Dickie Dip: Skinny-dipping to help turn the tide against cancer

Father of two Ronnie Cummins, who was successfully treated for prostate cancer last year, is taking part in his second skinny dip to raise funds for research and to promote awareness about the need for testing

Fri, 31 Oct, 2025 - 01:00

Arlene Harris

At a routine visit to his GP last year, Ronnie Cummins asked for his PSA (prostate specific antigen) levels to be checked. At 48 years of age, he wasn’t expecting there to be anything wrong.

But because his father-in-law had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2019, he decided to do the test “just in case”. He was shocked to discover that his reading was very high.

“The expected reading for a man of my age would have been between one and two, and mine was 7.2,” he says.

“This was totally unexpected as I had no symptoms whatsoever, so my GP referred me on for further tests while reassuring me that it didn’t automatically mean I had cancer.

“I got an appointment with a specialist at the Mater Hospital about two weeks later, and my PSA levels had risen to 8.6 in a couple of weeks.

“This was now a big concern and, after undergoing the physical prostate exam, which didn’t show anything unusual, the doctor said that the only way to really be sure was to have a biopsy done. I went back for results, and was shocked to be told that I had stage three prostate cancer.”

The father of two says he “went into autopilot” after the news left him completely numb.

He went from being fit and healthy to being told he had cancer and having to decide whether to have surgery to remove it or to undergo radiation followed by monitoring.

“I will never forget the anxiety of making the decision,” he says.

“Both options have pros and cons, but my doctor told me that, if I had surgery, I would go into the hospital with cancer and leave two days later without it. This was the more preferable option to me and, after doing my own research, I decided to go down the surgery route because I wanted it to be dealt with as quickly as possible. I knew there might be side effects but, for me, the most important thing was to get rid of the cancer.”

He underwent the operation in November 2024, 11 weeks after asking the GP to test his PSA levels. “Everything happened very quickly and efficiently and, thankfully, went well. Today, I am about 90% better. I still have some problems with urination, all the things that men don’t like talking about. But I went into this with my eyes wide open and knew there was potential for these issues, and it was a risk I was willing to take. I am cancer-free and able to live my life without restrictions, so I feel blessed that I have come out the other side of it and am here to tell the tale.”

The 49-year-old, who lives in Kildare with his wife Emma and their children, says he is keen to let other men know the importance of having PSA levels routinely checked and not waiting for symptoms.

To help raise awareness, he is taking part, for the second year in a row, in the Mater Foundation’s annual Dickie Dip.

The event sees men from all over the country take a dip in freezing waters, wearing nothing except a dickie bow, in a bid to raise funds for research.

“Initially, when I heard about it, I didn’t think it was a very appealing prospect. After a while, I thought that I would like to take part in it,” he says.

“I wanted to turn something negative, like my diagnosis, into something positive by helping to raise money for the Mater Foundation and awareness of prostate cancer, as it is something which isn’t spoken about enough.

“Men tend to bury their heads in the sand when it comes to health in the hope that the problem will go away, but it won’t on its own.

“So it’s really important to talk about things, go for routine checks, seek advice if anything unusual is going on and, if necessary, get treatment sooner rather than later.

“If I hadn’t done that, then I might not be telling my story today.”

Early detection

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer affecting men in Ireland, with approximately one in six developing the disease at some point in their lives. But, despite its prevalence, most men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer are asymptomatic.

Greg Nason, a consultant urologist at Mater Misericordiae University Hospital and the Mater Private Network, Dublin, says that while there is no guaranteed way to help prevent the disease, early detection can make all the difference.

“The risk of prostate cancer increases with age, particularly from age 50 onwards,” he says.

“Genetics play a significant role; men with a first-degree relative (a father or brother) who has had prostate cancer face an increased risk —around one in four — and the risk is even higher if multiple family members are affected.

“Men with family histories of other cancers, such as breast or ovarian cancer, may also have a higher susceptibility due to genetic markers.

“Around 4,000 cases are diagnosed annually, with most cases identified following a routine blood [PSA] test.

“For most men, when caught early, outcomes are excellent.”

Although there is no formal screening programme for prostate cancer, Nason says that it is “essential for men from around the age of 50 to speak with their GP about PSA testing, so they can guide them on whether and when to pursue further steps”.

And while early diagnosis is preferable, as prostate cancer is often asymptomatic, when symptoms do occur, they’re typically related to urinary function and can include changes in urine flow, a need to urinate more frequently, particularly at night, and difficulty starting and stopping urine flow.

However, these symptoms are more commonly from a benign enlargement of the prostate, which is common in most men as they age.

“Advanced prostate cancer can be associated with symptoms — including bone pain, unexplained weight loss, and, in rare cases, blood in the urine,” says the urology expert.

“But there are many treatment options available for men with prostate cancer based upon the stage of disease at diagnosis, the age of the patient and their fitness.

“Whether through active surveillance or targeted treatments, men diagnosed today are more likely than ever to live long, fulfilling lives post-diagnosis. But, in order to maintain this standard and improve upon it, early detection is essential.”

Prostate cancer survivor Ronnie Cummins encourages other men to get checked and get involved in the upcoming Dickie Dip on November 8, in Skerries, Co Dublin.

“Last year, before undergoing surgery, I managed to raise nearly €9,000. It was one of the best things that I’ve ever experienced, it was a real life-affirming moment and one that I’m looking forward to going back and doing again this year,” he says.

“I can’t wait to meet up with the same guys again and, hopefully, plenty of new dippers.

“I’d encourage anybody to get involved in what is a fantastic day out, one of the most rewarding and enjoyable things that you could do.

“But more importantly, you’ll be raising awareness on the most common and the most curable types of cancer in men.”