When Ted Roberts learned he had prostate cancer, he gave himself a good half hour to be upset. After that, he got on with his life.

B次元官网网址淣aturally I was upset. I said, B次元官网网址榦h why me?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� says Roberts. B次元官网网址淏ut by the time I walked to my car I decided to stop feeling sorry for myself.B次元官网网址�

Fortunately RobertsB次元官网网址檚 tumour is slow growing, or as his urologist put it, B次元官网网址渢he best kind.B次元官网网址� The Colwood resident decided surgery wasnB次元官网网址檛 an option, but changing his lifestyle and attitude was.

After his diagnosis in December 2007, the now 73-year-old retired CN rail employee eats healthy and cut sugars and processed meats from his diet, and adopted a fitness regime that would make younger men wince.

HeB次元官网网址檚 a frequent face at BikramB次元官网网址檚 hot yoga in Langford and at Royal Roads University fitness centre, which is near his home in Aquattro. A regular cyclist in summer and skier and snowshoer in winter, Roberts isnB次元官网网址檛 ignoring prostate cancer, but itB次元官网网址檚 not dictating his life. B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 even think about it unless I get a call from the Prostate Centre. It doesnB次元官网网址檛 bother me or hold me back.B次元官网网址�

He is under a care regime called active surveillance. His tumour is biopsied about every two years to monitor growth, complementing regular medical checkups. More aggressive forms of cancer would likely require surgery followed by radiation treatment.

B次元官网网址�(Active surveillance) might change at some point, but IB次元官网网址檓 just going to keep doing what IB次元官网网址檓 doing,B次元官网网址� Roberts says. B次元官网网址淏asically, I have a tumour that I will outlive, and I intend to.B次元官网网址�

At prostate cancer support groups, Roberts said newly diagnosed men tend to want surgery quickly, without knowing all the options. He stresses that surgery isnB次元官网网址檛 always the automatic option.

B次元官网网址淢en hear prostate cancer, and they want to get it out,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淭he main thing is keeping a good focus and attitude and not getting tied up in anxiety.B次元官网网址�

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer for men in Canada, but the vast majority survive if it is caught early enough.

The Prostate Centre was a key source of information after he was diagnosed, and due to his positive outlook and healthy lifestyle, heB次元官网网址檚 become something of a motivational speaker for the non-profit centre.

As part of his regular volunteering efforts, this weekend Roberts is helping at the FatherB次元官网网址檚 Day Run/Walk at RRU, the main fundraising event for the Prostate Centre.

Leanne Kopp, executive director of the Prostate Centre, said the FatherB次元官网网址檚 Day event is critical to the survival of the centre. Last year participants at the run/walk raised almost $100,000   B次元官网网址� this year theyB次元官网网址檙e aiming for $107,000. B次元官网网址淲e thought weB次元官网网址檇 up the ante a bit,B次元官网网址� Kopp said.

The funds go toward programs to support men on Vancouver Island diagnosed with prostate cancer, their families and for those completing treatment.

Kopp noted the centre doesnB次元官网网址檛 get funding from the health authority or any other branch of the government.

B次元官网网址淭he FatherB次元官网网址檚 Day event is such an incredibly important event for us,B次元官网网址� Kopp said. B次元官网网址淚t gets wonderful community support and allows us to help men and their families.B次元官网网址�

The FatherB次元官网网址檚 Day run and walk is June 19, 10 a.m. at Royal Roads University, starting near the recreation centre. See wwwfathersdayrun.ca or www.theprostatecentre.org.