What Prostate Cancer Teaches Us About Listening to the Body

Good morning,

If you’ve been following the news, you may have seen that President Joe Biden was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Any time a sitting president faces a health concern, it tends to make headlines. But for us, this one hits differently.

It’s not just about one man—it’s about how we, as a culture, approach men’s health.

Too often, prostate cancer goes undetected until it’s more advanced. Part of the issue is that many men wait until something feels wrong. And the reality is, by the time prostate cancer feels like something, it’s often already progressed.

President Biden’s diagnosis reminded us of a truth we often forget, and that is, you can feel fine, look healthy, and still be harboring disease. That’s why I emphasize proactive detection efforts, instead of waiting for symptoms.

That's what I'll be sharing with you here today, the measures you can take to proactively detect prostate cancer.

Here’s What We Know

• The PSA blood test is the first and most accessible step in prostate cancer detection.
  
• MRI scans, specifically multi-parametric MRI (mpMRI), are now considered the best follow-up tool when PSA results are concerning.
  
• The digital rectal exam (DRE), while widely known, is increasingly questioned as a primary screening tool. DRE causes discomfort and can deter men from seeking care.
  
• Early-stage prostate cancer often has no symptoms. That’s why proactive detection matters.
  

The Problem With "One-Size-Fits-All" Guidelines

Current screening guidelines in many countries recommend halting prostate cancer screening at age 70. The logic? Most prostate cancers grow slowly, and some doctors argue the risks of overtreatment outweigh the benefits.

But in our experience, blanket age-based recommendations don’t serve every patient well. Not all prostate cancers behave the same. And not every 70-year-old has the same risk profile, health status, or access to information.

We don’t say this to stoke fear. We say it because we believe in being thorough, thoughtful, and patient-centered. Every man deserves the chance to detect disease early—and make informed decisions from there.
 

What Can You Do?
 

Whether you’re a man reading this, or someone who loves one, here are a few things we recommend:

1️⃣ Talk to your doctor about getting a PSA blood test, especially if you're over 50—or over 40 if you're at higher risk (African American men, or those with a family history). *There is a small percentage of prostate cancer that don’t have elevated PSA.

2️⃣ Ask about an MRI
1) If your PSA is elevated
2) If you are at risk for prostate cancer 
3) If you or your doctor are concerned

The MRI helps determine whether a biopsy is needed, potentially avoiding unnecessary procedures.

3️⃣ Know your risk factors. Age, race, family history, and lifestyle all play a role.

4️⃣ Don’t be afraid to start the conversation. Many men avoid prostate discussions because of embarrassment or fear. But this is your health. And you deserve clarity.
Prostate cancer shouldn’t be a silent threat. It shouldn’t be a taboo subject. And it definitely shouldn’t be something we only talk about when a president gets diagnosed.

Let’s bring it into the light. Let’s talk about it with our families, our doctors, our communities. And let’s make detection part of our regular rhythm of care—not something we do when it's already too late.

                                                   (Image Above: Prostate MRI Scan)