Finger up the Bum

A Guide to My Prostate Cancer

Finger up the Bum is the no-holds-barred, too-much-information guide to everything you didn’t want to know about Michael Izen’s prostate cancer.

Who is Michael Izen? Good question. In his forties, Mike was a happy family man who rarely got sick. Like most men, he wasn’t a fan of dropping his drawers for his doctor to perform the ol’ finger-up-the-bum exam. But after being passed along from doctor to doctor, insisting that his nether region mystery pains, midnight bathroom runs, and “softwood lumber issues” were not just in his head, Mike was finally diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer. Finger up the Bum tells the true story of Michael’s experience, with in-your-face humour, 100+ poop jokes, and original, off-the-wall illustrations by his cartoonist brother explaining everything from his “fallen warrior” to hot flashes to Kegel exercises, as well as touching thoughts on what really matters “in the end.” You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll plotz. If you’ve ever had the finger-up-the-bum exam, you know a good joke is the only thing that can fix that awkward moment.

Michael Izen is a Winnipeg-born family man and entrepreneur consultant whose recent terminal diagnosis sent him and his family on a path to create a book that would open a dialogue around men’s health and prostate exams.

Advance praise for Finger up the Bum:

“I’m very proud of the wonderful job they did. Everyone should read this book.” —Michael’s mother

“This book is full of dumb, boy jokes. Men will love it.” —Michael’s wife

“I’m so embarrassed.” —Michael’s daughter