Bill Sutton is one of 500 men diagnosed with prostate cancer every year on the Gold Coast, but with just two specialist nurses operating in the city, he is one of the lucky ones.
The 77-year-old was diagnosed in October 2020 and has since received monthly hormone treatments and radiotherapy.
"The radiation is like Clockwork Orange," Mr Sutton said.
While the side effects have ranged in severity, Mr Sutton said the support he has received from his specialist nurse has made all the difference, but that more men could be benefiting.
The 'dilemma' of treatment
Roanee KC became a specialised prostate cancer nurse at Southport's GenesisCare five months ago, after working in the broader oncology field for the past decade.
"There is a greater need in the Gold Coast in terms of survivorship care, follow-up care, [and] obviously long-term side effects," she said.
Prostate cancer has a 95 per cent survival rate but patients experience a range of long-term side effects including incontinence, sexual dysfunction and potentially depression.
Ms KC said she connects with patients as soon as they have been diagnosed, becoming a first point of call for any questions.
"They've been bombarded with all these treatment options," she said.
She said that "most of the men are in a dilemma with the treatment options they've been given".
"Some of the men do go through a bit of guilt or regret in terms of the treatment choice they make," she said.
"That is devastating later in life when they keep on thinking 'oh should have done some other treatment'".
Someone needed to 'get the answers'
Bill Sutton said that "most men don't like to talk about personal matters".
"But in the case of cancer and cancer treatment, someone is needed like Roanee to get under people's skin and get the answers," he said.
Roanee KC said while it is a challenge for many men to open up, "sometimes to be listened [to] is all that's needed".
"Just imagine those patients not having that point of contact or support," she said.
"There is a huge gap."
But Mr Sutton said while more specialist nurses are needed, more men with prostate cancer should seek them out.
In May, Gold Coast Health appointed its first specialist prostate cancer nurse, funded via a charity luncheon which raised $400,000.
