Key points from today’s guests:
Tyson Bell, prostate cancer survivor
- Food poisoning while on vacation eventually led to a visit to an emergency department – insisted upon by his mother – where he was told he had an enlarged prostate.
- A PSA test led to a diagnosis of prostate cancer.
- At age 46, he did not have any symptoms, so catching it early was important.
- He kept his diagnosis quiet because of the stigma of having cancer and not wanting to burden others. But he realized he needed the support of others in going through this.
- He is now in remission and has changed his habits to be healthier.
- Tyson wants people to know there is hope with a cancer diagnosis and to take things one day at a time.
Dr. Ronald Chen, urologic radiation oncologist; chair, Radiation Oncology, The University of Kansas Cancer Center
- Prostate cancer is often silent and that is why screening is so important.
- It was fortunate that Tyson was able to get a CT scan for some other reason and they happened to find a larger prostate, which led to a PSA test. This was a series of fortunate coincidences.
- Without that, the cancer probably would have grown further.
- There is no better way to screen for prostate cancer than with a PSA test. Men should start screening with an annual PSA starting at age 50.
- For men who have a higher risk of prostate cancer, which include those who have a strong family history or Black men, some guidelines say they should start as early as age 40.
- Because Tyson had a few spots of metastasis, we have to treat it very aggressively.
- His treatment did involve brachytherapy, which is a procedure where we insert radiation seeds into the prostate to deliver a very focused dose of radiation to the cancer.
- It’s really important that a place like The University of Kansas Cancer Center adapts a treatment plan to each individual patient.
Tuesday, Dec. 3 at 8 a.m. is the next Morning Medical Update. Learn how doctors are spotting plaque before a heart attack. A quick, painless test can provide an inside look at heart health.
ATTENTION MEDIA: Please note access is with Microsoft Teams:
Join on your computer or mobile app
Click here to join the meeting
Meeting ID: 235 659 792 451
Passcode: 6CSfGE
Download Teams | Join on the web
Or call in (audio only)
+1 913-318-8863,566341546# United States, Kansas City
TVU Grid link: UoK_Health_SDI
Restream links: Facebook.com/kuhospital
YouTube.com/kuhospital
Send advance questions to medicalnewsnetwork@kumc.edu.