Born and raised in Argentina, Alberto Rubinchtein migrated to Sydney in the 1970s, where he was diagnosed with bladder cancer at the age of 44.
“I’ve always been fit and healthy so when I started to notice some blood in my urine, I went to the doctor straight away,” Alberto says.
“My father died from pancreatic cancer, so hearing that I had cancer was hard. I had a young son at the time and my wife and I had to meet with specialists and understand what was happening.
“After treatment and support I got the all clear, but it was a difficult time. Thankfully I had a lot of friends and my community around me and my wife was amazing, I couldn’t have done it without her.”
Having cancer can put a person at higher risk of developing a secondary cancer. For Alberto, this became a reality more than 20 years later, when he received the shocking news that he had prostate cancer.
“Because of my history, for years I was staying on top of my checks, trying to make sure if anything happened, we could catch it early,” Alberto says.
“I’m a strong person, but when my specialist told me I had prostate cancer, it was a lot to take in. I’m a man of faith and family so I relied on both to help me again.
“Talking it over with my wife and family was so important. They came with me to appointments and helped me feel comfortable with the surgery.”
“I knew what I had to do, but as a man, it felt like a loss and was sometimes hard to accept. I stuck to the advice of my doctor, did all my rehabilitation and I’m blessed now to be cancer free.”
The impact of prostate cancer treatment continues for Alberto, but he is taking every opportunity he can to stay physically and mentally well.
“In my culture, lots of men don’t talk about these things, but communicating is what has helped me,” Alberto says.
“Whatever challenges I face, I talk through with my specialist and my wife. Knowing she accepts and understands helps so much.
“Compared to South America, Australia’s health system is like paradise. Some days are hard but I’m doing great and know I’m luckier than others.”
How to know and manage your risk
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in Australian men and more commonly affects men over 50.
Having a father or brother diagnosed with prostate cancer increases a person’s chance of developing the disease, a statistic 75-year-old Carlos Jaramillo knows all too well.
“My dad was 82 when he died of prostate cancer and I knew I had to make sure I understood if I was at risk,” Carlos says.
“Dad died in Ecuador in South America. He refused to go to the doctor unless he really needed to. I know he probably left things too late and if he was here in Australia, things might have been different.
“I know a lot of men who don’t talk about their health, and it shouldn’t be that way.”
“Men’s health is important and just like women, we need to talk about it and look after ourselves.”
Carlos’ GP confirmed that due to his family history, he was at increased risk of prostate cancer and needed to be on the lookout for symptoms like trouble urinating or blood in his urine.
“From around the age of 50, I’ve been having yearly health checks with my GP and staying active,” Carlos says.
“Sport has been part of my life since I was a child and when I arrived in Australia in 1970, I kept this going, playing volleyball every Saturday with friends from my community. I’m retired now but still play volleyball, walk for an hour every single day and I’m always running after my grandkids!
“I don’t know what will happen in the future, but for me, what’s important is having good habits. I tell my family that eating good food and exercising every day needs to be part of your daily routine, just like brushing your teeth.”
Creating habits for a healthy future
According to Chief Cancer Officer Professor Tracey O’Brien, staying active and living a health lifestyle is one of the best things that everyone can do.
“Finding time to take care of yourself can be hard, but it needs to be a priority, Professor O’Brien says.
“While there are some cancer risk factors you cannot change or control, many cancers are linked to lifestyle choices, such as physical inactivity – one of the top four biggest causes of Australia’s cancer burden.
“Being above a healthy weight can also increase your risk of 15 types of cancer, which is why a balanced diet and incorporating an hour of moderate exercise or 30 minutes of vigorous exercise into your day can make all the difference.”
If healthy habits aren’t already part of your daily routine, Professor O’Brien recommends starting small and building up to it.
“Taking care of yourself doesn’t need to be a chore, or boring. It can be fun, connect you to family, friends and culture, and even help maintain strong mental health,” Professor O’Brien says.
“If you’re struggling to change your habits, talk to a friend or loved one and work together to support each other. If you need extra support, reach out to your GP, they are there to help.”
Source: NSW
