There’s no question that David Moffett is a tough guy.

Having served as a Marine and law enforcement officer, he’s been a pillar of strength, both for his family and within the greater community. But after conquering prostate cancer with the help of Wellstar, David has found a new calling: supporting other men going through the same difficult diagnosis.

Since his recovery, David’s been on a mission to break barriers in men’s health. He has started a prostate cancer support group to teach a new meaning of “strength” and help men feel empowered to take charge of their health.

“Being a husband, father and grandfather, people have always looked to me as a leader. I am used to being the protector and being strong,” David said.

“Through my experience with prostate cancer, I’ve learned a man’s greatest strength is vulnerability. You don’t have to be Superman — being yourself and becoming your best advocate are enough,” he said.

With expert care and support from Wellstar, David redefined his role as a protector and learned to prioritize his own well-being too. Now, he’s spreading the message for other men to do the same.

Early detection is key

Unlike a lot of men, David never misses his annual wellness exam. Working as an Operations Coordinator at Wellstar, he knows the important role preventative care plays in overall wellness.

During his routine check-up with Wellstar Family Medicine Physician Dr. Thomas Gearhard in 2019, David’s prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level was taken.

With just a simple blood draw, a PSA test can reveal the presence of prostate cancer or other health conditions, such as an enlarged prostate. When David’s test results revealed an elevated PSA level, Dr. Gearhard referred him to a urologist right away.

There, a nodule was discovered in David’s prostate. Following a biopsy, he was diagnosed with Stage II prostate cancer.

“Finding out that I had prostate cancer was devastating,” he said.

But David didn’t have to go through the battle alone. It wasn’t long before he found a trusted health partner in Wellstar Urologist Dr. Paymon Nourparvar. The pair formed a lasting bond as they both worked together to fight prostate cancer.

“Dr. Nourparvar was a blessing. He became like family to me,” David shared. “There was no question he wouldn’t answer, and no question we couldn’t ask. He made me feel like I could open up and talk about the journey I was on.”

Having an open dialogue with patients is a key part of Dr. Nourparvar’s care philosophy. Because he knows not one person is exactly alike, he always takes a personalized approach with every patient.

“There are a wide variety of treatments for people with prostate cancer, and there’s not a one-size-fits-all approach to it,” Dr. Nourparvar explained. “I treat all my patients how I would like my family to be treated. I tailor all of my recommendations and treatments through that lens.”

Based on David’s age, physical health and lifestyle, Dr. Nourparvar felt surgery was the right path forward to treat prostate cancer. However, Dr. Nourparvar wanted to arm him with a breadth of knowledge to make the right choice for his body.

That’s why Dr. Nourparvar encouraged him to get a second opinion with a radiation oncologist — so David could know all the facts before committing to a care plan.

After hearing both treatment plans, David felt empowered to make an informed decision to treat the prostate cancer.

“Dr. Nourparvar was very transparent and made sure he had all the information to choose the right treatment path for me,” David shared. “Then, when my wife and I made the decision that surgery was our best option, I felt like I could make the right choice for my situation.”