Latest news with #JohnMorris
Business Journals
25-06-2025
- Business
- Business Journals
The Beat: Emerging names G.J. Hart managing partner
Welcome to Chicago Inno's The Beat, a twice-weekly look at the people, companies and ideas that are shaping Chicago's innovation economy. The Big One G.J. Hart — a man with nearly four decades of experience in the restaurant industry — is joining a local venture capital firm with a war chest dedicated to investing in innovations for restaurants. GET TO KNOW YOUR CITY Find Local Events Near You Connect with a community of local professionals. Explore All Events Emerging, a Chicago VC firm that aims to bring new technologies to the food and beverage space, announced Hart as managing partner on Tuesday. He hopes his role there will help younger companies grow in new ways. "I think I can add a little bit of experience and hopefully some wisdom along the way to provide ways that they can scale and add strategic direction," he told Chicago Inno. "At this point I've been a CEO for almost 40 years, and I think it's time to do something a little different." READ MORE: Restaurant industry veteran G.J. Hart joins Chicago VC firm Emerging to help shape future of dining More tech news to know As corporate giants continue to pour billions into adding artificial intelligence technologies to their operations, Chicago startup Moonnox has raised $2M to help small to mid-sized consultancies stay relevant. has raised $2M to help small to mid-sized consultancies stay relevant. Nautilus Solar Energy said it's moved its headquarters from Summit, New Jersey, to downtown Chicago. said it's moved its headquarters from Summit, New Jersey, to downtown Chicago. Chicago logistics company FourKites announced the FourKites Summit 2025 will be taking place Aug. 26 and 27 at the Swissôtel Chicago. Why a Chicago software startup brought on a new CEO One of Chicago's fastest-growing software startups has made a change up top. Ocient, a data analytics company that closed a $132M Series B in April, named John Morris as its new chief executive officer and board director. A seasoned tech veteran, Morris will continue to "help big companies with big problems" in his new role with Ocient, as he has his whole career, he told Chicago Inno. "What I'm trying to do is step back, make sure that ... we're hiring ahead for some of these growth opportunities that are going to be coming and that we're thinking about the pipeline for the next three to five years not just the next year or so," Morris said. READ MORE: Why Ocient brought on John Morris as its new CEO Sign up for Inno's free twice-weekly newsletter to receive the latest innovation news impacting Chicago.
BBC News
25-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Truth about UK nuclear veterans 'covered up', says Andy Burnham
The truth about tens of thousands British veterans who tested nuclear bombs has been "covered up for decades", the mayor of Greater Manchester has Burnham told BBC Newsnight the government must act while the remaining survivors are still the 1950s and 60s, servicemen witnessed dozens of atomic and hydrogen bomb tests and radioactive experiments in Australia and the South Pacific as part of the UK's nuclear programme. Veterans claim the tests caused severe lifelong health problems, and that the government continues to conceal their health Ministry of Defence has promised to "thoroughly examine" what information exists regarding veterans' medical tests. Watch - Newsnight: Britain's Nuclear Test Survivors Veterans, along with many others who were exposed, are preparing to launch civil legal action against the MoD to gain access to their own medical say their records are being illegally withheld, and harm was done to them and their families by the MoD's failure to keep, maintain and release allege they have suffered cancers of the liver, bone, bowel, skin and brain, as well as leukaemia, heart disease, stillbirths and generational birth defects as a result of exposure to the nuclear Morris, 87, worked as a laundry operator "washing contaminated clothing" on Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean in the 1950s, and said he witnessed tests of three atomic bombs and one hydrogen bomb."If you've seen the film 'Oppenheimer', I sat 20 miles from a nuclear explosion that was a thousand times greater than that explosion," he told Newsnight."People have reckoned it was like sitting in the centre of the sun," he said. "With a pair of trousers on, a shirt and sunglasses."Mr Morris believes the bomb tests caused him to develop pernicious anaemia - an autoimmune condition - and cancer; and caused his first-born son Steven to tragically die in his cot due to birth defects at four months and his wife Betty were initially questioned on suspicion of Steven's murder, before being released without charge. It took John 50 years and a Freedom of Information Act request to produce the coroner's report which suggested their son's lungs may not have formed properly."The MoD had the audacity to turn round and say they looked after us to the best of their ability," he said."I'm sorry MoD, you've an awful lot to answer for." From 1952 and for the following 15 years, about 39,000 British and Commonwealth servicemen and scientists witnessed 45 atomic and hydrogen bombs, and hundreds of radioactive experiments, in the Australian Outback and Pacific well as the military personnel, the tests also allegedly put at risk their children and indigenous communities."This is a criminal cover-up on an industrial scale and only Parliament can overturn it," said Mr Bunham, who has campaigned on the issue told BBC Newsnight's special programme: "Why has this one got the firmest of lids on it? I think it is because it goes to the heart of the British state." Steve Purse, whose father David Purse took part in radioactive experiments in 1963, was born with a number of severe disabilities including a form of short stature, as well as curvature of the spine, a respiratory condition and hydrocephalus - a build-up of fluid in the Purse said his father would describe how contaminated sand would blow "everywhere", including into bedding, clothing and food, following the tests in Maralinga in South Australia."Along come I, a few years later, and in my mind it doesn't take a genius to make a link there and say there has to be something in it."My condition has never actually been diagnosed - doctors can't diagnose me so there's something genetically different there. There's something wrong." His son, aged four, has a condition which results in his teeth crumbling. "One dentist said he's seen this before in the children who were in the fallout clouds of Chernobyl," said Mr veteran, Brian Unthank, who was stationed on Christmas Island, said he lost all his teeth and his first wife suffered 13 miscarriages and their children have suffered various health Unthank said he was never issued any protective clothing during the two hydrogen bomb tests he witnessed. He has had treatment for 92 instances of skin cancers, including another treatment this week. In May 2021, the National Radiological Protection Board said it had carried out three large studies of nuclear test veterans and found no valid evidence to link participation in these tests to ill independent studies, commissioned by the MoD, said overall, test participants "had similar overall levels of aggregated mortality and cancer incidence" to the control said records indicate that "relatively few test participants received any measurable radiation dose as a result of the tests".Veteran's blood and urine samples taken from them as young men at the Cold War weapons trials have been reclassified as "scientific data" and placed out of reach at the Atomic Weapons Establishment, an MoD government said the database where those records are held – known as Merlin – "has not been declassified" and "contains information ranging from unclassified to Top Secret, with the majority being unclassified"."Plans are under way to release unclassified records at the National Archives with the appropriate privacy redactions, while classified records are being reviewed for potential publication with necessary security redactions," the MoD said in a statement. In December, Defence Secretary John Healey told MPs in December that "nothing is being withheld", and that officials would carry out a "detailed dig" amid concerns from surviving nuclear test May, then-defence minister Andrew Murrison said: "I would like to make clear that the Ministry of Defence, including its agencies and arm's length bodies, does not withhold any personal data or medical records from nuclear test veterans."Susie Boniface, investigative journalist, told Newsnight: "The veterans have always said to me the exact same thing, any time I've ever interviewed any of them, which is that the MoD policy is 'to delay, deny, until they die'."She said veterans are missing health records and she believed "the main departmental archives that hold medical records have at some point been sanitised by a government official of some sort who's come along, taken this stuff out".In a statement to Newsnight, the MoD said it was "deeply grateful to all those who participated in the UK nuclear testing programme and recognises their immense contribution to national security"."Ministers have directed teams across the Ministry of Defence and Atomic Weapons Establishment to thoroughly examine what information exists regarding medical testing of nuclear test veterans."We'll provide an update on this work in the have long called on the government to investigate, compensate and commemorate alleged victims from the UK and other countries have compensated nuclear test veterans. The US - which did far more tests than the UK - offered lump sum compensation of up to $75,000 (£55,000) to people who were on-site for nuclear weapons May, a group of veterans made a criminal complaint to the Metropolitan Police about the MoD, saying they were "devastated at the way veterans are being denied justice".They claim the department's actions amount to potential misconduct in public office with a cover-up of radiation experiments - a claim the MoD denies.A statement from the Met to Newsnight said: "A report was submitted to the Met Police on Wednesday, 7 May relating to non-recent allegations against a public body."The report is currently being assessed to determine the most appropriate course of action. We have not launched any investigation at this stage."
The Herald Scotland
20-06-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Scottish auction house on course to hit record turnover
Since Prime Property Auctions was set up in 2022 by Glasgow businessmen John Morris and Luis Guarin it has seen revenues build consistently, with the current financial year 'promising to be the best yet'. Turnover at year end October 31, 2024 was £1.5 million which represented 90.5 per cent growth on the firm's first year, at £764,700. The trajectory for the same time this year is sitting at £2.4m, and is 'buoyed by a strong performance' from the turn of the year. READ MORE: Housebuilding giant purchases land in Scotland Plans for homes in Scottish village Prime offers listings on commercial, residential and land and operates throughout Scotland as well as England and Wales from its headquarters in West Regent Street in the centre of Glasgow. It has a database of more than 20,000 buyers with more than 600 auction lots sold in the UK since 2022. Mr Morris said: 'When Luis and I started out on this journey our intention was to demonstrate that auction is a route that people can go down for selling property. Not every property is appropriate for auction but it does serve a purpose and is becoming increasingly popular as is evidenced by our strong financial position as we move through our current financial year. 'Our growth has been pretty much organic and based on referrals, which is very pleasing and shows that people put their trust in what we do – and that is selling their property quickly for the price they want. 'We have doubled in size every year but we are not stopping here. We are consistently investing back into the business, including our systems and staff. We have grown steadily since forming and we want to continue that trend. 'With the people we have working for us and the application we all put in, we are confident that is going to happen. This is only the beginning of what is going to be an exciting journey.'
Scotsman
18-06-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Record £2m growth on cards for property auction house
Prime Property Auctions, a leading Scottish auction house, is set to register record growth for the third year in a row since its formation. Sign up to our Scotsman Money newsletter, covering all you need to know to help manage your money. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Set up in 2022 by Glasgow businessmen John Morris and Luis Guarin, the firm has seen revenues build consistently, with the current financial year promising to be the best yet. Turnover at year end 31 October 2024 was £1,457,187, which represented 90.5 per cent growth on the firm's first year (£764,700). Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Buoyed by a strong performance since the turn of the year, trajectory for year end 31 October 2025 is sitting at £2.4m. Popular: Luis Guarin (l) and John Morris. Prime offers listings on commercial, residential and land and operates throughout Scotland as well as England and Wales from its headquarters in West Regent Street in the centre of Glasgow. It has a database of more than 20,000 buyers with more than 600 auction lots sold in the UK since 2022. Director John Morris said: 'When Luis and I started out on this journey our intention was to demonstrate that auction is a route that people can go down for selling property. Not every property is appropriate for auction but it does serve a purpose and is becoming increasingly popular as is evidenced by our strong financial position as we move through our current financial year. 'Our growth has been pretty much organic and based on referrals, which is very pleasing and shows that people put their trust in what we do – and that is selling their property quickly for the price they want. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We have doubled in size every year but we are not stopping here. We are consistently investing back into the business, including our systems and staff. We have grown steadily since forming and we want to continue that trend.
The Advertiser
09-06-2025
- Health
- The Advertiser
John's story: A lighter look at life after losing your prostate
Voice of Real Australia is a regular newsletter from the local news teams of the ACM network, which stretches into every state and territory. Today's is written by The Senior reader John Morris. So, I have recently joined the ranks of prostate-free men. There are a couple of downsides and quite a few upsides. To start with, at my regular health check-ups, there will be no need for the doctor to digitally examine my prostate. For some reason in the past, I seemed to annually get the doctor with exceptionally large hands for this procedure. But I digress, the beginning of this story was a couple of years ago when a slightly elevated PSA score had me sent off for the least elegant procedure a man can do (and yes, I know that women are clear leaders in the Inelegant Procedure Stakes). A biopsy where multiple core samples are taken from the area just behind the testes - it is done under a general anaesthetic so that the biopsy recipient is not awake or aware of the awkward positioning required for access. The initial results were good, and so this was followed by a lengthy and indulgent holiday in France, whereupon our return, I thought it wise to have my bloods tested. Having consumed by body weight of croissants, cheese and baguettes, my concern was the cholesterol score might be somewhat raised. The tests came back surprisingly clear in the cholesterol score, but not so fortuitous in the prostate area. So once again, I enjoyed the delights of a digital examination, followed by multiple scans, another biopsy, and then a diagnosis of prostate cancer. Accordingly, I joined the ranks of the many thousands of men with this condition. Interestingly, when telling male friends of this diagnosis, every single one had a friend or colleague also with prostate cancer, or had had it themselves! Interestingly, this is a "good" cancer to get and given the successful treatment and recovery statistics, it definitely falls into this category. The main problems with prostate cancer are twofold. One is the location - it is basically intertwined with the launch pad for sexual function and, as such, can interfere with said function in a variety of ways, ranging from "not very much" to "it wasn't getting much use anyway". The second problem is incontinence - again, the results vary widely and often this is related to how much you exercise and strengthen your pelvic floor pre-prostatectomy. Full disclosure - I didn't even realise I had a pelvic floor prior to my diagnosis. At one end of the incontinence scale is being as dry as the Sahara Desert and at the other end is doing a reasonable impression of a sprinkler in your pants. Be aware that once you look up "Incontinence" online, your social media will be flooded (excuse the pun) with ads for Depends and other adult incontinence products. In my case, I have a stronger empathy with women who, after childbirth, report mini leaks when laughing or sneezing. The operation itself is an unusual experience as it is robotic and known as a Radical Robotic Prostatectomy. The surgeons are in the same room but nowhere near you as they sit at computer screens showing them their little magnified robotic pincers as they go about the job. Waking up is not your gentle ease-back-into-the-world experience you might think, it comes with an overpowering urge to pee, even though your bladder is empty (it is confused post op and doesn't know it is empty). Then you notice the medieval torture device known in medical circles as a catheter, exiting your manhood, which given its condition should probably be renamed your infanthood for the next week. As a constant companion it is fairly noticeable with most movements being somewhat restricted and, accordingly, when it is removed, this is normally accompanied with beams of heavenly light and the Hallelujah chorus sung by angels. Recovery takes time, but does happen. The seven to eight torso wounds from the operation gradually healed and the post-op shuffle with catheter in place gives way to tentative walking and then regular striding. Erectile function for most men moves from a memory to a reality and your recent exercise strengthened pelvic floor ensures leakage is at a minimum. Considering the worst potential outcome, the experience and results for the vast majority of men who experience prostate cancer are pretty good. Life post op can be relatively close to normal, and you join an ever-expanding cohort of prostate-free men and, so long as you have a self-deprecating sense of humour, quite a few stories to tell family and friends. While there is not much you can do to prevent prostate cancer, rest assured that while most men die with it, very few men die of it, and the treatment success rates are incredibly good, with the ten-year survival rate being 98 per cent. Do yourself a favour and take steps to ensure you identify any potential cancer early with regular check-ups - and PSA tests are invaluable tools in this area. There are around 130 support groups nationwide who are affiliated with Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA). All are run by volunteers, the majority being men and their partners who have been directly impacted by the disease. To find one near you, visit: Voice of Real Australia is a regular newsletter from the local news teams of the ACM network, which stretches into every state and territory. Today's is written by The Senior reader John Morris. So, I have recently joined the ranks of prostate-free men. There are a couple of downsides and quite a few upsides. To start with, at my regular health check-ups, there will be no need for the doctor to digitally examine my prostate. For some reason in the past, I seemed to annually get the doctor with exceptionally large hands for this procedure. But I digress, the beginning of this story was a couple of years ago when a slightly elevated PSA score had me sent off for the least elegant procedure a man can do (and yes, I know that women are clear leaders in the Inelegant Procedure Stakes). A biopsy where multiple core samples are taken from the area just behind the testes - it is done under a general anaesthetic so that the biopsy recipient is not awake or aware of the awkward positioning required for access. The initial results were good, and so this was followed by a lengthy and indulgent holiday in France, whereupon our return, I thought it wise to have my bloods tested. Having consumed by body weight of croissants, cheese and baguettes, my concern was the cholesterol score might be somewhat raised. The tests came back surprisingly clear in the cholesterol score, but not so fortuitous in the prostate area. So once again, I enjoyed the delights of a digital examination, followed by multiple scans, another biopsy, and then a diagnosis of prostate cancer. Accordingly, I joined the ranks of the many thousands of men with this condition. Interestingly, when telling male friends of this diagnosis, every single one had a friend or colleague also with prostate cancer, or had had it themselves! Interestingly, this is a "good" cancer to get and given the successful treatment and recovery statistics, it definitely falls into this category. The main problems with prostate cancer are twofold. One is the location - it is basically intertwined with the launch pad for sexual function and, as such, can interfere with said function in a variety of ways, ranging from "not very much" to "it wasn't getting much use anyway". The second problem is incontinence - again, the results vary widely and often this is related to how much you exercise and strengthen your pelvic floor pre-prostatectomy. Full disclosure - I didn't even realise I had a pelvic floor prior to my diagnosis. At one end of the incontinence scale is being as dry as the Sahara Desert and at the other end is doing a reasonable impression of a sprinkler in your pants. Be aware that once you look up "Incontinence" online, your social media will be flooded (excuse the pun) with ads for Depends and other adult incontinence products. In my case, I have a stronger empathy with women who, after childbirth, report mini leaks when laughing or sneezing. The operation itself is an unusual experience as it is robotic and known as a Radical Robotic Prostatectomy. The surgeons are in the same room but nowhere near you as they sit at computer screens showing them their little magnified robotic pincers as they go about the job. Waking up is not your gentle ease-back-into-the-world experience you might think, it comes with an overpowering urge to pee, even though your bladder is empty (it is confused post op and doesn't know it is empty). Then you notice the medieval torture device known in medical circles as a catheter, exiting your manhood, which given its condition should probably be renamed your infanthood for the next week. As a constant companion it is fairly noticeable with most movements being somewhat restricted and, accordingly, when it is removed, this is normally accompanied with beams of heavenly light and the Hallelujah chorus sung by angels. Recovery takes time, but does happen. The seven to eight torso wounds from the operation gradually healed and the post-op shuffle with catheter in place gives way to tentative walking and then regular striding. Erectile function for most men moves from a memory to a reality and your recent exercise strengthened pelvic floor ensures leakage is at a minimum. Considering the worst potential outcome, the experience and results for the vast majority of men who experience prostate cancer are pretty good. Life post op can be relatively close to normal, and you join an ever-expanding cohort of prostate-free men and, so long as you have a self-deprecating sense of humour, quite a few stories to tell family and friends. While there is not much you can do to prevent prostate cancer, rest assured that while most men die with it, very few men die of it, and the treatment success rates are incredibly good, with the ten-year survival rate being 98 per cent. Do yourself a favour and take steps to ensure you identify any potential cancer early with regular check-ups - and PSA tests are invaluable tools in this area. There are around 130 support groups nationwide who are affiliated with Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA). All are run by volunteers, the majority being men and their partners who have been directly impacted by the disease. To find one near you, visit: Voice of Real Australia is a regular newsletter from the local news teams of the ACM network, which stretches into every state and territory. Today's is written by The Senior reader John Morris. So, I have recently joined the ranks of prostate-free men. There are a couple of downsides and quite a few upsides. To start with, at my regular health check-ups, there will be no need for the doctor to digitally examine my prostate. For some reason in the past, I seemed to annually get the doctor with exceptionally large hands for this procedure. But I digress, the beginning of this story was a couple of years ago when a slightly elevated PSA score had me sent off for the least elegant procedure a man can do (and yes, I know that women are clear leaders in the Inelegant Procedure Stakes). A biopsy where multiple core samples are taken from the area just behind the testes - it is done under a general anaesthetic so that the biopsy recipient is not awake or aware of the awkward positioning required for access. The initial results were good, and so this was followed by a lengthy and indulgent holiday in France, whereupon our return, I thought it wise to have my bloods tested. Having consumed by body weight of croissants, cheese and baguettes, my concern was the cholesterol score might be somewhat raised. The tests came back surprisingly clear in the cholesterol score, but not so fortuitous in the prostate area. So once again, I enjoyed the delights of a digital examination, followed by multiple scans, another biopsy, and then a diagnosis of prostate cancer. Accordingly, I joined the ranks of the many thousands of men with this condition. Interestingly, when telling male friends of this diagnosis, every single one had a friend or colleague also with prostate cancer, or had had it themselves! Interestingly, this is a "good" cancer to get and given the successful treatment and recovery statistics, it definitely falls into this category. The main problems with prostate cancer are twofold. One is the location - it is basically intertwined with the launch pad for sexual function and, as such, can interfere with said function in a variety of ways, ranging from "not very much" to "it wasn't getting much use anyway". The second problem is incontinence - again, the results vary widely and often this is related to how much you exercise and strengthen your pelvic floor pre-prostatectomy. Full disclosure - I didn't even realise I had a pelvic floor prior to my diagnosis. At one end of the incontinence scale is being as dry as the Sahara Desert and at the other end is doing a reasonable impression of a sprinkler in your pants. Be aware that once you look up "Incontinence" online, your social media will be flooded (excuse the pun) with ads for Depends and other adult incontinence products. In my case, I have a stronger empathy with women who, after childbirth, report mini leaks when laughing or sneezing. The operation itself is an unusual experience as it is robotic and known as a Radical Robotic Prostatectomy. The surgeons are in the same room but nowhere near you as they sit at computer screens showing them their little magnified robotic pincers as they go about the job. Waking up is not your gentle ease-back-into-the-world experience you might think, it comes with an overpowering urge to pee, even though your bladder is empty (it is confused post op and doesn't know it is empty). Then you notice the medieval torture device known in medical circles as a catheter, exiting your manhood, which given its condition should probably be renamed your infanthood for the next week. As a constant companion it is fairly noticeable with most movements being somewhat restricted and, accordingly, when it is removed, this is normally accompanied with beams of heavenly light and the Hallelujah chorus sung by angels. Recovery takes time, but does happen. The seven to eight torso wounds from the operation gradually healed and the post-op shuffle with catheter in place gives way to tentative walking and then regular striding. Erectile function for most men moves from a memory to a reality and your recent exercise strengthened pelvic floor ensures leakage is at a minimum. Considering the worst potential outcome, the experience and results for the vast majority of men who experience prostate cancer are pretty good. Life post op can be relatively close to normal, and you join an ever-expanding cohort of prostate-free men and, so long as you have a self-deprecating sense of humour, quite a few stories to tell family and friends. While there is not much you can do to prevent prostate cancer, rest assured that while most men die with it, very few men die of it, and the treatment success rates are incredibly good, with the ten-year survival rate being 98 per cent. Do yourself a favour and take steps to ensure you identify any potential cancer early with regular check-ups - and PSA tests are invaluable tools in this area. There are around 130 support groups nationwide who are affiliated with Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA). All are run by volunteers, the majority being men and their partners who have been directly impacted by the disease. To find one near you, visit: Voice of Real Australia is a regular newsletter from the local news teams of the ACM network, which stretches into every state and territory. Today's is written by The Senior reader John Morris. So, I have recently joined the ranks of prostate-free men. There are a couple of downsides and quite a few upsides. To start with, at my regular health check-ups, there will be no need for the doctor to digitally examine my prostate. For some reason in the past, I seemed to annually get the doctor with exceptionally large hands for this procedure. But I digress, the beginning of this story was a couple of years ago when a slightly elevated PSA score had me sent off for the least elegant procedure a man can do (and yes, I know that women are clear leaders in the Inelegant Procedure Stakes). A biopsy where multiple core samples are taken from the area just behind the testes - it is done under a general anaesthetic so that the biopsy recipient is not awake or aware of the awkward positioning required for access. The initial results were good, and so this was followed by a lengthy and indulgent holiday in France, whereupon our return, I thought it wise to have my bloods tested. Having consumed by body weight of croissants, cheese and baguettes, my concern was the cholesterol score might be somewhat raised. The tests came back surprisingly clear in the cholesterol score, but not so fortuitous in the prostate area. So once again, I enjoyed the delights of a digital examination, followed by multiple scans, another biopsy, and then a diagnosis of prostate cancer. Accordingly, I joined the ranks of the many thousands of men with this condition. Interestingly, when telling male friends of this diagnosis, every single one had a friend or colleague also with prostate cancer, or had had it themselves! Interestingly, this is a "good" cancer to get and given the successful treatment and recovery statistics, it definitely falls into this category. The main problems with prostate cancer are twofold. One is the location - it is basically intertwined with the launch pad for sexual function and, as such, can interfere with said function in a variety of ways, ranging from "not very much" to "it wasn't getting much use anyway". The second problem is incontinence - again, the results vary widely and often this is related to how much you exercise and strengthen your pelvic floor pre-prostatectomy. Full disclosure - I didn't even realise I had a pelvic floor prior to my diagnosis. At one end of the incontinence scale is being as dry as the Sahara Desert and at the other end is doing a reasonable impression of a sprinkler in your pants. Be aware that once you look up "Incontinence" online, your social media will be flooded (excuse the pun) with ads for Depends and other adult incontinence products. In my case, I have a stronger empathy with women who, after childbirth, report mini leaks when laughing or sneezing. The operation itself is an unusual experience as it is robotic and known as a Radical Robotic Prostatectomy. The surgeons are in the same room but nowhere near you as they sit at computer screens showing them their little magnified robotic pincers as they go about the job. Waking up is not your gentle ease-back-into-the-world experience you might think, it comes with an overpowering urge to pee, even though your bladder is empty (it is confused post op and doesn't know it is empty). Then you notice the medieval torture device known in medical circles as a catheter, exiting your manhood, which given its condition should probably be renamed your infanthood for the next week. As a constant companion it is fairly noticeable with most movements being somewhat restricted and, accordingly, when it is removed, this is normally accompanied with beams of heavenly light and the Hallelujah chorus sung by angels. Recovery takes time, but does happen. The seven to eight torso wounds from the operation gradually healed and the post-op shuffle with catheter in place gives way to tentative walking and then regular striding. Erectile function for most men moves from a memory to a reality and your recent exercise strengthened pelvic floor ensures leakage is at a minimum. Considering the worst potential outcome, the experience and results for the vast majority of men who experience prostate cancer are pretty good. Life post op can be relatively close to normal, and you join an ever-expanding cohort of prostate-free men and, so long as you have a self-deprecating sense of humour, quite a few stories to tell family and friends. While there is not much you can do to prevent prostate cancer, rest assured that while most men die with it, very few men die of it, and the treatment success rates are incredibly good, with the ten-year survival rate being 98 per cent. Do yourself a favour and take steps to ensure you identify any potential cancer early with regular check-ups - and PSA tests are invaluable tools in this area. There are around 130 support groups nationwide who are affiliated with Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA). All are run by volunteers, the majority being men and their partners who have been directly impacted by the disease. To find one near you, visit:
