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Article Category: PeopleCare

GregCare

Cancer survivor shares story to advocate for prostate screening

Published on September 22, 2023

Last updated 11:01 AM September 22, 2023

Greg Rodgers with his wife ringing the cancer bell

Picture a big swath of land out in West Georgia. It’s a little wild and a little cultivated, but it’s well cared for thanks to the Rodgers.

“My wife and I are blessed to live on this land,” Greg Rodgers said. “God instructs us to be good stewards of the land and we are dedicated to doing just that. We’re always mowing, planting and tending to fallen trees.”

Photo collage of Greg Rodgers on a tractor and his land

Much like their acreage, Greg sees his body as something that deserves to be maintained with care. And he’s an advocate that other men do the same. Seeing a doctor regularly and getting screened can help identify conditions earlier so they’re more treatable. Greg learned that from his personal experience with prostate cancer, and the team at Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center who helped him overcome it.

“It’s not so much my story as the story of the professionals at Wellstar—they’re tremendous people,” he said.

The right tests for an accurate diagnosis

Prostate health is not something to ignore. Greg understands this now after a routine PSA test—a simple blood test—came back abnormal in 2020. When PSA levels are checked regularly and rise over time, they can be a sign of prostate cancer.

Because of his elevated PSA, Greg began monitoring his prostate health and eventually, connected with Wellstar Urologist Dr. Richard Jadick in LaGrange. Dr. Jadick performed a UroNav fusion biopsy to investigate his climbing PSA. During the procedure, an MRI helps accurately target the biopsy location. This biopsy has a low false negative rate, meaning the results are more trustworthy than in the past. Greg’s results came back positive for prostate cancer.

Pursuing personalized, expert care

Because every case of prostate cancer is different, there are a range of options for treating it, from active surveillance (monitoring with imaging) to advanced treatments like robotic surgery and targeted radiation therapy that have fewer side effects than traditional treatments. 

Greg and Dr. Jadick discussed several options, but before Greg made any decisions, Dr. Jadick recommended he see Dr. Robert Taylor, a Wellstar radiation oncologist. 

Greg remembers having reservations about radiation therapy. But once he arrived for the appointment, he felt immediately at ease. “Dr. Taylor is a quiet, confident person with a kind smile,” he said. “He was really good at explaining everything, going through studies and the different procedures. He’s so methodical, so good at answering questions and so patient.”

The option they settled on was a high dose of targeted radiation aimed at the prostate during a shorter treatment course (20 days versus 44). A newer technology called SpaceOAR Hydrogel would separate the rectum from the prostate during treatment, preventing unnecessary radiation exposure—and side effects.

“When it comes to choosing the right treatment, everything is a balance between the risk level and a variety of other personal factors,” Dr. Taylor said. “We want to provide treatment that is the least disruptive and most effective.”

To be sure this was the best plan for Greg, Dr. Taylor requested a second opinion from Mayo Clinic. Wellstar experts have a direct connection to Mayo Clinic specialists through its Mayo Clinic Care Network membership. Wellstar physicians and patients can access eConsults—virtual second opinions—at no additional cost to patients.

Some additional imaging was recommended, which validated Dr. Taylor’s treatment plan. Greg moved forward with his cancer treatment with pure confidence.

They never treated me like a number—rather like I was the only person around. The availability of having such a tremendous facility as the Wellstar Enoch Callaway Cancer Center right here in LaGrange, Georgia was such a blessing. I want people to know that while there are fine facilities elsewhere, I believe this center is among the best.

- Greg Rodgers

Prostate Cancer Survivor

Customized care for a full schedule

Because Greg is heavily involved in his family’s steel fabrication business, he had a shorter radiation course. He began at 8:30 each morning, got to work quickly and never had to miss a day of work.

“With a team of experts completely focused on Greg, we were able to customize care because we understood his situation intimately,” Dr. Taylor said.

Greg said he felt the utmost kindness from all the team members throughout his treatment and that “they never treated me like a number—rather like I was the only person around. The availability of having such a tremendous facility as the Wellstar Enoch Callaway Cancer Center right here in LaGrange, Georgia was such a blessing,” he continued. “I want people to know that while there are fine facilities elsewhere, I believe this center is among the best.”

Honoring his care team

There’s a tradition for patients who complete radiation therapy to ring a bell. When it was Greg’s turn for this memorable moment, he showed up with an armful of roses.

“If you look at the rose, the beauty of the flower distracts you from the thorns on the stem,” Greg told his care team as he handed each a flower. “Your treatment, care, professionalism and kindness served to distract me from the reason for why I was here.”

Greg hopes roses will always remind his Wellstar team of how empathetic, supportive and important they are.

After handing out the flowers, Greg rang the bell. No more prostate cancer.

Photo collage of Greg Rodgers with nurses and family
Pictured on left: Greg presents a rose to Mekissa Strickland, a radiation oncology medical assistant. Middle picture: Sarah Hersey, nurse navigator; Deidre and Greg Rodgers; Kathy Derry, RN, radiation therapy nurse; and Tonya McWaters, clinical administrative assistant, radiation therapy. Pictured on right: Greg hugs Holly Stanelle, radiation therapist.

Advocating for prostate cancer screening

Along with tending the land and working in the family business, Greg has one more role now: advocating for prostate health. He wants men to know that treating prostate cancer is an “easier fix” when it’s found early. That’s why men should meet with their doctor for regular check-ups and PSA blood tests.

“Prostate cancer is a wide spectrum of disease, and sometimes treatment is the best thing to do,” Dr. Taylor said. “The goal is to get screened, assess the risk level and have a conversation with your doctor.”

Take charge of your health with a team of prostate specialists near you.

Tags

West Georgia Medical Center Richard Harris Jadick Robert B Taylor Jr
Urology - 1555 Doctors Drive PeopleCare Cancer Care Mens Health
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Provider taking patient's blood pressure

Highlights

Hey Man, Make Health Your Habit

If you’re a sports fan, you probably know your stats.

Like how NBA Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins remains undefeated in Atlanta Hawks history for points (23,292) and ranks second in team history in steals (1,245). But there are a few, even more important numbers you should know off the top of your head: your health stats.

Do you know your blood pressure? What about your low-density lipoproteins? Maybe you can clock an eight-minute mile or bench press 250 pounds, but do you know your hemoglobin A1C?

Men are less likely than women to see their healthcare team once a year. Wellstar Primary Care Physician Dr. Tameka Byrd said it’s crucial men stay up to date on preventative care and essential screenings.

“Yearly physicals can catch illnesses before they start and prevent health issues from getting worse,” Dr. Byrd said. “Your primary care provider will tailor a screening plan depending on your age, health history and other factors so you can proactive with your wellness.”

Getting and staying healthy doesn’t just help us feel better—it ensures we can be there for those we care about too.

“It’s also for loved ones—spouses, partners, children and parents. We’re not only here for us. We’re here for our friends and family,” said Wellstar Urologist Dr. Scott Miller. “The best thing you can do for those you care for is to take care of yourself.”

Stats all men should know to stay in the game include:

Body mass index (BMI)

BMI determines whether you have a healthy body weight and categorizes obesity levels. A recommended BMI range is between 18.5 to 25.

Low-density (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol

This blood test measures cholesterol levels and should be part of your wellness routine starting in your 20s. For men 20 or older, healthy LDL levels should be under 100 milligrams per deciliter and aim to keep your HDL above 40.

Blood pressure

Your clinician will take your blood pressure during your regular visit, but you can also find blood pressure checking stations at many pharmacies or buy your own device to use at home. Blood pressure under 120/80 is considered ideal.

Hemoglobin A1C 

This metric measures whether or not you have healthy blood sugar. If you are diabetic, you should check your A1C every three months.

Prostate-specific antigen test (PSA)

Men who are 50 or older should discuss prostate cancer testing with their clinician, according to the American Cancer Society. Men at a higher risk, including Black men and those who had a brother or father diagnosed with cancer before age 65, should ask their care team about testing at age 45. Patients who had more than one close relative with prostate cancer at an early age should have this conversation with their clinician when they’re 40. The Wellstar Prostate Health Program evaluates and treats people with a higher risk for prostate conditions. 

An abnormal PSA result could be an indication of prostate cancer. For men in their 40s and 50s, a PSA score higher than 2.5 nanograms per milliliter is considered abnormal, and men in their 60s should have a PSA score of 4.0 nanograms per milliliter or less.

Along with staying up to date on those health stats, men should also be getting regular colorectal cancer screenings. The American Cancer Society recommends that people at average risk for colorectal cancer screening get checked regularly beginning at age 45. Screenings should continue through age 75, and after that patients can discuss their personal risk and history with their clinician.

Your Wellstar primary care team will partner with you in creating a personalized health plan. Find a provider near you and book online or locate an Augusta area provider.

Keep reading
An artistic representation of stroke experts inspecting a brain with a magnifying glass.

Highlights

Stroke prevention and the future of stroke care

This article was originally published on Atlanta Business Chronicle on May 19, 2023.

Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States. The Georgia Department of Public Health reports the state had the 12th highest stroke death rate in the country. Georgia is also part of the “stroke belt,” an area of the southeastern United States with stroke death rates 30% higher than the rest of the nation.

As the leading — but preventable — cause of disability, stroke can happen at any age.

Stroke is a medical emergency, meaning the blood flow to an area of the brain is cut off, depriving brain tissue of oxygen and nutrients. When this happens, brain cells start to die and abilities controlled by that area of the brain, such as speech or muscle control, are lost.

New drugs and new advanced treatments — such as the Tigertriever and Artemis — are helping reduce the death and disability impact of stroke, as well as comprehensive care programs and innovative hospital partnerships that expand stroke services into rural areas.

Physicians from Wellstar Health System and the CEO of a hospital in northeast Georgia joined Atlanta Business Chronicle to discuss stroke prevention and the future of stroke care.

Panelists & moderator

  • Dr. Rishi Gupta, Endovascular Neurologist and Co-Medical Director of Neuro Care
  • Dr. Ashis Tayal, Vascular Neurologist, Wellstar, Director of Neuro Care Network
  • Van Loskoski, CEO, Stephens County Hospital
  • David Rubinger, Market President & Publisher, Atlanta Business Chronicle; Moderator

Pictured: headshots of the panel of experts from Wellstar Health System and the CEO from a rural Georgia hospital discussing advances in stroke care.

What is stroke, screening and secondary prevention

David Rubinger: Dr. Tayal, set the stage for us about the definition of stroke.

Dr. Ashis Tayal: A stroke is a sudden injury of the brain due to blockage or rupture of an artery in the brain. Injuries to the brain and disability can vary significantly.

The most common, ischemic stroke injury, is due to obstruction of an artery that causes a loss of blood flow to a critical part of the brain which damages the brain rapidly.

The other type of stroke is hemorrhagic stroke, where there’s a rupture of an artery, bleeding into the brain, or the surfaces of the brain, and that is called an intracerebral hemorrhage or a subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Rubinger: I think Americans have become a little better educated as to who’s at risk for stroke, but why don’t you walk us through that. Who would be a potential stroke candidate?

Tayal: High blood pressure, or hypertension, is the most common risk factor for both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. High blood pressure is an extremely common but controllable condition. Almost 80% of people have hypertension as they’re getting older.

Other risk factors include diabetes associated with elevated blood sugars causing accelerated blockage of arteries and high cholesterol, which can be related to diet and genetics.

Atrial fibrillation, a common heart arrhythmia that occurs as people get older, also places people at risk for the most severe and disabling types of strokes. And plaque buildup in specific arteries of the neck and brain also leads to an increased risk of stroke.

Smoking is another risk factor. Many adults still smoke despite a lot of progress in stroke treatment, and smoking puts people at risk for different types of stroke.

Rubinger: What about atmospheric things like stress and other areas like that? How does that play into it? Or do those things manifest themselves because of the other underlying physical conditions?

Tayal: I don’t view stress, in and of itself, as a risk factor for stroke. I think that’s more related to people’s environments and their own personalities and how they respond to stress. I do think people who are under undue stress can have poor lifestyle habits, and those poor lifestyle habits, whether poor eating habits, smoking, weight gain or lack of exercise, can lead to conditions that increase the risk for stroke.

Rubinger: So how is the healthcare system doing treating strokes? Do you believe that what’s going on at the primary care provider’s office is helping or do we have a way to go?

Tayal: In the United States, preventive care has improved the treatment of risk factors that lead to stroke, but communities must maintain routine checkups as many of the risk factors are silent.

There are improved treatments for hypertension, more aggressive treatment for diabetes, and more efforts at smoking cessation. Just the fact that we treat hypertension better than we did a generation ago has had a great impact on lowering the prevalence of stroke.

That being said, some of the most exciting work on stroke has often been done in the area of acute treatment of stroke with clot-busting drugs, catheter-based treatments and medications to protect the brain during an acute injury.

Rubinger: Has pharmacology gotten better in terms of the hypertension medicines that are out there? Have anti-cholesterol medicines improved in recent years?

Tayal: In the past, healthcare providers were often undertreating people with hyperlipidemia — high cholesterol — and not fully appreciating the benefits of significant reductions in cholesterol levels. For example, we’ve learned that driving cholesterol down into much lower ranges under 55 mg/dL can benefit our patients who have vascular disease as a cause for their stroke.

In the fight against high cholesterol, newer medications that prevent the absorption of cholesterol are now available. Recent developments have led to the discovery of a new underutilized class of drugs called PCSK-9 inhibitors that are highly effective.

Keep reading
Dr. Nasarachi Onyeuku, a radiation oncologist at Wellstar, standing with one of the two TrueBeam linear accelerators in use for cancer care at Wellstar Cobb Cancer Center

Newsroom

Wellstar Cobb Cancer Center Expands Treatment Services

New radiation technology and refreshed waiting and treatment areas are expanding world-class cancer treatment at Wellstar Cobb Cancer Center.

Cancer care in forward motion

Wellstar Cobb Cancer Center recently installed its second TrueBeam linear accelerator, which treats various cancers, including brain, head and neck, prostate, breast, lung, skin and gastrointestinal tumors. With the linear accelerator, clinicians can adjust the size and shape of beams to a tumor’s shape and spare healthy tissue.

With the second linear accelerator, Wellstar Cobb can offer patients more flexible and convenient scheduling. “An additional linear accelerator can lead to timely treatment starts and shorter wait times,” said Dr. Nasarachi Onyeuku, a radiation oncologist at Wellstar. “It expands our ability to treat more patients with cutting-edge care, continuing our commitment to bringing world-class cancer treatment closer to home.”

In addition to state-of-the-art external beam radiotherapy, TrueBeam delivers precise, high-dose stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) targeting tumors in the body. It also provides stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for brain or spine cancer treatment. Patients will typically receive one to five treatments.

Patient-centered care at Wellstar Cobb

Wellstar Cobb Cancer Center recently renovated its treatment areas, front desk and waiting room, making it more welcoming and comforting for patients and their families. Within the treatment areas, the suite where patients receive high-dose radiation brachytherapy, a targeted treatment that involves placing radioactive material directly into tumors or near them, also underwent renovations.

“The beautifully designed space enhances patient comfort, offering a calm, supportive environment,” Dr. Onyeuku said. “We’re currently treating breast, cervical, uterine and skin cancers, with plans to expand to other cancer types. It’s advanced, efficient care—delivered close to home and with compassion.”

Early detection and support services

Cancer care begins with prevention and early detection. Wellstar Cobb is home to a lung cancer STAT Clinic, where specialists collaborate to diagnose and begin treatment within as little as 14 days. According to research by the Cleveland Clinic, patients can spend up to eight weeks on average visiting different specialists before starting a treatment plan. Earlier treatment can lead to the best possible outcomes.

Patients at Wellstar Cobb receive support at every stage of their treatment. These services include:

  • Emotional support from a social worker
  • Lymphedema therapy for patients with excess fluid and swelling
  • Meal planning with a dietitian
  • Monthly support group
  • Pain management
  • Physical therapy
  • Transportation assistance

“We have a superb team and state-of-the-art treatment here at Wellstar Cobb Cancer Center. And we’re backed by the resources of a nationally recognized health system,” Dr. Onyeuku said. “We are thrilled that our technology enhancements allow us to serve more people with exceptional cancer treatment.”

Learn more about cancer care in Cobb.

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