Poll: 14% of Canadians believe women can be diagnosed with prostate cancer

According to a recent Leger Marketing poll, 14 per cent of Canadians believe women can be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and an additional 20 per cent aren't sure. Only 56 per cent know with certainty that men are the only ones who can be afflicted.

September 17^th to 23^rd is Prostate Cancer Awareness Week. The survey findings demonstrate that continued, basic prostate cancer education is still a critical need among many Canadians. "It is clear that people are still confused about the disease," said Aaron Bacher, Immediate Past Chairman of Prostate Cancer Canada Network - Toronto (PCCN-Toronto).  "As the most common cancer affecting Canadian men, we need to be clear on what the disease is, the importance of being screened, early detection, and what the treatment options are once a diagnosis is made."

Understanding Prostate Cancer

Dealing with Prostate Cancer

The survey also probed Canadians' perceptions of what would be the most difficult things to deal with if confronted with a diagnosis of prostate cancer. Men, thinking about having prostate cancer themselves, and women, thinking about their partner or a loved one, were closely aligned in their responses. In fact, each group ranked worrying/losing hope, knowing my illness has an impact on my loved ones and my children, and being unable to access the best or new treatments as their projected top three stresses.

"We need to remember," says Bacher, "that beyond the physical disease, prostate cancer can have a profound emotional impact on both the patient and their family. Understanding the emotional struggle of the patient's whole team, so to speak, is essential to understanding and helping them along their prostate cancer journey."

"Ignorance and fear are often barriers to men being diligent and honest about their health," explains Dr. Luc Valiquette, M.D., FRCS (C), Director, Department of Surgery, Urologic Surgery Specialist, Université de Montréal. "In the case of prostate cancer, it may be especially difficult for a patient to communicate what they are feeling or what they need. It is reassuring, looking at these survey results, to see that men and women seem to instinctively identify and appreciate the same challenges. In fact, emotional supports can be as important as medical ones."

SOURCE Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc.