PROSTATE CANCER: REAL TALK™

How can faith help someone face the fear, uncertainty, and emotional weight of prostate cancer? In this episode of PROSTATE CANCER: REAL TALK, El and Shay are joined by Pastor Ron Woods, a minister, counselor, and prostate cancer survivor, to discuss the role faith can play when facing one of life’s most difficult challenges.

Pastor Ron shares perspective from his own prostate cancer journey and reflects on how prayer, spiritual strength, and trust in God helped him navigate a critical period in his life. Drawing from decades of ministry, teaching, and counseling, he discusses how faith can provide direction, resilience, and a sense of hope during moments of uncertainty.

This conversation looks beyond the medical side of prostate cancer and focuses on the emotional and spiritual journey that can come with a diagnosis. Pastor Ron encourages others facing difficult circumstances to remain grounded in their faith and to continue moving forward even through life’s darkest valleys.

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What side effects should men understand when considering focal therapy for prostate cancer? In Part 2 of this conversation on PROSTATE CANCER: REAL TALK, El and Shay continue their discussion with Dr. Alexander Kenigsberg, Director of Urologic Oncology at VCU Health’s Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, focusing on the potential side effects and quality-of-life considerations surrounding focal therapy.

Dr. Kenigsberg discusses what men should know before treatment, how focal therapy may affect urinary and sexual function, and why outcomes can vary depending on the location and extent of the cancer being treated. The conversation also looks at recovery, follow-up care, and the importance of continued monitoring after focal therapy.

As prostate cancer treatment becomes increasingly personalized, the goal is not only to control the cancer but also to preserve function and quality of life whenever possible. This episode helps men and their families better understand the tradeoffs, expectations, and questions to consider when deciding whether focal therapy may be right for them.

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Could focal therapy be an option for certain men diagnosed with prostate cancer? In this episode of PROSTATE CANCER: REAL TALK, El and Shay are joined by Dr. Alexander Kenigsberg, Director of Urologic Oncology at VCU Health’s Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, to discuss focal therapy and how advances in imaging are changing the way some prostate cancers can be identified and treated.

Dr. Kenigsberg explains the role of improved imaging in focal therapy, the evidence supporting this approach, and how physicians determine which patients may be appropriate candidates. The conversation also explores how focal therapy differs from more traditional approaches and why careful patient selection and continued monitoring are important parts of the process.

As prostate cancer care continues to evolve, there is growing attention on treating the cancer while also preserving function and quality of life whenever possible. Dr. Kenigsberg shares how this focus is influencing modern prostate cancer care and what men should understand when discussing focal therapy and other treatment options with their medical team.

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How could upcoming hospital closings and Medicaid changes affect access to healthcare? In this episode of PROSTATE CANCER: REAL TALK, El and Shay welcome back Joanna Doran, Esq., a cancer rights attorney, author, and advocate with more than 30 years of experience helping people understand the practical and legal issues surrounding healthcare and cancer.

Joanna discusses changes expected in 2027 and what they could mean for individuals and families who rely on hospitals, Medicaid, and other healthcare resources. The conversation focuses on understanding coverage, access to care, and why changes within the healthcare system can have a significant impact on people already navigating serious health concerns.

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 break down complicated healthcare issues into information people can better understand. This episode offers important perspective on preparing for changes in healthcare access and knowing what questions to ask when evaluating your options.

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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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