A prostate cancer survivor who was diagnosed with stage three cancer has turned his personal battle into a mission to encourage men to prioritise their health, undergo regular screenings and seek early treatment.
Dumisani Pakkies, 53, a passionate advocate for men’s health in South Africa, shared his journey at a Prostate Cancer Awareness and Wellness Day held at Umlazi ComTech High School on Saturday, 26 September.
The event, organised by Tempudu in partnership with Factor of Ten, brought men together for free prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screenings, health education and other medical services, reinforcing the message that no man should face cancer alone.
Pakkies told Merebank and Chatsworth Tabloid that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2020 and began treatment the following year.
“I’m a prostate cancer survivor myself. I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2020. I started my treatment in 2021,” he said.
He underwent three types of treatment: hormonal therapy, brachytherapy and external beam radiation therapy.
“When I was diagnosed, I was in stage three. The treatment was not easy. The treatment was harsh, but I soldiered on because I believed,” he said.
Pakkies credited his faith, family support, physical fitness and access to medical professionals for helping him through the difficult period.
“As I said, I was in stage three when I was diagnosed. I didn’t know much about cancer when I was diagnosed, prostate cancer specifically, but I wanted to know what it was that I was facing,” he said.
Through learning more about the disease, he realised that early detection could have made his own journey less difficult.
Although that knowledge came too late to change his diagnosis, it inspired him to help other men avoid facing the same challenges.
“With the knowledge that I had acquired, I realised that prostate cancer or my diagnosis is something that could have been made easier by early detection, like being diagnosed at stage one, for instance.
“But then it didn’t help me then, but I made a vow with the knowledge I had acquired that I’ll help the next man not get to where I got to. And this is how Tempudu was born,” he said.
The organisation focuses on educating men about prostate cancer, encouraging them to undergo screening, seek treatment and remain committed to their treatment plans, while also supporting other families affected by the disease.
At Saturday’s event, 173 men were screened, marking an increase from the 100 men reached during the previous year’s initiative.
Pakkies said the organisation was encouraged by the growth and hoped to expand its outreach across KwaZulu-Natal, with another awareness and screening session planned for November.
“We want to get into a situation where men talk freely about prostate cancer. Men are not scared of prostate cancer. They open up about prostate cancer,” he said.
He also urged men to take responsibility for their overall health by making use of healthcare services available in their communities and workplaces, as well as medical aid benefits.
“The clinics that they have in their communities, the clinics that they have at work for those who are working, and the medical aid cards that they have are for so that they don’t get sick, not necessarily when they get sick.
“Prevention is better than cure. Prevention is cheaper than cure,” he said.
The awareness campaign also highlighted the importance of men supporting one another through diagnosis, treatment and recovery.
Among those who attended was Mthembeni Khumalo, 64, from Nagina, who said he had come for a check-up because of his age and existing chronic health concerns.
He said he wanted a comprehensive assessment of his health and encouraged other older men who were reluctant to visit healthcare facilities to reconsider.
“For all those seniors who are reluctant to go for check-ups, it is important to regularly go for check-ups, particularly men, because we are the protectors and leaders of our homes, and we need to be healthy to do that,” he said.
Khumalo admitted that he had initially felt nervous but became more relaxed after listening to motivational speeches from healthcare professionals.
Philani Ndwalani, 57, from Umlazi H, said he attended because he had been experiencing symptoms associated with cancer and had witnessed the devastating effects of the disease on people close to him.
His uncle was diagnosed with cancer at an advanced stage and is currently bedridden, while his former employer also died after battling the disease.
“I hope that if I have cancer, it should be at an early stage because I know how bad it can be, and I respect it,” he said.
The event offered free PSA screening to eligible men aged between 40 and 74, with participants required to bring identification documents. Urologists and oncologists were also available, alongside health screenings for diabetes, high blood pressure and lung cancer.
Men aged 75 and older, those already receiving prostate cancer treatment and those who had recently undergone a PSA test were not eligible for the free prostate screening.
Through initiatives such as these, organisers hope to break the silence surrounding men’s health, encourage early medical intervention and remind communities that seeking help is a vital step towards protecting their futures.
Caption: Dumisani Pakkies, 53, a passionate advocate for men’s health in South Africa, shared his journey at a Prostate Cancer Awareness and Wellness Day held at Umlazi ComTech High School on Saturday, 26 September.
