The UAB Department of Urology, in collaboration with the Mike Slive Foundation, provided free PSA blood testing to more than 65 men during the Auburn University Men’s Basketball “AUTLIVE” cancer game vs. The University of Tennessee on Jan. 25. Their efforts were broadcast during ESPN’s coverage of the game, bringing widespread awareness to the significance of PSA blood testing as a screening tool for prostate cancer.
“Partnership with the Mike Slive Foundation and Bruce Pearl’s AUTLIVE campaign has been great," said Soroush Rais-Bahrami, M.D., MBA, FACS, professor in the Department of Urology. "It has been an amazing opportunity to not only offer free prostate cancer screening tests, but also share broadly the importance of prostate cancer awareness and screening efforts with the help of Auburn Basketball, the Southeastern Conference, and ESPN."
Auburn University Men’s Basketball coach Bruce Pearl started AUTLIVE (then called OUTLIVE) in 2009 when he was coaching at the University of Tennessee in recognition of Chris Lofton, a former Tennessee basketball player who beat testicular cancer. In its 11th year, AUTLIVE emphasizes the significance of early detection and raises money for cancer prevention and detection. Pearl was among the 65-plus men who took advantage of UAB Urology’s free blood testing on Jan. 25, seen also doing so in 2024 in this 2024 ESPN video clip.
According to the Mike Slive Foundation, whose mission is to raise awareness of prostate cancer by funding cutting-edge research, one in eight men will receive a prostate cancer diagnosis in their lifetimes. If you have a father, grandfather, or brother with prostate cancer, a person is significantly more likely to be diagnosed with it.
“The key is early detection of prostate cancer through education and age-appropriate screening, which can lead to personalized treatment with high cure rates,” Rais-Bahrami said.
The list of UAB volunteers who helped provide screenings during the AUTLIVE cancer game is as follows:
Kelli Baker, RN
Jimmy Carter
Amanda Cornelius, RN
Mary Rose Hite, RN
Shana Osman, MSHA, BSN, RN
Tania Paige, LPN
Soroush Rais-Bahrami, M.D., MBA, FACS
Paige Shoop, MSN, RN
Anne-Marie Stockton, RN
Kelli Walker, RN
Judy West, RN