The move aligns with the Canadian Cancer Society’s September drive to raise awareness about the disease

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in Oak Bay – a stretch Mayor Kevin Murdoch hopes will encourage residents to get tested for the disease, which an estimated one in every eight Canadian men will develop in their lifetimes.

“I, like many, have been impacted by prostate cancer through family and friends,” he said. “Hopefully, this will help people detect it earlier.”

The district’s Prostate Cancer Awareness Month aligns with the Canadian Cancer Society’s annual September drive to raise awareness about the disease and encourage donations to advance vital research and provide a nationwide support system to save and improve the lives of those affected by prostate cancer.

“There are effective tests and treatments, particularly if caught early, and this awareness campaign is intended to encourage men to get tested,” added Murdoch.

Excluding non-melanoma skin cancers, prostate cancer is the most common cancer among Canadian men, according to the Canadian Cancer Society. It is also the third leading cause of male cancer deaths in Canada.

“In 2024, 27,900 men are expected to be diagnosed with prostate cancer, while 5,000 men are expected to die from prostate cancer,” Statistics Canada said last September.

Though it can affect men of all age groups, it is most common among older men. It is also more prevalent among Black men and those with a family history of prostate cancer. Trans women and non-binary people assigned male at birth can also develop the disease.

“Oak Bay’s median age is 54-years-old – an age when testing becomes important,” said Murdoch. “I recognize that getting regular checkups is especially difficult in this time with very limited access to family doctors, so my hope is that men will make the extra effort and be proactive.”

The Canadian Cancer Society recommends men speak to their doctor about prostate health and early detection, including prostate-specific antigen tests and digital rectal exams.

When prostate cancer is caught early, the five-year survival rate is close to 100 per cent. That’s why, beyond testing, the Canadian Cancer Society also wants people to spread the message about the importance of early detection. After all, it could save someone’s life.

To find out more about prostate cancer, visit: cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-types/prostate/what-is-prostate-cancer.