Prostate Cancer
Active Surveillance Video Forum
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  • Bill Manning

    Patient
    Bill Manning

    In 2009 Bill’s initial pathology report showed a Gleason score of 3+3=6, Stage T1c, with 5% cancer cells in 1 of 12 cores. Bill carefully evaluated his options and chose an active surveillance regimen while making adjustments with his diet. “The red meat was swapped for tofu and veggies. Oh yes – no dairy.” With diligent adherence to diet and exercise, four years later, in 2014, a pathology report from a targeted biopsy showed no prostate cancer could be found.

    Bill’s low level cancer became undetectable 5:40
    How a PSA score is impacted by size of the prostate gland 1:30
    Bill feels financial incentives may influence some urologists 1:24
    TRANSCRIPT
  • Carlos Orillo

    Patient
    Carlos Orillo

    Carlos describes the ordeal of his infection following his initial TRUS biopsy for diagnosis

    What are requirements for AS 1:36
    What are risks from Active Surveillance 1:06
    What about risks from treatment 1:21
    How important are quality of life issues? 1:22
    TRANSCRIPT
  • David Perez

    Patient
    David Perez

    Dave is a patient in the active surveillance program at the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF). After diagnosis in June, 2009, he made major changes in his diet and embarked on a vigorous exercise program. Dave also consults with an independent oncologist outside his active surveillance program who prescribed Avodart & Metformin. Dave also takes Resveratrol, curcumin and vitamin D3. In December, 2014, Dave had an 18-core guided MRI-ultrasound fusion prostate biopsy at UCSF and the pathology report indicated all tissue samples came back benign. In summary, 5 ½ years after diagnosis, no prostate cancer could be found.

    David details his dietary changes. 2:30
    Managing the challenges of an exercise program 5:00
    A medical regimen that diminished the PCa 1:30
    One patient’s Take-Home Message 2:00
    TRANSCRIPT
  • Dr. Bela Denes

    Urologist

    Providers

    Dr. Bela Denes

    Board-certified urologist Bela Denes trained at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. With 25 years of clinical and academic experience Bela now leads the Genomic Health Medical Affairs team as the Senior Director of Urology. In an interview on this site he discusses the Oncotype DX Prostate Cancer Assay, one of the new tests using advanced genomic methods. This test examines the activity level of 17 genes from a biopsy sample and computes a score from 0 to 100, distinguishing aggressive prostate cancer from less threatening prostate cancer. The test results provide useful information for men considering or already following an active surveillance regimen, and for other patients as well.

    Dr. Denes provides an overview to the Oncotype DX Prostate Cancer Test 4:30
    TRANSCRIPT
  • Dr. Mark Scholz

    Oncologist
    Dr. Mark Scholz

    Mark is a board-certified medical oncologist and Medical Director at Prostate Oncology Specialists in Marina Del Rey, California. He also serves as Executive Director of the Prostate Cancer Research Institute. Mark is a co-author with patient Ralph Blum of the book Invasion of the Prostate Snatchers: No More Unnecessary Biopsies, Radical Treatment or Loss of Potency. Mark has advised many patients navigating a regimen of active surveillance along with many men following other interventions and courses of treatment.

    What are requirements for AS 1:36
    What are risks from Active Surveillance 1:06
    What about risks from treatment 1:21
    How important are quality of life issues? 1:22
    TRANSCRIPT
  • Dr. Robert Princenthal

    Radiologist
    Dr. Robert Princenthal

    Bob is a board-certified radiologist with over 25 years of expertise in diagnostic medical imaging. He has interpreted more than 3,000 prostate MRI studies. Bob attended medical school at Penn State College of Medicine. His internship was completed at Hartford Hospital in Harford, Connecticut. A diagnostic radiology residency was completed at Yale University School of Medicine at New Haven Hospital and a fellowship in interventional radiology at the University of California, San Diego. Bob is President of Rolling Hills Radiology in California.

    MP MRI improves identification of candidates for active surveillance 2:40
    MP MRI produces improved image quality 1:42
    MP MRI produces higher accuracy when compared to random TRUS biopsy 1:32
    Declining PSA testing is leading to serious adverse outcomes 1:00
    TRANSCRIPT
  • Dr. Snuffy Myers

    Oncologist
    Dr. Snuffy Myers

    Medical oncologist and prostate cancer patient, Dr. Charles “Snuffy” Myers served for 10 years as Chief of the Clinical Pharmacy Branch at the National Cancer Institute. From 1994 to 2002 Snuffy was Director of the Cancer Center at the University of Virginia. His research group demonstrated that a fatty acid common in meat, dairy products and egg yolks promotes the survival and growth of human prostate cancer cells. In 2002 Snuffy established the American Institute for Diseases of the Prostate in Charlottesville, Virginia, where he provides clinical care for prostate cancer patients. His Blog, Ask Dr. Myers, is widely visited.

    Active surveillance overview 2:30
    Statins & PCa 5:00
    Metformin & PCa 1:30
    Vitamin D & PCa 2:00
    Pomegranate & PCa 2:30
    Reserveratrol & PCa 5:00
    Curcumin & PCa 1:30
    Hot peppers & ginger & PCa 2:00
    TRANSCRIPT
  • Ferdinand Becker

    Patient

    Patients

    Dr. Ferdinand Becker

    Ferd is an active surveillance patient as well as a board-certified facial plastic surgeon. Ferd has followed a comprehensive active surveillance regimen for four years and the 7 mm prostate cancer lesion found at diagnosis remains stable at 7 mm. His imaging tests do not indicate any progression of disease.

    Dr. Becker shares his experience as a physician and active surveillance patient 3:20
    TRANSCRIPT
  • Francisco Jimenez

    Patient
    Francisco Jimenez

    At age 61 Francisco was diagnosed with prostate cancer with a Gleason 6. He saw various specialists who each recommended a different treatment. Francisco, an engineer, carefully educated himself about his options, finally choosing active surveillance. At his HMO, Francisco attended regular support group meetings but found the HMO highly resistant to active surveillance. Francisco recalls his travails with his HMO and how they finally came around to endorsing active surveillance.

    Francisco discusses a large HMO’s initial response to active surveillance 5:30
    TRANSCRIPT
  • Gene Van Vleet

    Patient
    Gene Van Vleet

    Gene is the COO of the Informed Prostate Cancer Support Group in San Diego. This group meets monthly on the University of California at San Diego campus. In September, 2014, Gene received the Prostate Cancer Research Institute’s Harry Pinchot Award, for his accomplishments with his groups’ outreach services helping men become better informed and function as their own case managers.

    The benefits from participating in a support group 1:20
    MRI imaging helps guide targeted biopsies 1:08
    The importance of PSA testing 1:30
    TRANSCRIPT
  • James Goodacre

    Patient
    James Goodacre

    Jim’s father had experienced serious complications following a prostatectomy and radiation and when Jim was diagnosed with PCa in 2009 he was naturally concerned about maintaining his quality of life. However, with low-grade disease Jim enrolled in the active surveillance program at the University of California at San Francisco. In Jim’s video interview on this site Jim discusses his effort to bypass a standard random biopsy and have a multi-parametric 3T MRI.

    Jim seeks to avoid another biopsy 2:08
    TRANSCRIPT
  • Jerry Mayo

    Patient
    Jerry Mayo

    When Jerry started active surveillance in 2001, it was called “watchful waiting.” Jerry joined the Prostate Forum of Orange County, California, an Us-TOO support group chapter. Jerry modified his diet and stepped up his level of exercise. While Jerry and others in the group followed active surveillance regimens and regularly saw their urologists, they also consulted with a medical oncologist. Jerry became active on the internet sharing his experience with other PC patients. Jerry’s prostate cancer remained relatively stable for 13 1/2 years until there was an upturn and he moved to treatment.

    Treatment after 13 ½ years on AS 3:40
    Jerry’s diet and exercise 1:23
    Jerry’s oncologist prescribed Metformin 1:13
    Jerry’s Take Home Message 0:47
    TRANSCRIPT
  • Jim Bertoni

    Patient
    Jim Bertoni

    Upon diagnosis with a Gleason 6, Jim joined the Prostate Forum of Orange County, an Us-TOO chapter that meets in Fullerton, California. Initially, Jim was able to gain considerable knowledge from other patients already following active surveillance regimens. Jim changed his diet, started exercising at a gym, and improved his overall health.

    Let’s get it out of there now 1:58
    A good friend offers advice :42
    First visit to a support group 1:24
    Finding a good doctor 1:18
    Imaging the prostate with color-Doppler :56
    Confirming candidacy for active surveillance 1:09
    Experience with active surveillance 1:45
    Fluctuations in PSA :54
    Taking diet and exercise seriously 2:06
    Take Home Message :45
    TRANSCRIPT
  • Karen Kunz

    Certified Urology Nurse
    Karen Kunz

    Karen Kunz, BSN, C.U.R.N., is a certified urology nurse at Myriad Genetics. As the wife of a prostate cancer patient Karen is committed to helping improve the lives of men with prostate cancer. In a video interview on this site Karen describes the Myriad Genetics Prolaris test where genetic information from biopsy tissue samples produces data about the potential aggressiveness or lack of aggressiveness of the cancer cells. Prolaris test results are particularly useful when considering immediate treatment or active surveillance.

    Karen provides an overview to the Prolaris test 4:30
    TRANSCRIPT
  • Lyle La Rosh

    Patient
    Lyle La Rosh

    Lyle is President of the Informed Prostate Cancer Support Group in San Diego. Lyle was first diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2000 and began extensive self-study to learn more about all aspects of prostate cancer. Lyle has often become concerned about the lack of reliable information and misinformation within the prostate cancer patient community. Lyle is known to be always available on the phone or in-person for men seeking more information about their options for managing their prostate cancer.

    Lyle advocates for targeted biopsies rather than TRUS “blind” biopsies 3:21
    TRANSCRIPT
  • Mark Lichty

    Patient
    Mark Lichty

    Mark was diagnosed with PC in 2005. His father had been diagnosed with PCa and the treatments his father received had a serious adverse impact on his life. When Mark was diagnosed he adopted active surveillance but went beyond what most men do and adopted a raw food diet. He chairs a support group of about 50 active surveillance patients who convene each year at the annual Prostate Cancer Research Institute Conference. Mark’s PSA at diagnosis was 4.2 and ten years later it remains at 4.2.

    Active surveillance patients desire fewer biopsies 1:30
    A raw food diet regimen works for Mark 1:28
    Mark’s Take Home Message 2:25
    TRANSCRIPT
  • Paul Potash

    Patient
    Paul Potash

    Paul has been on active surveillance for 2 ½ years. At diagnosis his PSA was 5.7. Paul’s urologist indicated he was a good candidate for AS and Paul joined a support group and adopted a regimen of active surveillance as he reduced his sugar intake, ate very little red meat and added more veggies and fruit to his diet. He also increased his exercise regimen significantly. His PSA dropped to 4.5. Paul took the Prolaris test and the results supported his choice of active surveillance.

  • Terry Sommerauer

    Spouse
    Terry Sommerauer

    In 2012, Terry’s husband Ed was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Terry, a CPA, did internet research finding active surveillance as a possible option. She accompanied Ed for a consultation with his urologist. Terry recounts how Ed’s urologist emphasized that surgery was the only good option and should be promptly scheduled. However, Ed and Terry had additional consultations with staff in the active surveillance programs at UCSF & Stanford and were assured that that active surveillance was a prudent option. Ed joined the UCSF active surveillance program.

    Terry, a CPA, recalls how her husband’s urologist urged immediate surgery even though active surveillance was considered a prudent option at two esteemed university medical centers 5:10
    TRANSCRIPT
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Active Surveillance Video Forum
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  • Home
  • Meet The Presenters
  • Find Video By Topic
    • Biopsies
    • Cancer No Longer Detectable
    • Criteria
    • Diet and Excercise
    • Gleason 6 May Not Metastasize
    • Medications
    • Multiparametric MRI
    • Pathology Reports
    • Patient Concerns
    • PI-RADS Classification
    • PSA
    • Regimens
    • Second Opinion
    • Supplements
    • Support Groups
    • Take-Home Messages
    • Tests: A New Generation
    • Treatment After Disease Progression
    • Treatment Over Active Surveillance
  • Find MRI Centers
  • Find Support Groups
  • Meet Our Team
  • Contact Us
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