PCSO Peer Support Team Lead Terry Day

A Game Changer: How Terry Day Turned a Prostate Cancer Diagnosis into a Call for Action and Connection

By: Ines Tayeb

Prostate cancer is not a disease men talk about, but they should. Statistically, it is a crisis hidden in plain sight. “One in eight men will get prostate cancer in their life”, asserts Terry in his interview. It is the second most diagnosed cancer for men in Canada, second only to lung cancer as a leading cause of cancer death. With an estimated 30,000 new cases in Canada in 2025, silence is deadly.

For Terry Day, a man whose life was defined by precision, from his 29 years as a pilot in the Canadian Forces to his final role as a flight operations safety inspector, the diagnosis came with no warning.

The Sneaky Diagnosis:

Terry was enjoying retirement, traveling extensively and “cruised quite a few times” with his wife, Linda, when the first signs of trouble appeared, not as symptoms, but as a slow, almost imperceptible rise in his PSA levels.

“This disease is very sneaky,” Terry notes. Prostate cancer often masks itself as common, age-related issues, like an enlarged prostate pressing on the urethra, or even a simple urinary tract infection. It wasn't until a routine rectal exam in December 2016 revealed an irregularity that the need for a biopsy became clear.

While Terry had been monitoring his PSA, hearing the word “cancer” was still a shock. “There was a bit of a catch of breath there,” he recalls. His immediate reaction, however, was to fight: “Let's get on with trying to fix this.”

The Journey for Support:

Terry’s treatment involved a three-week course of radiation (including brachytherapy and external beam radiation) followed by six months of hormone therapy designed to suppress the testosterone that fuels cancer growth.

Crucial to his recovery was the support of his wife. “She just was with me the whole journey. Every single appointment she came with me,” he affirms.

Yet, despite this unwavering spousal support, Terry realized he was a “strange bird” for not seeking external help. He didn’t find PCSO until after the difficult steps of selecting which treatment to undergo.This realization transformed him into an advocate dedicated to reaching men much earlier in their process.

Today, Terry is a Board Member and Peer Support Leader for PCSO, and his work is focused on making sure no man has to navigate the tough decisions alone.

PCSO in Action: How Peer Support Works

Terry’s primary role is to lead a peer support team and match newly diagnosed men with the right mentor.

Terry emphasizes one non-negotiable action for every man facing a diagnosis: “Never go to a doctor's appointment without [support].”

Doctors are on a tight schedule, offering perhaps 15 minutes, making it easy to forget critical questions. A supporter, your wife, a brother, a friend, or a PCSO peer, is there for both emotional support and to ensure all questions are asked.

In fact, Terry himself has volunteered to attend appointments for men who had no one else, noting that the presence of support was a “game changer for those people.”

The takeaway is that men must overcome the cultural barrier of not discussing their health. Organizations like PCSO provide space for men to connect, talk, and make informed decisions, transforming a shocking diagnosis into an opportunity for advocacy and a healthier future.

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