The American Cancer Society Panel Discussion
by Ramona Maben
ALL VIDEOS, PHOTOGRAPHY AND INTERVIEWS CREATED BY RAMONA MABEN
The American Cancer Society (ACS) is one of the largest non-governmental funders of cancer research. It invests millions annually, including grants to scientists studying new ways to detect prostate cancer early. Through research and innovation, treatments are more effective and less invasive. The treatments and diagnosis help to improve:
– PSA (prostate-specific antigen) testing to better distinguish between aggressive and slow-growing cancers.
– Genomics and precision medicine — tailoring treatment to a man’s unique cancer profile.
– Understanding racial disparities — African American men are about twice as likely to die from prostate cancer as white men.
– Studying how men live long-term after treatment, including impacts on sexual health, urinary health, and mental well-being.
ACS develops and regularly updates prostate cancer screening recommendations. Their approach emphasizes informed decision-making. Overall, it is suggested that men at average risk should start discussing screening at age 50. The statistics, according to the ACS regarding Black men having and dying from prostate cancer is overwhelming. Here are a few statistical facts and figures from the ACS:
Men at the highest risk are African American men or those with a father or brother diagnosed before 65. it is recommended that these men should discuss screening at age 45.
Men at very high risk are those with multiple close relatives with prostate cancer early, should start discussing screenings at age 40.
On September 5, 2025 the American Cancer Society held a panel discussion at the prestigious Renaissance New York Harlem Hotel. With a lovely banquet staff and sound engineers, we were able to attend/eat/listen in opulence.
Presented by 10 highly educated professionals in the medical field. The presentation began with a short video about prostate cancer awareness.
“The Unspoken Truth: A Dialogue Of Prostate Cancer Among Black Men”
The panel consisted of Rev. Malcolm Byrd – pastor of Mother AME ZION Church, Dr. Lloyd Trotman – Scientist and professor, Cancer Center Deputy Director of Education, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Dr. Tavya Benjamin, MD – Chief Urology, Glen Clove Hospital, Dr. Martin Karpeh – Chief of Surgery, Huntington Hospital, Allan Houston – former NBA player and founder of FISLL, Emmett Walker – Trustee, NWH Board Member, South Shore Hospital, Errol Toulon Jr., – Sheriff of Suffolk County, and Tony Hillary -founder and CEO of Harlem Grows.
The video panel delved into such topics as: uncertainties, health risks, early detection, diet, pride, robotics, neglect of heath, genetic markers, therapy, access to health care and how they and some of their fathers had addressed the disease.
Filmed at The Hope Lodge, Jerome L. Greene Family Center in NYC, and directed by multimedia avatar and Principal, Community Health Institute for Community Health and Wellness – Northwell Health, Richard LaRochelle; the video included a panel of its own.
https://www.curetoday.com/authors/mitchell-cornet-mpp-mhsa?utm_
Rosemary Perez-Bell, MUA, Associate Director, Development of the ACS introduced the panel and facilitated the event. she also organizes the annual Prostate Cancer Walk in the Harlem community and the Bronx community as well.
Georges H. Leconte, MPA, FAB, RRT, CEO NYC Health and hospitals/Harlem. MPA– Master of Public Administration, Registered Respiratory Therapist, 30+ years of experience in hospital administration and direct patient care, Senior Associate Executive Director for Ancillary Services Division at NYC Health + Hospitals / Elmhurst. Regional Director of Respiratory Care Services, and Respiratory therapist during clinical work especially in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr. Leconte’s concentration is overseeing hospital operations (clinical, administrative, fiscal) for Harlem Hospital, managing employee wellness, maintaining quality in care delivery (“clinical excellence”) and patient experience, Expanding access to affordable and comprehensive healthcare in the Harlem community, and responding to public health challenges, including ongoing effects of COVID-19.
Q: What is your main objective on this panel?
A: I am here in reference to Prostate cancer because it affects alot of Black men in our community. In the Harlem community, we take that very seriously. I am here to educate our folks and make sure we provide the care necessary for our Black men.
George Leconte works to ensure that men, especially Black men are able to receive the necessary pre and post access to care during the various stages of prostate cancer diagnosis. In addition to all other health concerns, Mr. Leconte has pioneered programs, implemented advanced imaging technologies and automated lab systems.
Left to Right – Kara L. Watts, MD, Mitchel Cornett, MPP, MHSA, Murilo de Almeida Luz, MD,
Rashanna Lunch, MD, FAAFP, George H. Leconte, MPA, FAB, William K. Oh, MD, Richard LaRochelle, Principal, Community Health Institute for Community Health and Wellness,
Lee Richstone, MD, FACS, FRCS, Wei Phin Tan, MD, Behfar Ehdaie, MD, MPH
William K. Oh, MD, Professor of Internal Medicine (Hematology & Medical Oncology) at Yale School of Medicine. Director of Precision Medicine, Yale Cancer Center & Smilow Cancer Hospital. Service Line Medical Director for Smilow Cancer Hospital at Greenwich Hospital.
Dr. Oh’s area of expertise is precision medicine that integrates molecular and genetic testing to guide personalized treatments. Screening guidelines, especially for high-risk populations.
His concentration is Genitourinary oncology, specifically cancers of prostate, bladder, kidney, and testicular. He is working to improve prostate cancer outcomes, awareness, screening, prevention, and equitable access to care. His work spans a broad and impactful set of topics in prostate cancer. Several of his most impactful contributions has been reducing disparities in prostate cancer care and focusing on equity in screening, access, and treatment.
Q: Dr. Oh what is your main objective on this panel?
A: Bringing together constituents to combat the problem and educate. 65% of prostate cancer diagnosis are more likely Black men. Black men are two times more likely to die from PC. The key is early detection and awareness of management and treatment.
Dr. William L. OH chairs and/or serves on advisory/guidelines and editorial boards for major organizations (e.g. American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Urological Association) Mount Sinai Health.
Rashanna Denise (Wade-Lynch) Lynch, MD, FAAFP Family Medicine. Chief Medical Officer (CMO) at Ryan Health. Practices in family medicine; based at Ryan Health. Medical Degree – Medical University of the Americas.
Dr. Lynch’s area of expertise is family medicine. As a highly skilled practitioner, she is integrating care, management and behavioral health into a cohesive model of health care excellence. She also facilitates Prostate Cancer Screening Exams (DRE, Digital Rectal Exam) and Prostate Cancer Screenings.
Her concentration is working with underserved communities, redefining healthcare by developing specific patient centered innovations. She has been honored/recognized in community events related to prostate cancer awareness and has served as “Honorary Walk Marshall” at “Harlem Cares! Prostate …” event.
Q: What is your main objective on this panel?
A: To show how pivotal it is to have a relationship with a primary doctor. So they can have an informed discussion with you. Being able to speak that information with patients is pivitol. Its important that a patient come into the doctor’s office and feel comfortable speaking about this issue.
Ryan Health serves over 52,000 New Yorkers annually. As CMO, Dr. Lynch’s is working to improve the approach of centers. She is facilitating services that are geared towards a more mutualistic and humanistic relationship of doctors and supporting staff with patients inflicted with prostate cancer.
https://ryanhealth.org/press/ryan-health-appointments-rashanna-lynch-md-as-medical-officer?utm
Dr. Lee Richstone, MD, FACS, FRCS. Full Professor of Urology at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Chairman of Urology at Northwell Health Lenox Hill Hospital (Smith Institute for Urology), Director of Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital, Vice Chairman for Urology Education for Northwell Health. Director of Urology Services for Northwell’s Western Region.
Dr. Richstone’s areas of expertise include: Prostate cancer diagnosis, robotic surgery, radical prostatectomy. PSA & MRI fusion biopsy (for better detection/localization). Other urologic cancers (kidney, bladder), urologic reconstruction, BPH, adrenal surgery.
His concentration is robotic urologic surgery. He is among the first surgeons globally to perform single-port radical prostatectomy, (a prostate removal using a single small incision, often through the navel.
Dr. Richstone is working to impact medicine in combining technological innovations towards minimally invasive surgeries, providing a more rapid recovery.
Q: What is your main objective on this panel?
A: I take care of patients with Prostate cancer. I am here today because it is Prostate cancer month, prostate cancer awareness month. Prostate cancer is a particularly important topic in the Black community. Black men are more likely to get prostate cancer.
Dr. Richstone wants to do his part to help with education, treatment and getting information out to the community. He suggests exercise, a Mediterranean diet, medical check ups and work/life balance as a few factors toward living and maintaining a healthy life.
https://www.drleerichstone.com/about?utm
Behfar Ehdaie, MD, MPH, Urologic Surgeon at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in New York City. MD from Georgetown University School of Medicine. MPH (Master of Public Health) from Harvard University School of Public Health (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center).
Dr. Ehdaie areas of expertise include: minimally invasive & robotic-assisted prostatectomy (removal of prostate). Image-guided surgery and biopsies, especially using MRI guidance. Focal therapy for prostate cancer (treating only parts of the prostate harboring cancer cells) via high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), cryotherapy, and irreversible electroporation (IRE).
He is working with men with grade group 2 prostate cancer. He is actively using focal therapy via MRI-guided focused ultrasound that is safe and effective.
His work spans in personalizing treatment decisions: not rushing into treatments, carefully considering risk, patient preferences, disease aggressiveness. His ideology is in preserving quality of life — managing side effects (e.g. urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction) by using focal treatments, nerve-sparing techniques, etc. He is building/leading one of the largest active surveillance clinics, using imaging and biomarkers to monitor disease progression, helping many men with low-risk disease delay or avoid aggressive treatment.
Q: What is your main objective on this panel?
A: When a patient enters the rooms, their main concern is whether they will live or die. Where we come in, is to expand interest. Expanding interests beyond life and death. What is important to the patient and identifying and addressing sexual health, work life, family involvement and quality of life.
Dr. Ehdaie is providing cancer patients with many advanced procedures, providing a better quality of life with fewer complications.
https://grandroundsinurology.com/author/behdaie/?utm
Kara L. Watts, MD, Director, Quality Assurance and Improvement, Attending Physician, Urology, Montefiore Einstein, Associate Professor of Urology (and Radiology) at Albert Einstein College of Medicine / Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY. Medical degree from University of Connecticut School of Medicine.
Her area of concentrations include: prostate cancer detection, screening, and ablation, leading the prostate cancer screening program at Montefiore. She is working with Focal therapy / focal ablation, for localized prostate cancer and uses image-guided focal ablation modalities. Dr. Watts’ clinical practice and research revolve notably around prostate cancer and related urological areas.
Her work includes active surveillance for low-risk prostate cancer, incorporating imaging (like MRI) into monitoring and diagnosis. Dr. Watts is involved in quality improvement and performance metrics in urologic care. She has authored peer-reviewed publications, written chapters, and co-edited a textbook. She presents nationally and internationally.
Q: What is your main objective on this panel?
A: Building an educational component not just for screening. I am here because I am passionate about prostate cancer screening, diagnosis, as well as patient tailored treatment.
Dr. Watts is ensuring that doctors and institutions have the pertinent information toward informing, improving and protecting the overall integrity and quality in procedural healthcare. She is also involved in AUA Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Committee and Prostate Cancer Active Surveillance Research Initiative Advisory Committee.
Dr. Murilo de Almeida Luz, MD, Practice New York, NY (Mount Sinai Health System, Icahn School of Medicine), Medical school: Universidade Federal do Paraná, Brazil, MD, General Surgery, University of São Paulo. Surgical Oncology training at Hospital Erasto Gaertner (Brazil), Fellowship: Minimally-Invasive Surgery / Robotic Urology & Urologic Oncology at McGill University.
Dr. Luz has over 20 years of medical Urologic oncology expertise, most focusing on cancers of the genitourinary system (prostate, bladder, kidney, testis, and penile cancer).
His main concentration is varied and among clinical care, surgery, and research. He also has surgical expertise, particularly in robotics and minimally invasive urologic oncology.
His work related to prostate cancer includes: surgical treatment of prostate cancer (among other urologic malignancies) using both open and minimally invasive (robotic, etc.) approaches. He participates in clinical trials and publishing studies related to advanced prostate cancer therapies. He also contributed to consensus / guideline-type work, especially in Brazil, Latin America and developing countries.
Q: What is your main objective on this panel?
A: To communicate to the public that instead of people coming to us we can come to them. 60% of men screening we do is Black men. Close to 10,000 right now with mobile units. We can facilitate the care the best, quickest way.
Dr. Luz mobile testing facilities are a private and innovative way to reach a population that is somewhat hesitant towards screenings. These mobile units go out to targeted at-risk communities, providing discreet and one-on-one individualized screenings for prostate cancer.
https://www.doximity.com/pub/murilo-de-almeida-luz-md?utm
Wei Phin Tan, MD, MHS, Urologic Oncology, focusing on cancers of the genitourinary tract (prostate, kidney, bladder, etc.) (NYU Langone Health), NYU Langone Hospitals, New York, NY (NYU Langone Health), Clinical Assistant / Assistant Professor of Urology (NYU Langone Health), MD from Thomas Jefferson University.
Dr. Tan’s concentration is in clinical practice and treating prostate cancer, among other urologic cancers. He uses advanced diagnostic & treatment technologies, including: MRI-ultrasound fusion‐guided biopsy (especially via the trans perineal route), minimally invasive and robotic surgery for prostate cancer, focal therapies: cryoablation, high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), focal ablation of the prostate in appropriate cases.
Dr. Tan’s emphasis is in maintaining functional outcomes — preserving continence, erectile function when possible, tailoring treatment to the patient’s disease location, size, risk, and preferences.
Q: What is your main objective on this panel?
A: Focal Therapy. Essentially, we are to treat the cancer individually. The goal is to treat patients with options, find which patients will benefit which therapy. I am here because we have to address a very important problem, which is prostate cancer particularly in Black men. For reasons that we still don’t fully understand there is a big disparity both in incidences, meaning; diagnosis and mortality.
He is work includes research in prostate cancer diagnostics: improving biopsy techniques, imaging, etc. Focal therapy for prostate cancer: selecting patients, outcomes of ablation, protocols for follow-up, etc. Clinical trials and outcome research: comparing therapies, long-term results, functional outcomes versus oncologic control.
https://www.doximity.com/pub/wei-phin-tan-md?utm
These trailblazing professionals have paved the way in identifying, diagnosing, and treating men, especially Black men, with prostate cancer. This panel of medical experts are bridging the gap in alerting the public about this deadly disease and the importance of healthcare, detection, diet, and lifestyle. Men must take seriously the ways in which they are prone to certain diseases. With proper and early detection, treatment of prostate cancer can be managed toward having a quality of life.
The following lists are for the support for patients and families
Helpline (24/7, 365 days/year): ** Trained cancer information specialists provide guidance, emotional support, and connections to resources.
Practical support services: **
Decision-making tools: ACS provides plain-language resources, videos, and comparison charts to help men weigh the **benefits vs. risks** of PSA testing.
Community education: They run awareness campaigns, workshops, and partnerships with local organizations to reach men who may otherwise not get screened.
Road To Recovery – volunteer drivers help patients get to and from treatment.
Hope Lodge– free lodging near major cancer centers for patients and families.
Patient navigation – connecting patients with care teams and financial support.
Emotional & community support:
Online Cancer Survivors Network – where patients and caregivers can share experiences.
Support groups tailored to prostate cancer survivorship challenges like erectile dysfunction, incontinence, and relationships.
Educational guides: ACS produces booklets, videos, and online resources covering treatment decisions, side effect management, diet & exercise, and emotional coping strategies.
Research funding advocacy: ACS Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) lobbies Congress to increase federal funding for cancer research at the NIH and NCI.
Access to care: Advocates for policies ensuring men have affordable access to screening, treatment, and follow-up care — regardless of income or insurance status.
Health equity focus: Pushes for addressing prostate cancer disparities, especially in African American and rural populations, through targeted outreach and funding.
Survivorship legislation: Supports laws and policies that improve long-term care and workplace protections for cancer survivors.
The American Cancer Society is a research leader, educator, support provider, and advocate in the fight against prostate cancer. They don’t just fund science — they guide men through decision-making, support them during treatment, and work to ensure fair access to care.
National / 1-800 Numbers
ACS National Cancer Information Helpline (any cancer questions, assistance, referrals, etc.): 1-800-227-2345 — available 24/7.
Donation Helpline (by phone): also 1-800-227-2345, available 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central Time, 7 days/week.
New York / Local NY Contacts
American Cancer Society — Key Numbers
National Helpline (All States)
1-800-227-2345. This is the main ACS number.
Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Services
Speak with trained cancer information specialists.
Get information on cancer prevention, screening, treatment, survivorship.
Request patient support services (rides, lodging, peer support, etc.).
Emotional support and guidance for patients, survivors, caregivers.
Referrals to local programs in your area.
ACS in New York State — Direct Numbers
ACS does not run medical offices, but it does have regional centers and support hubs in NYS. Examples:
ACS Hope Lodge — New York City (Jerome L. Greene Family Center)
📍 132 West 32nd Street, New York, NY 10001
📞 212-492-8400
Free temporary housing for cancer patients and caregivers traveling for treatment. Provides community, resources, and support.
ACS Hope Club of the Capital Region (Albany area)
📍 One Penny Lane, Latham, NY 12110
📞 518-220-6960
A community center for anyone affected by cancer. Offers support groups, wellness programs, educational workshops. ACS North Region (covers parts of NYS through regional leadership)
Contact generally routed through the 1-800-227-2345 line, which then connects you locally.
💻 Online Contact
Live Chat available on cancer.org