Eat Move Think Medcan CEO Shaun Francis

It’s estimated that this year, on average, 76 Canadian men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer every day. In Canada, prostate cancer makes up 22% of all cancer diagnoses in men. However unlike many cancers, prostate cancer is a condition that you can live and even thrive with.
Here, Dr. Peter Nord and Dr. Rajiv Singal hear from two Medcan clients who were diagnosed and treated for prostate cancer here at Medcan. Hear about their experiences, how you can prevent prostate cancer, and why a diagnosis does not have to hold you back from living a long and happy life. 
LINKS
Visit our Men’s Health webpage to learn more about your prostate cancer risk and stay up to date on your screening.
See more prostate cancer statistics from the Canadian Cancer Society
Read some of the latest research on prostate cancer prevention and management:
”...higher intake of plant foods after prostate cancer diagnosis was associated with lower risk of cancer progression,” from this 2024 study in JAMA Network Open
KEY MOMENTS
00:57 How common is prostate cancer?
03:44 Your risk goes up with age
4:58 It might not affect your quality of life at all
6:54 Men don’t always advocate for their health
7:55 Meet two Medcan clients who were diagnosed with prostate cancer
9:19 What is PSA?
11:59 Prostate cancer screening: MRI, PSA ratio and biopsy
14:08 Experience and risk of getting a biopsy
16:22 The Gleason Score, and stages of prostate cancer
20:50 Is it cancer or BPH? (benign prostatic hyperplasia) How to know
23:47 Does testosterone increase your risk of prostate cancer?
25:02 Your PSA trend matters more than your current levels
26:24 A regular GP may not have caught this Medcan client’s cancer
27:55 Treatment options: radiation vs surgery
30:55 The importance of being proactive about your health and recovery 
31:34 One man’s post-surgery 10,000 step streak
34:36 Surgery results and recovery
36:52 Lifestyle choices that can prevent an enlarged prostate
37:36 Tips from two of Dr. Singal’s patients
 

Menopause costs the Canadian economy $3.5 billion a year. Many women suffer through their symptoms in silence in the workplace, with fears of being criticized, isolated or even terminated. At Medcan, we’re working hard to fight against the stigma surrounding menopause. Here, we feature our recent webinar, Leading Through Menopause: Strategies for Success.
Joined by Janet Ko, President of the Menopause Foundation, and Salima Valji, CEO of Unleash Forward, Inc., Clinical Director of Menopause and Perimenopause, Dr. Jennifer Zelovitzky, covers critical topics on menopause awareness and support in the workplace. The panelists debunk myths about hormone therapy and breast cancer risk, offer valuable tips for advocating for menopause-related needs in the workplace, and share resources to empower women and foster supportive environments at work.
LINKS
Medcan’s Menopause and Perimenopause Program led by Dr. Jennifer Zelovitzky, offers six months of comprehensive, holistic support that is personalized to your unique symptoms and concerns.  Janet Ko is the President and Co-Founder of The Menopause Foundation, where you’ll find a helpful symptom tracker among other useful resources.
Salima Valji is the CEO and Founder of Unleash Forward Inc., a purpose driven leadership accelerator focused on elevating women and people of colour to senior leadership roles and board positions. 
Find more helpful resources at The Menopause Society (formerly known as the North American Menopause Society).
More references and research: 
The Menopause and Work in Canada report by the Menopause Foundation breaks down the economic impact of menopause. 
Closing the women’s health gap: A $1 trillion opportunity to improve lives and economies by The McKinsey Health Institute
Read a recent critical review of the Women’s Health Initiative, which created societal distrust in the efficacy and safety of hormone replacement therapy.
Plus, our panelists’ favourite women’s health books to add to your bookshelf.
Dr. Jennifer Zelovitzky’s pick: Estrogen Matters: Why Taking Hormones in Menopause Can Improve Women's Well-Being and Lengthen Their Lives -- Without Raising the Risk of Breast Cancer by Dr. Avrum Bluming and Dr. Carol Tavris
Janet Ko’s pick: The Menopause Manifesto: Own Your Health With Facts And Feminism by Dr. Jen Gunter
Salima Valji’s pick: The Menopause Brain: New Science Empowers Women to Navigate the Pivotal Transition with Knowledge and Confidence by Dr. Lisa Mosconi
To stay in touch with our panelists, you can connect with Janet Ko and Salima Valji on LinkedIn.
 

As women age, physical and hormonal changes lead to new nutritional and wellness needs. So in episode 201 of Eat Move Think, Dr. Jennifer Zelovitzky and Leslie Beck, RD, team up to guide you through women’s health by the decade. Learn what’s happening inside and outside your body during each decade of adulthood from your 30s onward—and how simple lifestyle and diet choices can help you move through your life with vitality and confidence.
Check out the episode webpage for links and more info.

Within Canada’s 20 million person labour market, 5 million people are working women over the age of 40. According to a recent report from the Menopause Society, an estimated 1 in 10 women will leave the workforce due to unmanaged symptoms of menopause—that’s around 500,000 women who will stop working because of their symptoms this year. 
As the Clinical Director of Medcan’s Menopause and Perimenopause Program, Dr. Jennifer Zelovitzky is working to change these statistics. In Part One of our Women’s Health Special Series, she’s joined by her former client, Norma Pasquale. After having faced debilitating perimenopause symptoms, Norma’s life changed after treating her symptoms with hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Hear her story, and learn how you can advocate for your health and get the best care and resources for your unique needs.
 

Whether you’re giving a presentation at work or competing in a swim meet, there’s nothing more frustrating than having all the tools and the practice in the world, and fumbling under pressure.
Dr. Dana Sinclair, the author of Dialed In: Do Your Best When it Matters Most, knows this better than anyone. She’s a performance psychologist, and she’s worked with high-performers of all kinds (from the Toronto Raptors to Jamie Lee Curtis) to help them reach their potential. Here, Mind Station Team Lead Jennifer Baldachin chats with Dr. Sinclair. Get the best strategies to overcome fear, transform your self-talk, and dial into a performance mindset that lets you access your best self, no matter the circumstances.
 

Irritable bowel syndrome is one of the world’s most common gastrointestinal disorders, and Canada’s rates are some of the highest. It’s difficult to diagnose, impossible to cure, and can be tough to talk about—but not for today’s guest. 
Kate Scarlata, RD, is an expert in IBS and the low FODMAP diet. Here, she joins Leslie Beck, Medcan’s Clinical Director of Food and Nutrition, to give you a comprehensive guide to the many facets of IBS, and how to get the best results using the low FODMAP diet.
Check out the episode webpage for links and more info.