When Ike Brown was diagnosed with prostate cancer, he acted fast and never looked back. Thankful for his rapid and successful treatment at UT Southwestern, he’s now helping others receive better care for the most common cancer in men.

Pulling inspiration from the increased awareness of breast cancer – where the streamlined implementation of testing and early intervention have made a difference in cancer survival rates among women – a new effort to diagnose and treat prostate cancer more quickly and effectively is underway at UTSW. By bringing that same focus to prostate cancer, UTSW offers men an efficient and comprehensive approach to prostate care with this program, which is supported by the generosity of Mr. Brown and others.

According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer accounts for about 29% of cancer cases and 11% of cancer deaths in the United States annually, with risk factors increasing dramatically after age 50.

“Many people don’t know what purpose the prostate serves, only the problems it can cause,” said Claus Roehrborn, M.D., a world-renowned expert in prostate diseases and Chair of Urology at UTSW.

The prostate gland is responsible for producing an enzyme called prostate-specific antigen, or PSA. High levels of PSA may indicate the presence of prostate cancer.

“While not perfect, PSA testing is the best screening available to detect prostate cancer early,” Dr. Roehrborn said. “Since symptoms usually don’t appear until the disease is advanced, early detection is essential.”

Warning signs

An elevated PSA is what tipped off Mr. Brown and his UTSW doctors. As President and co-owner of NFI Industries, a leader in supply chain solutions, Mr. Brown knew the importance of a rapid response.

After his diagnosis, Mr. Brown and his care team decided the best course was to remove his prostate to prevent the cancer from metastasizing. The success of his minimally invasive procedure at the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center inspired Mr. Brown to give so that other men could experience the efficiency and efficacy of UTSW care.

“In many respects, you have to be your own best advocate in medicine,” Mr. Brown said. “I know way too much about prostate cancer at this point, and I wanted to make it easier for the next guy to get the best care at the best place in Texas for this type of cancer.”

For most men, navigating from the alert of an elevated PSA to the multitude of tests to an official prostate cancer diagnosis and finally a treatment plan feels unbearably long. And even then, the complexity of treatment often results in fragmented care – multiple appointments with different specialists and varying treatment plans that may not be tailored to the unique characteristics of the patient’s diagnosis.

New center benefits

Thankful for the speedy and effective treatment that cut his recovery time in half, Mr. Brown is now generously supporting the development of the new Center for Prostate Cancer Care at UTSW. The center will feature a care navigator to guide the patient and family every step of the way. Working with a multidisciplinary team of specialists, the care navigator will help to accelerate the process, beginning with innovative diagnostic tools that enable early detection and rapidly moving the patient through imaging and biomarker testing. For men diagnosed with prostate cancer, the center will provide innovative, personalized therapies.

The center will also allow patients to virtually conduct visits and schedule MRIs and biopsies, further eliminating delays and improving access to care. In a new educational video series, UTSW physicians will clearly explain the ins and outs of every step in the care journey before appointments, ensuring visits with providers can focus on the most meaningful conversations.

“The new Center for Prostate Cancer Care is intended to bring a coordinated and comprehensive array of expertise to optimize a timely evaluation and treatment plan for every patient,” said Daniel K. Podolsky, M.D., President of UT Southwestern. “With prostate care, there has been a real challenge in coordinating multidisciplinary care as may be appropriate for these patients.”

With the development of a destination prostate center, UTSW expects to treat twice the number of patients it currently serves within five years. The goal, however, remains the same: to deliver the best in evidence-based clinical care.

For more information on how you can support the Prostate Cancer Care Center, please contact Tanner Garrett.

• Dr. Podolsky holds the Philip O’Bryan Montgomery, Jr., M.D. Distinguished Presidential Chair in Academic Administration and the Charles Cameron Sprague Distinguished Chair in Biomedical Science.
• Dr. Roehrborn holds the S.T. Harris Family Chair in Medical Science, in Honor of John D. McConnell, M.D., and the E. E. Fogelson and Greer Garson Fogelson Distinguished Chair in Urology.