Wayne Gates
Special to Niagara Now/The Lake Report

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer diagnosed among men in Canada. One in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetimes. 

In 2024, it is estimated that over 27,000 men will be diagnosed with the disease — and 5,000 men will tragically lose their lives.

These are not just statistics — these are our fathers, our brothers, our grandpas & uncles, our friends & neighbours. 

I have heard stories, like from Pete Ward, who opted in for a prostate-specific antigen test, a.k.a. a PSA test, at a $39 charge, while getting routine blood work for his blood sugar and cholesterol.

Pete noted that because the test had a fee, it suggested it “wasn’t that important.” But he decided to pay the fee and get the test.

He learned his PSA numbers were off the charts, despite being asymptomatic.

Pete said things were already so severe that many treatment options were already ruled out — that he and his family were “plunged into 10 months off hell” — but because he got the test, he is still here today. 

Or, stories like from Anthony Henry, whose family history — one of four in his family who have lived with his prostate cancer, which led to his father passing away from prostate cancer — led to him getting the test early.

Prostate cancer has disproportionate impacts among Black men, including those of African or Caribbean ancestry, and those with a family history.

But when prostate cancer is found early, almost 100 per cent of men will survive five years or more.

I was joined by Pete and Anthony on this past Monday, Sept. 16, at a press conference in Toronto at Queen’s Park.

Many others joined us, including Pete’s wife, Marianne Meed Ward, the mayor of Burlington, Dr. Anthony Dixon, an emergency room physician from Chatham-Kent who is also a prostate cancer survivor, and Dr. Stuart Edmonds from the Canadian Cancer Society. 

Together, we are advocating for the Ontario government to pass my motion to have OHIP cover the cost of the PSA prostate cancer test for everyone in Ontario, when it is requested by a doctor or health care professional. 

Right now, people have to pay out of pocket for the test, which means many men cannot afford to get the test. Many others choose to forgo the test because, like Pete, they assume, due to the fee, the test is optional or not important.  

This shouldn’t be the case in the province of Ontario. 

And this is not a partisan, political issue: I was also joined at my press conference by MPP Stephanie Bowman, a Liberal MPP from Don Valley West, and MPP Mike Schreiner, the Leader of the Ontario Green Party. They both agree, across party lines, that covering this test under OHIP is crucial. 

As mentioned, early detection can save lives — and early detection will save our province money and resources in health care costs. 

This is a common-sense, simple solution that will save people’s lives. 

I’m asking the government: let’s come together, work together, and ensure we pass my motion to have OHIP cover the cost of this important test.

Working together, we can truly make a positive difference in men’s health.