Prostate Cancer Care: Tony’s Story

Summary Paragraph

Tony Manley took his prostate cancer diagnosis seriously from the start. After meeting Balaji Kalyanaraman, MD, PhD, a Urologist at St. Elizabeth, Tony knew he could trust “Dr. K” and the whole care team to help him choose the right treatment path. For Tony, that trust made the drive from Louisville worthwhile and gave him confidence through HIFU treatment, recovery and follow-up.

Key Takeaways

• Tony Manley drove 90 miles from his home in Louisville, Ky., to receive care at St. Elizabeth Healthcare for prostate cancer.
• His Urologist, Balaji Kalyanaraman, MD, PhD, listened to his concerns and explained his treatment options.
• After doing “watchful waiting” for a few months, Tony decided to pursue a minimally invasive procedure called high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU).
• Today, he’s feeling great and telling others about how the team at St. Elizabeth made him feel like a VIP.

Tony Manley’s Prostate Cancer Story: Why the Right Doctor Was Worth the Drive

Tony Manley loves his hometown of Louisville, Ky. That’s where he built his career and where he and his wife, Val, raised their family.

So, when Tony needed a urologist after receiving concerning test results in the spring of 2025, he looked close to home. But his first appointment at a local urology practice was underwhelming.

“I just didn’t feel like they gave a hoot about me, and I didn’t want to go back,” says Tony, 70.

He shared his concerns with a friend, who encouraged him to contact St. Elizabeth Healthcare. That led Tony and Val to Balaji Kalyanaraman, MD, PhD, a Urologist at St. Elizabeth.

From his first appointment with Dr. Kalyanaraman, Tony and Val knew they were in the right place.

“When you’ve got a serious health issue, a 90-minute drive is nothing if you’ve got a doctor you like,” Tony says.

A Worrisome Diagnosis

Dr. Kalyanaraman reviewed the results of Tony’s prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test with him. Doctors use this blood test to look for signs of prostate problems.

Dr. Kalyanaraman ordered an MRI, which gives doctors detailed images of the prostate, and performed a biopsy. At Tony’s next appointment, Dr. K told him it was prostate cancer.

“Dr. K was concerned about my health, and really understood why I was stressed about it,” Tony says. “He gave me my options and guidance. I felt like he was walking alongside me.”

A Doctor Who Took Tony Seriously

Tony’s options included “watchful waiting” (monitoring the cancer), removing the prostate (prostatectomy) or having high-intensity focused ultrasound, also called HIFU. The procedure uses focused ultrasound energy to heat and destroy targeted prostate tissue. St. Elizabeth Physicians is the only provider offering HIFU for prostate cancer throughout the tristate area, including the extended Lexington and Louisville region. Not everyone is a candidate for HIFU. Your urologist can help you decide if it’s the right option for you.

Tony and Val agreed on watchful waiting as a first step. Tony didn’t have symptoms, and his care team continued to monitor his PSA. If his PSA stayed stable, Tony hoped he could avoid additional treatment.

For the next few months, Tony worked hard to improve his health. He stopped consuming added sugars and alcohol and lost about 30 pounds.

But Tony still had cancer on his mind. Then a friend with prostate cancer told Tony that his own cancer had spread.

“I went home and said to Val, ‘I’m calling Dr. K,’” Tony recalls. “I was done worrying about it. I didn’t want cancer in my body. I wanted to get it taken care of.”

In February 2026, Tony had HIFU at St. Elizabeth Florence Hospital.

Support for Tony and Val

On the day of surgery, Val was apprehensive and a little worried about the drive home to Louisville.

“I was thinking, ‘How am I going to get him home afterward, with the catheter and everything else?’” Val says. “When we arrived at St. Elizabeth, the nurses said, ‘Don’t worry. We’ll keep him overnight if we need to. You’ll have a place to stay.’ That helped me a lot.”

Val says the team kept her updated during surgery and answered questions quickly. Tony and Val also leaned on their faith and prayer throughout his care.

Looking Ahead with Gratitude

Tony was doing well enough to go home that day. He had a catheter for about 10 days and didn’t experience incontinence after the procedure.

At his three-month follow-up appointment, Tony’s PSA had dropped to the normal range and there were no signs of cancer. Tony still needs regular follow-up, but he feels good about where things stand.

“Mentally, just knowing the cancer is gone, I feel great,” Tony says. “I still have a little fear that maybe it could come back. But if it does, I can tell you where I’m going. I’ll go right back to St. Elizabeth, and I’ll want Dr. K by my side.”

Tony says the whole experience gave him confidence, from registration to surgery and follow-up. He has already told friends about St. Elizabeth and Dr. Kalyanaraman.

“I tell everybody about how great my doctor and nurses were, and how they treated me like a VIP throughout the whole experience, from the biopsy to surgery and post-op. It was the best experience.”

Talk with Your Doctor About a PSA Test

Prostate cancer often starts without symptoms. A PSA test can help your doctor decide if you need more testing.

Make an appointment with your Primary Care provider to talk about your prostate cancer risk and whether a PSA test is right for you. Learn more about prostate cancer care at St. Elizabeth Healthcare.

Medically reviewed by Balaji Kalyanaraman, MD, PhD