Blue Cure

WHY MEN STAY SILENT ABOUT PROSTATE CANCER

For some men, one of the most difficult parts of a prostate cancer diagnosis is not the diagnosis itself. It’s talking about it.

In this clip, Gregory Jacob Jr. shares why he believes silence and shame continue to surround prostate cancer, particularly when conversations turn to treatment side effects, sexual function, and masculinity.

These concerns are real. Some men experience physical, emotional, and psychological challenges during and after treatment. But as Gregory reminds us, those experiences do not define who you are as a man.

Too often, fear of judgment prevents men from:

• Asking questions or seeking support.

• Sharing their diagnosis with loved ones.

• Having honest conversations with their healthcare team.

No one should have to carry that burden alone.

Whether you are newly diagnosed, undergoing treatment, living with side effects, supporting a loved one, or simply trying to understand your risk, know that help, information, and support are available.

Let’s continue creating a culture where men can talk openly about their health without embarrassment, stigma, or shame.

If you have been putting off a checkup, avoiding a conversation with your doctor, or struggling in silence, take the first step.

Talk with someone you trust.

Schedule your checkup.

Know your numbers.

Know your family history.

And if you have questions about prostate cancer screening, ask your healthcare provider whether a conversation about PSA testing is appropriate for you.

Gregory Jacob Jr.
Prostate Cancer Survivor | Diagnosed at Age 41
Author | Men’s Health Advocate

Learn more about Gregory’s work:
https://triedandapproved.com/

Educational content only. This information is not medical advice and is not a substitute for consultation with a qualified healthcare professional.

Taking finasteride? Your doctor should know before a PSA test.

Millions of men take finasteride (Propecia) for hair loss.

What many do not realize is that finasteride can affect PSA test results.

In this clip, Alisa Berger, MD, urologist, explains that finasteride can lower PSA levels by shrinking the prostate. Because it can artificially lower PSA levels, it may affect how your results are interpreted if your doctor does not know you are taking it.

This is especially important today as more men obtain medications through telehealth services, online platforms, and mail-order programs. Your primary care physician or urologist may not automatically know every medication you are taking unless you tell them.

One important takeaway:

Do not assume your medication list is up to date.

If you are taking finasteride, or have taken it recently, make sure your healthcare team is aware before discussing PSA results or prostate cancer screening.

CTA:

At your next appointment, review your medication list with your doctor.

If you take finasteride (Propecia) for hair loss, make sure your primary care physician and urologist know about it.

Featuring
Alisa Berger, MD
Urologist

Educational only. Not medical advice.

KNOWING YOUR FAMILY HISTORY MAY LEAD TO EARLIER CONVERSATIONS AND TESTING

After Gregory Jacob Jr. was diagnosed with prostate cancer at age 41, he began calling family members to encourage them to get checked.

What he learned shocked him.

Several men in his family had been diagnosed with prostate cancer across multiple generations, but no one had shared that history with him.

In this clip, Gregory reflects on how not knowing his family history influenced the conversations he had with healthcare providers when he was younger.

Family history is not the only factor that influences prostate cancer risk, screening decisions, or testing recommendations. However, it can be an important part of the conversation. When healthcare providers understand a patient’s family history, they are better equipped to assess risk and help guide informed decisions about screening and follow-up care.

If you do not know your family history, consider asking:

• Has anyone in our family been diagnosed with prostate cancer?

• What age were they diagnosed?

• Are there other cancers in our family, including breast, ovarian, pancreatic, or colon cancer?

These conversations may feel uncomfortable, but they can provide information that helps you and your healthcare team make more informed decisions.

Know your family history.

Know your numbers.

Talk with your doctor.

Gregory Jacob Jr.
Prostate Cancer Survivor | Author | Men’s Health Advocate

Learn more about Gregory’s work:
https://triedandapproved.com/

Educational content only. This information is not medical advice and is not a substitute for consultation with a qualified healthcare professional.

IT’S NOT JUST AN OLD MAN’S DISEASE

One of the biggest misconceptions in men’s health is that prostate cancer only affects older men.

While prostate cancer is more common as men age, over the years I have met many men diagnosed in their 40s, many of whom had no symptoms at all.

That is why conversations matter.

In this clip, Bob Evans shares a message for young men about taking ownership of their health before a problem develops.

He also reminds us that testicular cancer primarily affects younger men and that becoming familiar with your body is an important part of being proactive about your health.

The goal is not to create fear.

The goal is awareness.

• Know your family history.

• Know your numbers.

• Pay attention to changes in your body.

• Ask questions.

• Establish a relationship with a primary care physician.

• Don’t assume that feeling fine means everything is fine.

Guidelines for PSA testing vary based on factors such as age, family history, race, and personal risk. The most important first step is having the conversation with your doctor and understanding what is appropriate for you.

Earlier conversations can lead to earlier awareness.

Earlier awareness can lead to earlier action.

And earlier action may provide more options if a problem is found.

Bob Evans has been living with advanced prostate cancer since 2009 and is a longtime Movember Ambassador and men’s health advocate.

Take ownership of your health.

Educational only. Not medical advice.

WHY WOMEN MATTER IN MEN’S HEALTH

Ask almost any healthcare professional, and you’ll hear a similar story: many men arrive at appointments because someone in their life encouraged them to go.

A wife. A girlfriend. A mother. A daughter. A sister. An aunt. A cousin. A friend.

In this clip, Maheetha Bharadwaj, MD discusses the important role women often play in encouraging the men they care about to schedule checkups, follow up on symptoms, ask questions, and take their health seriously.

Sometimes that encouragement may seem small. A reminder to make an appointment. A conversation about a symptom. A nudge to ask about PSA testing. But those conversations can help move a man from delaying care to taking action.

Research has shown that married men, on average, tend to live longer than unmarried men. While there are many factors that may contribute to that difference, one possible explanation is the value of having someone who encourages healthy behaviors, preventative care, and medical follow-up.

At the same time, this is not about placing responsibility for men’s health on women. As Dr. Bharadwaj explains, men must also be empowered to take ownership of their own health, learn their medical history, understand their risk factors, and participate actively in their healthcare decisions.

To the women who continue encouraging the men in your lives to get checked, ask questions, and stay engaged in their health: thank you. Your influence may matter more than you realize.

Featuring:
Maheetha Bharadwaj, MD
Urologist in Training, PGY-4

Educational only. Not medical advice.

LET’S NORMALIZE MEN’S HEALTH CONVERSATIONS

We routinely talk about heart health, eyesight, and joint pain. Yet when it comes to the prostate, sexual health, or urinary symptoms, the conversation often stops.

In this clip, Maheetha Bharadwaj, MD explains why we need to reduce the stigma surrounding these topics and treat them like any other aspect of our health.

The reality is simple: silence can delay care. Many health concerns are only addressed because someone decided to speak up, ask a question, schedule a checkup, or start a conversation with a healthcare professional.

Normalizing these topics opens the door to education, earlier evaluation, and more proactive healthcare decisions. It helps people feel comfortable seeking answers instead of suffering in silence.

These aren’t taboo topics. They are part of our health, our quality of life, and our overall well-being.

Every conversation matters. Every question matters. Sometimes the first step toward better health is simply being willing to talk about it.

Featuring:
Maheetha Bharadwaj, MD
Urologist in Training, PGY-4

If there is a health concern you’ve been putting off discussing, consider starting the conversation with a trusted healthcare professional.

Educational only. Not medical advice.

AT 41, PROSTATE CANCER WAS “OUT OF THE QUESTION”

When Gregory Jacob Jr. was referred to a urologist for an elevated PSA, he was told that prostate cancer was “probably out of the question” because of his age.

But his PSA remained elevated. After additional follow-up and a biopsy, Gregory received the news no one expected: he had prostate cancer.

His story is an important reminder that while prostate cancer is more common as men age, younger men can be diagnosed as well. Gregory was diagnosed at 41. I was diagnosed at 35.

It is also a reminder that numbers matter. PSA is not a perfect test, but it can provide important information when interpreted in the context of a man’s age, family history, symptoms, prostate size, and other clinical factors.

For Black men, these conversations are especially important. Black men are approximately 70% more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer and more than twice as likely to die from the disease compared with white men. Knowing your family history, understanding your personal risk factors, and having informed conversations with your healthcare provider can help you make informed decisions about your health.

If you have not had a routine checkup recently, consider scheduling one.

• Know your numbers.
• Know your family history.
• Ask your healthcare provider whether PSA testing is appropriate for you.
• If you have concerns about your urinary or prostate health, ask whether a referral to a urologist makes sense.

Gregory Jacob Jr.
Prostate Cancer Survivor | Author | Men’s Health Advocate

Learn more about Gregory’s work:
https://triedandapproved.com/

Educational content only. This information is not medical advice and is not a substitute for consultation with a qualified healthcare professional.

THE SYMPTOM I IGNORED FOR YEARS

At age 41, Gregory Jacob Jr. was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Looking back, he recalls noticing a change in his urinary function years earlier, but assumed it was something minor and did not seek medical attention right away.

In this clip, Gregory shares how a simple question from his doctor and encouragement from his wife led him to mention a concern he had been dismissing for years.

His story is an important reminder that persistent changes in your health deserve attention. While urinary symptoms can have many possible causes, including benign conditions such as an enlarged prostate (BPH), ongoing concerns should be discussed with a healthcare provider rather than dismissed or ignored.

For Black men, the conversation is especially important. Black men are approximately 70% more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer and more than twice as likely to die from the disease compared with white men.

Knowing your family history, understanding your personal risk factors, and talking with your doctor about screening can help you make informed decisions about your health.

If something doesn’t feel right, don’t ignore it. Schedule a checkup, discuss your concerns with your healthcare provider, and ask whether further evaluation or a referral to a urologist is appropriate.

Gregory Jacob Jr.
Prostate Cancer Survivor | Author | Men’s Health Advocate

Learn more about Gregory’s work:
https://triedandapproved.com/

Educational content only. This information is not medical advice and is not a substitute for consultation with a qualified healthcare professional.

WHY CANCER RESEARCH MATTERS TO YOU

When most people hear the words “cancer research,” they think of laboratories, data, and scientific papers.

But at its core, cancer research is about helping people live longer, healthier lives by improving our ability to identify disease earlier and guide patients toward the right care.

In this clip, Johannes Fahrmann, PhD, explains how his team at MD Anderson Cancer Center is working to develop blood-based biomarker tests.

A biomarker is a measurable biological signal that can provide information about what is happening inside the body. Researchers are studying biomarkers to help identify individuals who may be at elevated risk of cancer and to better understand how disease develops and progresses.

THE GOAL: CATCH IT EARLY

As Dr. Fahrmann explains, the best opportunity for a cure is often when cancer is identified before it has the opportunity to spread throughout the body.

Research advances don’t happen overnight. They are built through years of scientific investigation, clinical studies, and collaboration among researchers, physicians, patients, and families.

This Men’s Health Month, take an active role in your health. Don’t skip your annual checkup. Know your numbers. Ask questions. Talk with your healthcare provider about your individual risk factors and recommended screening options.

Johannes Fahrmann, PhD
Cancer Prevention Researcher | MD Anderson Cancer Center

Learn more about Dr. Fahrmann’s research:
https://faculty.mdanderson.org/profiles/johannes_fahrmann.html

Educational only. This content is not medical advice and should not replace discussions with your healthcare team.

Diagnosed at 41. Now He’s Helping Save Lives.

At age 41, Gregory Jacob Jr. was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Today, he is using his experience to educate and empower others, particularly Black men, who face a higher risk of being diagnosed with and dying from the disease.

In this clip, Gregory shares a simple but important message: know your numbers and talk with your doctor about prostate cancer screening.

Since his diagnosis, Gregory has become a passionate advocate for men’s health, speaking openly about the importance of family history, self-advocacy, and breaking the silence and stigma that often prevent men from seeking help.

His story is also a reminder that prostate cancer is not exclusively an older man’s disease. Gregory was diagnosed at 41. I was diagnosed at 35. Conversations about risk factors, family history, and screening matter.

If you have concerns, symptoms, a family history of prostate cancer, or questions about your personal risk, talk with your healthcare provider.

This is the first in a series of conversations with Gregory as he shares his prostate cancer journey, advocacy efforts, and lessons learned since his diagnosis.

Gregory Jacob Jr.
Prostate Cancer Survivor | Author | Men’s Health Advocate

Learn more about Gregory’s work:
https://triedandapproved.com/

Educational content only. This information is not medical advice and is not a substitute for consultation with a qualified healthcare professional.