Terminally ill sailor, 72, pursues solo circumnavigation dream

David Burston, a 72-year-old from Cairns, is determined to fulfill his dream of sailing around Australia, even after receiving a stage 4 cancer diagnosis late last year. Burston had recently purchased a yacht, named Tropical Dream, intending to restore it for his circumnavigation project.

“

The last thing I would have said is, 'Oh, I've probably got cancer.'

Initially experiencing subtle symptoms like needing to urinate at night and a slight limp, Burston was surprised by the diagnosis of prostate cancer that had metastasized to his bones and lymph nodes. Doctors provided a prognosis of two to 10 years remaining, prompting Burston to "get his affairs in order." However, he refused to abandon his sailing aspirations, declaring, "I'm jumping on that boat. Cancer's got to catch me first."

Burston is actively working on Tropical Dream, with plans to embark on his journey by mid-next year, health permitting. He has responded positively to radiation and hormone therapy, which have reduced some of his tumors, despite experiencing side effects like "male menopause" and sweats, which he considers a worthwhile trade-off for the treatment's effectiveness.

“

No way, I'm jumping on that boat. Cancer's got to catch me first.

Professor Greg Crawford, a palliative medicine expert at Adelaide University, noted that individuals facing end-of-life can still make plans and maintain hope, describing it as "the nature of the human spirit." He also highlighted the importance of doctors setting realistic expectations for patients, acknowledging the uncertainty of illness progression. Professor Crawford added that a loss of hope and purpose can be a significant concern for the terminally ill, with a notable minority experiencing depression or demoralization beyond normal sadness about dying.

“

I break into sweats, but it was so effective I'll happily put up with that.

While stage 4 prostate cancer is generally considered incurable, Burston finds encouragement in the continuous improvements in treatments and survival rates, which offer many patients a chance for a "long life." He prefers to focus his energy on his boat restoration rather than dwelling on his illness, embodying a spirit of living fully in the present.

“

With these diseases, you're never out of the woods. This can come back and belt me. But you've got to just squeeze whatever you can out of life while you've got it.