When not performing surgery or seeing patients at Penn State Health, Dr. Brian Clark uses his
time to stay fit. Three years ago while his physical appearance and stamina appeared healthy
for a man in his early 50s, a few routine screenings revealed something wasn't right.
>>One of them was to get a prostate specific antigen test which is a PSA test and that is a
screening tool for prostate cancer. So, up until that point I was otherwise asymptomatic. I was
living life and had no symptoms whatsoever. >>The test came back with an elevated reading.
>>His initial PSA test came back in the seven to eight range and PSA just for reference,
it's a protein and it's released by the prostate, so any man with a prostate will have a PSA level.
>>I was relatively young and otherwise healthy and did not expect it to be prostate cancer
but we repeated it and on the repeat test it was elevated again and at that point I
met with Dr. Raman. >>So, for a 50 year old male normal PSA is about two and a half to three. So,
Dr. Clark's value was about two to three times greater than what we would have expected. >>A
physical exam followed and then an MRI. >>The arrows and the marks show us that on the right
side of the prostate that he had multiple areas extending all the way from the base of
the prostate to the apex of the prostate. >>That was consistent with a mass in the prostate. So,
that was the day of diagnosis and I remember that day and you know we'll always remember that day.
>>It was a surprise, not just for him but would be for any of us that this could be brewing
along even when he was physically feeling well. >>Now that there was a diagnosis talk turned to
treatment. >>We talked about surveillance, we talked about a surgical approach robotic
radical prostatectomy as well as radiation therapy associated with a short course of hormones. >>The
shoe is on the other foot. I am a surgeon, I'm a heart surgeon for babies, I'm a pediatric cardiac
surgeon and I operate all the time and have for decades. >>Dr. Clark chose a similar path,
he opted for surgery. >>That was the treatment that was the most likely to be associated with
a cure and a long life following the treatment. Then one surgeon handed the tools and trust
over to his colleague. >>I cheat a little bit further away from the prostate leaving a little
bit of tissue on the prostate as an insulation per se to make sure that we achieve a negative margin
meaning no cancer that's that's penetrating through these tissues. >>The same day after
surgery in the evening i was up and walking with my wife walking the halls of the hospital which is
good for your recovery. So, I went home the next day on a Saturday and then you know the remainder
of that week we walked outside. >>Six weeks later, his PSA levels dropped to an undetectable level
and now three years after his diagnosis he and his urologist are encouraging other men
to keep up with their regular screenings. >>This is really one of those great examples of why
screening is so critical for this disease. >>I had a silent prostate cancer that didn't just crop up
it had been there for a long time and if i waited another year or two or three then it would have
continued to progress and I may not have had the same great result that i have had if I had waited.