The battle for health side by side encourages partners to open



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THIS COULD prompt some men to blush to talk about urine, bladder control and pelvic floor muscles, but these topics have become an informal conversation for Warwick jokes Dave Carr and Paul Maher not so long ago .

Since fighting side by side with prostate cancer at the hospital, the two friends have come together to try to break the secrecy surrounding the most common type of cancer in Australia.

Maher and Carr, who have known each other for 40 years, were diagnosed with prostate cancer by the same doctor the same day three months ago and have been fighting the disease together ever since.

On October 26, they were both operated on at St Andrew's Hospital in Toowoomba a few hours apart.

"I think everyone should go to surgery with a friend," Carr said.

From the first biopsies to postoperative rehabilitation, the two partners overcame isolation by sharing their experience.

"For men, all of this can be pretty secretive," Carr said.

"Having (Paul) over there, I think I just treated it as a pleasure, you feel more comfortable and a little happier when you have someone you know."

After six weeks of recuperation, the two men revealed the details of their treatment.

TOGETHER: Dave Carr and Paul Maher share their story to break the mystery surrounding the most common type of cancer in Australia.

TOGETHER: Dave Carr and Paul Maher share their story to break the mystery surrounding the most common type of cancer in Australia. Marian Faa

"It started with some minor problems a few years ago," Carr said.

"At first, I was reluctant to take the digital test (rectal exam)."

But Mr Maher said that there were no noticeable symptoms before his diagnosis.

The two men urged others to ask their GP about prostate cancer and undergo annual blood tests.

"And do not be afraid of treatment." There may be problems with erection and sperm once the prostate is out, but surgery is so effective nowadays that you can overcome these side effects ", did he declare.

In the postoperative phase, both men had urinary catheters, "diapers", and pelvic floor exercises to increase bladder control.

"Speaking of your loved ones, guys are jostling a bit more, but that's what we should be talking about," Carr said.

Mr. Maher said that if talking about the experience helped other men get tested, it was worth it.

"Since I've been badigned, I've asked a number of types if they had been tested and there are surprisingly many that have not been tested," he said. he declared.

"If (Dave and I) can just ask each one and have a blood test, you feel like you've done something."

Mr. Maher said that he was happy to talk to anyone who was preparing for prostate surgery.

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