IT began with a routine blood test, and ended with radical surgery - but now Wayne Lennan is happy, he is healthy, and he has a message for other men in the Hunter.
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"Go and get your PSA levels checked," he said.
"You get your blood pressure checked, you get your cholesterol checked, and you just ask for this one extra blood test.
"It's not a painful test, and it could save your life."
The Medowie man, now 60, said his annual health check tests probably saved his life.
He had no family history of prostate cancer.
He had no symptoms.
But his PSA - prostate specific antigens - levels had more than doubled in a year, indicating there might be a problem.
Further testing revealed he had prostate cancer.
"My PSA level was seven when it was discovered, which isn't necessarily high, but the year before it was two, so it was only really found out by regular testing," he said.
"If you go every year, and get your test done regularly, then you've got some history of what your normal levels are. If I hadn't have had the previous reading, the doctor may not have thought it was a big deal."
Mr Lennan opted to have a radical robotic prostatectomy following his diagnosis last year.
He said men had a one-in-eight chance of getting prostate cancer.
If their father had it, they had a one-in-five chance.
And if their grandfather had it too, it was one-in-two.
"It doesn't mean they are going to die of prostate cancer, but they need to be surveillant," he said.
Men are generally very bad at getting regular check ups. I had no family history. I was healthy, and I didn't have any problems with my prostate. But because I had regular check ups every year, we were able to pick up there was a problem. And because I got it early, it was able to be dealt with.
- Wayne Lennan, 60, of Medowie
"Men are generally very bad at getting regular check ups. I had no family history. I was healthy, and I didn't have any problems with my prostate.
"But because I had regular check ups every year, we were able to pick up there was a problem. And because I got it early, it was able to be dealt with, and now I am cancer free. I'd hate to be in hospital with a terminal illness, knowing that if I'd just gotten a regular check up I wouldn't be in this situation. It's a no brainer."
He encouraged others diagnosed with the disease to seek out one of the local support groups.
"I am part of the The Hunter Prostate Cancer Awareness and Support Group at Maryland," he said. "They have been great, because when you get told you have cancer, your mind races off in a lot of directions.
"You might have been the 10th person that day that the doctor has diagnosed with cancer.
"And it's not a long appointment when you go to see a specialist.
"So having those guys out there that you can go and meet up with, and have a coffee with, sheds a bit of light on what's ahead and they can point you in the right direction.
"The prostate cancer nurses over at the Mater are good at giving you support and guidance too."
Mr Lennan said the PSA test - a simple blood test - should be part of every man's annual check up once they hit 50.
"If it's in your family history, you need to look at it from 40," he said. "A lot of men don't ask for it because they don't know about it, and in some cases, there is a bit of reluctance from doctors to suggest it. Be insistent."
He encouraged people to get along to the Biggest Ever Blokes Lunch on May 31.
The cancer diagnosis was not the first time Mr Lennan thwarted death.
He made headlines in November, 2013, after his car was struck by lightning at Bar Beach.
Related: Time to talk and take the test
