Nick's story

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Nick and his family

Nick with his family, Christmas 2019 (post diagnosis and prior to operation)

鈥淲hy me?鈥 were some of Nick鈥檚 first thoughts when he was diagnosed with Stage 1 prostate cancer.

At the time Nick was extremely fit and focused on his family, career and training for endurance bike riding events.

鈥淚t was early 2019 when I went for my annual check-up around my 45th birthday. At the time I was fit and healthy and had no ailments or concerns. I had my usual Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) check which came back 鈥檔ormal鈥, but my GP noticed the levels were trending up over time since commencing annual check-ups at age 40. Considering my family history (my father had prostate cancer) he referred me to a specialist, who then recommended an MRI. The MRI showed a couple areas of concern, and I was referred for a biopsy鈥 Nick said.

鈥淎t the time of the biopsy I was still thinking it was a 鈥榯ick the box鈥 thing I had to do, and there wasn鈥檛 anything to fear.

It wasn鈥檛 until I was sitting on the hospital bed in pre-op for the biopsy that I started thinking, 鈥榮omething is wrong here鈥, 鈥榯his isn鈥檛 right鈥, 鈥業 shouldn鈥檛 be here鈥. That was a real moment of realisation for me.Nick
Nick just before his biopsy diagnosis that confirmed he had prostate cancer

Nick just聽before his biopsy diagnosis that confirmed he had prostate cancer

鈥淚 went back to the specialist after the biopsy and he confirmed I had Stage 1 prostate cancer.聽

When I received the diagnosis I had this moment of 鈥榯his can鈥檛 be real, how can I have cancer鈥. After telling my wife I rang my older brother straight away as I was trying to process what that actually meant.

After the diagnosis for prostate cancer Nick then had to undergo further tests to ensure the cancer hadn鈥檛 spread. 鈥淭hat was the scariest part. I was sitting by myself in聽waiting rooms contemplating my life and the unknown, wondering if my body was having a聽complete meltdown. That waiting and the unknown was the toughest time,鈥 Nick said.

鈥淔ortunately, the other scans came back clear and the cancer hadn鈥檛 spread from the prostate,聽but I then had to sit down and have the conversation that no parent wants to have. I had to聽tell my daughters, who were 12 and 14 at the time, that I had prostate cancer.聽

For the first time in their lives I broke down in front of them. They came and gave me a hug,聽but to them I was still the superhero that could do anything. At the time they didn鈥檛聽comprehend the seriousness of the situation and what that could mean for me and our family.Nick
Nick with his Dad, both prostate cancer survivors

Nick with his dad, both prostate cancer survivors

鈥淛ust two months after the biopsy I had surgery to remove the whole prostate which had already progressed from Stage 1 to Stage 2 in just two months since the initial biopsy. After the initial rehabilitation, I had zero impact physically, but emotionally it took two years to work through the trauma, fear and loneliness I felt. I was 45 at the time and the support networks for younger men with prostate cancer don鈥檛 exist. I also spent two years fearing the cancer would come back or had spread to another area of my body," Nick said.

鈥淓arly last year, two years after the surgery, my聽GP sat me down and said 鈥榶ou are cured, there is no evidence of it remaining.鈥

I feel I am one of the lucky ones.Nick

Nick's story

Tagged in philanthropy, SAiGENCI