A simple test saved Ross’ life. A ’67 Holden panel van helps share his story

A simple test proved to be the difference between life and death for Australind teacher and father of four Ross Hillier, who was told he had developed prostate cancer on his 18th wedding anniversary.

Hillier is one of the more than 1.3 million Australian men diagnosed with the disease since records began in 1982.

Research has led to new warnings that all direct male relatives of those that develop prostate cancer now face double the risk of diagnosis.

It was a routine check-up in March, booked to “check a few niggles now that I’m in my 40s”, that became one of the best decisions of Hillier’s life.

Despite having no family history of cancer, Hillier’s doctor recommended he get a PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test, which proved to be a life-saver.

“It was a conscious decision not to bury my head in the sand and not be one of those people that doesn’t go to the doc, just try to be a bit proactive,” he said.

“I know it sounds a bit melodramatic, but definitely, that decision definitely saved my life.”

Rather than the notoriously invasive procedure many men picture when they hear “prostate test”, Hillier’s process involved a simple blood sample.

The results, received a few weeks later, showed his levels were higher than expected.

“So I got a call at work to go in and have a meeting that was about the 28th of March, and that my levels had come back at 7.9 almost eight, which is really high,” he said.

“From there, within the week, I was off to get a more detailed free PSA blood test targeted, and that came back higher at 8.2 and then within that week, I was down to Busselton to get an MRI, and I was put in contact with a urologist in Perth.”

Hillier was diagnosed with stage 3 prostate cancer on April 14 – 18 years to the day after he had married his wife Lynette.

He was told that surgery would be his best option.

“So the doctor then asked if we had finished having children and my wife and I laughed out loud because we already have four and that was definitely not in our plans any more,” he said.

The robotic prostatectomy was a success, but Hiller faced the daunting task of telling his children about the procedure and the possibility of the cancer coming back.

“That was one of the big things I talked about with my wife, I didn’t want to lie to the kids,” he said.

“Our older two were 14 or 13, so they understood a bit more. My youngest is eight, and my third is 10, so they understood a little bit.

“They saw you here. You’re fine. You’ve just got a few scars, giving me hassle about dragging my catheter bag around. But they keep you grounded.”

On July 28, test results showed his levels were now at 0.1, the equivalent of being cancer-free. A follow-up test just last month showed the same result.

While ongoing testing is required at three-month intervals, the early prognosis is positive.

When first diagnosed, Hillier followed up on a plan to purchase an old car to work on, a hobby from his youth.

“I used to have old cars when I was in my 20s. I’ve been on it with my wife for about a decade, to get another old car,” he said.

“The day I got diagnosed, we walked outside in tears. I said to my wife, ‘Well, I’m definitely getting that bloody old car now.’

“I went and did that and bought myself an old ’67 HR Holden panel van.”

The van became an opportunity to speak to people about his experience with prostate cancer.

“I was able to have that conversation with all the people that approach you about it, which was kind of fortuitous,” he said.

“So now happy to pay it forward a little bit.”

Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia chief executive Anne Savage urged all Australians to be aware of their family history of prostate cancer.

“If you have a father or brother with prostate cancer, your own risk doubles, giving you up to a 1-in-2 chance of being diagnosed,” she said.

“Hundreds of thousands of Australian men with a family history are facing a death trap if they do not take action and test for the disease starting from the age of 40.”

PCFA is holding its annual fundraiser Giving Day on Thursday, November 21, when the organisation will double all funds raised to help find better ways of diagnosing and treating the disease.

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