In this powerful and uplifting episode of the (Prostate Cancer - Patient Empowerment Program) PC-PEP Podcast, we sit down with Nick Aiken, a board member of the Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand (PCFNZ) and a passionate advocate for men’s health from Napier, Aotearoa New Zealand.
Nick shares his journey through a prostate cancer diagnosis in his early fifties, just months after leaving a secure career to start his own practice. Facing emotional shock, uncertainty, and the realities of hormone therapy (ADT), Nick discovered not only what it means to advocate for your own care—but how community, information, and daily connection can transform survivorship.
We first met Nick at the 2024 PCFNZ Conference in Christchurch, thanks to the visionary leadership of CEO Peter Dickens and the growing collaboration between PCFNZ and PC-PEP. That meeting sparked an enduring connection—and this conversation is a testament to what’s possible when men around the world stand up for each other’s healing.
Nick reflects on:
1. The gaps in early detection in New Zealand—and what needs to change.
2. How the PC-PEP program offered the emotional support, structure, and information the medical system couldn’t.
🗣️ “You can’t let your diagnosis determine the rest of your life.”
🛠️ “I had to learn to be my own agent… not just sit back and let it happen.”
3. Why intimacy, adaptability, and agency are core to living well post-diagnosis.
4. The importance of normalizing conversations around prostate cancer—especially the tough stuff.
With humour, honesty, and insight, Nick reminds us that healing isn’t just about surviving—it’s about reclaiming life, one choice at a time. His voice is one of clarity, warmth, and deep compassion—and his insights will resonate with anyone navigating cancer, advocacy, or transformation.
🎧 Listen to the episode on Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2420283/
📺 Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_9pxlAHzY_4
🌐 Learn more about PC-PEP: https://www.pcpep.org/ or pcpep.org/nz
For all forms of cancer go to CancerPEP.com (available in New Zealand though the Southern Cancer Society of New Zealand).
Together, we are not just facing prostate cancer—we are transforming how we live beyond it.

EMPOWER YOURSELF!