Westmead volunteer honoured for prostate cancer support

24 Sep, 2019, 1:09 pm24 Sep, 2019, 1:10 pm Jenny Harrison

Prostate Cancer Foundation Australia chief executive officer Professor Jeff Dunn, Tony Maxwell and Prostate Cancer Support Group chairman Frank Coleiro.

A Westmead volunteer has been recognised for his dedication to prostate cancer awareness and support.

Westmead Hospital Prostate Cancer Support Group volunteer Tony Maxwell received the prestigious Max Gardner Award from the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia for his advocacy for prostate cancer and working with doctors and specialists to find a cure for deadly disease.

The award is given to a member of the foundation who has made an outstanding contribution to reducing the impact of prostate cancer on Australian men, their partners and families.

Tony was nominated for this award by his fellow group members who agreed that no one works harder than him in supporting prostate cancer patients.

“I was a little surprised and very honoured. There is a real personal aspect to receiving this award for me,” Tony said.

“I had two or three conversations with the late Max Gardner when I was first diagnosed and have always held him in high regard, he really helped me.”

The award presentation was held at Westmead Hospital and was attended by past and present members of the support group including group founder Westmead Hospital nurse Colleen McDonald.

Colleen started the group in 1997.

The Westmead Prostate Cancer Support Group with founding member Colleen McDonald (centre).

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australian men.

Also in attendance were Professor Sandra Turner and Dr Amy Hayden, both from the Crown Princess Mary Cancer Centre at Westmead, who are valued supporters of the group.

Every year about 20,000 men are diagnosed and, tragically, around 3,500 lives are lost.

For more than 200,000 men living with prostate cancer today, the diagnosis and treatment can be distressing.

Sharing personal experiences can help to combat this distress, empowering people to better manage living with prostate cancer and reminding them they are not alone.

The support group meets at the Westmead Hospital Education Block, Theatre 4, on the third Monday of every month from 6.30pm – 8.00pm.

Contact Frank Coleiro for details at frankcwpcsg@gmail.com.