At 57 years old, Gogs was only a few years into his retirement when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. In great shape and with no symptoms, the idea that he had cancer came as a complete shock. To help cope with the experience, Gogs turned to research and writing, finding the process therapeutic-so much so that he wrote a book sharing intimate details of his diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.
"Most men who are diagnosed [with prostate cancer] deal with it as best they can," says David R. Con, Library Journal reviewer and prostate cancer survivor. "They inform their families and rapidly learn about the disease. They take stock and do a bit of soul-searching. They consult doctors and choose and medical treatment. Gogs did all that and more."
A candid and well-researched guide for those facing prostate cancer, their partners, and medical professionals, Prostate Cancer Strikes has been distributed Canada-wide in the Reef Knot Kit by Prostate Cancer Foundation BC. It has also be adopted in clinics worldwide, including the US, UK, and Belgium, and earned the endorsement of Dr. Tom Pickles, one of Canada's most distinguished radiotherapists treating prostate cancer. Other experts in the field who have recommended this book include Beau Stubblefield-Tave, past Executive Director of Us TOO International Prostate Cancer Education & Support Network and Ted Butterfield, past Chair of the Prostate Cancer Foundation BC.
Richard Wassersug is a researcher in psycho-oncology and a prostate cancer patient, and wrote one of the two forewords for Prostate Cancer Strikes. "Gogs Gagnon's Prostate Cancer Strikes in the best [book on prostate cancer] I have read so far. It is medically accurate, well-written, and insightful while maintaining a positive perspective." An article by Gogs was published in Coping Magazine telling the full story of how he came to write the book. Those interested in following Gogs' work can check out his blog at gogsgagnon.com, subscribe to his YouTube channel at youtube.com/c/gogsgagnon, and connect with him on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram at @gogsgagnon.