The Orewa man is sharing his story today to spread awareness as Blue September, the annual prostate cancer awareness appeal, kicks off.
Couprie went to the doctor because he was having trouble urinating. A blood test showed his PSA levels were far too high and a biopsy confirmed he had late-stage prostate cancer.
The cancer was inoperable because it had spread beyond the prostate but his chances were good because it had not yet spread to his bones or lymph nodes.
Doctors agreed a combination of chemical castration through androgen deprivation therapy and radiation therapy was the best bet despite the unpleasant side effects.
The treatment started working quickly but to make sure the cancer was definitely gone, Couprie has put up with it for almost three years.
"The side-effects haven't been that flash. I've basically been through menopause," he said.
He has had hot flushes, loss of muscle mass and bone density and depression amongst other things.
But the 49-year-old has maintained his sense of humour throughout.
"My wife and I have been through menopause at the same time. We could never get our hot flushes in sync," he laughed.
By the end of the year he will be off the medication and is hopeful his hormone levels and his body will return to normal.
"To be honest, I think we caught it just in time," he said. "It's been manageable but it's been one hell of a struggle."
He is grateful he had symptoms which alerted him to the problem since almost half of those diagnosed with the disease had none.
Couprie is now a vocal advocate for screening. He believes a national screening system like we have for breast cancer is needed but in the meantime tells men they need to take responsibility themselves.
"If you're at the age of 45, get a baseline test for your PSA. If you have a family history of it, start at 40," he said. "If you've got a wife, if you've got kids, if you've got grandkids - you want to be around for them."
Prostate Cancer Foundation chief executive Graeme Woodside said one in eight men would develop prostate cancer in their lifetime. One Kiwi man was diagnosed every three hours and one died from the disease every day.
"It's an awful reality check to discover just how many men are affected in New Zealand and for most people there will be at least one man in their circle who will develop prostate cancer at some point," he said.
"Why are so many men dying needlessly when a quick trip to the doctor each year can intercept and treat this dreadful type of cancer in its early stages?"
About prostate cancer
• More common than breast cancer.
• Risk increases up to 11 times if two or more first-degree relatives have had the disease under the age of 65.
• One in every eight Kiwi men will develop prostate cancer.
• Icons around the country, including the Cloud, the Aotea Centre fly-tower, The Civic Theatre, the Auckland Town Hall, Toitu Museum in Otago and Christchurch Airport, will be lit up blue this month to support the cause.
• Go to www.blueseptember.org.nz to find out how to put on your own "Blue Do" or donate.