PHEN Survivor Network Member Profile - Brian Jones
Brian Jones
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
In May 2023, Brian Jones decided to join the PHEN Survivor Network after attending an American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) conference in Orlando, Florida. There, he spoke with an advocate who provided Brian with more information about PHEN and its Survivor Network.
Brian was first diagnosed with prostate cancer in November 2015 at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) hospital when his doctors discovered a malignant biopsy result. He then underwent a radical prostatectomy at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. Today, Brian is doing well and has lost 75 pounds due to diet and exercise along with encouragement from his family.
Brian has been part of several prostate cancer networks. However, he joined PHEN to be “part of an organization that speaks to issues that are predominantly black,” explained Brian. He wanted to serve his community and the issues that mattered to him.
In his local community, Brian wants to encourage PSA screening and early prostate cancer detection. He wants to help African American men including increasing their participation in clinical trials. Ever since undergoing prostate cancer treatment, Brian has had a passion for helping men and their families.
He enjoys being a mentor to men diagnosed with prostate cancer and looking for new treatments as well as ways to handle the anxiety and depression of their diagnoses. Brian discussed how “rewarding it is to support men going on their own journeys.”
His desire to encourage people undergoing prostate cancer therapies makes him an excellent PHEN Survivor Network member. PHEN is happy to welcome Brian to its Survivor Network!