Living and Thriving with Lynch Syndrome

I am a 56-year-old, three-time cancer survivor currently living with Stage 3B prostate cancer, a diagnosis I’ve been navigating for the past five years. I’m a retired Canadian Mountie, and I live in beautiful British Columbia, Canada. I bring a wealth of lived experience, resilience and advocacy to the cancer community—something I’ve had to reluctantly embrace. 

My cancer journey began much earlier in life. In my 20s, I was diagnosed with melanoma. In my 30s, I faced colorectal cancer. Later, I learned that the thread connecting these diagnoses was Lynch Syndrome, a hereditary condition caused by an MSH2 gene mutation I inherited from my mother.

By the age of 50, my mom had already faced both uterine and colon cancer. Two of her three siblings who were living with Lynch Syndrome were also diagnosed with colorectal cancer in their late 30s. Their brother, who does not have the same mutation or Lynch Syndrome, has never been diagnosed with cancer. My own brother tested negative for Lynch Syndrome, and all three of my children are also negative.

When I speak publicly about my journey, I often say, “It ends with me.” Those words carry both weight and hope. While I cannot change my own genetic inheritance, I am profoundly grateful that this hereditary cancer risk stops with my generation in our immediate family. That knowledge fuels my advocacy and my commitment to ensuring others understand the importance of screening, genetic testing and early detection.

I am also a proud member of Man Up to Cancer, a global brotherhood supporting men facing cancer. Five years ago, I met Trevor Maxwell, the founder of Man Up to Cancer. As a recently retired police officer, I was looking for an opportunity to give back when I found purpose in this community. In early 2022, our organization—until then almost entirely virtual—began bringing men together in person at professional sporting events, breakfasts, BBQs and many other gatherings. That same year, I began managing our Chapters and Meetups program. Over the past three years, it has grown to more than 50 chapters worldwide, the majority based in Canada and the United States. In 2025 alone, we hosted over 900 virtual and in-person meetups across the globe.

As Director of Chapters and Meetups, I help foster connection, community and meaningful support for men navigating their diagnoses. My work is rooted in one belief: no man should face cancer alone.

Don Helgeson

Director of Chapters and Meetups

Man Up to Cancer