Thousands of Canadians wore their plaid clothes ahead of Father’s Day for Prostate Cancer Canada’s Plaid for Dad initiative, to show support and raise awareness and funds for prostate cancer research.
The organization launched a pilot Plaid for Dad initiative last year and saw it explode this year. The initiative has more than 600 company supporters along with federal and local politicians and ambassadors such as actor Erick McCormack and hockey commentator Don Cherry.
“People are used to the notion of dress down Fridays at work or jeans Fridays and making a small donation and we just wanted to make a bit of a twist on that,” Rocco Rossi, CEO of Prostate Cancer Canada, told CTV News Channel.
According to Rossi, men can sometimes be their own worst enemies, especially when it comes to their health and going to the doctor. The initiative aims to support and encourage men to get tested and to encourage their families to be aware of prostate cancer as well.
One in nine women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime and one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer with the age distribution being virtually the same. According to Rossi, breast cancer is more widely talked about because women are more likely to start that conversation.
“Manning up is not ignoring pain, it’s not assuming you’re invincible,” said Rossi. “Manning up is getting tested, going to your medical doctor and taking care of your health so you can take care of your family.”
Prostate cancer is known as a relatively silent killer because there are no physical symptoms unless the cancer goes beyond the prostate gland. At that point, the chance of survival drops to below 25 per cent. When caught early through tests, 90 per cent of cases are eminently treatable, said Rossi.
According to Prostate Cancer Canada, prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer affecting men.
