Coming together to treat prostate cancer

New center focuses on multidisciplinary, collaborative approach

By Faith Adams

Tim Culbert had never been sick — had never been admitted to a hospital — until he was diagnosed with prostate cancer last August. The news came as a complete surprise: Just 46 years old and otherwise in good health, he had no family history of the disease.

His journey began at his annual physical exam, when his doctor discovered that his PSA (prostate-specific antigen) levels were slightly elevated. After a regimen of antibiotics to rule out an inflammation in his prostate gland, a biopsy confirmed the diagnosis.

Culbert immediately began investigating various treatments with his wife, Heidi. Unlike most people facing such a diagnosis, the Culberts brought some medical knowledge to the task: Tim is a developmental and behavioral pediatrician, and Heidi is a nurse. Even so, they wanted to consult with specialists about the risks and benefits of all their options.

That's when Tim made an appointment with Kenneth Koeneman, M.D., a urologic surgeon who brings an additional dimension of expertise: He directs the University's new Center for Prostate Cancer and holds the Dougherty Family Chair in Uro-Oncology in addition to serving as associate professor in the Medical School's Department of Urologic Surgery.

"The first thing that amazed Heidi and me was the amount of time Dr. Koeneman spent with us," says Culbert. "He took well over an hour going over all the treatment possibilities — from surgery to radioactive seed implants and other nonsurgical options. He answered all of our questions and drew pictures while he was explaining. The session was very educational, which I appreciated because even though I'm a physician, I'm not a urologist. I'm a pediatrician. I don't know much about the prostate gland."

For those without medical training, this kind of expertise and communication is especially helpful when considering the range of treatment options. For them, the center's collaborative approach provides consultations from a team of specialists focusing on each patient's unique medical history and the progression of the disease.

Koeneman introduced the Culberts to program coordinator Karina DiLuzio, who loaned them books from the center's resource library and gave them information about diet, exercise, and stress-management techniques. After their consultation, the Culberts decided that laparoscopic robotic surgery was the right choice for them, and the procedure was scheduled.

Before surgery, program manager Allie Briley, R.N., arranged for Culbert to talk to a patient who had recently had the same procedure. "This man's issues of erectile function recovery and so on confirmed for me what I had already read," says Culbert. "But it was so helpful to hear from someone who had recently had the surgery."

The surgery took place in early October, and it went well. "A holistic approach to medicine is what I believe in and what I do for a living, and I think the Center for Prostate Cancer is going at this the right way," says Culbert. "The people there aren't just talking about it but are actually delivering on it, and I think they're doing a very good job. I was really pleased with the care I received."

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