June 2026
PC-PEP Man of the Month: David Johnston
Introduction
“Sometimes, one conversation is enough to remind a man he does not have to face prostate cancer alone.”
This month, in honour of Men’s Health Month, we celebrate David Johnston as our PC-PEP Man of the Month for June 2026.
David is a retired environment, health and safety professional, corporate director, passionate volunteer, patient partner, and prostate cancer survivor whose story speaks deeply to resilience, caregiving, identity, gratitude, and the quiet strength it takes to keep showing up when life does not go to plan.
Diagnosed during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, David’s prostate cancer journey included robotic prostatectomy, radiation therapy, and androgen deprivation therapy. But his story is about much more than treatment. It is about what happens when the patient also becomes the caregiver. While navigating his own diagnosis and recovery, David supported his wife through her own cancer treatment — holding space for her while also carrying his own fear, fatigue, and uncertainty.
His journey reminds us that prostate cancer does not only affect the body. It can affect a man’s energy, relationships, masculinity, sense of self, mental health, and role within the family.
For David, healing came through honesty, gratitude, advocacy, and connection. A single conversation with another man who had walked a similar path helped him feel less alone. His gratitude practice helped him stay grounded. His patient-partner work helped him turn lived experience into meaningful change. And even something as simple as growing a beard became a way of reclaiming identity during treatment.
David’s story is a powerful reminder that men’s health is not only about diagnosis and survival. It is also about connection, purpose, vulnerability, self-advocacy, and learning how to live fully beyond cancer.
David’s guiding messages:
“When the patient becomes the caregiver, strength looks different.”
“You do not have to face prostate cancer alone.”
“Having someone to talk to — someone who had been there — changed everything.”
“Gratitude helped me see what I still had, even in the hardest moments.”
“Treatment changes you, but it does not have to take away who you are.”
“Living through cancer can become a way to help others.”
🎧 Hear David’s Story
In Episode 10 of the Prostate Cancer Patient Empowerment Program Podcast, David Johnston shares his deeply moving journey through prostate cancer diagnosis, surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, caregiving, and survivorship.
With honesty and grace, David speaks about the emotional complexity of supporting his wife through her own cancer treatment while recovering from his own. He reflects on the unexpected toll of hormone therapy, the importance of listening to his instincts, the grounding power of daily gratitude, and the profound impact of peer mentorship.
David’s story offers a rare and deeply human glimpse into what it means to be both vulnerable and strong, both a patient and a caregiver, both changed by cancer and committed to helping others.
This episode is for men navigating prostate cancer, partners and families walking beside them, healthcare professionals, patient advocates, and anyone who wants to better understand the lived experience behind the diagnosis.
👉 Watch the episode: https://youtu.be/RIK_k_TTi94
👉 Listen on podcast platforms: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2420283/
👉 Learn more about PC-PEP: https://www.pcpep.org/
💡 Key Messages of Inspiration
You are not alone.
One honest conversation with someone who has walked a similar path can change everything.
Caregivers need care too.
David’s story reminds us that cancer often affects couples and families together — and that patients may also be caring for someone else while trying to heal themselves.
Men’s health includes mental health.
Prostate cancer can affect identity, energy, confidence, intimacy, and emotional well-being. These experiences deserve openness, compassion, and support.
Gratitude can be a lifeline.
David’s daily gratitude practice helped him stay grounded through uncertainty, treatment, and recovery.
Identity matters.
Treatment can change the body, but men deserve support in preserving and reclaiming their sense of self.
Lived experience can become leadership.
Through his patient-partner work, David continues to use his voice to improve care, education, and support for others.
Together, we are not just facing prostate cancer — we are transforming how we live beyond it.
EMPOWER YOURSELF!
#PCPEP #ProstateCancer #MensHealthMonth #MensHealth #ProstateCancerAwareness #CancerSurvivorship #PatientEmpowerment #Caregivers #MentalHealth #CancerCare #PatientAdvocacy #EmpowerYourself
👕 The Story Behind the T-Shirts: Why It Matters
The PC-PEP T-shirts are more than just fabric—they are symbols of connection, awareness, and pride in being part of the PC-PEP community.
These shirts were made possible by David Ashcroft, a fellow PC-PEP mentor and author, who donated proceeds from his memoir Searching for Belonging and designed the artwork himself.
Gestures like David’s mean so much to our lab and the PC-PEP community. Each shirt sparks conversations, raises awareness about prostate cancer, and reminds men everywhere that they are not alone. These small acts help PC-PEP fulfill its mission: forming communities of empowerment that transform isolation into connection and fear into resilience.
🌍 About This Series
The PC-PEP Man of the Month series celebrates participants and mentors who embody courage, generosity, and the spirit of empowerment. By sharing their stories, we raise awareness about prostate cancer, reduce stigma, and highlight the power of community, connection, and hope.