Detective Inspector Scott Beard got the news he had prostate cancer after returning from England where he attended Millane's funeral in January last year.
Millane, who was 21, was on a world trip when she was murdered in December 2018 by a man she met on a Tinder date in Auckland. Her killer, who cannot be named, will be sentenced this month.
Beard has been praised for his work on the case and his support of Millane's family. Shortly after her body was found in the Waitakere Ranges, and moments after informing her father, he broke the news of the discovery in an emotional roadside press conference.
Beard told The New Zealand Herald that his prostate was removed using robot-assisted surgery four months before the start of the High Court murder trial.
He has told his cancer story in an article in Police Association News (PAN) to encourage men to get regular health check-ups.
The cancer was picked up after his PSA (prostate-specific antigen) score jumped up. A biopsy found it was aggressive and on the surface of the organ.
Beard took six weeks off work after the operations but told few people at the time.
"It was a shock. Males can think we are indestructible," said Beard, who has been fit throughout his life.
He had come through the operation well and was now running and playing football again.
While there was a family history of high blood pressure, he told PAN, he'd never thought to worry about his prostate,
"I didn't really know what it was, and certainly didn't feel unwell."
Beard's annual health check revealed his PSA levels were considerably up on the previous year, and had jumped again when a follow-up test was done six weeks later.
A biopsy was done in April. "I got a phone call to say they had the results and I needed to make an appointment within a couple of days. I knew then it would be positive for cancer."
His prostate was removed in July.
He told the specialist that, no matter what. He had to be on deck by November 4, the start of the murder trial. He made the deadline and sat next to Millane's mother through the hearing.
Beard is now lending his own health experience to help spread a message that could save lives.
"I now know that 3500 New Zealand men are diagnosed each year with prostate cancer and 98.4 per cent survive. In the rest of the cases, it hasn't been picked up early enough.
"The message is clear. Get a check-up. It's a simple blood test."
