Prostate cancer survivor: 'Get screened for your family'

Joe Calcutt, 53, could have been included among the cancer survivors' portraits at the North Carolina Cancer Hospital. He has always believed in preventative care, including prostate cancer screening.

“Every time I would go to a physician (to) have cholesterol, lab work drawn, I'd say, 'Pull a PSA,’” he said.

Last year, his doctor noticed his prostate specific antigen, or PSA, number was rising. An elevated number in the blood may be a sign of prostate cancer, so Calcutt had a biopsy, which confirmed he had a small tumor.

“Unfortunately, we don't know how to prevent this disease yet. In the absence of being able to prevent it, the best we can do is early detection,” said UNC Urologic Surgeon Dr. Raj Pruthi.

Black men and others with a family history of prostate cancer should begin screening by age 40. All men should begin PSA and digital rectal exam screening by age 50.

Early detection gave Calcutt more treatment options. He chose surgery to remove the prostate gland with robotic surgery, rather than the standard open surgery.

“Providing our patients a less invasive approach, allowing them to recover more quickly,” Pruthi said.

“You spend one night in the hospital, you go on. You go home,” Calcutt said.

No radiation or chemotherapy is necessary.

“You don't have to get screened for yourself, but you need to get screened for your family. So I can tell you, this is not as bad a deal as you think,” Calcutt said.