Champions

I started getting religious about having PSA testing done about 4 years ago.  I learned it was just a blood test, but I was prepared to do it either way.  My PSA had jumped up.  It was time to take action when I moved to Brissie and had another PSA test which showed another increase.  I underwent a prostatectomy and I was a bit devastated –about losing my manhood. 

I was grateful to have such amazing support around me.

Get tested, early detection is the key. It doesn’t have to be the end of the world – but it could be if you leave it too long.

Following a two year battle with advanced prostate cancer, Steve passed away in February this year. Before he died, Steve asked to share his story, not so that he could be remembered with sympathy, but so that he could help save lives.  

Steve was an active, healthy man who cared about the welfare of the world and being able to make a positive impact for others.
 
He was intelligent, hilariously funny and definitely cheeky.  

He had a good knowledge of health and medical conditions having been a paramedic. But even with his awareness, prostate cancer developed quietly and with little to no symptoms until it was discovered – already at Stage 4 with metastases throughout his bones.  

Steve was just 59 years old. He felt grief stricken and guilty that he had not picked it up earlier for himself, but we have since learnt from our journey that this can be the case for many men.  

My husband fought the disease with courage and honesty. Facing the sad reality of having untreatable prostate cancer at 59 causes such unimaginable pain, but Steve did his best to show up for each day with a positive attitude and a commitment to make the most of the time he did have left.  

He is my hero.

I was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer last September and completed a round of chemo at the end of January. Before this I was diagnosed with breast cancer at 27 and non Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2014/2015.I am now 50yrs old and the parish priest of St Mary MacKillop parish in Oran Park, NSW. 
To coincide with the WALK FOR HIM campaign, I have organised a walk on Sunday 16 June - for 8km from our Oran Park church to Leppington that is the location of our northern mass centre. 

I choose this day to link into the last day of men’s health week. At this stage nearly 50 people have said they will “walk with me” on this day.

This cause is important to me for several reasons.
I thought I was indestructible and when prostate cancer got hold of me without any signs or symptoms I was shell shocked. I want other men to understand what I’m going through.

My childhood best friend was also diagnosed at the age of 40, with Prostate cancer that had already spread to his other organs. Again, he had no signs or symptoms.

To my friends and family, I say dig deep. Sponsor me or get up off the couch and help me and other bro’s.

As a Prostate Cancer survivor I am anxious to make other men aware of the risks of late diagnosis and I hope that more available testing systems will be developed, as well as better ways of preventing tumours. 
 
It concerns me that many men do not go their doctor for regular checkups. 

Unfortunately, I did not listen about being tested until I was diagnosed with prostate cancer that had got out of the prostate and metastasized. I underwent chemotherapy and continue to have hormone therapy and daily medication. I have lost some muscle strength and have some horrible side effects. The worse is knowing that this was avoidable.

Awareness is a powerful tool, the more that we talk about it, the more this can be avoided. If talking about it saves one life then it's worth it.

In November last year I had a routine blood test which showed an elevated PSA for my age (48 at the time). My doctor advised me to re-test in 3 months so in February this year I re-tested and my PSA had almost doubled. This led to a Urologist visit, MRI and PET scan and finally biopsy showing I had stage 2 prostate cancer. 
 Waiting for results and having to tell my kids and family is one of the hardest things I have ever had to do!

It's so important to break down the paradigms and toughness of “I'll be right”. This is why I want to raise awareness about the importance of getting a PSA test.