Paul Moseley vividly recalls the day he received his prostate cancer diagnosis in November 2013. "I don’t scare easily, but I was shook," he confesses. The news forced him to confront the fragility of life and the uncertain road ahead.

As a seasoned photographer for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Moseley was no stranger to stress. “I’ve seen everything you can see—many times over. When something is tough, I just put my head down and solve it,” he shares.

With the holidays approaching, Moseley and his wife, Pixie, chose to keep the diagnosis private, allowing them to enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas with their two daughters. “It was a great Thanksgiving and a great Christmas,” he says. Despite his brave front, Moseley admits, “I’m ‘Mr. Paint the Worst Possible Picture’ even though I say I’m not afraid. I’m a journalist. I’m the biggest preparer of all, and I started right then. I immediately contacted my attorney and made sure all the wills were done and all the bills were paid. I just got in my defense mode.”

Taking the First Step

In early January, Moseley met with Dr. Richard Bevan-Thomas, a specialist in prostate cancer and robotic surgery. “I was kind of in a fog, but he told me about all my options, explained the biopsy process and all the things that lead to diagnosing and charting how serious the cancer is,” he recalls. Dr. Bevan-Thomas’s confidence and approach made a significant impression. “He wasn’t cocky, he was confident. ‘This is what we’re going to do. This is why we’re going to do it. These are the options you have and why each one might be good or bad.’ Just talking to him built my confidence.”

Moseley also appreciated how Dr. Bevan-Thomas interacted with Pixie. “He was a totally different person with my wife. He was very gentle and caring. He said, ‘Don’t worry, I’m going to take care of him. This is going to work out.’ She needed to be handled with kid gloves and he did. She loves him.”

Getting a Second Opinion

Understanding the gravity of his situation, Moseley sought a second opinion, a decision Dr. Bevan-Thomas fully supported. “Immediately he said, ‘Absolutely. If you want to go to MD Anderson, I know those people. I was there. I’ll call them for you.’ He set it all up for me.”

At MD Anderson, Moseley explored various treatment options including surgery, radiation, and proton therapy. Ultimately, a chance comment from one of the doctors confirmed his decision. “One of the doctors rolled his chair back and said, ‘I know Dr. Bevan-Thomas, and unless you really want to move to Houston, I think you’re in great hands.’ That was good enough for me.”

Making a Decision

Moseley opted for a robot-assisted radical laparoscopic prostatectomy, feeling reassured by the precision of the daVinci surgical system used during the procedure. “What Dr. BT told me about other treatment processes actually helped me make my decision. He said, ‘I’ll be using a robot. It’s an amazing machine. If you have radiation or the seeds, they kill tissue and create scar tissue. Later on, if your cancer recurs and I have to take your prostate out, it will be harder because scar tissue is harder to cut. That area is delicate and demands tremendous precision because all of your sexual function and everything is right there.’ His explanation just made total sense to me.”

Because of proactive health measures taken in his mid-fifties, Moseley was in good shape for surgery. “I had gotten out of shape with work and swinging into McDonald’s and Starbucks,” he admits. “I was 220 pounds, so I really got on it and immediately lost 40 pounds. I started racing my bicycle again and getting fit.”

The Road to Recovery

On April 4, 2014, Moseley underwent surgery. The procedure went smoothly and he was back home the next day. He was amazed by the ease of his recovery. “The robotic incisions are small. They’re super glued shut. How easy is that? Afterward, I felt like I had just done too many sit-ups.”

He was also pleasantly surprised by the absence of a traditional catheter. “Dr. BT explained he put the tube in so I didn’t need a catheter. I had that in for a week, came into the office one day, they pulled it out and I was back to my normal life within a week. The ease of recovery was just incredible. I couldn’t believe it. I had to stop myself from being too active because it was too easy.”

Life After Prostate Cancer

More than six years after his surgery, Moseley feels incredibly fortunate. “I feel pretty darn good. My PSA is zero. Everything works just like before. It’s amazing,” he says. “Now I know my choices were spot on, but I remember being on the other side, when the choices are in front of you. It was a profound experience for me. The mechanics of it—the surgery and diagnosis and going through all that is one thing, but it’s the person, the doctor. You’re scared and you’re meeting a stranger. It’s different if you’re buying car parts, but this person is probably going to operate on you—probably going to save your life. It’s the greatest bonding experience of your life.”

A New Chapter

Although Moseley retired from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram in August 2018, his legacy continues. To commemorate their 100th Anniversary in 2019, the NFL chose one of his photos as one of the greatest 100 in NFL history. Now, he enjoys a new chapter as a freelance photographer, working with high-profile clients including Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton.

Despite the many notable figures in Moseley’s life, there’s one person who stands out. “I hate to apply too much hero status to him. I know Dr. BT probably fears it sometimes, but he’s just going to have to suffer through it. He is my hero. He saved my life. It’s quite a gift. I’ll never take it for granted.”

If you’ve been diagnosed with prostate cancer and want to know more about your treatment options, please contact USMD Prostate Cancer Center online or at 1-888-PROSTATE (1-888-776-7828) to schedule an appointment. Discover the best prostate cancer specialists and top surgeons in Texas. Our leading doctors and consultants provide advanced treatments for prostate cancer. Contact us today!