Matt Starr thought prostate cancer was an "old man's disease".
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Yet at the age of 45, with no family history, the Flinders man was diagnosed with the cancer - and in need of a radical prostatectomy.
But it was only by chance that he was tested for it, as the Australian guidelines only recommend testing from age 50.
"My 45th birthday brought me a nasty ear infection. Without that who knows when I would have seen my GP next, and who knows how long before my prostate cancer would have been detected," he said.
"My GP decided to give me a full health check, and included the PSA (prostate specific antigen) test even though it's not usually recommended for men with no family history until 50.
"When it came back that I had an elevated PSA level it came as a shock. I think it's scary for anyone to get told they have cancer, as it can feel like a death sentence."
In Australia prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men, and around 3500 die of the disease each year.
However survival rates for prostate cancer are high, with early detection and treatment key.
That's why Mr Starr, now 47, is speaking out as part of the Movember campaign.
"Something I've learnt from my experience is that, if something isn't right, talk about it and go and see your doctor," he said.
"We as men need to be more open about all our health problems - physical and mental."
Movember returns next month with a focus on the men's health crisis in regional and rural Australia.
According to the campaign's country director Rachel Carr, health statistics show that men living in those areas have much higher mortality rates for both prostate cancer and suicide than those living in the Sydney metropolitan area.
"Sadly the dire state of men's health disproportionately affects those living in country Australia," she said.
"These men are fathers, brothers, partners and sons, and they are facing a health crisis which we hope to keep talking about."
Last year nearly 1600 Mo Bros and Sistas across the Illawarra raised more than $415,000 to help stop men dying too young.
To support Mr Starr's team 'BroMoSapiens' or other local participants visit au.movember.com
"Thankfully with early detection and intervention my prognosis is great and I can look to the future with my wife and daughter," he said.
"I feel like I got a second chance at life because my GP was diligent, and I think other blokes deserve the same chance.
"Cancer doesn't only affect the patient - but your whole family. The hardest part for me was telling my 16-year-old daughter."
Mr Starr is also co-leader of the Illawarra Prostate Cancer Support Group which formed this year to help patients and their loved ones.
The group meets every third Monday of the month at 6pm at Dapto Leagues Club, from February to November.