As a prostate cancer survivor and Limestone Coast Prostate Cancer Support Group chairman, Richard Harry urged all men in the region to not only undergo testing, but to explore treatment options if diagnosed with the cancer.
Mr Harry made the impassioned please earlier this week when speaking with The Border Watch regarding the $185,000 Federal Government windfall to fund a part-time dedicated prostate cancer nurse in Mount Gambier.
The support group leader has also helped raise more than $207,000 to purchase a transperineal biopsy machine to provide optimal diagnosis measures for potential cancer patients.
Such medical equipment was not available to Mr Harry around 14 years ago when he first showed symptoms of prostate cancer, visiting his doctor who ordered a prostate specific antigen blood test.
“My results were much higher than normal, but from then on I made some major mistakes,” he said.
“I did not ask my doctor what I should do if it was a bit high, whether we should have had a follow-up in six months.
“I just thought the doctor knew what was best and would probably put it down and the next time I go and see them it will be reviewed.”
Mr Harry said four years later he changed doctors and it was then when the results were re-evaluated and action was taken.
“I knew nothing about prostate cancer at the time and if I am being truthful I did not actually know what the prostate was for,” he said.
“My PSA had risen pretty substantially in that four years and I was referred to a urologist immediately.
“I had an aggressive form of cancer and another test showed my results actually rose 25pc in a fortnight.”
Having surgery 10 years ago, Mr Harry said at the time his results were clear but he has now started to show abnormal medical readings.
“I only have just had a blood test last week and am waiting as my PSA is starting to rise again,” Mr Harry said.
“Although I do not have a prostate, all the cancer was evidently not removed when I had my operation.
“It has taken 10 years for it to kick into gear again, in the very near future I will have to work out what my next steps are.”
If circumstances were different, Mr Harry said he would have followed up on his original results straight away, suggesting he may not have been in his current situation.
Mr Harry said he hoped the specialist prostate cancer nurse planned for the region would help Limestone Coast men make the right treatment decision at the earliest possible convenience.
