Let’s Talk about Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer has been in the news again this month with the American Cancer Society releasing some new guidelines about screening using the PSA blood test, and whether mass screening opportunities should be offered to the general public. This is a complex topic and much like the recommendations made last year to change the age women should start mammograms, the response from prostate cancer survivors has been filled with confusion and emotion. As the coordinator of the Prostate Cancer Resource Center, I have been asked several times to respond to the issue. The good news is I can proudly say that the program we have at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth addresses the concerns expressed in the publication by the American Cancer Society.
The Prostate Cancer Resource Center was opened in January of 2003 with the primary goal to educate and support prostate cancer survivors about their diagnosis. This support includes the STEPs to Surviving Prostate Cancer series and one-on-one counseling with the nurse navigator. Through this education and support process we are able to provide the information a man and his family needs to make an educated decision about treatment choices, potential side effects and potential complications down the road. I have found that most men that take the initiative to be screened are proactive in their health and want to explore some sort of treatment if diagnosed with cancer. At our major screening event in the Fall (during the Cowtown Cruisin for a Cure car show) we provide several opportunities for men to ask questions and understand what is involved in a screening and what the results potentially mean. That information prior to screening and the resources provided through the Prostate Cancer Resource Center meet the standards recommended in the guidelines article.
We’ve recently expanded our resources for survivors to include a chat day on Tuesdays – “Lets talk on Tuesday.. about prostate cancer” is held every Tuesday from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm in the Cancer Resource Center in the Klabzuba Cancer Center. Specially trained THFW volunteers are available to chat with men about their personal journey with prostate cancer and answer any questions men might have about the disease, treatment options and coping with side effects. If you know someone that is newly diagnosed or dealing with prostate cancer issues, please encourage them to come and by.. let’s talk!

Gayle Wilkins, MSN,RN,OCN
Coordinator of Prostate Cancer Resource Center.