The former Icon Cancer Centre Toowoomba patient is advocating for men to talk more about prostate cancer and get checked. Cyril was diagnosed with prostate cancer in November 2021.
Cyril urges men to get their prostate checked
Receiving a prostate cancer diagnosis, no matter what age, instantly fuels the fear of the unknown. Cyril Curgenven knows this too well.
“I went to my GP for my annual prostate check-up, and they found my PSA was elevated so I was sent for an MRI. The result found a shadow in the prostate. I had a biopsy in January and that showed five out of 18 had cancer cells. I then had a PET scan, which revealed the cancer hadn’t spread. I was quite distressed at first and my reaction was to get my prostate removed ASAP, but it was explained to me that at the age of 75, this was dangerous because of the side effects. After speaking to Dr Lekshmi Nair at Icon Cancer Centre in Toowoomba, I was given one week to decide on the operation or radiation treatment. I decided on radiation. Once the decision was made to have radiation, I decided to take on a positive attitude to help get me through the challenges ahead,” says Cyril.
Cyril finished his course of radiation therapy at Icon Cancer Centre Toowoomba in mid-2022.
“I now attend a local Prostate Cancer Support Group. We meet on the third Tuesday of each month at St Anthony’s Hall to discuss any challenges we have, and I’ve realised I’m not alone in this journey. When you are diagnosed with cancer, you have no choice other than to face the problem and stay positive, which is not easy to do at times. My advice is to make sure you have the check-up each year and get treatment as soon as possible. And make sure you have good support around you. It really helps to talk to other people who have been through or are going through a similar experience. The Icon Cancer Centre doctors, nurses and staff were very friendly, helpful, and caring. They answered all of my questions. It’s fantastic that Toowoomba has these facilities, as people previously had to travel for treatment, which would have been horrific,” says Cyril.
Icon Cancer Centre Toowoomba, located within St Andrew’s Toowoomba Hospital, offers the latest in radiation therapy for the local community, eliminating the need for prostate cancer patients in the region to travel to Brisbane to access cancer care.
“In the past year, we have treated over 160 prostate cancer patients at Icon Cancer Centre Toowoomba. Each day we see how having cancer treatment available closer to home impacts patients in regional areas. We’re here to support these men and their families every step of the way, ensuring they don’t have to spend weeks and months away from loved ones and work. We understand that a cancer diagnosis is difficult for anyone but by providing quality local care, from diagnosis to treatment and follow-up, we greatly reduce the burden on patients and improve their outcomes,” says Icon Cancer Centre Toowoomba Radiation Oncologist, Dr Lekshmi Nair.
As signs and symptoms for prostate cancer can be similar to other common conditions, it’s important to see your GP or healthcare professional if you experience any of the symptoms below. Discussing anything concerning with your doctor as soon as possible can help give you peace of mind and offer the best chance of successful treatment if you receive a prostate cancer diagnosis.
In the early stages of prostate cancer, you may not experience symptoms, but as the disease progresses you may experience some or all of the following:
- Frequent need to urinate
- Difficulty starting or stopping urination
- Sudden urge to urinate
- Reduced flow of urine
- Blood in urine or semen
- Lower back pain or pain in the hip area
- Unexplained weight-loss and fatigue.
For more information, visit iconcancercentre.com.au/cancer/prostate
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