Matteson man who survived prostate cancer spreading the word about early detection
Andrin 'AJ' Jones got some scary news when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, but his experience has pushed him to try to make a difference in other men's lives now that he's a survivor.
Jones, a 62-year-old retired Air Force veteran, counts himself lucky that his cancer was caught early enough that it had not spread, so that surgically removing his prostate in 2023 left him healthy. So he wants to spread that good fortune to others by spreading his story about how early testing leads to better outcomes.
'My prognosis was excellent because the biopsy showed the cancer was still contained within the walls of my prostate,' said Jones, who lives in Matteson with his wife, also an Air Force veteran. 'Because of early detection, it had not yet metastasized, the risk level was low to intermediate. I was so thankful for that.'
His journey with prostate cancer started in May 2022, when Dr. Lance Wallace, his internist at Specialty Physicians of Illinois, LLC, ordered a full panel of screening labs, including a prostate specific antigen test. That test revealed he had an elevated level of that antigen in his blood.
After Wallace saw the test result, he waited a few months to recheck the labs, but they were higher. So he referred Andrin to Dr. James Siegert, a urologist and urological surgeon, also with Specialty Physicians of Illinois, LLC, and practicing with Franciscan Health Olympia Fields, who redid the labs to watch for a trend in elevations.
He did the biopsy several months later and found Stage 2 adenocarcinoma.
'Of course I was alarmed at the diagnosis, but at the same time, it was a good reality check to encourage men to not ignore any symptoms,' said Andrin.
Andrin said he was given a choice of radiation or surgery and opted for the latter.
Siegert said prostate cancer screening was generally recommended for 50- to 60-year-old men at average risk, but for those at increased risk, such as African-American men or those with a family history, the age recommendation drops to 40 to 45. The screening is not usually recommended for men 70 or older.
'Prostate cancer screening is important because it can help detect cancer early, when it's most treatable and potentially curable,' Siegert said. 'Early detection through a PSA blood test may allow patients to avoid more serious complications down the line and preserve their quality of life.'
Wallace, Jones' primary care physician, also encouraged early screening.
'Like anything, the earlier you catch it, the less treatment will be involved in treating the cancer, and the chance for success is greater,' Wallace said.
Jones said there were a few things that helped him get through the experience, including building a strong relationship with both physicians.
'I'm a person of faith, I trusted God with the situation,' he said. 'I started going for walks in the morning to mentally process things that were going on.
'Along with my wife, family, and church family, that helped me have a good mental perspective,' he said.
No matter how difficult the ordeal was he often reminds himself, 'I had cancer — today I don't.'
'Being honest and open with other men about prostate screening' has provided a source of strength for Jones, he said. He still does that on regular walks with his comrades.
He also teaches classes on the Bible and is an avid hiker and biker.
Siegert said he was struck by Jones' resilience.
'Of the hundreds of men I diagnose and treat for prostate cancer per year, Mr. Jones was unique as throughout his treatment, he maintained a remarkably positive attitude, approaching each step with resilience and hope,' said Siegert. 'Inspired by his experience, he has become a passionate advocate for prostate cancer awareness and early screening, particularly within the African-American and veteran communities, using his voice to encourage others to take charge of their health.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Boston Globe
an hour ago
- Boston Globe
How a purge at one obscure panel could disrupt US vaccinations
On Monday, Kennedy, long a vaccine skeptic, Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up On the social platform X, he promised not to replace the panel's experts with 'ideological anti-vaxxers.' On Wednesday, Kennedy Advertisement For years, Kennedy has argued that American children receive too many shots and has falsely claimed that vaccines are not tested in placebo-controlled studies. Critics fear he is now setting the stage for a rollback of federal recommendations. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services, testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, May 14, 2025. HAIYUN JIANG/NYT 'I'm very, very worried about young children in this country,' said Dr. Helen Chu, professor of medicine at the University of Washington and one of the committee members who was fired. If the panel's new members 'don't believe in vaccines, then I think it puts us in a very dangerous place.' Advertisement Richard Hughes IV, who teaches vaccine law at George Washington University, predicted that the new committee would move to pare back the childhood vaccination schedule 'relatively quickly.' The Department of Health and Human Services did not respond to a request for comment. 'All of these individuals are committed to evidence-based medicine, gold-standard science, and common sense,' Kennedy said in a message on X. 'They have each committed to demanding definitive safety and efficacy data before making any new vaccine recommendations.' He also acknowledged that the panel would 'review safety and efficacy data for the current schedule as well.' The upheaval arrives as measles infections approach the highest level in decades; whooping cough has risen significantly, too, compared with this time last year. Steep cuts to global immunization programs also make it more likely that infectious diseases, such as polio, may reach American shores. Alarmed, members of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform have asked Kennedy to provide all communications and documents related to the dismissal of the committee and a 'detailed description of the rationale for removing each individual' by June 24, according to a letter obtained by The New York Times. The American Medical Association called for an immediate reversal of the purge and resolved to 'identify and evaluate' alternative sources of advice on vaccines. It is unclear whether Kennedy will appoint more members -- there is no required minimum -- before the next scheduled meeting at the end of June. And no one can say whether or how the decisions of the reshaped panel may diverge from current recommendations. Advertisement But any softening of federal recommendations regarding vaccination would ripple through the nation in unpredictable ways. Access to the shots eventually may depend on where you live, which insurance policy you hold and which doctor you see, experts said. 'That obviously is going to decrease the number of people who are protected with these vaccines,' said Dr. Mysheika Roberts, the health commissioner of Columbus, Ohio. 'I am concerned about what that means about herd immunity, what that means about outbreaks and infections.' Under the Affordable Care Act, insurance companies are required to cover the cost of any vaccine recommended by the ACIP. Losing that endorsement means that some insurance companies may choose not to pay for immunizations. Nor could those shots be offered for free through the Vaccines for Children program. The measles vaccine can cost up to $250 and the four-dose polio series up to $340. 'You'd essentially have a two-tier system where people who have cash at hand can purchase their own vaccines if they're not recommended, and those who don't have the money may have to go without,' said Dr. Yvonne Maldonado, a pediatrician at Stanford University and one of the fired panelists. The panel could take a more measured approach, perhaps advising that a doctor's sign-off should be required for some immunizations. The vaccines program would still cover it, but reimbursement from private insurers would be more difficult to enforce, Hughes said. The Vaccines for Children program was created after a measles epidemic from 1989 to 1991 led to tens of thousands of cases and hundreds of deaths. More than half of the infected children were unvaccinated even though many had seen a doctor, because they could not afford the shots, according to the CDC. Advertisement Cutting back on free access to immunizations 'is not a strategy to even think about -- only vaccinating potentially the half of the population that has health insurance,' Chu said. If measles continues to resurge, for example, even vaccinated people will be at risk, she said. Vaccinations are not profitable for clinics, and reduced demand could mean that fewer places bother to offer the shots. 'In places where you know there's a large anti-vax sentiment, there may not be financial incentive, or any incentive, to keep those vaccines in stock,' she said. ACIP makes recommendations for immunizations. But the authority to mandate them rests with the states. Even if the federal government walked away from some recommendations, most, if not all, states are likely to maintain the current mandates for school-age children, said Claire Hannan, executive director of the Association of Immunization Managers, which represents state and local officials. 'Even where legislators are chipping away at requirements and mandates, there's a commitment to protect children,' she said. Still, she added, 'our members are very confused.' Now some scientists are considering establishing alternatives to federal guidance on vaccines. 'The new ACIP cannot be trusted to oversee unbiased and scientifically sound vaccine policy development,' said Michael Osterholm, a public health researcher at the University of Minnesota. He and other experts have formed a new group, called the Vaccine Integrity Project, to offer science-based advice on immunization. Members of the ACIP are usually vetted thoroughly. It took more than four months for Roberts, who was set to join the panel in July, to be accepted, and several more weeks to fill out at least 50 forms, including disclosures of conflict of interest. The committee's members typically rotate in staggered four-year terms to ensure some continuity and institutional memory. Advertisement Mina Zadeh, a CDC scientist, has been named to oversee the committee, but the rest of her team has not been set up. Staff members who lead the committee's work groups may meet with her 'starting early next week,' according to a recording of an internal meeting obtained by the Times. But the panel's next meeting is scheduled to begin June 25. Dr. Adam Ratner, a pediatric infectious diseases physician and expert on vaccine policy, said he worried the new members could not be prepared on such short notice and without the help of previous members or CDC personnel. 'This raises the question of whether the goal here is for ACIP to be able to do its job,' he added. 'Kennedy has accused the prior committee members of conflicts of interest and for rubber-stamping things, but I think that's exactly what we're looking at with this group.' This article originally appeared in .
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
PolTREG Establishes U.S. Subsidiary Immuthera to Advance International Development Strategy
PolTREG Establishes U.S. Subsidiary Immuthera to Advance International Development Strategy PolTREG established Immuthera ( in Delaware to expand its presence in the U.S. market. A Pre-IND application was submitted to the FDA. The Paediatric Committee (PDCO) of the European Medicines Agency issued a positive opinion on PolTREG's Pediatric Investigation Plan (PIP) for PTG-007 in pre-symptomatic type 1 diabetes (Stage 1). Gdańsk, Poland – 13 JUNE 2025 – PolTREG S.A. (Warsaw Stock Exchange: PTG), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing cellular therapies for a range of autoimmune diseases, announces that it has established a wholly owned subsidiary, Immuthera, a United States C Corporation, in the state of Delaware. This is a further step by PolTREG to deepen its entry into the U.S. market. 'Over recent years, PolTREG has created a platform for the development of multiple cellular therapies: polyclonal Tregs, CAR-TREGs, mulit-eidited/allogeneic CAR-Tregs, antigen-specific Tregs, and mRNA immunotherapies, all informed by our clinical experience. To fully leverage our potential, we are focusing on the execution our growth strategy in the American market by systematically bringing existing therapies, and exploring new assets into the US. We have established partnerships with several renowned entities such as Noble Capital Markets, Inc., for strategic and financial advisory services. We have also formed a strategic cooperation with the Swiss company Antion Biosciences to develop the next generation of allogeneic TREG therapies' said Prof. Piotr Trzonkowski, CEO of PolTREG. 'This expands PolTREG's project pipeline and enhances the company's attractiveness to potential strategic partners. Additionally, we with the U.S. company Kinexum Services LLC for strategic advisory regarding Immuthera's interactions with the FDA and the registration of TREG therapies in the United States. We submitted our Pre-IND meeting request to the FDA in mid-May,' added Prof. Piotr Trzonkowski. PolTREG is currently in discussions with leading American academic and clinical centers to establish collaborations and evaluate new technologies Immuthera has also begun the process of building a world-class Scientific Advisory Board comprised of globally recognized leaders in the Autoimmune and Neuroinflammatory disease. In support of PolTREG and the launch of Immuthera, Dr. Dan Shelly, Chief Business Development Officer, and Dr. Mariusz Jablonski, Chief Business Officer, will participate in the upcoming BIO International Convention 2025, taking place from June 16–19 in Boston. At BIO Drs. Shelly and Jablonski will be promoting PolTREG's current clinical and developmental pipeline while also speaking to potential partners, collaborators, and investors for Immuthera. In May, the Paediatric Committee (PDCO) of the European Medicines Agency issued a positive opinion on the Pediatric Investigation Plan (PIP) for PolTREG's investigational somatic cell therapy product, polyclonal Treg lymphocytes (PTG-007), which is aimed to prevent symptomatic type 1 diabetes in children. The PDCO's positive opinion is based on PolTREG's original preTreg clinical trial protocol, initiated in October 2024, enrolling children aged 6–16 years with Stage 1 type 1 diabetes. In its assessment, the committee recommended broadening the eligible population to include patients aged 3–18 years suggesting that the agency believes this therapy is extremely safe. This positive opinion paves the way for potential marketing authorization in the EU. To read more about the clinical trials PolTREG has completed, please click on: PolTREG manufactures its Treg therapeutics at its own GMP-certified manufacturing facility. It is the first company in the world to have administered Treg therapies to patients, and, under a hospital exemption valid in Poland, the first company to start receiving revenues from a Treg therapeutic for autoimmune disease. Its GMP manufacturing facility is one of Europe's largest and most advanced, boasting over 2,100 sqm of laboratory space, including 15 production lines. PolTREG has the option to substantially expand the facility to accommodate manufacturing of next-generation engineered therapies and cell therapies. It can ship its wide range of cellular therapy products across Europe within 24 hours. About PolTREG PolTREG is a global leader in developing autoimmune therapies based on T-regulatory cells (Tregs). Its lead product, PTG-007, autologous Treg treatment for early-onset Type-1 Diabetes (T1D) is ready for Phase 2/3 clinical testing, for which the company is seeking a partnership. PolTREG has established a robust platform encompassing a wide range of cell therapy approaches, including polyclonal TREG, CAR-TREG, allogeneic TREG, antigen-specific TREG, and TCR-TREG therapies. About Immuthera Immuthera is pioneering novel cell-based therapies for clinical development in the United States and Canada. Immuthera will be clinically developing assets initially developed by PolTREG under the US FDA regulatory framework. Immuthera will have full access to PolTREG's Research and Development capabilities along with the ability to explore novel modalities developed by US Institutions. Immuthera is currently seeking investment to pursue the manufacture and clinical development of these assets in the United States. For more information please visit For further information please contact:PolTREG Piotr TrzonkowskiChief Executive Officerir@ 512 532 401 Important information The contents of this announcement include statements that are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements". These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the words "believes", "estimates," "anticipates", "expects", "intends", "may", "will", "plans", "continue", "ongoing", "potential", "predict", "project", "target", "seek" or "should", and include statements the Company makes concerning the intended results of its strategy. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. The company's actual results may differ materially from those predicted by the forward-looking statements. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law.
The Hill
2 hours ago
- The Hill
Kennedy is on an anti-vaxx mission to reshape federal guidelines
On Monday, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. wrote in the Wall Street Journal that 'Vaccines have become a divisive issue in American politics,' and 'The U.S. faces a crisis of public trust.' 'Whether toward health agencies, pharmaceutical companies or vaccines themselves, public confidence is waning,' Kennedy warned. What was his solution? He abruptly fired all 17 members of the Centers for Disease Control's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the committee that has assured vaccine safety in the U.S. without political interference since 1964. Predictably, he is now repopulating the panel with like-minded individuals who will probably make recommendations that diverge from the mainstream medical and public health community and align with his longstanding anti-vaccine vision. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices typically includes infectious disease, immunology, medical and public health experts who develop recommendations on the use of vaccines in children and adults. These members adhere to strict conflict of interest guidelines, and the meetings are open to the public. The panel reviews data related to both new and established vaccines using a detailed, evidence-based methodology in making recommendations. This process ensures that decisions are based on data and facts and are free of political or financial interests. Kennedy's move marks a landmark victory for the modern and evolving anti-vaccine movement, which now has a front seat in the Trump administration. Today's anti-vaccine movement began percolating in 1998 with a faulty scientific report linking the measles vaccine to autism. Despite the retraction of the report and numerous scientific studies showing no support for the vaccine-autism link, this notion has gained traction and now permeates American politics, undermining basic pediatric healthcare. Over the past five years, largely due to the politics surrounding COVID-19, anti-vaccine sentiment has combusted. It is staggering to reflect on its recently growing scope. With thousands of weekly deaths and mass societal disruption from COVID-19, our nation clamored for a vaccine as a pathway to normalization. The Trump administration launched Operation Warp Speed in May 2020, with an initial investment of $18 billion to develop solutions. The nation breathed a sigh of relief when COVID-19 vaccines became available in December 2020, as our pathway out of the pandemic was before us. These feelings were reminiscent of the jubilation following Jonas Salk's development of the polio vaccine 70 years ago, which put an end to a paralytic illness that affected about 16,000 children each year in the U.S. Although some politicians may overlook this fact, both Republican and Democratic leaders lined up to promote and extol the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccination when it became available. Our nation was politically unified over the first half of the year after the vaccines became available, and we watched death rates fall. However, in April 2021, shortly after the Biden administration actively promoted COVID-19 vaccines, many Republican governors backed off from their promotion. Instead, several supported the notion that it was better to get immunity by infection rather than vaccination. Some also endorsed the practice of contracting COVID-19, followed by the use of monoclonal antibodies, rather than getting vaccinated, a strategy that was significantly more expensive and riskier. With fewer Republicans taking the vaccine, by the summer of 2021, the most significant risk factor for death from COVID-19 was not necessarily age or underlying medical condition, but whether you were a Republican or Democrat, leading to the notion of 'Red COVID.' This was 'the moment the anti-vaccine movement had been waiting for,' as it hitched itself to Republican politicians, leading to a significant spillover effect onto other vaccines. Anti-vaccine politicians, including Kennedy, received millions of dollars in campaign contributions, making routine childhood vaccinations a political issue rather than a health issue. We are now in a situation where the politicization of COVID-19 vaccines and the false attack on other vaccines now dominate news, leaving the public confused and healthcare providers frustrated. Mixed messaging from the Department of Health and Human Services, along with the tepid federal response to the measles outbreak currently affecting several states, reveals an inconsistent approach that does little to reassure citizens. Sadly, this messaging occurs when parents are questioning vaccinating their children more than ever before, and vaccination rates are declining. Now he says the justification for firing the vaccine panel's members is a lack of public confidence in federal vaccine guidance. Thus, we are in a situation where the fabricated narrative of anti-vaccine proponents with loud political bullhorns is being used to destroy a foundational scientific group that has kept us safe from vaccine-preventable diseases for decades. If new federal recommendations are implemented, it will prompt the medical and public health communities to issue their own guidelines, which may not be the same. Two weeks ago, following Kennedy's recommendation that healthy children and pregnant women should not receive the COVID-19 vaccine, this scenario played out as the CDC and prominent medical organizations issued differing guidance. This contributes to public uncertainty and will hurt children and their families, as growing numbers of unvaccinated children will needlessly be harmed, hospitalized or die from vaccine-preventable illnesses. However, that is not all that the medical and public health communities need to fear. We now regularly see the Trump administration retaliate against those who do not align with the administration's policies in law firms, universities or state governments. We can also anticipate that funding will fall for longstanding federal vaccination programs, and the Department of Health and Human Services will remove certain vaccines from mandatory insurance payment, limiting their uptake. Thus, a growing number of children will be harmed, hospitalized, and die from vaccine-preventable illnesses. As the medical community lines up to condemn the recent firings and begins to release vaccine recommendations in opposition to Health and Human Services, it needs to prepare itself to answer the question: What happens when we, and the way we practice medicine, become the next target of the Trump administration? Scott Rivkees, MD, is a pediatrician and professor of practice at Brown University. He is the former state surgeon general and secretary of Health of Florida.
