Torquay man Denis Bateman shares prostate cancer journey

A Torquay man who has undergone years of gruelling prostate cancer treatment, despite having no family history of the disease, is urging men not to put off a simple test.

Torquay grandfather Denis Bateman reflects on his prostate cancer journey. Picture: Brad Fleet

A Torquay man who has undergone years of radiation and chemotherapy for prostate cancer is urging other men not to put off a simple test.

Denis Bateman, 80, was diagnose with prostate cancer in 2008 after his doctor suggested he get a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test despite having no family history of the disease.

The test came back at 2.4ng/ml, which Mr Bateman described as “the beginning of the cancer”.

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer nationally, according to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA).

It is also the second most common cause of death from cancer in Australian men and accounts for about 13 per cent of cancer related deaths in men.

Mr Bateman, who has three children and six step-grandchildren, kept a close eye on his PSA throughout the years until 2017 when it increased to 9.5ng/ml.

His urologist advised him to undergo brachytherapy, a type of internal radiation where radioactive seeds are placed in the prostate to treat the cancer.

Mr Bateman had 92 seeds planted in his prostate but the treatment wasn’t effective.

He underwent stereotactic radiation in 2019 and eight rounds of chemotherapy in 2021.

But in February 2023, his PSA had spiked to 101ng/ml.

“My oncologist wasn’t sure what he could do,” he said.

It was suggested he undergo lutetium-177 treatment, which was funded through Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.

It is a type of radiation for advanced prostate cancer which targets a molecule on the surface of the cancer cells.

He was scheduled to undergo six treatments but after only three, his PSA had dramatically dropped to 0.47ng/ml.

“It worked really well,” he said.

“Since June last year, I’ve had no treatments.”

Denis Bateman at his Torquay home. Picture: Brad Fleet

Mr Bateman has a blood test every three months to monitor his condition.

He urged locals to check in with their local GP and get a PSA test.

“It’s just a simple blood test, it doesn’t hurt,” Mr Bateman said.

“It means you can be reassured you haven’t got this disease.”

Since 2020, Mr Bateman has been involved with the Geelong Prostate Support Group which he said has been “magnificent” in helping him feel supported.

Group leader Bill Rebula said it was hoping to raise community awareness for the importance of early detection.

“Many men and their families lack the support they need to cope with the diagnosis and treatment,” he said.

Lights across Geelong, including above the Moorabool and Malop streets intersection, will turn blue this month in support of locals living with prostate cancer and their families.

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.

Originally published as Torquay man Denis Bateman shares prostate cancer journey