Prostate Cancer and You

Today’s “Prostate Cancer and You” podcast features Joshua Kraft, head of Kraft Family Philanthropies and former CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston. In this conversation with host Jordan Rich, Kraft discusses his experience with prostate cancer, sharing his journey from a PSA test to a Gleason score of 7. Kraft emphasizes the importance of early detection and treatment, as well as the significance of regular check-ups and the need for community awareness, particularly among men of color. He also discusses his family’s philanthropic legacy and his ongoing commitment to community service, including his role with the New England Patriots Foundation. Josh Kraft serves as president of the New England Patriots Foundation, where he oversees philanthropic support of education, health, social justice, diversity, and youth development. Josh has spent the majority of his career working in communities in and around Boston, starting with the Boys & Girls Club in Chelsea, which he founded in 1993 and went on to serve as executive director for 15 years.

In this second of a two-part podcast episode, Dr. Todd Cohen discusses the role of PSMA PET imaging in prostate cancer active surveillance, highlighting its potential to replace invasive biopsies. Cohen emphasizes the importance of communication and family involvement in active surveillance protocols. Advanced imaging technologies are evolving, offering hope for less invasive and more effective cancer management. Dr. Todd Cohen earned his MD from the University of Rochester and completed a Urology residency at the Cleveland Clinic, followed by a fellowship at Duke. He founded Piedmont Urology in Charlotte, NC, and co-founded Carolina Urology Partners, serving as CEO for nine years. He held leadership roles at Myriad Genetics and currently serves as VP of Medical Affairs at Blue Earth Diagnostics.

Today’s “Prostate Cancer and You” podcast features Dr. Jean Joseph, chairman of the department of urology at the University of Rochester Medical Center and keynote at the May 2025 MPCC Symposium. In this conversation with host Jordan Rich, Dr. Joseph furthers his keynote topics, discussing the history, benefits, and future development of robotic surgery for prostate cancer. The technology, initially developed for cardiac surgery, is less invasive than traditional surgery and has significantly reduced complications and side effects, allowing for a quicker recovery. Jean V. Joseph, MD, is W.W. Scott Professor and chairman of the department of urology at the University of Rochester Medical Center. He specializes in robotic surgery for urologic diseases, particularly prostate cancer. His research interests include surgical innovation, applications of novel robotic technology, and patient outcomes. Dr. Joseph completed a master class in laparoscopic prostatectomy at the Institute Mutualiste Montsouris (Paris, France) and holds a master’s in business administration from the Rochester Institute of Technology.

In this first of a two-part podcast episode, Dr. Phillip Davis and Dr. Dan Stevens follow up on the symposium topic of “New Treatments for Prostate Cancer.” In Part I, Dr. Philip Davis explains molecular imaging, which uses a low dose of radioactive medicine to detect cancer and other diseases early, as well as providing doctors with both anatomic and functional information on the cancer cells. Dr. Dan Stevens details radioligy and therapy, which uses radioactive isotopes to target cancer cells more precisely than traditional radiation therapy. Both technologies offer improved treatment options, enhancing patient outcomes.

Today’s podcast in the “Prostate Cancer and You” series features Dr. Fay Shtern, the president of AdMeTech Foundation. In this conversation, Dr. Shtern and host Jordan Rich discuss the AdMeTech Foundation’s Prostate Cancer Equity Program and how men in and out of Massachusetts can participate. For more information on AdMeTech Foundation and its Prostate Cancer Equity program, visit www.admetech.org.

Today’s podcast in the “Prostate Cancer and You” series, brought to you in part by Blue Earth Diagnostics, features Dr. David Yang, attending physician in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Dr. Todd Cohen, Blue Earth Diagnostics vice-president of medical affairs. This conversation further explores the topics presented in the MPCC symposium session “AI Approaches for Research and Treatment.”

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.

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 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.

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 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.

In this second episode, Michael presents the basics of decision making as it pertains to critical choices he faced, including selecting the type of prostate biopsy. He explains what is communicated in a biopsy pathology report. In addition, Michael introduces us to a radical prostatectomy using a robotic-assisted procedure, along with the reported advantages of high-volume surgeons. He concludes this segment addressing bone scans, and their use in uncovering the spread of prostate cancer.

Mark the 2022 Prostate Cancer Awareness Month with Dr. Michael Lutz, president of the MIU Men’s Health Foundation, and prostate cancer survivor and former Navy pilot, Craig Reiner, as they discuss the current state of diagnosis and treatment as well as the many changes that have taken place in understanding this disease since Prostate Cancer Awareness month was first established in 1999 and designated as National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in 2003. Go here for “Flying High.” This podcast is brought to you in part by BlueEarth Diagnostics. Click here to learn more about the Massachusetts Prostate Cancer Coalition.