In February, Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame center Alonzo Mourning learned he had Stage 3 prostate cancer. According to his interview with Adrian Wojnarowski at ESPN, “In late 2022, Mourning’s urologist, Dr. Maury Jayson, told him that his PSA scores were “creeping up.” A rise in PSA scores can be a warning sign of prostate cancer, so the doctor set an MRI screening on his prostate — which revealed some “shadows” in the imaging and necessitated a biopsy for Feb. 23, Mourning, said.”
According to The Cleveland Clinic, the Gleason Score is a grading system for prostate cancer. Healthcare providers use Gleason score results to set up treatment plans. Gleason scores range from 6 (low-grade cancer) to 10 (high-grade cancer). Low-grade prostate cancer grows more slowly than high-grade cancer and is less likely to spread (metastasize).
Mourning’s doctor informed him that his Gleason Score was an 8. The next course of action was a PET scan to see whether his cancer had spread. He learned his cancer was localized to the prostate capsule and had not spread.
Mourning, who has been director of player programs and development of the Miami Heat since he retired in 2008, elected to have his prostate removed in March. He is now cancer-free.
Mourning had been diligent about screenings because his father and grandfather had prostate cancer, according to Yahoo Sports. Men with a family history of prostate cancer, African American men, and Caribbean men of African descent are at higher risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer, according to the American Cancer Society.
Mourning is urging men to get tested. “Mourning told ESPN. “The only way to find out is to get their blood tested and their PSA checked. There are 3.3 million men living in the U.S. with prostate cancer, and many don’t even know it. I was one of those guys.”
We have some fantastic resources for you to learn more about prostate cancer. Check them out:
50 Questions To Ask Your Doctor if Your Family Has a History of Prostate Cancer
