SYDNEY coach Scott Gowans has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, but he will undergo surgery and is expected to make a full recovery.

Gowans, the Swans' inaugural AFLW coach, had medical tests for a separate issue last year and further investigation uncovered a tumour which has not spread.

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Assistant coach Nick Davis will take on senior coaching duties for around six weeks as Gowans recovers from his surgery.

"If there's one positive to take from this it's that the tumour can be removed and hasn't spread, which may not have been the case if it wasn't discovered so early," Gowans said. 

"I'm extremely lucky that my doctor pushed for further investigation into something that wasn't quite right – I didn't have any symptoms and I was otherwise feeling OK.

"What I hadn't done was have a check-up for prostate cancer, so if there's one message to come from this experience it's to get checked, and urge your loved ones to get checked, because it could save their life."