Reb Bishop still remembers the moment he first heard the word that would change his life.
In 2013, after a routine PSA test came back elevated, a biopsy confirmed prostate cancer. Sitting with Dr. Duffy, alongside his wife Diane, Reb had hoped for a different outcome.
“It’s a word you don’t want to hear,” he recalls, especially having lost both of his parents to cancer and with his brother also being recently diagnosed.
The diagnosis, however, came with some reassurance. Reb’s cancer was low grade and slow growing, allowing him and his care team to choose active surveillance. For two years, his PSA levels were closely monitored. But when those numbers continued to rise, Reb made the decision to move forward with treatment.
He underwent a robotic prostatectomy under the care of Dr. Metcalfe.
“Both Dr. Duffy and Dr. Metcalfe were very supportive and always available to answer questions,” Reb says.
Learning and Adjusting
From the start, Reb and Diane sought out information. They attended an education course at the Prostate Cancer Centre, where couples learned about treatment options, side effects, and available supports.
“There was a lot of information,” Diane says, “but it answered questions we had, and even ones we hadn’t thought about yet.”
At the time, peer support looked different. Instead of in-person groups, Reb was given a list of former patients willing to speak by phone.
“It was helpful to talk to someone who had been through it,” he says.
Still, the most difficult part came after surgery.
Reb experienced side effects that lasted nearly a year, and the emotional impact was significant. For both him and Diane, adjusting to changes was challenging.
“It was a new reality for both of us,” Diane says. “There were highs and lows. Keeping communication open was important, but not always easy.”
Support made a difference. They met with a psychologist to help navigate those changes and connected with others who had similar experiences, Reb with other men, and Diane with partners and spouses.
At the time, however, care was spread across different locations, making it harder to access everything they needed in one place.
A Full Circle Moment
Today, Reb sees how much has changed.
Care at the Prostate Cancer Centre is now more integrated, with clinical support, counselling, education, and peer programs offered under one roof. Structured programs, like prehabilitation, also provide more accountability and guidance than in the past.
Peer support, too, has evolved, from phone calls to in-person connection.
“That face-to-face interaction makes a difference,” Reb says.
It’s one of the reasons he chose to give back.
After retiring in 2024, Reb began volunteering with the Prostate Cancer Centre, first with the MAN VAN mobile screening program and now in peer-to-peer and biopsy support programs.
Today, he’s involved in the You Are Not Alone support groups, helping men who are just beginning their journey.
“I remember one man who came in very quiet and kept to himself,” Reb says. “By the end, he was the last one to leave. It was great to see him come out of his shell.”
For many men, opening up can be difficult. Reb understands that firsthand and knows how meaningful it can be to speak with someone who has been there.
“Volunteering gives you the opportunity to hold your hand out for someone who may need it,” he says.
Pride and Perspective
For Diane, watching Reb step into this role has been deeply meaningful.
“I’m so proud of him,” she says. “After retiring, he wanted to do something that mattered, and he’s found it.”
She believes his ability to listen and connect with people is what makes him so effective in supporting others.
“I truly think patients leave the clinic a bit more relaxed after talking with him,” she says.
Having walked the journey together, Diane sees the impact of his work not just on others, but on their own story.
“We’ve been there,” she says. “And now he’s helping others who are just starting.”
Not Alone
More than a decade after his diagnosis, Reb’s connection to the Prostate Cancer Centre has come full circle.
What began as a place for treatment is now a place where he offers reassurance, understanding, and support to others.
His message to men facing a diagnosis is simple:
“Know there’s a lot of support here. Make use of it and don’t go at it alone.”