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Hartford HealthCare Hosts ZERO Prostate Race
May 01, 2023
The Hartford HealthCare Tallwood Urology & Kidney Institute and ZERO Prostate once again partnered to offer the ZERO Prostate Run/Walk to raise monies for the millions of American men and their families who will battle the disease this year.
The race is always set in June, which is Men’s Health Month. This year’s event will step off on Sunday, June 4, at 9 a.m., from Dunkin Donuts Park, 1214 Main St., Hartford. Participants can run 5K or walk 1 mile. A virtual option is available.
Funds raised through the Zero Prostate race support:
- Educational programs for the public
- Free prostate screening tests
- Prostate cancer research
Tallwood providers treat more cases of prostate cancer each year than any other facility in the state. The disease, one of the most treatable when detected early, is diagnosed in almost 290,000 new patients each year.
“About 13 of every 100 men will get prostate cancer in their lifetime, and three will die from it. With Zero, the Tallwood team of urologists and men’s health specialists are focused on getting men tested regularly because that is the best way to find prostate cancer early enough for successful treatment,” said Stuart Kesler, MD, a Tallwood urologist.
Powering research
Many Tallwood providers like Dr. Kesler are involved in research projects examining new ways to more easily and quickly detect signs of prostate cancer as well as treat the disease.
“One of the things we’ve been focused on at Hartford Hospital and Tallwood over the past few years has been using MRI to help guide prostate biopsies, a technique known as fusion prostate biopsies,” he explains.
Another area of Tallwood research includes different approaches to prostate biopsies and tailoring the approach to what is likely to work best for the individual.
“We’ve been investigating such approaches academically and publishing on the techniques,” he says, noting that the change has been “quite beneficial for some patients.”
Focused on men’s health
Hosting ZERO Prostate reflects the commitment Tallwood made to the men of Connecticut three years ago when the institute opened the doors of its first Tallwood Men’s Health center doors opened in Farmington.
“Tallwood Men’s Health draws together a variety of specialists that men might need – urologists, cardiologists, behavioral health specialists, bariatric surgery and medical weight loss experts, and endocrinologists – with primary care providers in one location to make taking care of their health easier and more accessible,” Dr. Kesler notes.
The unique concept has proven so successful that not only have locations opened in Waterford and Fairfield County, but providers have connected hundreds of men who did not have one to primary care providers for preventive healthcare. In addition, during the pandemic, Dr. Kesler said Tallwood launched a virtual prostate cancer clinic that enables newly diagnosed patients to meet with the three specialists who will guide their care in virtual meetings from the comfort of their homes.
“The virtual prostate cancer clinics help us simplify the process from three visits in three locations to one two-hour session from home,” he says. “We have to adapt to make sure men receive the high-quality care they deserve to have the best chance at beating prostate cancer.”
Helping defray the costs is Zero Prostate through its annual races. The Hartford race is a family-friendly day that includes survivor and caregiver recognition and a Kids Superhero Dash for Dad. Register for the ZERO Prostate race or support runners and walkers here.