Key points from today’s guests:

Mike Boatwright, prostate cancer survivor

• Inspired by their father’s prostate cancer battle, Mike and his brother Matt, became proactive about their own health and got screened and diagnosed with prostate cancer early.
• Mike’s PSA levels were high during a check-up, which led to the diagnosis.
• He underwent laparoscopic surgery at The University of Kansas Health System and needed radiation to reduce the chances of cancer returning.
• Dr. Parker’s confidence gave him the confidence to overcome this.

Matt Boatwright, prostate cancer survivor

• Shortly after Mike’s diagnosis, Matt was also diagnosed with prostate cancer.
• Seeing his brother go through diagnosis and treatment first helped him deal with it better.
• The family’s history of cancer kept them vigilant.
• He is very active today on a 10-acre home and does a lot of fishing.
• Like his brother, he recommends advocating for yourself when it comes to health.

Dr. Will Parker, urologic oncologist, The University of Kansas Cancer Center

• The average risk person should be checked at age 45 and a higher risk individual should be checked at age 40.
• A PSA is a blood test for a prostate-specific antigen and a very easy screening tool for prostate cancer.
• The technology has changed dramatically to treat prostate cancer. Imagine the first cell phone you ever had and the cell phone you have now.
• Treatments can vary based on the type of cancer – it could include monitoring it, surgery, radiation, or a combination of the two.
• Mike and Matt both had a robotic prostatectomy.
• Seeding is called brachytherapy, which is internal radiation. It’s basically little titanium pellets that are embedded with a radioactive element.
• The BRCA gene plays almost the exact same role as it does in breast cancer. Essentially, for men who have the BRCA 2 mutation, the risk of prostate cancer is almost eight times higher.

Wednesday, Sept. 25 at 8 a.m. is the next Open Mics with Dr. Stites. A new study shows how weight loss before surgery can help save your life. We are looking at how to change the outlook for prostate cancer patients one pound at a time.

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.