By Kristian Whitehead
No, he’s not Silvester Stalone, the hero from the blockbuster movie Rocky, he is in fact a hero in real life by the name of Ewan Johns, to which many of you know him as Rocky.
Fellow comrade Ewan Johns (Rocky) started off as a 16- year -old worker in the construction industry. He even worked alongside Greg Simcoe (our state Secretary) as a brickies labourer, and right from the beginning Rocky got involved with the union.
During his involvement with the union Rocky was offered a position as delegate to the BLF, he continued working as a delegate for 6 to 7 years helping out workers every chance he got. Upon finishing his role as a union delegate, Rocky took a permanent position with Baulderstone Hornibrook and is still working for them today.
Rocky is now facing a real life challenge; having recently been diagnosed with prostrate cancer. Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers found in men. Prostate cancer is more common in men than what breast cancer is in women. In 2005, the Australian Bureau Of Statistics (ABS) 2005-recorded 2946 male deaths from prostate cancer, compared to 2705 deaths for women with breast cancer.
“You don’t know the feeling unless you have been in the same position as me,” said Rocky.
“Your whole body goes into shock, all you can think is that your going to die.”
“When I was forty I decided to have a yearly blood test just to check for sugar diabetes and cholesterol. When my doctor asked me if I would like to test my prostate blood count (PSA), I thought, why not?”
After the blood test Rocky found that his results recorded a count of 3.5, which is reasonably high for his age. An ultra sound was then performed from which they found little evidence of prostate cancer. “They recommended I return every year to get my blood tested, in case the levels increased,” Rocky said.
“The next test recorded a count of 4.6 which is very high, they then directed me to a specialist who preformed a biopsy.” A biopsy is a digital reading of your prostate, by inserting a device through your rectum to retrieve a tissue sample, or in Rocky’s words.” Where they shove a thing up your back passage.”
“I said to the doc he could do the examination on one condition, no eye to eye contact.”
“As he was preforming the task he asked me why it took me so long to get my prostate checked.”
To which I replied,
“I was afraid I might enjoy it.”
The examination is an uncomfortable procedure and lets face it, it’s hard for any man to agree to such a test.
“As the doc kept going I asked him to go easy, it must be the wedding ring that’s hurting me so much,” I said.
To which the doctor replied,
“Its not the ring mate, it’s my wrist watch.”
“All jokes aside fellas.”
The results came back and revealed that Rocky had two areas of his prostate that were cancerous. The doctor recommended a three month waiting period, after which Rocky would come back to have yet another blood test to see if it had increased.
“After my first three month wait I came back to find out my reading had doubled to 9.6,” Rocky said.
“The doc gave me the option of either treating my prostate with Chemotherapy or having it completely removed.”
“The doctor didn’t recommend Chemo due to the possibility of the cancer spreading, and also because it forms scar tissue which becomes a complicated procedure if they find it necessary to remove your prostate further down the track.”
Stitching the prostate once scar tissue is formed becomes quite difficult for the surgeon, sometimes the stitches won’t take and there is a high possibility of infection once stitched.
“Once I heard both options, I had the difficult process of discussing the matter with my other half Caroline,” Rocky said.
“When the doctor first told me of my options nothing was registering, I immediately thought there goes my sex life and what are my chances of surviving prostate cancer.”
“After returning to the doctors to recalibrate what was going on with me, I fired a bunch of questions at him and then decided to have my prostate removed.”
“The decision changed my life, but in saying that I would prefer to get another 20 to 30 years of good living, than be concerned with sex.”
“On the sex side of things, after 12 months if you’re still impatent the doctor can insert a pump which allows some great advantages in the bedroom.”
Prostate cancer has no symptoms, so often males can continue living their life without realising they have the condition. The only way to find out is to visit your doctor on your own accord.
“You have to get off your arse and get down to check it out. For your own peace of mind get in there and get your blood tested. After all that’s all it takes is just one blood sample,” said Rocky.
“If they find it early then its easily curable, so to all the He-men out there who think their invincible, which I thought I was… you’re not!”
After they have removed Rocky’s prostate the procedure is to wait 3 months for another blood sample. They then measure his PSA again to find out if it has gone down, if so then they successfully removed all the cancer cells. On the other hand if they do not succeed they will have to reoperate due to risk of the cancer spreading.
“I have agreed to this interview so that I can warn my fellow comrades and loved ones, of the dangers of prostate cancer I probably have a lot of mates out there that have prostate cancer but would never find out because they never think of it, or ask their doctor about it,” said Rocky.
“You have to stay positive about these types of situations, if your too negative it will take over you.”
“One in two men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at one stage in their life.”
“If I’m not treated in the next 5 years the cancer in my prostate will spread and turn into full blown cancer from which there is no coming back from.”
“I would like to thank all my fellow comrades, friends, the people I work with and Baulderstone. I would also like to thank the union especially Tim Jarvis and Wayne Carter for their support, Janice from CIPs for all the help they have given me. A special thanks to my other half Caroline, my son and daughter Zack and Alicia, for their support. “
“The key is to stay positive, and there will be plenty more fishing trips to come.”
Ewan is scheduled for his operation on the 14th of October. From everyone here at the BLF we wish Rocky all the best for a complete and speedy recovery and a happy and fulfilling life ahead. We will be keeping our members updated on Rocky’s progress.
