Today’s podcast in the “Prostate Cancer and You” series, brought to you in part by Blue Earth Diagnostics, features filmmaker Landi Maduro, the producer of The Silent Killer: Prostate Cancer in the African American Community. Continuing the conversation from her podcast appearance last year, Landi and interviewer Jordan Rich discuss the story behind making the documentary, its continued relevance, and the power of film to communicate with audiences who might otherwise avoid discussing sensitive topics.

The latest MPCC podcast features John Colbert, Creative Director of Colbert Studios and son of MPCC founder Jack Colbert. John joined the MPCC board in November, and he is bringing his expertise to the organization as plans are underway for a new look, rebranding, and refined mission for the new year. In this conversation, he discusses the goals of the rebranding, including presenting MPCC as a “prostate cancer translator” and amplifying awareness of both the disease and available resources.

Listen to the latest MPCC podcast, brought to you in part by Blue Earth Diagnostics, as Mark Franklin, prostate cancer survivor, Alain Chaglassian, MD, MPH, Blue Earth Diagnostics, and Adam Kibel, MD, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and MPCC Medical Advisory Committee,  discuss the history of imaging and provide more information on PMSA imaging for prostate cancer.

The third podcast in this series features Londi Maduro, a film maker in California. Her film The Silent Killer: Prostate Cancer in the African American Community explores the myths, fears, and concerns about the disease. It follows several men who are all battling prostate cancer, focusing on how they’re dealing with their diagnoses, what treatment they decided to pursue, and how the disease has affected their lives.

The second podcast in “Disparities, Awareness, and Access to Health Care in the African America community“ features Mark Kennedy from the Boston Public Health Commission and Dr. Jacques Carter from Beth Israel Lahey and a member of the MPCC Medical Advisory Committee as they discuss how government institutions and health care organizations can work together with patients, families and organizations like MPCC to create more favorable outcomes in prostate cancer diagnosis, treatment and longevity.

The first in a three-part series on “Disparities, Awareness, and Access to Health Care in the African American Community” features Archie Emmanuel Jr, Lamont Scott, and Brother Al from MOCHA (Men of Color Health Awareness) located in Springfield, Massachusetts. Listen to their own personal stories on the importance of prostate cancer awareness as well as the learning more about the services that MOCHA and its collaborators provide.

Thanks to Dr. Karen E. Knudsen, CEO of the American Cancer Society, for joining the MPCC podcast series, Prostate Cancer & You. In this interview. She provides an outstanding overview of ACS and the latest thinking and activities that she and her colleagues are undertaking with regard to prostate cancer.

In this sixth episode, Michael A. DiSpezio discusses Kegels (aka pelvic floor exercises) and their role in regaining urinary continence. Then, he takes a deeper dive into shared decision making, and why it is essential for all patients to be an active part of this critical process. Michael discusses the advantages of focal therapy (not appropriate for all) as he describes several ablation treatments including ultra-cold temperatures and a relatively new therapeutic option known as HIFU. Michael presents the difficulty in predicting disease progression and response to treatment. He concludes the series referencing the statistics that not only illustrate prostate cancer’s high survival rates, but also highlights the advantage to uncovering the cancer before it has spread to distant sites.

In this fifth episode, Michael A. DiSpezio discusses the quality of life and how it changed following radical prostatectomy. Michael explains the basic difference between external beam radiation and the implantation of radioactive seeds, what radiation does, and addresses the side effects associated with this type of treatment. He introduces hormone therapy and how it is sometimes used alongside of radiation treatment as a therapy for returning cancer. Michael concludes this podcast by profiling the importance of support groups and options available.

In this fourth episode, Michael A. DiSpezio addresses the first PSA test following surgery and what that means as far as the tumor’s spread. He then presents the basics of cancer in terms of cells and DNA. Then, Michael discusses the likelihood of a man getting prostate cancer and how this disease disproportionately impacts African American men. In addition, he explains why prostate illnesses are also a concern for transwomen. Next, he addresses the DRE, short for digital rectal exam. Finally, Michael concludes this segment with a critical explanation of Gleason patterns, Gleason score and the Gleason grade groups.