With September being prostate awareness month, we're resharing our lengthy discussion with UCLA urologic oncologist and surgeon-scientist Dr. Wayne Brisbane. In our first installment, Dr. Mills tackles  the most confusing—and most important—starting point: screening. What does an “elevated PSA” actually mean, why is it controversial, and how do you avoid unnecessary panic (or unnecessary procedures) while still catching cancer early? Using a real-world “55-year-old patient journey,” they break down PSA as a prostate “thermometer,” when to repeat a test, what role MRI plays today, and how newer tools like urine biomarkers and micro-ultrasound are reshaping early detection—before the series moves on to diagnosis and treatment. (Originally aired February 17, 2026)