Yellowknifer Patrick Scott, has long been regarded as a community leader, as a father, grandfather, previous owner of the Birchwood Café and retired CBC reporter.
Scott continues to share his journey, transforming his experiences with cancer into awareness and collective action.
Scott is raising awareness on the importance of early detection and prevention of prostate cancer in men. After being diagnosed with cancer nearly 13 years ago, he has continued embracing every moment with family and friends, “keeping the dance going” until there is “no music left to play.”
“My journey with prostate cancer began in 2013,” reflected Scott.
“In the spring of 2013, I had radiation treatment for 40 sessions of radiation every day for two months and I was okay for three years, but then the cancer metastasized in 2016.”
Scott was put on ADT treatment, which worked until 2023, then at that point, doctors prescribed another level of ADT. “So, you know, we keep on trucking,” reflected Scott.
At that point, the cancer had spread to his lymph node system.
“When you get to that stage, it’s considered stage four cancer and it’s incurable,” explained Scott.
After an experimental treatment in Germany, Scott’s PSA levels went down and stayed down. Then this June, Scott’s levels started to go back up.
Scott began cancer treatments again this week to help manage the cancer.
“The objective is to manage the cancer, get rid of as much as we can, but it remains as an incurable disease when it’s at this level, but this will prolong life and give a better, maintain a good quality of life, we hope. That’s the objective.”
“The chemo causes significant side effects and I decided that I needed to make it work as well as I could. And one of the ways of doing that was to find a way to give back to the community, so I’ve set up a fundraiser to have my head shaved, and my beard shaved and the funds will go to United Way, the Cancer Clinic at Stanton Hospital and to Inclusion NWT.
Scott said he feels optimistic about raising funds for organizations he believes in that he feels are doing “incredible work” in this community.
After first growing a beard at the age of 18, Scott has never shaved it off. And his family has always known him to have a beard.
“So, my wife, my children, I have eight children. My grandchildren, I have 14 grandchildren, they’ve never seen me without beard,” reflected Scott.
“So it will be in some ways traumatic, in some ways fun, I’ll have a whole new lease on life,” he added.
Scott has also been cutting his own hair since he was 20 years old and going to the barber to get it done will be a new experience for him.
“Cancer is not easy to deal with,” says Scott.
People can experience a lot of fear and anxiety when they are first diagnosed.
“When I was first diagnosed, it was a lot of fear, a lot of anxiety and you have to get past that if you’re going to maintain any quality of life, you can’t let run you. You’ve got to take control of your life and make decisions that are meaningful in your life,” urges Scott.
Folks living in the North face heightened challenges in accessing cancer care infrastructures and treatments close to home. Getting needed treatments to help treat and now manage cancer to maintain quality of life has meant flying places like Germany and Edmonton.
“I have to honestly say, there have been huge challenges in getting the treatment that I’ve wanted, getting treated in the first place. The people who do the care are excellent, but it’s not always easy to know how to access things to get information,” said Scott.
It’s a good idea to do your own research and ask questions, said Scott.
“You have to ask questions and get yourself, informed, don’t expect the medical system to inform you, sufficiently. They’re overwhelmed. They just don’t seem to be able to, to provide all the answers that you want, so you have to do it yourself.”
Scott also encourages anyone who is diagnosed to accept support from loved ones for medical appointments and consultations.
“The other thing I would say Is whenever you are having consultations, take somebody with you because you might hear (the information), but you don’t fully grasp what’s being said to you. It’s easy to forget some of the stuff that’s being said to you, and you walk away and say, ‘Oh, what did that mean? Should I ask this question or that question? ‘ – And if you have someone with you, they can support you in asking those questions and making sure that there’s clarity in the answers that you were asked about.”
Even when it comes to prognosis, doctors can be cautious in their response because everyone is different.
“My daughter was with me and she was able to get some clarity on what I should be expecting and then I was also able to do some reading about my state of cancer and the prognosis,” said Scott.
It can be incredibly difficult for patients and their loved ones to hear a doctor’s opinion on how much time a patient may have left.
“On the other hand, that can be a whole lot of time if you use it well, and it may be longer. So, you’ve got to maintain an attitude of we’re going to do our best to keep the dance going, I guess is what I’m trying to say. We want to keep jigging until there’s no more music to play.”
The journey for Scott brought expected and unexpected turns, he has taken each step and turn in stride.
“And every step along the way, when there’s changes, when things get – sometimes they get better, sometimes they get worse, but you have to take as much control as you can and be positive, because it helps tremendously,” said Scott.
Scott’s approach to life, and to his jig with cancer, embodies a positive energy beyond labels that have become associated with cancer and cancer diagnosis.
“I don’t like to use negative language about cancer, so many people are faced with cancer, different types of cancer.”
Prostate cancer can be “silent,” and sometimes there are no symptoms. Spotting the warning signs can be difficult, but early detection and taking precautionary steps is key, said Scott.
“Because when men get into their late 40s, early 50s they face increased risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer.”
Scott explained that prostate cancer accounts for about 22 per cent of new cancer cases for males in the country.
“By monitoring themselves and through PSA, men can know there baseline, and so if there’s any change they can address potential tumors before it grows,” advised Scott.
“And I would just really encourage. Any man in the Northwest Territories, to make sure if they’re 45 and over, don’t pretend it can’t happen to you because it can. The sooner you check it out, the sooner you can get a handle on it and let your life be as good as it ever could be. And that’s good for you and that’s really good for your family as well,” added Scott.
Over 10 years ago, Scott first noticed signs he now realizes were symptoms of cancer.
“That resulted in having a very large tumour and now I’ve been dancing with that tumour for the last 13 years. “
“But, you know, it, you learn, you learn along the way and I think sharing stories, helps other people, helps yourself too, because bottling it up, bottling up the tension that can come with cancer is not a way to deal with it. You’ve got to find ways of letting go of it and just making the best of your life and making the best of your life for those around you as well because your family is impacted, your friends are impacted.
Scott said that for him and his family it’s about embracing every moment.
“Gratitude is one big step in finding little things and big things to be thankful for every day. Makes a daily difference in the outcome of your journey.”
Scott will be shaving his head to raise funds for the United Way, Stanton Territorial Hospital and Inclusion NWT. The event is happening on Wednesday, Sept. 10 at 10:30 a.m. at the Ragged Ass Barber in the YK Centre Mall at 4802 Franklin Ave, in the city of Yellowknife.
Anyone who would like more information on Patrick’s Head Shave Fundraiser can head to the United Way NWT at www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/united-way-nwt
