The day Tauranga man Mike Lane found out he had prostate cancer, he returned to the construction site he was working at and “pottered around by myself for a few minutes”.
“Then all of a sudden just burst into tears.”
The 73-year-old told his colleague he had just been diagnosed with prostate cancer – his colleague did not know what it was.
This was the start of many conversations the cancer survivor has had in the past eight years since being diagnosed encouraging men to look after their health.
Lane is sharing his story for the Dry July campaign, an annual challenge where participants give up alcohol for a month while raising funds for non-medical services for cancer patients in New Zealand.
It comes after Tauranga mother Marena Gregory spoke about her breast cancer diagnosis and single mother Celia Farnworth said she had been given a “second chance” after surviving ovarian cancer.
‘Absolutely shocked’
For 20 years before his diagnosis, Mike saw his doctor for his “annual health warrant of fitness” and had blood tests done.
“I’ve always tried to be proactive with my own health.”
Before his diagnosis, Mike says the doctor told him he had a “slight elevation” in his PSA [prostate specific antigen] levels, which is “normal as you get older”.
According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, the test looks for raised levels of the PSA protein in the blood, which is made by prostate cells. A PSA level that is above age norms could indicate a problem with the prostate gland.
The doctor advised him to monitor it for the next three months, at the end of which Mike was still recording elevated PSA levels.
The doctor did “the finger test” and told him he had an enlarged prostate.
Mike was referred to a urologist, he had a biopsy “and it was bloody cancer”.
He says he had no symptoms.
Mike was “absolutely shocked” – he did not even want to tell his wife, Christine, about it.
“I just wanted time to think.”
‘I would be lost without her’
Mike had his prostate removed at Grace Hospital in Tauranga. He says the surgery was successful and his PSA levels are “virtually zero”.
Post-surgery, Mike says Pinc and Steel physiotherapy rehabilitation services helped him with muscle recovery and to “get a bit of purpose back in my life”.
He says about three years ago, he found out about a men’s prostate cancer support group in Tauranga that met monthly, attended by patients and their partners.
Sometimes the group had guest speakers come along to talk about prostate cancer-related issues such as incontinence and new treatments, he says.
“Or it’s just simply talking amongst ourselves seeing how we can support the other members.”
Mike says Christine supported him a lot and she went to the meetings with him.
“I would be lost without her.”
‘There are people dying’
About 18 months ago, Mike found out about Prost-FIT classes which are organised and funded by the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
He says it's a “good get-together” with other men with prostate cancer at the NextStep gym in Mount Maunganui.
The weekly one-hour sessions include a variety of physical exercises. It also helps with his mental health, he says.
He welcomes men who have prostate cancer to try the classes.
Mike also encourages the partners of men to talk to them about prostate cancer and getting annual blood tests, particularly if men were “stubborn”.
“It is a serious business – there are people dying from it.”
According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, one in eight Kiwi men will develop prostate cancer and about 700 men die from it each year. More than half did not display symptoms when diagnosed.
Pinc and Steel, and the foundation, are among services the Dry July challenge supports.
Prostate Cancer Foundation chief executive Peter Dickens says Dry July is a “fun and engaging personal challenge” that brings hope to those with prostate cancer.
“We cannot emphasise enough the difference the right support can make to the quality of life for people who have been treated for, or are living with, the disease.
“It’s in these areas that the support of Dry July truly shines, enabling the Prostate Cancer Foundation of NZ to get men moving through its national network of exercise classes, known as Prost-FIT.”
Peter says evidence shows being physically active improved mental and physical health, could help prevent recurrence, and help with side effect management.
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