At Mac Live 2026 in Birmingham, Lorraine meets Maurice for the first time and is immediately drawn to his knitting, which Maurice explains has become part of how he copes with the physical and emotional effects of prostate cancer treatment. Maurice shares that he took part in a clinical trial that involved two years of hormone therapy alongside radiotherapy. As part of this, he received painful three-monthly injections into his stomach, delivering hormone-suppressing pellets. Despite the discomfort, he describes the trial as a positive experience, feeling it offered more personalised and closely monitored care.

Maurice explains that he was initially diagnosed with a PSA level of 11.5 and a Gleason score of 3+3, which placed him on active surveillance for 12 months. During this period, regular PSA tests monitored his condition. When his PSA rose and further biopsies revealed more aggressive cancer, his Gleason score increased to 4+4, placing him in a higher-risk category. At that point, his treatment options were limited to surgery or radiotherapy. Due to his age and fitness, he was eligible for a clinical trial involving whole-node radiotherapy, brachytherapy with radioactive pellets, extended radiotherapy sessions, and long-term hormone treatment.

While Maurice found the physical cancer treatments manageable, he describes hormone therapy as the hardest part of his journey. By suppressing testosterone, the treatment caused loss of libido, weight gain, breast growth, hot flushes, and significant emotional challenges. Maurice likens the experience to having his “male side” temporarily switched off, which had a profound psychological impact and raised uncertainty about whether normality would fully return.

Throughout his journey, Maurice remained open and honest with his family, particularly his four children. He believes keeping children informed at every stage is crucial and advises others not to shield them from the truth. Through humour, openness, and storytelling—particularly via the Real Talk platform—Maurice uses his experience to support others. He believes that sharing his journey helps reduce stigma, makes conversations about masculinity and sexuality easier, and ensures his diagnosis serves a meaningful purpose by helping others navigate their own cancer journeys.