Biden’s cancer diagnosis has more men questioning their own health
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – John Tallon is a prostate cancer survivor in Southern California.
“I developed prostate cancer four years ago," said Tallon.
Until Tallon’s diagnosis, he wasn’t getting screened for prostate cancer on a regular basis.
"That’s why I had advanced case cancer," said Tallon.
As a result, he ended up in surgery.
While the procedure was successful, Tallon believes he learned about the importance of getting tested the hard way.
“I’m an example of what you shouldn’t do! I didn’t have regular test done so I did not know I had prostate cancer brewing," said Tallon.
Since the announcement of former President Biden’s diagnosis of metastatic prostate cancer this week, doctors at Dignity health and Sutter Health are seeing more men questioning their own health.
"I’m surprised to hear that a lot of people haven’t put much thought into it ... and so this gives us a good opportunity to bring it up and create an individualized plan for them," said internal medicine physician Dr. Benjamin Capper of Dignity Health Medical Group.
“A lot of patients lately coming in ever since Biden‘s diagnosis was made public a lot of people asking you know could I have prostate cancer? What do I need to do a lot of questions about it," said urologic oncologist and robotic surgeon Dr. Scott Tobis of Sutter's Central Coast Urology Department.
Doctors encourage men over age 55 to get tested for prostate cancer on a yearly basis.
"Prostate cancer does not cause symptoms in the early phases so having the appropriate screening is really important," said Tobis.
“If it starts to show aggressive behavior then we can remove the prostate before it has a chance to get outside," said Capper.
As for Tallon, he’s never been more grateful to get tested.
"I am non detectable at this time, and it’s a piece of mind that I don’t have it brewing again," said Tallon.
Capper and Tobis recommend men to check with their primary care physician about when to get screened for prostate cancer.
