When Lismore resident Patrick Coughlan passed away last year, it was after 19 years being a prostate cancer survivor.

Patrick’s daughter, Katie Coughlan, said her father had “many a reprieve” from the cancer that eventually ended his life. As medical treatments progressed over the years, Patrick’s journey in fighting it changed – and also changed the lives of many others. 

After Patrick was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2001, he became passionate about early testing for prostate cancer. He also campaigned to get more prostate cancer support services in regional areas.

Katie said his outstanding contribution to local prostate cancer support groups has just been awarded a posthumous national award from the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.

“It’s very special and an honour,” Katie said. “There are only four of these national awards given out annually. 

“While the awards will be presented in October, they have been announced this week to highlight Men's Health Week and I know he would like to draw attention to the work of the local groups that still goes on.

“Dad dedicated his time to support meetings, awareness raising in the community and advocacy for local medical services.

“He loved to check in on people and have a chat to share their journey.”

While treatments’ have changed radically over the past 20 years, Katie wants her father’s message be a lasting legacy and continue to help others on their journey. 

“Since dad was diagnosed, treatments are now more convenient, people are living longer and you can get help earlier,” she said. 

Patrick and his family.

Not feeling great

“When dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer, he had gone for a health check because he felt run down,” Katie said.

“He then underwent radiation on the God Coast because we didn’t have facilities in Lismore.

“He also had cycles of chemotherapy and was lucky because at end of cycles, doctors would trial new drugs on him. 

“His life span went from an ongoing prognosis of a couple more year at a time, to 19 years of life. 

“The new drugs had less side effects and were available on the PBS, so this saved him from paying for expensive treatments.

“As the years progressed, he got involved in a treatment trial in Sydney and this allowed him to still be alive to see my two children (now nine and four years old).

“I wasn’t ever sure he would make it, but he got to be grandpa.”

Advocate

Katie said Patrick became involved with local prostate support groups and was on the committee of the local group for 19 years.

“He would write letters to health ministers to get specific prostate support nurse at hospitals,” Katie said. 

“He really wanted to see a better system for regional Australia where people had access to radiation trained nurses.

“He would also do outreach work - talking to schools and with other cancer support groups and doctors.

“He would go to Primex and talk to people on the land about their health. 

“The biggest contribution he made was calling everyone on the support group lists. He would make over 200 phone calls - if you had prostate cancer, he would call.

“If someone had passed away, he would talk to their partner. He dedicated time to it and would always call widows to see how they were getting on.”

Patrick with members of the local prostate cancer support group.

Prostate cancer nurse needed

Katie said locally, the role of prostate cancer nurse has been vacant for over five years.

“The local Prostate Cancer Support Group dad was a part of is desperately advocating for this vital role to be reinstated to give appropriate care to the men of this region for this cancer.

“It impacts so many local families,” she said.

Local groups

There are currently two local prostate cancer support groups running every month. 

The grass roots groups are auspiced by Prostate Cancer Foundation Australia. The groups are made up of local men who share with each other how their journeys are going

“Men can talk about what works when the oncologist doesn’t know what to say about treatment side effects,” Katie said.

“Maybe their nails are thinning, or they have waterworks problems.

“It’s also uplifting because they get to focus on life, not just about living in cancer land. 

“Dad used to say ‘I’m healthy apart from a spot of cancer’.”

Changes

Katie said the age of men attending the groups was getting younger – and they were become more tech savvy. 

“For my dad and the older age group of men, these groups were important because a lot of people don’t use the internet to connect,” she said.

“Just before dad died, he was paralysed, but he held the last meeting on our back deck before he passed. He really wanted to go the last meeting.

“Having good regional palliative care can make a world of difference to people too,” Katie said.

“Families can help men talk about what is going on for them. Often men have to be keeled over in pain before they think they are unwell."

Local group details

In Lismore, the prostate cancer support group meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 7pm at the Workers Club, Lismore. 

There is also a day group, held on the third Monday of the month at 10am at Ballina Bowls Club. 

All are welcome, including partners.