Ride for Dad!

This prostate cancer survivor is spreading the word about early detection.

When David Bailey learned that he had prostate cancer, the retired schoolteacher did what teachers do best: he taught!

He explained to other men about how early detection drastically improves the survival rate of this most diagnosed men’s cancer in Canada after non-melanoma skin cancers.

“After I’d had the operation to treat my cancer, I found myself talking a lot about it,” recalled Bailey. “I belonged to two motorcycle riding groups. At breakfast, I’d be talking to a guy beside me about my experience, basically telling him to get off his rear end and get some PSA testing done. I realized that there were three or four men across the table, kind of leaning in, eavesdropping.”

The 78-year-old retired resident of Picton, Ont., decided to have his PSA tested in 2016 because a good friend had passed away from prostate cancer. His friend had never taken the test, which measures the amount of prostate-specific antigen in the blood, a protein produced by the prostate, a small gland below a man’s bladder. While the tests do have limitations, high PSA levels can indicate prostate cancer, a urinary tract infection, an inflamed prostate or other problems.

His family doctor told Bailey not to worry about his rising PSA levels, but he insisted he see a urologist who eventually performed a biopsy and broke the news that he had prostate cancer.

Fortunately, because it was detected so early, Bailey was able to have surgery to successfully treat it. That has motivated him to tell anyone who will listen that the best way to beat prostate cancer is to be tested regularly.  “It’s so much better to know where you stand and deal with it rather than waiting. If you wait, it’s going to be too late.”  While most physicians routinely use PSA tests with male patients over the age of 55, the Prostate Cancer Fight Foundation (PCFF) encourages all men over 40 to monitor their prostate health with PSA blood tests, especially since the disease can show no symptoms.

The PCFF is the charitable arm behind Ride for Dad, an annual event that takes place in cities across Canada to raise money to fight the disease.   As an avid motorcycle rider and now cancer survivor, Bailey is an eager volunteer and a successful fund raiser for the Kingston-Quinte Motorcycle Ride for Dad, which has raised over $1.6 million since 2004. The proceeds from the annual event stay within the local community are invested in groundbreaking prostate cancer research and life-saving public awareness campaigns of the disease and the importance of early detection. This year’s ride is on May 31 and begins at the Cataraqui Arena at 1030 Sunnyside Rd. in Kingston.