A NTSP physician and local resource center team up to fight prostate cancer
By Raquel Daisy
FORT WORTH, Texas (November 30, 2011) – More than 240,000 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in 2011 and about 1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime1 . NTSP physician Dr. Frank (Trey) Moore III, in conjunction with the Prostate Cancer Resource Center at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth, is doing his part to spread awareness about prostate cancer and the free cancer resources available to men.
Since the 4th or 5th grade, Moore knew he was going to have a career in medicine. He grew up in a family of health care providers: his dad was a dentist and his great uncles were physicians. His interest in medicine was reinforced in high school when he had the opportunity to do rotations at a local hospital.
After high school, Moore completed his undergraduate degree at Texas Christian University, medical studies at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA), and his residency in Kansas City, Missouri. In 1996, Moore returned to Fort Worth and joined Fort Worth Urology Clinic which later merged with Urology Associates of North Texas (UANT), a specialty urology group that provides medical and surgical care for all diseases of the urinary tract in men, women, and children2 .
“I enjoyed the urology rotation at UTHSCSA and truly felt I could help people in that field,” said Moore. “When the opportunity arose to return to the Dallas/Fort Worth area and work with such a great group of urologists, I didn’t hesitate to make the move. I saw the things the group was doing to increase awareness about prostate cancer and knew it would be the right fit for me.”
At UANT, Moore and his colleagues realize prostate cancer awareness and early detection are two ways men can be proactive about caring for their health. The group offers free prostate screenings at Cowtown Cruisin’ for a Cure, an annual car show in Fort Worth. UANT is also actively involved in raising funds for the Great Prostate Cancer Challenge3 , a 5K run/walk benefiting prostate cancer research, education, and free testing.
A call for physicians to offer free screenings during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month is how Moore became involved with the prostate cancer programs at Texas Health Fort Worth. In January 2003, Texas Health Fort Worth opened the Prostate Cancer Resource Center and they needed a physician on board who understood the needs of prostate cancer patients.
“Dr. Moore has a real heart for the community and for getting the word out about prostate cancer,” said Gayle Wilkins, Clinical Education Specialist at the Prostate Cancer Resource Center. “He believes an educated patient does better with their treatment because they understand what’s happening. The best thing men can do is be educated about prostate cancer and know what resources are available to them.”
Wilkins has been with the Prostate Cancer Resource Center since its opening and has a long history of working with prostate cancer patients. She is available at the center full-time; providing information and the right resources to visitors. Moore and Wilkins worked together to increase awareness about the center’s programs and services by offering free prostate screenings at churches and other community events. Moore also worked closely with his colleagues at UANT to help spread awareness about this important community resource.
The Prostate Cancer Resource Center is located at Texas Health Fort Worth and provides free resources to the residents of Tarrant and surrounding counties, including:
- One-on-one counseling for newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients
- A series of classes called Steps to Surviving Prostate Cancer
- A support group that meets on Tuesdays and is staffed by prostate cancer survivors, and
- A library full of literature, books, and other materials about cancer and prostate cancer
The North Texas Prostate Cancer Coalition4 (NTXPCC) was formed as a result of the programs offered at the Prostate Cancer Resource Center. The center’s services and resources are free to the public.
Moore works with patients through the different stages of treatment. He finds satisfaction helping educate patients about their options. “I enjoy seeing patients all the way through treatment,” said Moore. “You really get to know a person. The best thing about my job is seeing a patient’s anxiety melt away as they begin to learn about their options.”
Dr. Moore offers the following advice to men to help them take control of their health: “Speak with your physician about prostate cancer early. Begin prostate cancer screenings once a year beginning at age 40 if you have a family history of the disease or are African American. Begin prostate screenings at age 50 if you don’t have a history of the disease in your family.”
In addition to his work with the Prostate Cancer Resource Center, Moore serves as Chief of Staff at Texas Health Fort Worth and is an associate physician for TCU athletics. In his free time, Moore enjoys traveling, camping, working out, spending time with his family, and watching TCU sports.
Moore specializes in urology and has been a member of NTSP since 1996. He has been a practicing physician in the Dallas/Fort Worth area for 15 years. To learn more about the Prostate Cancer Resource Center at Texas Health Fort Worth, visit www.texashealth.org. To learn more about NTSP, visit www.ntsp.com.