Episode #231
230: *6-year anniversary episode* Punch On - Mark’s Prostate Cancer Story: Surgery, Salvage Radiation and Getting on With Life in the Bush
Episode Overview: In this episode of The Penis Project Podcast, Melissa talks with Mark, a 56-year-old rural firefighter from the South West of Western Australia, about a prostate cancer journey that has had just about everything in it: an aggressive cancer, surgery, a rising PSA, salvage radiation, penile rehabilitation, one very memorable trip to the emergency department, and a bloke who simply refused to sit down and feel sorry for himself. Mark had never been crook in his life. He only asked for a PSA test because a mate who had been through prostate cancer kept nagging him about it. During a routine work medical, his mate’s voice popped into his head, and he asked the doctor for the test. The GP asked why. Mark asked for it anyway. The result came back with an elevated PSA, and as Mark puts it, he nearly fell off the chair. What followed was a biopsy in Bunbury, a two-hour trip from home, a Gleason 8 diagnosis, and a radical prostatectomy in Perth, four hours away. Mark and Melissa talk about the tyranny of distance in Australia: every appointment being a whole day, the cost of staying away from home, and the men Mark met who were driving four hours a day for radiation because they had nowhere to stay. Mark also talks about the parts nobody warned him about. The catheter that started leaking around the sides and scared the daylights out of him. The pads. The pelvic floor exercises he started before surgery because his mate Grant told him to, and which he credits with getting him dry within a few weeks. And then, months later, a phone call from his surgeon to say the PSA was creeping back up. Which resulted in radiation treatment. He declined the testosterone-lowering therapy that was offered alongside the radiation, because he did not want the fatigue and flatness during fire season. He worked right through his treatment, and three days after his last “nuking session”, as he calls it, he pulled up at work to get the job done. And yes, we talk about erections. Mark did the work: the daily tablets, the vacuum pump, and eventually injections. The first injection dose was too generous and Mark ended up in a country emergency department with an erection that would not go down and, by his count, six or seven people in the room having a look at his old fella. It is a very funny story and also a serious one. It changed how Melissa practises: every country patient now goes home with an emergency reversal injection so nobody else has to make that drive. This is a warm, funny, plain-speaking conversation about what it takes to get through prostate cancer treatment especially when you live a long way from anywhere, and about why looking after your penis is not optional extra credit. It is part of your body, and it deserves the same care as everything else. In This Episode, We Cover Why rural and remote men face extra barriers to prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment, from long travel distances to limited local specialist access What to expect physically after a radical prostatectomy — catheter care, continence pads, and the importance of starting pelvic floor exercises before surgery Penile injections as a treatment for erectile dysfunction after surgery, including how dosing is calibrated and what to do if an erection won't go down (priapism) Why starting penile rehabilitation early — even before erectile function is a priority — supports better long-term outcomes The decision-making process behind choosing radiation with or without hormone (testosterone-lowering) therapy after a rising PSA Bowel and bladder side effects of radiotherapy, and that ongoing symptoms don't have to just be tolerated Why masculinity isn't defined by erectile function — and how partners consistently describe what makes a man "masculine" to them The value of connecting newly diagnosed men with those who've been through treatment already, so they know what to expect Key Message from Mark Mark’s strongest advice is to find someone who has been through it and will give you the whole picture, not the polite version. He says it is a bit like going to war: if you have not been there, you do not know. Having a mate who told him warts and all meant he walked into every appointment knowing roughly what was coming and what to ask. And when things go wrong, his answer is simple. You can sit there and cry, or you can punch on. Mark is a realist. He knows the PSA may go up again. If it does, he will deal with it then. In the meantime, he is back on the dozer, still getting tested, and getting on with life. Resources & Links Book a telehealth appointment with our sexual health nurse practitioners at https://rshealth.com.au/book-appointment or email admin@rshealth.com.au We also have a free Resource Library, sign up for access here: https://rshealth.com.au/resource-library For more information check out our websites www.rshealth.com.au , www.makehardeasy.com.au and www.melissahadleybarrett.com.au Click here to shop for medical devices and other products mentioned on the show https://restorative-health-clinic.myshopify.com/ Click here to watch Melissa’s YouTube videos: Melissa Hadley Barrett Need Support? At Restorative Health Clinic, we support men and their partners with: Penile rehabilitation after prostate cancer treatment Erectile dysfunction Vacuum pump and constriction ring education and prescription Penile injection therapy Intimacy and sexual recovery Partner-inclusive support where appropriate Practical, evidence-based strategies for rebuilding confidence and function We offer telehealth consultations Australia-wide and internationally, making it easier for men to access experienced, compassionate support no matter where they live. If Steve’s story sounds familiar, we would love to hear from you. Restorative Health Clinic also has a psychologist-sexologist in the team. If you are struggling with the emotional or psychological side of erectile dysfunction, prostate cancer recovery, or intimacy, we can support you there too as an individual or as a couple. Listen & Subscribe If you found this episode helpful, please subscribe, rate, and review The Penis Project Podcast. Your feedback helps more men and their partners find these conversations. Search for The Penis Project Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favourite podcast app. We also have a free Resource Library, sign up for access here: https://rshealth.com.au/resource-library Connect With Us We love hearing from real people navigating their health. If you would like to share your story or ask a question, get in touch. Email: admin@rshealth.com.au Websites: rshealth.com.au makehardeasy.com.au melissahadleybarrett.com Instagram: @melissahadleybarrett @restorativehealth.clinic YouTube: Melissa Hadley Barrett TikTok: @melissahadleybarrett Facebook: Melissa Hadley Barrett Restorative Health Clinic LinkedIn: Melissa Hadley Barrett TEDx Talk: Watch on YouTube
