Survivor shares story
FIJIAN men are often viewed as virulent and strong.
So finding one like Sisa Tiko, who was brave enough to share the challenges he went through while battling prostate cancer, was not easy.
Mr Tiko is a survivor of prostate cancer.
He said admitting that he once had the dreaded disease was one thing, but mustering the courage to tell his story was “difficult”.
A pastor for the past 40 years, he said he first experienced pain in 2020 when he would visit the toilet.
“I kept this to myself,” the 65-year-old said.
“I didn’t want to tell my wife or anybody else, so I did the one thing most people do when they are ill – resort to herbal medicine.”
He said despite his increased intake of herbal medicines, the pain only grew worse.
“It wasn’t until this year when I could really feel the pain all over my body that
I decided to do something serious about it.
“I couldn’t sleep at night – I experienced pain not just on my back but in my bones as well – I thought I was going to die to be honest.”
Mr Tiko said he mustered the courage to go to the hospital where he was told and diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer.
“To be honest I didn’t even know what cancer was and I didn’t know what stage four meant – so when I had asked the doctor if there were any other stages higher than four and he replied with “this is the highest stage and the worst.”
“That’s when I went to Dr Rajeev Patel, a urologist at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital (CWMH) and he told me that the only way I would survive was if I went through with the operation.”
He said the repercussions of the surgery lingered at the back of his mind.
“As a pastor, I talk about fear to my congregation – fear of what the people will say or think about you and if you do things right people will talk about you or if you are 99 per cent right and one per cent wrong - you’ll still be talked about.
“I guess the question most men would pose after being diagnosed with prostate cancer was the question I had at the back of my mind – will I be able to sleep with my spouse or partner? – And that’s the truth.
“That held me back from wanting to go through with the surgery but Dr Rajeev assured me that everything would be fine.”
In March this year, Mr Tiko successfully underwent the operation.
“Dr Rajeev directed me to the Fiji Cancer Society (FCS) – they visited me every week and provided me with all the care that I needed.
“I was told to eat healthy and together with that I began taking some herbal medicine (noni juice) which helped me get my strength back as well as my appetite.”
Mr Tiko thanked the FCS and Dr Rajeev and his team for their support.
“I’d like to urge and encourage all boys and men to go get tested if they are experiencing and signs or symptoms of prostate cancer – don’t leave it until it’s too late.
“You can lose certain things and will always get it back but once you lose your life that’s the end.”
In a bid to raise awareness about cancers that affect men – prostate and testicular - the month of November has been dubbed ‘Movember’.
For the entire month, brave and selfless men around the world grow a moustache and women step up to support them.
During ‘Movember’ the focus is not only on raising awareness and funds for prostate and testicular cancer, there are also discussions on mental health and suicide prevention.
Wearing a moustache throughout November makes a unifying statement that you’re supporting a father, brother, uncle, or even a coworker who may be struggling, and wearing a whole month of daily reminders to all those that pass you in the street creates great visibility for this extremely worthy cause.
There are various ways to publicly support Movember, but at the core of the cause, Movember’s key mantra is ‘conversation’ – in doing so actively speaking with the men in your life who might be struggling in silence and lending a listening ear is a great way to start.