PROSTATE CANCER: REAL TALK™

What new developments are changing the way prostate cancer is understood and treated? In this episode of PROSTATE CANCER: REAL TALK, El and Shay welcome back Dr. Adam B. Murphy of Northwestern Medicine to discuss current prostate cancer research and some of the advancements bringing new options and new hope to patients and families.

Dr. Murphy explores how researchers are learning more about the different characteristics of prostate cancer, including changes in how certain forms of the disease are classified and understood. He also discusses how treatment strategies continue to evolve, including the use of different therapies and combinations based on an individual's cancer and circumstances.

As prostate cancer research continues to advance, understanding these developments can help men and their families have more informed conversations about their care. Join us as Dr. Murphy breaks down what researchers are learning today and what those discoveries could mean for the future of prostate cancer treatment.

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Can where you live influence your risk of developing cancer? In this episode of PROSTATE CANCER: REAL TALK, El and Shay explore how geography, environment, genetics, and community conditions may all play a role in shaping cancer risk.

The discussion looks at why cancer rates can differ across populations and neighborhoods, and how factors such as pollution, food access, secondhand smoke, chronic stress, and other environmental exposures may interact with genetics and overall health.

This episode takes a broader look at the relationship between where we live and cancer, raising important questions about environmental exposure, health disparities, and why some communities may face greater risks than others.

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Experiencing frequent urination, urgency, weak or intermittent flow, or getting up several times during the night? In this episode of PROSTATE CANCER: REAL TALK, El and Shay welcome back Dr. Adam B. Murphy of Northwestern Medicine to discuss BPH, or benign prostatic hyperplasia, and how urinary symptoms can sometimes leave men wondering whether something more serious may be happening.

Dr. Murphy explains how an enlarged prostate can affect the urethra and bladder, leading to symptoms such as urgency, frequent urination, nighttime trips to the bathroom, dribbling, and different forms of urinary leakage. He also discusses how physicians evaluate how disruptive these symptoms are and why treatment decisions can vary from one man to another.

The conversation also explores common BPH treatment approaches, including medications that relax the urinary tract or shrink the prostate, along with procedures that remove or move obstructing prostate tissue using techniques such as lasers, water, steam, or other minimally invasive methods. This episode helps men better understand BPH, prostate health, and when urinary changes are worth discussing with a medical professional.

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What are the real side effects men may experience during and after prostate cancer treatment? In Part 2 of this conversation on PROSTATE CANCER: REAL TALK, El and Shay continue their discussion with Dr. Matthew Ferroni of Mercy Urology Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, focusing on how treatment can affect everyday life beyond simply treating the cancer.

Dr. Ferroni discusses the importance of understanding potential side effects before making treatment decisions and why each man's experience can be different. The conversation looks at how patients and their families can weigh the benefits of treatment against possible changes in function, recovery, and overall quality of life.

As a urologist specializing in prostate and other urologic cancers, Dr. Ferroni brings a practical perspective to conversations that patients sometimes find difficult to have. This episode encourages men to ask questions, understand their options, and have open discussions with their medical team about what life may look like during and after prostate cancer treatment.

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What should men know about metastatic prostate cancer and the tools doctors use to understand how the disease is progressing? In this episode of PROSTATE CANCER: REAL TALK, El and Shay are joined by Dr. Matthew Ferroni of Mercy Urology Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to discuss the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of advanced prostate cancer.

Dr. Ferroni explains the importance of PSA testing and discusses imaging tools such as PSMA PET scans that can help doctors better identify where prostate cancer may have spread. He also talks about how treatment decisions are made and how a multidisciplinary team can help patients understand the different options available to them.

The conversation also touches on newer technologies and approaches being used across prostate cancer care, including focal therapy and other evolving treatment strategies. Dr. Ferroni shares his perspective as a urologist specializing in prostate and other urologic cancers, helping patients and families better understand the changing landscape of prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment.

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Why are Black men disproportionately impacted by prostate cancer, and what role can clinical trials play in changing that? In Part 2 of this conversation on PROSTATE CANCER: REAL TALK, El and Shay continue their discussion with Josef Ben Levi, EdD, a scholar and prostate cancer survivor who brings both historical perspective and personal experience to the conversation.

Ben Levi discusses the importance of awareness, early detection, and greater representation of Black men in prostate cancer research. The conversation explores why some men may hesitate to participate in clinical trials, including concerns about trust, past experiences with the medical system, and uncertainty about what clinical research actually involves.

This episode examines how education, transparency, and open communication can help men make more informed decisions about clinical trial participation and their prostate health. Through his perspective as both a scholar and survivor, Ben Levi encourages a broader conversation about prostate cancer, research, trust, and the experiences of Black men.

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Why do some Black men distrust the medical system, and how can that affect decisions about prostate cancer screening and care? In this episode of PROSTATE CANCER: REAL TALK, El and Shay are joined by Josef Ben Levi, EdD, a scholar whose work explores African and African American history, culture, and philosophy. As a prostate cancer survivor, he brings both academic perspective and personal experience to a conversation about why some Black men may feel distrust or fear when dealing with the medical system.

Ben Levi discusses the historical and cultural factors that can contribute to medical mistrust among Black men, along with the hesitation some men may feel around screening, early detection, and healthcare decisions. His perspective helps connect the broader history of mistrust with the very personal reality of navigating a prostate cancer diagnosis.

This episode looks beyond the medical side of prostate cancer to examine how history, culture, trust, and lived experience can shape the way Black men approach their health. It is a conversation about understanding those concerns, encouraging awareness, and helping men feel more informed and confident when making decisions about their care.

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What should you know about Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage when facing cancer? In this episode of PROSTATE CANCER: REAL TALK, El and Shay welcome back Joanna Doran, a cancer rights attorney, author, and advocate with more than 30 years of experience helping people understand the practical and legal issues that can accompany a cancer diagnosis.

Joanna discusses important differences patients and caregivers should understand when evaluating Medicare and Medicare Advantage, including coverage, costs, access to providers, and navigating insurance decisions. She also explains why understanding your health insurance can become especially important when specialized care, ongoing appointments, and additional services are involved.

As co-founder and CEO of Triage Cancer, a national nonprofit providing free educational resources to people affected by cancer and their caregivers, Joanna helps make complicated insurance topics easier to understand. This conversation provides practical information for anyone trying to make more informed decisions about healthcare coverage and cancer care.

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How can couples rebuild intimacy after prostate cancer treatment? In Part 2 of this conversation on PROSTATE CANCER: REAL TALK, El and Shay continue their discussion with Antonio Aguilar-Diaz, PhD, exploring how changes following treatment can affect intimacy, emotional connection, and the relationship between partners.

Aguilar-Diaz discusses the challenges men may experience as physical changes collide with long-held ideas about masculinity, confidence, and identity. He also explores how fear, frustration, and silence can create distance between partners when these difficult subjects are left unspoken.

This conversation focuses on helping couples move toward honest communication, emotional closeness, understanding, and renewed connection. For couples navigating changes in intimacy after prostate cancer, this episode offers perspective on facing those challenges together rather than allowing them to create greater distance.

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Why would someone consider penile implant surgery after prostate cancer treatment? In the final installment of this 3 Part series on PROSTATE CANCER: REAL TALK, Dell and Vonn continue sharing their journey, focusing on the treatment-related changes that affected intimacy and influenced Dell’s decision to pursue a penile implant.

Dell discusses the thought process behind his decision, the concerns he had, and why he felt surgery was the right next step for him. Vonn also shares her perspective as his partner, highlighting the importance of honest communication and making decisions together when prostate cancer affects a couple’s intimate relationship.

By speaking openly about a subject many men are uncomfortable discussing, Dell and Vonn offer a real couple’s perspective on erectile dysfunction, recovery, and intimacy after prostate cancer treatment. This episode may help men and their partners better understand why someone might consider a penile implant and prepare for conversations with their medical team.

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