Alex-Bobbie Mason’s Story: My Life’s Journey, Prostate Cancer, and how these have Led me to Becoming Project Manager of BROTHERS

As a visible minority, a member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, a person living with a disability, and an athlete, I am delighted to share my story.

I am Alex-Bobbie Mason. I have worked in the Finance industry for over two decades in various capacities, currently serving as a retail banking manager. My strengths have always been community engagement and sports. Navigating my daily life as an individual with these characteristics presents challenges, necessitating conscious communication and inclusive decision-making in all interactions. My work and community experiences are inherently unpredictable.

During my upbringing, I faced bullying, mockery, and derogatory language due to my speech impediment. Overcoming the adverse effects of these traumatic experiences required determination, courage, perseverance, and self-control. While my disability may be imperceptible to some, it remains a constant struggle for me to achieve perfection, constantly looming over my horizon. I am grateful for the support of my village, who have encouraged me to speak up and challenge myself.

As a community advocate, I have dedicated my volunteer work to various causes both within and outside of my professional responsibilities. My extensive experience includes serving on boards, committees, and leading initiatives of both small and large scale.

Notable volunteer experiences include:

• Black Coalition for Aids Prevention: Board Member and Executive Board Secretary, serving two terms, six years in total, three of which as board secretary (2012-2018).
• Downtown Soccer Toronto: Director of Equity and Ombudsperson (2018-2023).
• Camp Ten Oaks: Camp Counsellor (2010-2014).
• Enterprise Wide Black Employee Network Outreach Pillar: Co-Lead (2022-present).
• Enterprise Wide People With Disabilities Committee: Member (2023-present)
• Enterprise Wide Well Being Committee: Member (2023-present).

Athletics have been an integral part of my family for generations. As a member of the University of Toronto Track Club, I compete locally, nationally, and internationally as a Masters Track and Field sprinter. Additionally, I am a seventeen-year veteran of Downtown Soccer Toronto, Canada’s inaugural 2SLGBTQ+ soccer league. The words “Modesty, Courtesy, Integrity, Self-Control, Perseverance, Indomitable Spirit” are tattooed on my body, inspired by the teachings I received while earning a first degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do from DeSantos Martial Arts Studios.

As a Toastmaster, I embarked on a transformative journey several years ago to enhance my personal and professional confidence. My focus was on public speaking and speechwriting. I discovered Speak Up Toastmasters, a group specifically designed for individuals with disabilities. Initially, I felt apprehensive when approaching the club and expressing my need for assistance. However, the community fully embraced me, and I found solace in the presence of colleagues who fostered an environment that encouraged me to be my authentic self. Within a year, I was elected president, experiencing a profound confidence boost that I had never known before. This newfound empowerment allowed me to advocate for others who shared similar experiences.

The post-pandemic era has been particularly challenging for many in the workforce. Toward the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024, I began experiencing unusual episodes of anxiety and panic at work. Initially, I’d attributed these occurrences to excessive workload and dismissed them without much concern. While I was aware that I had taken on additional responsibilities, this was not truly a novel situation. Consequently, I persisted in performing the additional duties without much thought.

However, the frequency of these episodes increased to weekly, prompting me to pause and recognize that my body was communicating a warning sign. I promptly scheduled a medical appointment and explained the situation to the doctor. Bloodwork was conducted, and I was referred to a psychiatrist for further evaluation. During the routine examination, the doctor suspected that I might be suffering from anxiety and inquired about my home and work environments. I left the appointment feeling heightened and apprehensive.

A week later, I returned to my general practitioner’s office to review the results of my bloodwork. The numbers were abnormal; my blood pressure was elevated, my prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was elevated, and my stress levels were unusually high.

The following week, I consulted a psychiatrist and a urologist. The news from the psychiatrist was not a surprise to me; I had a gut feeling that I would diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. Medication options were discussed, along with methods of stress reduction. That was March 2024.

Additionally, I had appointments scheduled to see Dr. Robert Stewart (urologist) at St. Michael’s Hospital on various occasions. My PSA levels were abnormal, so Dr. Stewart ordered an MRI for a later date.

Months passed, and then came the day for the MRI. I waited anxiously for the results. A few weeks later, the results showed a faint abnormality. I delved deeper into the matter and requested a biopsy. Another month passed, and it was the holidays; the biopsy was postponed until the new year.

On the professional front, there was no improvement for the remainder of 2024. The workload remained, the work environment became increasingly toxic, the employee experience deteriorated, and leadership, well, let’s just say it was business as usual.

On February 10, 2025, I experienced an anxiety attack while in my doctor’s office. I visited because I felt unwell and had sought further help. After his initial assessment, he immediately referred me to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). I was perplexed by the referral and do not even recall driving myself there.

CAMH conducted an assessment which took over four hours. During this time, I became noticeably disoriented, I felt lost, like my mind wasn’t even there. I had to request that the medical team repeat the diagnosis. I was ultimately diagnosed with a major mental and emotional breakdown, characterized by high-functioning anxiety and major depression disorder.

This was not merely a shock to my system; it was a profound emotional upheaval. There was no familial history of either condition, prompting me to question why I was experiencing these challenges. Not only did CAMH provide me with immediate assistance, they also facilitated the acquisition of a psychological therapist, psychiatrist, and social worker, offering comprehensive support.  I tell you, CAMH literally saved my life. And surprisingly, the situation took a significant turn. The assessment revealed that work-related stressors were the primary cause of my breakdown.

In March, the following month, grappling with the complexities of my situation, I embarked on a journey of self-discovery, evaluating various options. Amidst this uncertainty, I recognized the urgency of addressing my well-being despite feeling lost.  I knew I had an amazing medical team, and that I had the continuing support of close friends and chosen family.  Moreover, I banked on my resilience, strength, perseverance, and indomitable spirit.

On March 25, 2025, I scheduled an appointment with Dr. Stewart to review the biopsy results. As I made my way to the office, I experienced a sense of unease and trepidation. While the dreaded words “you have cancer” are typically met with dread, I found myself strangely at ease upon hearing them. I had already anticipated this diagnosis, even before entering the office.  Options were discussed but I had no way to deal with any of it at that time.  After all I was at the height of my breakdown and knee deep into finding ways to recover holistically.  I decided to lock that diagnosis away in a box and deal with it once I’m stable enough to do so.

The ensuing months were marked by a challenging recovery phase fighting for my life, finding the right medications, characterized by psychotic episodes, severe insomnia, loss of appetite while at the same time significant weight gain. I also experienced out-of-body experiences, mental clarity issues, emotional distress, and a profound sense of disconnection with my physical body. I spent many days in a state of disbelief, grief, and anger. Why was this happening to me? Why now? I asked myself many times.  I prayed to my mom and granny for guidance; I prayed to God to give me the strength to carry on.

Today, I continue my holistic healing journey, acknowledging my progress and recognizing the significant strides I have made since February 10, 2025.

On July 29, 2025, after careful consideration, I made the decision to undergo an open radical prostatectomy. I was confident that this surgical intervention would align with my best interests and well-being. The surgery was a resounding success, and I am currently recovering at home. I survived prostate cancer; my story continues…

Throughout this entire ordeal, I kept reminding myself of the challenges I’d faced, the numerous concurrent appointments, and the desperate need to take action.

While scrolling through notifications on Facebook, I came across Len D. Henry’s powerful piece on his journey with prostate cancer titled “BROTHERS FROM ANOTHER FATHER”.  I was Immediately taken aback and felt a strong urge to reach out to him, as we had met years prior in my twenties.

I contacted him and shared my current situation. He responded promptly, but we were unable to engage in a deep conversation due to my heightened anxiety and preparation for surgery. I was not mentally prepared for an additional intense experience.

Three weeks after surgery, I reached out again, this time better prepared to engage in a meaningful conversation.  We spent over an hour discussing various topics, and it was a profoundly cathartic and enriching experience for me. We established a strong reconnection and I expressed my gratitude for the profound impact of his work on me. We also explored ways to collaborate in a meaningful manner going forward.

Beyond my expectations, Len offered me an opportunity to collaborate as Project Manager on the BROTHERS initiative. He had been hoping for the arrival of a collaborator who would fulsomely understand, and organically appreciate, what himself was experiencing and seeking to build. Timing is everything. I am thrilled at the opportunity, and look forward to bringing my unique lived experience to a cause that is deeply important to me, and will be life-saving for so many. I am deeply honoured to have this opportunity to share my story in hope of inspiring others to speak up, get tested, and advocate for those who may not yet have a confident voice to speak for themselves.

I cordially invite you to visit BROTHERSfaf.com. You’ll find invaluable links to expert guidance,  practical tips, and more.  Kindly share the website to your global communities, follow our social media channels, and subscribe to our email updates.  We would be delighted to receive your own testimonials and stories which we will share in The BROTHERS Community, where together, we will saves lives and embody the philosophy of “Each One Teach One”

Please also be sure to DONATE To the BROTHERS fundraising campaign in support of The Canadian Cancer Society and the charitable organization’s efforts to help advance prostate cancer research.

Thank you for reading my story. Looking forward to the magic we will create and the lives we will save.

Yours truly,

Alex-Bobbie