It’s amazing to look back at the last two decades and think about my time at ZERO. Back then, we were the National Prostate Cancer Coalition. If you googled “prostate cancer,” it would ask if you meant “prostrate cancer.” The cause had just gotten hormone therapy, giving patients their first option beyond surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. I am beyond grateful and proud of the community we’ve built and the family we’ve become. We’ve shared countless special moments, but these are ten of my favorite memories over the years—and some stories to ask me about when we cross p ..read more

Warrior, Educator, and Advocate: Clarence Williamson  It has been 24 years since Clarence Williamson of Memphis, Tennessee, was stunned to hear the sobering words, “You have prostate cancer.”  Clarence was 54 years old at the time. And despite a family history of various cancers, he had no symptoms that could forewarn this shocking diagnosis. The result of a routine prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test has transformed Clarence into a resolute prostate cancer warrior, educator, and advocate across the Mississippi River Valley and beyond.  Clarence is an African American man and h ..read more

Nearly 290,000 American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2023. The vast majority will be diagnosed with clinically localized disease. Active surveillance may be right for some, with others considering curative treatment options such as surgery or radiotherapy. Recent clinical trial data have cemented stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), where high doses of radiation are delivered with high precision in generally five or fewer treatments, as a curative option for most men with localized prostate cancer. Because cure rates are so high, the major concern for patients with a new dia ..read more

In December 2017, I sat hand-in-hand with my husband, waiting to hear if I had prostate cancer. In the exam room together, we joked about how it had all been a big mistake. After all, I was a very healthy, fit 43-year-old. I don’t remember much after the doctor came in and spoke the words out loud for the first time. I was overcome with fear, anger, and confusion. As I sat there, trying to process the bombshell of my prostate cancer diagnosis, a rollercoaster of emotions hit me. I had never imagined that at this stage of my life I would be confronted with such a daunting challenge.  Leavi ..read more

Atlanta is BACK! The Atlanta Run/Walk event took place on Saturday April 15, 2023 at Chastain Park. Over one-hundred people gathered to show their support for the prostate cancer (PCa) community. This event was a testament to the resilience and determination of our participants. They are continually dedicated to raising awareness about prostate cancer and finding a cure. Premier Partner AbbVie has been by our side as the Premier National Partner for 16 years. They were thankful for the opportunity to support ZERO’s mission to eradicate prostate cancer. In fact, they are already thinking about ..read more

After being rescheduled six months ago, the long-awaited Memphis Run/Walk event finally happened on April 2, 2023 to kick off the 2023 ZERO Prostate Cancer Run/Walk season. Over seventy-five people gathered to show their support for the prostate cancer (PCa) community, and the event was a testament to the resilience and determination of those who are dedicated to raising awareness about prostate cancer and finding a cure. The host practice for the event was The Urology Group, P.C., working with leadership including Phillip O’Malley, Dr. Walter Rayford, and Trina Watson. They were thankful for ..read more

Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, Philando Castile, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd.  These familiar names are some of the Black people killed by police in the last decade that have received national attention.  As the country reflects on the most recent death of a Black person at the hands of law enforcement in Memphis, TN, Mr. Tyre Nichols, this situation feels familiar. A Black person was pulled over by police in what should have been a routine traffic stop. However, when you are Black in America, many activities that should be routine are not routine because they are so he ..read more

Rising PSA after prostatectomy is common; as many as 40% of patients may experience biochemical recurrence within 10 years. Additional evidence-based guidance is needed about whom to treat, which therapies to use, and how long to treat. The PRESTO trial is collecting data to address this vital question. Results were presented at the most recent European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress. Led by PCF-funded investigator Rahul Aggarwal, MD, of UCSF, the study enrolled 500 patients with “high-risk” biochemical recurrence after prostatectomy. This was defined as a PSA doubling time of 9 m ..read more

Vitamin D has been touted to do almost everything for you under the sun (pun intended). Yet, we know now from some of the largest prevention trials in the world ever conducted, such as the VITAL trial, that it can do some things, but it has also failed to impact many other conditions.  Still, one of the more fascinating potential findings from the VITAL trial of vitamin D versus placebo was whether individuals with a healthier weight or body mass index (BMI) are more sensitive to the benefits of vitamin D? It appears this could be the case.1  Vitamin D can get trapped in adipose tiss ..read more

If you have not heard about the injectable medication known as “semaglutide” then you will one day soon, so why not just mention it now? If you are trying to lose weight, or if you are not, this has been an incredible year for many people taking this medication. Semaglutide is simply one of the most fascinating stories of 2022 and, no, I do not work with this company, and no, this is not a stock tip, but it is an awareness tip. Semaglutide has been used to help type 2 diabetics control their blood sugar, but it also appears to cause dramatic weight loss in some individuals. How dramatic? Good ..read more