During the Charlotte Prostate Cancer Community Rally educational program, PHEN Director of Patient Education and Clinical Trials Dr. Keith Crawford presented on prostate cancer treatments and hosted a panel discussion on this topic. The panelists included Dr. Blair Townsend, a urologist from the Urology Specialists of the Carolinas, Dr. Vernon E. Mackie, an oncologist from Atrium Health, and PHEN’s Charlotte Ambassador Mr. Jerry Womack.
During his presentation, Dr. Crawford explained the importance of bringing a friend or family member with you to appointments during and after receiving your diagnosis. He also highlighted using the PHEN resource PHENPath.com to learn about prostate cancer treatments and guidelines. This portal includes information about treating an initial prostate cancer diagnosis, advanced hormone sensitive cancer, castration-resistant cancer, PSA recurrence after surgery, and cancer progression after radiation. Dr. Crawford also covered PSA levels, biopsy results, Gleason scores, and different cancer stages.
During the panel discussion, Dr. Townsend advocated PSA screening, as he diagnoses up to 20 cases of prostate cancer per week due to PSA tests. Also, he explained that patients should not be afraid of an elevated PSA since other health issues may cause this. Further, he mentioned how prostate cancer cases are not identical with some types growing more slowly while others are more aggressive.
Dr. Mackie discussed how there are now new, more advanced treatments available for prostate cancer patients than even as early three to five years ago. He also mentioned how important early detection screening is for saving lives and reducing the racial disparity behind this disease.
Prostate cancer survivor Jerry Womack explained his prostate cancer journey during the panel discussion. He stated that death was the first thing on his mind after his cancer diagnosis, as he wondered how much time he had left. He was diagnosed at 49 years of age and has had four other men in his family with the same disease. However, since he had undergone PSA testing every year since he was 42 years old, he was diagnosed early. Womack underwent a radical prostatectomy in 2004 and has been in remission for the last 20 years. The panelists also answered audience questions.
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