Panic slowly

Living with prostate cancer

Local resident and writer Paul Catmur tells of his experience with prostate cancer and how early testing can help.

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If you’re a man over fifty, welcome to Sniper’s Alley. 

This is a sobering reminder that New Zealand men have a one in eight chance of getting prostate cancer in their lifetime.

But if, like me, you are one of the unlucky ones, please don’t sell the house and set off on your bucket list just yet.

Understandably the tendency is to panic when you hear the word ‘cancer’ but if you’re going to get one, then prostate cancer is certainly not the worst. 

Yes, it can kill you, but for most it will not be fatal. As doctors will tell you, you are far more likely to die with prostate cancer than because of it. In most men it is slow growing and there are a number of treatment options. 

I was diagnosed four years ago and while I have an aggressive variant that has progressed to stage 4, I am otherwise pretty fit. Currently I have no symptoms from the cancer itself, just the treatment. Although it may eventually take me down, I am living a happy, active life because I got myself tested early.

It all started on a flight back from Hong Kong. I wasn’t drinking much but found myself visiting the loo five times during the flight. This seemed around four times too many, particularly as I was in the window seat. 

My doctor had me checked out. There are two initial checks for prostate cancer and I did both. One is a simple blood test called a PSA, the other is the infamous digital rectal exam, more commonly known as ‘the finger up the bum’. This is a rite of passage for men and, like dental visits, All Black defeats and Christmas shopping, just one of those things I had to get on with.

In case you need encouragement I will mention that Clive, an old mate of mine, put off these tests because he was too busy at work. When he finally got around to it, the doctors found that not only did he have cancer in the prostate but that it had spread around his body. I lost a great mate in less than a year later. 
With early diagnosis and treatment most prostate cancer is often curable with a mixture of surgery, radiation, drugs or just active surveillance, which is a more organised version of ‘wait and see’. 

Since diagnosis I’ve had an operation to remove my prostate, two bouts of radiation, and am currently on medication to block testosterone. All of these take their toll but in between I have been making great inroads into my bucket list.

Cancer will probably end up shortening my life but having it has given me a real impetus to make the most of whatever time I have left. Listen to your body and talk to your doctor to see if it’s time you had a test. There’s no need to panic, but please don’t procrastinate either.

By Paul Catmur