David Merry was one of three recipients of the Max Gardner Award for 2018 for recognition of his contribution as a member of the Network.
1. How does it feel to be recognised by your peers and receive the Max Gardner Award?
Heavens, what an honour. However, I did think: am I really worthy of such an honour? I have been doing activities on and off for a while, but I had a big hiatus in 2016 after an accident at home. This meant I lost my licence for a while (I have it back now), I wasn’t able to go out to give any Ambassador presentations and missed some meetings of the Prostate Cancer Action Group. I am very glad that I have since got back into it.
2. What has been your experience with prostate cancer?
In January 1995, out of the blue during a game of tennis, I had a myocardial infarction [heart attack]. I was 53. I haven’t had any heart trouble since, but this meant following up with regular blood tests. Unknown to me at that time, my regular GP of many years was also requesting a PSA [Prostate Specific Antigen] test. Every time we had a blood test, we always made sure it went to the same lab. My doctor called me one day some years down the track and said, “we need to have talk”, my PSA scores had been gradually increasing.
I was sent to a Urologist, who ordered a first biopsy and put me on watchful waiting from January 2002 until January 2005. During watchful waiting I was really concerned, eventually they ordered a second biopsy and recommended surgery when I was 63. We talked about different types of treatment and really, I wanted robotic surgery but at that time robotic surgery had only just started and had a five-month waiting period. I just wanted to get rid of it, so I went with radical surgery (nerve sparing) and was in within a month.
The nerve sparring worked really well for me, though after the operation I was in hospital for 3 weeks because of leakage at the spot they join the urethra and ended up with an at home catheter for a while. That was not very pleasant. I also had bladder spasms which gave me terrible bouts of pain in my groin. They were excruciating, it took my breath away and I thought I must be falling apart. When I called the nurse, they first recommended Panadeine Forte which contains codeine and has some horrible effects, so then they suggested Valium as a muscle relaxant and gave me a pamphlet on pelvic floor exercises. I went for only two sessions with the physio and couldn’t believe the difference in control. My urologist hadn’t mentioned the physio previously, so when I saw him again, I said, "I've got a bone to pick with you".
I was monitored closely over the next few months and noticed a small amount of cancerous tissue left behind near the bladder, so was sent for some radiotherapy. I had only minor side effects from this, a little bleeding from the bowel, which seemed like a piece of cake to me after the op.
My parents never had cancer, but I have a brother and a sister who have, and they had different experiences to me. I have heard some horrible stories in my time with the Prostate Cancer Action Group, so I feel mine is very fortunate.
3. How did you come to be involved as a PCFA Network Member?
About the time I was retiring from work I saw a flyer for the Prostate Cancer Action Group and looked them up. I had first read about PCFA in a Rotary magazine, as Rotary played a big part of the early days of PCFA. However, it was through the Action Group I read the PCFA magazine and saw they were looking for people to do Ambassador training. I said to my wife "I should push myself to do this", as I had experience in giving talks from my work life as a microbiologist.
A group of us were flown to Canberra to do training. I went over with Malcolm Ellis [also a Max Gardner Awardee] and we got caught in a storm with lighting strikes so missed the first session. The rest of the weekend worked out very well though. Even these days when I go to give a talk, I learn something new, some new tips to pass on.
4. What has been a highlight from your years of service to the community?
The response I get from an audience when I give a talk on most occasions is so positive and gives you a real lift, I feel really glad to have given the talk. I can really only remember one difficult occasion where some men walked out because they thought they knew it all.
I enjoy being able to pass on tips to people. I had one lady send me a lovely thank you card because we had talked about where to find more affordable incontinence pads for her husband.
5. What message would you share on the value of helping others impacted by prostate cancer?
I always kept my positivity and thought that I would get through this. Some people who are told they have prostate cancer go into a real negative frame of mind, feel really anxious, like they have been given a life sentence. I like the opportunity to talk to other people about how to get through this.
Click here for more information about the Max Gardner Award.
