Robotic prostate cancer surgery helped keen triathlete make speedy return to competition
- Damian Walsh, 50, takes part in South Africa’s Ironman 70.3 World Championship only a few months after operation at Hong Kong Adventist Hospital – Stubbs Road
- Precise, minimally invasive operation, positive attitude and support of medical staff help Hong Kong-based Australian IT executive’s rapid recovery
Cancer comes with little or no warning and does not discriminate – affecting everyone, young and old.
Damian Walsh, a Hong Kong-based Australian IT executive and father of two young sons, found that out the hard way last year.
Yet thanks to a robotic surgical technique, the keen triathlete found that just over two months after his prostate cancer surgery he was able to take part in an Ironman competition.
Walsh, 50, was diagnosed with cancer last year after an earlier blood test, carried out in 2017 as part of a regular health check, revealed an abnormal result. Further tests were carried out before prostate cancer was confirmed.
I remember sitting in the doctor’s office with my wife and being in shock. I could not believe [I had prostate cancer] … there were no symptoms and I felt very healthy
“I remember sitting in the doctor’s office with my wife, Connie, and being in shock,” he says.
“I could not believe [the diagnosis] as there were no symptoms and I felt very healthy. In fact, I had just completed an Ironman triathlon one week before [the diagnosis] so I didn't think it could be true.”
