of showing up for yourself and others, even when life doesn’t go to plan.

Key insights from David’s story:

1. When the patient becomes the caregiver.
   While undergoing treatment, David supported his wife through her own cancer diagnosis, recovery, and hormone therapy—navigating dual roles of vulnerability and leadership.

1. Listening to your gut—and acting fast.
   David pushed for immediate surgery when diagnosed, even declining hormone therapy at first. He later underwent 33 days of radiation and a full course of ADT.

1. The unexpected toll of hormone therapy.
   With candid honesty, David shares how hormone therapy reshaped his energy, body, and sense of self—and how he fought to stay grounded.

1. Gratitude as a way through the darkness.
   Early in his diagnosis, David began each day by writing down ten things he was grateful for—without repeats. Over time, this became a natural way of seeing the world.

1. The power of one conversation.
   A single connection with another man who had walked a similar path made all the difference.

1. Living your values—even in treatment.
   David stayed involved as a patient partner at UHN and the University of Toronto throughout his treatment, lending his voice to improve health education and systems from the inside.

What This Episode Offers:

• A rare glimpse into the emotional complexity of being a caregiver and a patient at once
• Honest talk about hormone therapy, masculinity, and identity
• Insights into patient advocacy and navigating the healthcare system as an insider
• A message of perseverance, gratitude, purpose, and quiet transformation

This episode is for any man navigating prostate cancer—or anyone caring for someone who is. It’s also for healthcare professionals and policymakers who want to hear the lived truth behind the charts.

Listen to the episode on Buzzsprout:

EMPOWER YOURSELF!