OTTAWA — Nine years ago this month, Allan Rock — then the federal health minister — was operated on for prostate cancer.
And like Jack Layton, he didn’t step aside from his high-profile, crazy-busy political post. In fact, within about 10 days of surgery, he was able to do some work at home. Within four to five weeks, he had the energy to return to full-time duty.
“I was very, very lucky,” Rock, now the president of the University of Ottawa, told QMI Agency Friday. “I had no side effects or consequences. It’s as though it never happened. I was completely cured.”
Recovery rates are high if the illness is detected early. Dr. Gad Perry, acting head of radiation oncology at The Ottawa Hospital, said survival rates for low-risk prostate cancer are about 90%. In addition, the treatments available, which range from surgery to radiation and, more rarely, chemotherapy, are “reasonably well tolerated” by patients.
However, prostate treatment can carry side effects such as erectile dysfunction or incontinence.
“There are quality of life issues for sure,’ said Dr. Robert Siemans, a professor of urology at Queen’s University and urologist at Kingston General Hospital. But “prostate cancer is generally found very early these days, and if found early tends to be well-treated.”
Because early diagnosis is essential, Rock praised Layton for announcing his illness publicly. That will help raise awareness of the need for regular testing, he said.
“It’s really great that another public figure has spoken publicly about this,” said Rock.
“There’s something about men: they’re shy, self-conscious, reluctant to talk about men’s health issues.”
christina.spencer@sunmedia.ca
