Low/Intermediate PCa Video Chat, February 23, 2026

Low/Intermediate PCa Video Chat, February 23, 2026

by | Mar 5, 2026 | Cancer Caregivers, Cancer Resources, Low/Intermediate Prostate Cancer, Recorded Groups

Low/Intermediate PCa Video Chat, February 23, 2026

Low/Intermediate PCa Video Chat, February 23, 2026

AnCan is grateful to the following sponsors for making this recording possible: Novartis, Telix, Blue Earth Diagnostics, and Foundation Medicine.

WELCOME all to our newly recorded Low/Intermediate Prostate Cancer Group. To receive notice when new recordings are posted, either follow us on this YouTube Channel or sign up to our Blog via https://ancan.org/contact-us/ – check New Blog box.

Join our other free and drop in groups:
AnCan respectfully notes that it does not accept sponsored promotion. Any drugs, protocols or devices recommended in our discussions are based solely on anecdotal peer experience or clinical evidence.
AnCan cannot and does not provide medical advice. We encourage you to discuss anything you hear in our sessions with your own medical team.
AnCan reminds all Participants that Adverse Events experienced from prescribed drugs or protocols should be reported to the pharmaceutical manufacturer or the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). To do so call 1-800-332-1066 or download interactive FDA Form 3500 https://www.fda.gov/media/76299/download
AnCan’s Prostate Cancer Forum is back (https://ancan.org/forums). If you’d like to comment on anything you see in our Recordings or read in our Reminders, just sign up and go right ahead. You can also click on the Forum icon at the top right of the webpage.
All AnCan’s groups are free and drop-in … join us in person sometime!

Editor’s Pick: Addressing the unusual: Low PSA with high-grade prostate cancer. (bj)

Topics Discussed
Importance of getting a second reading/opinion on your prostate cancer biopsy results; addressing the unusual: low PSA with high-grade prostate cancer; identifying risk factors that can push you from intermediate-risk to high risk prostate cancer; understanding how gentic testing help determine the best treatment options, espcially when family history exists; evaluating high-dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy as a primary treatment or boost to radiation; comparing transperineal and transrectal biopsies with a focus on lower risk infection and better patient experiences; determining when a patient should move from active surveillence (AS) based on rising PSA or new biospy results.

Chat

AnCan – Stuart sent a chat · 7:58 PM
Dr. Ming Zhou Mount Sinai Health System Department of Pathology, Box 1194 Annenberg Bldg. 15th FL 1468 Madison Ave New York, NY 10029 Email: Ming.zhou@mountsinai.org Telephone: (212)241-8881

AnCan – Stuart sent a chat · 7:59 PM
Dr. Jonathan Epstein – https://advanceduropathology.com/  Tel:516-760-2037    jepstein@imppllc.com

AnCan – Rick sent a chat · 8:04 PM
AnCan’s GU ASCO Poster released today   https://ancan.org/ancan-gu-asco26-survivorship-poster/

Norman Davis sent a chat · 8:13 PM
No. I’ve joined before but I havent joined in a while. I’m just listening tonight

Norman Davis sent a chat · 8:19 PM
Question is this  a call I should be on. I did have treatment 3 yrs ago

Norman Davis sent a chat · 8:20 PM
ok thanks

AnCan – Boykin sent a chat · 8:23 PM
@Norman Davis – I would stay and listen in. It doesn’t hurt and you are already here.

Norman Davis sent a chat · 8:23 PM
Gotcha. I  dont have a reoccurrence

Bill Franklin sent a chat · 8:31 PM
bfranklin@ancan.org

AnCan – Rick sent a chat · 8:49 PM
2nd Opinions for MRIs  Botimage AI for MRIs: https://botimageai.com/prostatid/ ~$250, can also be used for biopsy targeting guidance  NIH 2nd Opinion MRI (no fees): Choyke, Peter (NIH/NCI) Radiologist pchoyke@mail.nih.gov  Second opinion of MRI from Johns Hopkins Images and Reports for Providers | Johns Hopkins Radiology (hopkinsmedicine.org) Email: eradiologycenter@jhmi.edu Phone: 443-287-7378 Fax: 443-769-1210  -Accolade Radiology NY, PA https://accoladeradiology.com/mritap.html  Radiology Check (Switzerland) https://radiologycheck.com/en

AnCan – Rick sent a chat · 8:51 PM
Bx 2nd Opinions       Ep-stine! Dr. Jonathan Epstein – https://advanceduropathology.com/ Tel: 516-760-2037 jepstein@imppllc.com

AnCan – Rick sent a chat · 8:52 PM
Dr. Ming Zhou Mount Sinai Health System Department of Pathology, Box 1194 Annenberg Bldg. 15th FL 1468 Madison Ave New York, NY 10029 Email: Ming.zhou@mountsinai.org Telephone: (212)241-8881

Steve in Malaysia sent a chat · 8:58 PM
I need to head out at 10ish (5 minutes). I’ll followup with Rick and Stuart re: how to think about negotiating costs … I was quoted $100k for HDR and $180k for MR Linac.

Steve in Malaysia sent a chat · 9:01 PM
Also wanted to thank you guys (Rick, Stuart and company) on all your help on this crazy journey… could never had ended up where I did without your help 🙂

AnCan – Rick sent a chat · 9:04 PM
You need to make sure it registers with the Lead Mod.

Clyde sent a chat · 9:07 PM
Hey gang.  Gotta run.  I am graduating to the high risk group, so I will see some of you there.

AnCan – Boykin sent a chat · 9:08 PM
@clyde – Good luck. We will miss you in low/intermediate.

Bob Richards sent a chat · 9:09 PM
I would like to update the group tonight on my situation if possible

Norman Davis sent a chat · 9:21 PM
Good questions. I’ll rejoin next week. Thanks

AnCan – Boykin sent a chat · 9:23 PM
Good night Norman!

AnCan – Boykin sent a chat · 9:26 PM
Nice dog George!

David in Portland, OR sent a chat · 9:40 PM
Prostate Cancer Free Foundation Intermediate Risk graph: https://www.prostatecancerfree.org/compare-prostate-cancer-treatments-intermediate-risk/  High Risk graph: https://www.prostatecancerfree.org/compare-prostate-cancer-treatments-high-risk/

David in Portland, OR sent a chat · 9:41 PM
Prostate Cancer Free Foundation Low Risk graph: https://www.prostatecancerfree.org/compare-prostate-cancer-treatments-low-risk/

George in NC sent a chat · 10:04 PM
Thank you all and good night!  See you in 2 weeks!   Very grateful to AnCan especailly Rick and Stuart!

Larry (Alaska Vet) sent a chat · 10:05 PM
David, can you put a link to that 2024 study also, please?

Bill Franklin sent a chat · 10:05 PM
Good night George.

AnCan – Boykin sent a chat · 10:05 PM
Good night George

Steve in Malaysia sent a chat · 10:06 PM
back

David in Portland, OR sent a chat · 10:18 PM
Albert Chang & Peter Rossi brachytherapy video lecture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkfB5kkOsm4

[Waiting for name] sent a chat · 10:21 PM
Hi Leon here, trying to get back wit ya. Hit the wrong button

David in Portland, OR sent a chat · 10:22 PM
A Randomized Trial Comparing Quality of Life after Low-Dose Rate or High-Dose Rate Prostate Brachytherapy Boost with Pelvic External Beam Radiation (Crook, Juanita), 2024: https://www.redjournal.org/article/S0360-3016(24)00381-X/fulltext

David in Portland, OR sent a chat · 10:23 PM
A Randomized Comparison of High-Dose-Rate and Low-Dose Rate Prostate Brachytherapy Combined with External Beam Radiation Therapy for Unfavorable Prostate Cancer: Efficacy Results After Median Follow-Up of 74 Months (Crook, Juanita), 2025: https://www.redjournal.org/article/S0360-3016(25)00303-7/abstract

David in Portland, OR sent a chat · 10:24 PM
HDR Brachytherapy Combined with External Beam Radiotherapy for Unfavorable Localized Prostate Cancer: A Single Center Experience from Inception to Standard of Care (Crook, Juanita), 2025: https://www.brachyjournal.com/article/S1538-4721(25)00004-2/fulltext

Telehealth gets extended through 2027!

Telehealth gets extended through 2027!

by | Feb 19, 2026 | Active Surveillance PCa, Advocacy, Blood Cancers, Cancer Caregivers, Cancer Resources, Health Resources, Men's Breast Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Recent News, Thyroid Cancer, Uncategorized

Telehealth gets extended through 2027!

As some of you may know, the liberal telehealth rules to conduct medical appointments remotely that were enabled during Covid, sunsetted  late last year. AnCan was upset and vocal that many of our patient advocacy organizations active on The Hill did not campaign more widely to extend it. Organizations like ZERO (prostate cancer) have significant and expensive government relations groups precisely to address such issues on behalf of us patients. AnCan had to bring it to ZERO’s attention to move the ball at a time when ZERO’s high paid CEO was self-admittedly sleeping on the switch.

Telehealth was temporarily extended for those living in rural areas. Then one of our newly minted prostate cancer Moderators, David Sharpe, brought it to AnCan’s attention that legislation was passed on Feb 3, 2026 that has extended comprehensive telehealth through the end of 2027. We asked David to blog its welcome return to wider availability and tell his story around telehealth – thank you Mr. Sharpe!

Medicare Telehealth Coverage Is Extended

The federal government has restored Medicare coverage for telehealth until the end of 2027. That means you can now possibly consult with your doctors online rather than having to meet with them in-person.

Why did I say possibly? Because state medical licensing laws still apply. Often, they can undermine your doctor’s ability to join you on the call. Here’s why: (Don’t construe the following comments as legal or medical advice. This is general information only.)

Telehealth consultations are easiest to arrange when a patient and doctor are in the same state. For instance, if you live in Springfield, Illinois, and want to have a virtual chat with an oncologist in Chicago, no legal impediments are likely to stand in your way.

Things can get tougher if the doctor practices in another state. Physicians are typically required to be licensed in the state where the patient is physically located during the consult. Therein lies a common problem: the doctor is licensed in one state, and you’re in another.

But loopholes exist. According to the Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP), “A few states have licenses or telehealth-specific exceptions that allow an out-of-state provider to render services via telemedicine in a state where they are not located, or allow a clinician to provide services via telehealth in a state if certain conditions are met (such as agreeing that they will not open an office in that state). Still other states have laws that don’t specifically address telehealth and/or telemedicine licensing, but make allowances for practicing in contiguous states. . . .” For specifics about your state’s rules, explore CCHP’s handy state-by-state guide: https://www.cchpca.org/topic/cross-state-licensing-professional-requirements/.

Despite those exceptions, many physicians and medical centers require patients to be in the same state as the doctor during telehealth appointments. I wish I’d known that last year, before trying to set up virtual consultations from my home in Portland, Oregon, with Fred Hutch (Washington), UCSF, City of Hope (both California), and MD Anderson (Texas0—all of whom turned me down.  Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU, Oregon)) would have refused, too, if I had been in any other state.

But some physicians and hospitals were more relaxed about it. Despite remaining in Portland, I wrangled a telehealth visit with a UCLA specialist. Two AnCan buddies of mine in Oregon and Arizona did so as well. I had even better luck with out-of-state doctors in community practices. Two agreed to confer with me online, and one declined.

If you live near—but not in—the state where your doctor practices, perhaps the easiest option is to make a run for the border. One AnCan member has adopted that strategy as a convenient means of communicating with his faraway medical team in an adjacent state while also satisfying the legal requirements. To have that meeting, he travels a few miles from home to a casino just across the state line; the casino lets him conduct telehealth consultations there. That approach shaves hours off what would otherwise be a protracted road trip to talk with his doctors face-to-face.   # # #

David Sharp  davidsharp1@me.com

Low/Intermediate PCa Video Chat, February 23, 2026

Low/Intermediate PCa Video Chat, February 9, 2026

by | Feb 10, 2026 | Cancer Caregivers, Cancer Resources, Low/Intermediate Prostate Cancer, Recorded Groups

Low/Intermediate PCa Video Chat, February 9, 2026

Low/Intermediate PCa Video Chat, February 9, 2026

AnCan is grateful to the following sponsors for making this recording possible: Novartis, Telix, Blue Earth Diagnostics, and Foundation Medicine.

WELCOME all to our newly recorded Low/Intermediate Prostate Cancer Group. To receive notice when new recordings are posted, either follow us on this YouTube Channel or sign up to our Blog via https://ancan.org/contact-us/ – check New Blog box.

Join our other free and drop in groups:
AnCan respectfully notes that it does not accept sponsored promotion. Any drugs, protocols or devices recommended in our discussions are based solely on anecdotal peer experience or clinical evidence.
AnCan cannot and does not provide medical advice. We encourage you to discuss anything you hear in our sessions with your own medical team.
AnCan reminds all Participants that Adverse Events experienced from prescribed drugs or protocols should be reported to the pharmaceutical manufacturer or the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). To do so call 1-800-332-1066 or download interactive FDA Form 3500 https://www.fda.gov/media/76299/download
AnCan’s Prostate Cancer Forum is back (https://ancan.org/forums). If you’d like to comment on anything you see in our Recordings or read in our Reminders, just sign up and go right ahead. You can also click on the Forum icon at the top right of the webpage.
All AnCan’s groups are free and drop-in … join us in person sometime!

Editor’s Pick: Feeling comfortable with your medical team today avoids treatment regret in the future. (bj)

Topics Discussed
Importance of getting a second reading/opinion on your prostate cancer biopsy results; go to a center of excellence for your treatment; concerns about the validity of the PROSTOX genetic test; concerns that some medical teams recommendations are out-dated and/or not aligned with current best practices for standards of care; feeling comfortable with your medical team today avoids treatment regret in the future; understanding medicare costs for consultations and procedures, your out-of-pocket costs may not be as bad you think; rising PSA after treatment when should you worry; considering treatment options surgery, radiation, and ADT.

Chat

Stuart sent a chat · 7:50 PM
Dr. Ming Zhou Mount Sinai Health System Department of Pathology, Box 1194 Annenberg Bldg. 15th FL 1468 Madison Ave New York, NY 10029 Email: Ming.zhou@mountsinai.org Telephone: (212)241-8881

Stuart sent a chat · 7:51 PM
Dr. Jonathan Epstein – https://advanceduropathology.com/  Tel:516-760-2037    jepstein@imppllc.com

AnCan – Rick sent a chat · 8:12 PM
Dr. Ming Zhou   https://profiles.mountsinai.org/ming-… Ming.zhou@mountsinai.org  212 241-8881

AnCan – Rick sent a chat · 8:14 PM
Dr. Jonathan Epstein   Ep-stine! Dr. Jonathan Epstein – https://advanceduropathology.com/ Tel: 516-760-2037 jepstein@imppllc.com

Low/Intermediate PCa Video Chat, February 23, 2026

Low/Intermediate PCa Video Chat, January 26, 2026

by | Jan 28, 2026 | Cancer Caregivers, Cancer Resources, Low/Intermediate Prostate Cancer, Recorded Groups

Low/Intermediate PCa Video Chat, January 26, 2026

Low/Intermediate PCa Video Chat, January 26, 2026

AnCan is grateful to the following sponsors for making this recording possible: Novartis, Johnson and Johnson, Telix, Blue Earth Diagnostics, and Foundation Medicine.

WELCOME all to our newly recorded Low/Intermediate Prostate Cancer Group. To receive notice when new recordings are posted, either follow us on this YouTube Channel or sign up to our Blog via https://ancan.org/contact-us/ – check New Blog box.

Join our other free and drop in groups:
AnCan respectfully notes that it does not accept sponsored promotion. Any drugs, protocols or devices recommended in our discussions are based solely on anecdotal peer experience or clinical evidence.
AnCan cannot and does not provide medical advice. We encourage you to discuss anything you hear in our sessions with your own medical team.
AnCan reminds all Participants that Adverse Events experienced from prescribed drugs or protocols should be reported to the pharmaceutical manufacturer or the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). To do so call 1-800-332-1066 or download interactive FDA Form 3500 https://www.fda.gov/media/76299/download
AnCan’s Prostate Cancer Forum is back (https://ancan.org/forums). If you’d like to comment on anything you see in our Recordings or read in our Reminders, just sign up and go right ahead. You can also click on the Forum icon at the top right of the webpage.
All AnCan’s groups are free and drop-in … join us in person sometime!

Editor’s Pick: Dangers of high PSA going untreated. (bj)

Topics Discussed
Dangers of high PSA going untreated; strategies for getting past treatment decision anxiety and worries about side effects; getting a second opinion with VA Healthcare and accessing community care; aquablation therapy and steady PSA; cribriform concerns; health care team more important than the technology; focal therapy—understanding if you are a good candidate; research is good, but you can overdo it; using MSKCC nomogram to determine how likely you will need treatment after surgery; advantages of MR-Linac for radiation treatment; incorporating multiple comorbidities into your treatment decision; concerns with MR-Linac with urinary flow issues; Heatwave study; Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT) therapy discussion to include monotherapy and LRHR (luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone receptor); benefits of participating in trials.

Chat

AnCan – Stuart sent a chat · 8:00 PM
Dr. Ming Zhou Mount Sinai Health System Department of Pathology, Box 1194 Annenberg Bldg. 15th FL 1468 Madison Ave New York, NY 10029 Email: Ming.zhou@mountsinai.org Telephone: (212)241-8881

AnCan – Stuart sent a chat · 8:00 PM
Dr. Jonathan Epstein – https://advanceduropathology.com/  Tel:516-760-2037    jepstein@imppllc.com

Larry S – Alaska-Veteran-ADT by estradiol sent a chat · 8:40 PM
Exercise begets energy

Bill Franklin sent a chat · 8:41 PM
Stuart did it!

Larry S – Alaska-Veteran-ADT by estradiol sent a chat · 8:42 PM
Exercise also affects the chemistry n your body and has a small but real anti-cancer effect.  Plus a healthy, well exercised body is better able to withstand the rigors of treatment.

Henry sent a chat · 8:59 PM
Community care ask your primary doc to refer you

AnCan – Boykin sent a chat · 9:01 PM
AnCan Veterans Healthcare Navigation Feb 3, 2026

Veterans Healthcare Navigation

Henry sent a chat · 9:02 PM
Personally I would get away from the VA and get an outside Doctor.

Paul N. sent a chat · 9:05 PM
Sorry. Is the start time for tomorrow’s Advanced Meeting 6:00 or 6:30?

Bill Franklin sent a chat · 9:05 PM
6 p.m. Eastern Paul

Paul N. sent a chat · 9:05 PM
Thank you.

Bill Franklin sent a chat · 9:07 PM
All of the information about AnCan groups is on our Event Calendar:  https://ancan.org/events/month/

Paul N. sent a chat · 9:07 PM
Thx.

Paul N. sent a chat · 9:08 PM
I will exit this meeting now. Good night.

Bill Franklin sent a chat · 9:08 PM
Take care Paul

Larry S – Alaska-Veteran-ADT by estradiol sent a chat · 9:11 PM
Dr Robert Bruce Mongomery or Dr M. Schweizer

AnCan – Rick sent a chat · 9:13 PM
Not Schweizer – he’s a medical oncologist

AnCan – Rick sent a chat · 9:15 PM
Dr. Daniel Lin is another alternative urological oncologist at Hutch

AnCan – Rick sent a chat · 9:21 PM
MSKCC nomogram  http://nomograms.mskcc.org/Prostate/index.aspx

Larry S – Alaska-Veteran-ADT by estradiol sent a chat · 9:22 PM
to learn more about estradiol-based ADT, see the web site “estradiolinitiative.org”

AnCan – Rick sent a chat · 9:34 PM
PROTECT study re. cribriform favors RT
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/fullarticle/2840006

AnCan – Rick sent a chat · 9:37 PM
“patients with cribriform-negative prostate cancer are at low risk of long-term metastasis regardless of baseline treatment, whereas patients with cribriform-positive prostate cancer are at high risk of metastasis that is potentially reduced in those receiving radiotherapy with neoadjuvant ADT.”

AnCan – Rick sent a chat · 9:52 PM
HEATWAVE  trial https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06067269

Shirrell Roberts sent a chat · 10:01 PM
Have to drop. Y’all have a good evening!

Bill Franklin sent a chat · 10:03 PM
A cardio-oncologist, is a heart specialist who manages cardiovascular health for cancer patients, focusing on preventing and treating heart problems (cardiotoxicity) caused by cancer treatments like chemotherapy or radiation.

AnCan – Boykin sent a chat · 10:06 PM
LHRH – Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone

AnCan – Rick sent a chat · 10:24 PM
Dr. Javid Moslehi  UCSF  https://profiles.ucsf.edu/javid.moslehi

Remembering Pat Washburn

Remembering Pat Washburn

by | Jan 27, 2026 | Cancer Caregivers, Men's Breast Cancer

AnCan Suffers a Significant Loss

Remembering Pat Washburn

 

Most AnCan’rs have never participated in our Advanced Cancer Care Partners Support Group. While relieved that you’re not counted in this group, you are missing a gem. The group is chock-full of compassion and practical suggestions. One of the reasons for that was our remarkable Co-moderator, Pat Washburn, GRHS.

Pat absolutely radiated love and compassion while being none too short of gumption. That’s a polite Britishism for “piss and vinegar,” defined as ‘shrewd or spirited initiative and resourcefulness. ‘ After her dear husband, Marlyn, died in 2017, 5 months after being diagnosed with breast cancer, Pat made it her mission in life to make the world aware of Male Breast Cancer.

She took Marlyn’s car, had it decorated with his photo and Male BCa awareness icons, then took to the road. North, south, east, and west she travelled – every year. People stopped her at gas stations and restaurants; she made the local newspapers and TV stations everywhere. And always it was the same message. “Men get breast cancer, too!”

The world was her oyster, and Pat took the campaign to Europe on several occasions, including Spain and Scandinavia. Her travels were not just about awareness – she visited ‘her men’ and their care partners wherever she went. She also went out of her way to meet the AnCan’rs she’d met through our Group, most recently Alexa and Brian, on her way to Houston. See who else you can recognize below…

By and large, Pat paid for all her advocacy on her own dime. A couple of the male breast cancer organizations with whom she was affiliated did not treat her well. AnCan first met Pat when she reluctantly co-moderated our now-defunct Male Breast Cancer Support Group, disembowelled by one of those groups. Reluctant because Pat thought she’d be intruding on the men, BUT they loved her. At the time of her passing, AnCan was working with Pat and Bill Harris to reinstate the group – we still hope to in Pat’s memory (anyone interested, please reach out to me at rd@ancan.org).

 

 

Except when travelling or attending one of her Grandies’ or Great Grandies’ school or sporting events, Pat was always present to support Her Majesty, The Queen of DeNile – our Care Partner Lead Moderator, Susan Lahaie. So when she failed to show at a meeting on Aug 18, we reached out. Pat had been hospitalized after fainting on her face, diagnosed with multiple pulmonary embolisms; she looked like the Lone Ranger. During her hospital stay, those clots travelled to her brain, and Pat suffered a second, fatal stroke last week, elected hospice, and died on October 2nd.

All of us at AnCan are deeply saddened and wish her entire family much comfort. Pat’s entire family doesn’t do it justice. She was truly a matriarch with 35-40 Grandies and Great-grandies. In time, Pat’s memory will always be a warm, embracing memory to all who knew her.
Pat Washburn’s obituary can be found here.

Below is the Virtual Celebration of Life for Pat Washburn, held on November 2nd, 2025