Robert Taylor, MD, PhD

It seems "defeat" just isn't in John Cashen's vocabulary. A survivor in more ways than one, John has overcome not only a catastrophic natural disaster, but also fought cancer with unyielding resilience.

In 2005, as flood waters from Hurricane Katrina rose and threatened his New Orleans home, John took an axe to his attic's ceiling, climbed atop his roof and tied himself to his chimney so he wouldn't be swept away. Days later, no help had arrived, so John untied himself and swam to an overpass where he was rescued by a helicopter. He joined the rest of his family in Georgia.

Since then, John has become a proud citizen of LaGrange. A master of everything Mardi Gras, John runs a local krewe and is a natural at building parade floats from the foundation up. But when he was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2019, he summoned his fighting spirit, squared his shoulders, and faced his cancer journey head on.

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.”



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.

To live life to the fullest, men need to keep a pulse on their health stats, including their prostate numbers. Regular well checks and prostate cancer screenings with a primary care physician or urologist can identify prostate conditions—like prostate cancer—early, leading to better outcomes and higher long-term survival.

Partnering with a Wellstar doctor now means that if you are diagnosed later, you’ll have a team of prostate specialists in your court who are ready to support you faster.

For example, if you have prostate-related symptoms or an elevated prostate-specific antigen test, our Prostate Health Program offers patients access to the least invasive and most advanced testing and treatment options. Plus, patients who are diagnosed with prostate cancer will have a multidisciplinary team to provide treatment options. If needed, men can have non-invasive monitoring, minimally invasive robotic surgery or highly targeted radiation therapy at Wellstar—all of which minimize side effects compared to traditional treatments.

A better approach to prostate health

Wellstar created the Prostate Health Program to offer men a safe place to discuss sensitive health topics with less anxiety. 

One benefit of seeking care at Wellstar is that the team will minimize uncomfortable testing while giving you a best-in-class evaluation that delivers clear results. And you’ll have access to advanced genetic testing. If diagnosed with prostate cancer, patients have immediate access to a team of specialists working together to create the most personalized treatment plan.

“One great benefit of the Wellstar Prostate Program is our multidisciplinary approach to prostate care,” said Wellstar Urologist Dr. Adarsh Manjunath. “We work closely with radiation and medical oncologists to provide holistic care to our patients. The collective expertise and communication between everyone involved optimizes patient well-being.”

At the first appointment, patients meet with a urologist and a nurse navigator. Navigators help bridge the gap between office visits and medical tests. They’ll facilitate scheduling any appointments that are needed, help patients prepare and arrange any follow-up care that may be needed.