Specialty Physicians of Illinois, LLC doctors say early detection is key
When Andrin “AJ” Jones started as a new patient with Specialty Physicians of Illinois, LLC Internal Medicine Physician Lance Wallace, MD, the board-certified doctor ordered a comprehensive panel of screening labs.
One of them was a prostate specific antigen (PSA) test, which revealed the 62-year-old Matteson man and retired U.S. Air Force veteran had an elevated level of a protein made by the prostate. Jones’ personal history of elevated PSA levels prompted Dr. Wallace to refer him to James Siegert, DO, a Specialty Physicians of Illinois, LLC board-certified urologist and urological surgeon practicing at Franciscan Health Olympia Fields.
“There’s no specific normal PSA level,” Dr. Siegert said. “It’s about trends. The higher the number, the greater the risk of cancer, and that risk also depends on the patient’s age.”
Dr. Siegert’s follow-up testing three months later revealed stage two adenocarcinoma, a type of prostate cancer. The cancer was caught early and was still contained within the prostate.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in the United States, affecting one in seven men. When caught early, it is highly curable, which is why regular testing for prostate cancer is essential to maintaining men’s health.
After meeting with both physicians and discussing various treatment options, Jones opted to have his prostate surgically removed. That procedure was successfully performed in October 2023 and he remains in good health more than a year and a half later.
Most organizations recommend that men begin prostate cancer screening around age 50 or 55 unless they fall into a higher-risk category, including African American men and men with a family history of prostate cancer, particularly those with a first-degree relative, such as a father or brother with a history of prostate cancer. Those men are urged to begin testing sooner at the direction of their doctors, Dr. Seigert said.
Dr. Wallace generally screens all male patients in his Matteson office beginning at age 40 for prostate cancer.
“Like anything, the earlier you catch it, the less treatment will be involved in treating the cancer, and the chance for success is greater,” Dr. Wallace said.
Dr. Seigert said treatment options vary based on the patient and the stage of the cancer and can include active surveillance, surgery to remove the prostate or radiation therapy.
Jones credits his faith, family and the expertise and collaborative approach of his medical team for his positive outcome.
“After my surgery, I told myself, ‘This time last year I had cancer. Today, I don’t,’” Jones said. “That perspective kept me in a strong mental place throughout my recovery.”
Grateful for the care he received from Drs. Wallace and Siegert, Jones has made it his mission to educate other men about the importance of prostate cancer screening.
“The knowledge I’ve gained is something I now share with other men and they’re thankful for it,” he said.
To learn more about prostate cancer screenings or to schedule an appointment, contact Dr. Wallace’s office at (708) 679-2770 or Dr. Seigert’s office at (708) 679-2270.
