Prostate cancer, testosterone and Tim Baker's masculinity
Conversations - A podcast by ABC listen
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When surf writer Tim Baker was diagnosed with Stage 4 prostate cancer, he had no idea how the hormones which saved his life would fundamentally change his experience of being a man (R). Surf writer Tim Baker was in his early fifties when he was riding a very good wave in his life. He had a job he loved as a surfing writer, a beautiful family, and he lived within walking distance of the beach. But on a work trip to Los Angeles, Tim began to need to use the 'rest room' a lot more than usual. Back in Australia, he went to see his doctor, then an oncologist who gave him some terrible news. He had Stage 4 prostate cancer and it had spread to his bones. Tim has written a candid account of living with cancer, and some of the grim and rarely spoken about side effects of his life-saving hormone therapy; effects which have profoundly changed his identity and his relationships. This episode of Conversations explores cancer, prostate cancer, testosterone, hormone treatment, surfing, masculinity, mortality, books, writing, manhood, aging, bone cancer, fatherhood, big waves, middle age.