52 year old Shaun Morgan, shares his experience with prostate cancer and his mission to raise awareness through participating in Dry July.
Prostate cancer affects 1 in 6 men before the age of 85, according to Cancer Australia, impacting around 25,000 men each year. Shaun’s PSA (prostate-specific antigen) testing in January earlier this year revealed a concerningly high level, which his GP flagged to a specialist.
Following an MRI and biopsy of a lump, the Glenorie local was confirmed with the news that no-one is prepared for: a confirmed cancer diagnosis.
Prostate cancer can be hereditary – accounting for only 5-10% of cases – as his uncle has successfully overcome prostate cancer and is currently in remission. However, his grandfather lost his life to the disease in 2001.
Shaun successfully underwent surgery to remove his prostate in April 2024. However, his battle is not yet over, with regular testing necessary every three months for the next five years.
The father of four, as well as two fur babies, is participating in Dry July known as Australia’s sober charity challenge. Many may know of the name but not its impact, as the charity raises funds for cancer research and various cancer foundations, including the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia. Over 29,000 participants were involved in the fundraiser this year, raising more than $90 million since the charity’s inception in 2008.
Shaun wants to inspire others to support cancer research, noting that most people know someone impacted by cancer:
“Dry July was one of the first initiatives I saw that raised money for cancer foundations. Although I had heard about it before, as a cancer survivor, I decided to participate because cancer has completely changed my life.”
“So many of my friends, family and guys at work have donated. I set a modest goal of $1,000 for Dry July, but I surpassed it within a week. I’m now proud to have raised over $2,000. I encourage others interested in fundraising to give it a try!”
Shaun wants his experience to advocate for the importance of early detection and regular PSA tests every six months for men over 40, especially since he didn’t have any physical symptoms of prostate cancer:
“I never felt ill or noticed any signs of cancer. If I didn’t go get tested, I probably would still be carrying that cancer with me. I’m so glad that I had it sorted out before it spread.”
Shaun demonstrates incredible resilience and bravery in the face of the unknown. Whilst many of us may feel overwhelmed in a situation such as his, Shaun is using his platform to encourage early detection and for men over 40 to get regular check-ups, even if they don’t notice anything wrong:
“I wasn’t even aware in my own family about prostate cancer until recently. I’ve been very open about my experience but I was pretty amazed by how many men have also suffered from prostate cancer. Until I was diagnosed with it, I never really heard much about it. It’s not something you ever hear about and I just think no-one’s talking about it – despite the fact it affects 1 in 6 to 1 in 8 men now”.
If you found Shaun’s story inspirational, you can still donate to his goal of $2,500 through “Dry July’s” website by searching for his name. For more information about prostate cancer and educational resources, visit the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.
