Tex Walker’s dad shares cancer story to help other men: ‘We think we are bulletproof’

Wayne, the dad of Crows superstar Taylor Walker, can’t forget the day he was diagnosed with cancer. He’s sharing his story to remind other men to take their health seriously.

In 2019, Wayne Walker, father of Crows’ champion Taylor ‘Tex’ Walker, received a diagnosis that required him to make some decisions. Rather than keep what he was going through to himself, the then 61-year-old decided to talk about it to encourage other men to take their health seriously and, in turn, help their mates.

Men are reluctant to go to the doctor. 

We think we are bulletproof, but I knew this was something I needed to do.

I went to check up on a problem that I had … frequency going to the toilet.

They did a blood test, it was high PSA (prostate-specific antigen), so I went back.

My doctor recommended I have an MRI.

They detected some black spots.

Tex Walker's dad Wayne before his keyhole surgery. Picture: Tait Schmaal

(Editor’s note: A biopsy then confirmed Wayne had prostate cancer.)

When they mention the word ‘cancer’, you panic a little bit. 

I had read a few articles but I didn’t know a lot about prostate cancer, but it was all explained to me – the pros and cons of different treatments.

You start to do a little bit of research and look at the alternatives. You really do have to make some decisions and it’s a personal thing.
(Editor’s note: Wayne’s cancer was ‘not aggressive but active’ and his treatment options included radiotherapy, conventional surgery or a robotic-assisted prostatectomy procedure.)

If you do keyhole surgery, robotics, it is two days recovery and you’re back at work within two weeks. With the other one (conventional surgery), you’ve got a four-to-six inch scar and eight-to-10 weeks recovery.

It is really important to check what your health fund will cover too.

I had a really good doctor. He explained to me, “You could go another five or six years if you want without having surgery.”

I said, “What’s your advice?” and he told me: “You make the decision.”

But he also said: “The sooner you do something, the sooner you can get on with your life.”

I chose robotics. Having grandkids, I wanted to spend time with them …that was more important than my ego.

Wayne and his daughter Aisha’s daughter Havali. Picture: Supplied

Taylor and Ellie Walker's children Hattie, Louis and Hugo. Picture: Supplied

Twenty guys were in the recovery room. It was like a production line.

Their ages ranged from 22 to 76.

The young lad had some major problems; his PSA was through the roof.

He was indirectly told that he had to go and fill some jars up.

That was the only way that he would be a father.

Recovery was good. Within two weeks I was back driving a car.

But after the surgery we men have got to do pelvic floor exercises, similar to the way that women do.

You have that incontinence problem for three to six months.

Some men even have it for 12 months.

I think that the incontinence is probably the most embarrassing part of it all.

One of my mate’s dads used to wear pale coloured chinos and he had to turn that around.

He said, “Mate, now I’ve just got to wear denim jeans for six months.”

If you get in the car the wrong way, you don’t have fill control or if you’re coughing or laughing. We all have accidents.

Prostate cancer is something that is not really discussed but the key thing is, the earlier you get diagnosed, the easier it is treated.

If it goes untreated, it can then spread … and get into bones and then, unfortunately, you’re in a situation where there is no treatment.

I’m in remission but every 12 months I go and have a PSA check.

You need to have a follow up because some men get recurring prostate cancer.

And the second time (the cancer) could be more invasive.

It is important to talk about cancer because there are so many cancers affecting men and women.

Prostate cancer is prevalent, so it shouldn’t be ignored.

Wayne Walker. Picture: Supplied

Wayne's son Ayrton and his sons Nixon and Reef. Picture: Supplied

Men, as pig-headed as they are, need to get their prostates checked out.

I’ve always been very open in talking about it. A guy in Broken Hill was diagnosed with stage 4, and he thought, you know, that was the end.

I caught up with him and had a chat explaining what the procedure was and what happened. Next time I heard from him, he told me, “Everything you said was spot on … I was so relieved.”

Now he wants to start a club up there, for men who are diagnosed so they also have someone to talk to about it.

A couple of his mates, who I know through footy, also said to me, “It’s so great what you did.”

 Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia. About 70 men are diagnosed with it every day. Australian men have a one in five risk of being diagnosed with it by the time they are 85.

Originally published as Tex Walker’s dad shares cancer story to help other men: ‘We think we are bulletproof’