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many men with prostate cancer, the diagnosis is part of their genetic history. In other words, it just runs in the family. Studies have found that having a father or brother who’s had prostate cancer more than doubles a man’s risk of developing this disease. Unfortunately, Alan Davis is no exception. “My father died from prostate cancer in 1992 when I was 49,” says the Plano resident. “Shortly afer that, I started getting annual prostate exams and prostate-specifc antigen (PSA) tests. People like my father didn’t have those tests. By the time he felt really bad and found out he had cancer, it was too far gone.” But regular testing did pay of for Davis years later. “When my PSA showed up really high, we did the biopsy and it came out positive for cancer,” says the 68-year-old. “I was feeling good at the time and had no health problems that I was aware of, but you don’t always see or feel signs of prostate cancer.”

Men’sHealthTune-Up

Men, you tune-up your car. Why not do the same for your health? Don’t miss the 2011 Men’s Health Event, Saturday, Sept. 10, from 10 a.m. to noon in the Hitt Auditorium of Methodist Dallas Medical Center. Hear from physicians on a variety of topics, including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and digestive health, prostate health and advances in treating erectile dysfunction, weight management, and sleep issues.

A free prostate health screening will be available for all men who qualify by age or risk of prostate cancer.

It’s all free. All you need to do is sign up. Call 214-947-0000

or visit www.MethodistHealthSystem.org/TuneUp to RSVP or for details.

Robotic surgery wins against prostate cancer

Choosing the right course

Knowing the disease was in his family was one thing. Knowing that he now had it was quite another.

“It took a long time to face that I had cancer,” Davis earnestly. “My wife and I considered lots of options. I w between surgery and radiation for several weeks.” For Davis, surgery was the right choice.

“If you do radiation, it has to get it all, and it feels lik no fallback — nothing else to go to,” Davis explains. “I like to have a fallback plan. With surgery, I felt like I co follow up with radiation if needed.

“We found a lot about da Vinci ® robotic surgery on t Internet. Our research said if you’re going to have surg robotic was less invasive and healed faster to let you ge to where you were as quickly as possible. So we started around for experienced doctors.”

In his research, David read about R. Carrington Mas an independently practicing urologist on the medical s Methodist Dallas Medical Center, featured among the Docs in Dallas” in D Magazine.

“Dr. Mason was experienced in the da Vinci procedu equally important was that he was a prostate cancer su himself and could empathize with me, could understan I was and where I was going,” Davis says. “We liked his his directness and candidness. I really liked the service professionalism of Dr. Mason and Michael White, his p assistant. Tey were understanding and compassionate Dr. Mason says the da Vinci Surgical System is ideal delicate urologic surgery, including prostatectomy. “Te target cancer site is not only tightly confned b surrounded by nerves afecting urinary control and sex function,” Dr. Mason says. “Robotic technology gives u tool to spare surrounding nerves, which results in imp cancer control and a faster return to potency and conti

Back in the swing of things

Davis had da Vinci prostate surgery in January at Meth Dallas and remembers the good feeling when Dr. Maso him the edges of the prostate were clean and, three wee later, that his PSA test came out clean as well. Five wee surgery, Davis could hit golf balls, return to his daily w go back to the gym.

Da Vinci hits a holein

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Methodist Health System • ❁ Fall 2011