Charlie and Denis's stories: How research gave 2 fathers more time with their families

Charlie Taylor was in the best shape of his life when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer at 49 years old. After adopting a healthy lifestyle and losing over 55 pounds, the news came as a shock.

However, this was not Charlie’s first experience with cancer. His father had received a similar diagnosis and died within 6 weeks of finding out. Around the time Charlie was diagnosed, he also learned that his daughter was pregnant. This news and his desire to spend time with his grandchildren gave him the strength and determination to get through the challenges of his diagnosis.

A large part of Charlie’s experience with prostate cancer was getting involved in volunteering and spreading awareness about the disease. In 2019, he received the Prostate Cancer Canada Atlantic’s Local Hero Award.

Working in the trucking business – a male-dominated industry – Charlie began spreading awareness about prostate cancer among his colleagues and encouraged them to get involved in the Canadian Cancer Society’s prostate cancer campaign, Plaid for Dad*.

He raised significant funds for the campaign for several years. Charlie emphasizes the importance of PSA testing and early detection, knowing those things were important for his survival. “Because of my benchmark, the doctor noticed my PSA started to climb at the ages of 47 and 48. When I was 49 years old, I was diagnosed,” says Charlie.

If I waited until I was 50, I would have had stage 4 cancer the following year or may not have survived to tell my story. Early detection saves lives.

Today, Charlie has been cancer-free for over a decade and continues to raise funds for and spread awareness about prostate cancer, hoping to let people know that they are not alone.

“Men don't want to talk about what's below the belt, but I want to make it known that it's okay. It’s even important to talk about it! That's one of the reasons why I wanted to volunteer and share my story," Charlie says.

If we can prolong somebody’s quality of life by funding world class research, I believe that’s very important! It’s important to focus on the fact that you can live with cancer.

Denis Dupuis heard the words, “You have cancer,” 3 times in his life. He’d overcome testicular cancer with lung and lymph node metastases at 30 years old, a stage 1 recurrence at 33 and tonsil cancer at 48.

While he stayed determined and hopeful throughout his treatments, Denis had to deal with the loss of his father, who went through colorectal cancer during Denis’s first 2 diagnoses. Denis’s third cancer happened at the same time as his mother’s breast cancer diagnosis.

Denis knows that he wouldn’t have been able to experience the joys of fatherhood if he had been diagnosed with cancer decades ago. He credits research advancements for his survival and donates monthly to the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS).

Every donation, no matter how small, helps advance cancer research. Its breakthroughs are the reason that I’m alive today, so I think everyone should give whatever they can.

Denis also volunteers and supports CCS’s advocacy efforts, wanting better outcomes and support for other people who are going through similar experiences.

“I’ve been fortunate in my misfortune, but not everyone can afford to pay for therapies or deal with all the challenges that go along with having cancer. Without an organization like CCS, the less fortunate wouldn’t be able to get the care they need or to have their other needs met,” Denis says. “Another reason why donating is so important is that it enables CCS to advocate for a health care system where cancer patients can enjoy a better quality of life and a better future with their loved ones.”