A Medical and Personal Journey for Bo Kinney

Robert “Bo” Kinney was sitting on the couch of his Franklin home having just finished a phone call with a family friend when he felt a deep pain in his side, as if he had been kicked with a steel-toed boot. The pain was so severe it made him nauseous and prompted him to go Milford Regional’s Emergency Department, where he was diagnosed with a kidney stone. However, it was at his follow-up appointment with Sanjaya Kumar, MD, FACS, at Urology Associates of Milford that revealed something he hadn’t been expecting – prostate cancer.

Kinney, 66, is a man who is on top of his health – annual physicals and bloodwork are routinely scheduled, including the prostate specific antigen test, or PSA. A PSA is a blood test used to screen for and monitor prostate cancer by measuring the amount of prostate-specific antigen, a protein produced by the prostate.

Kinney’s PSA had always been reported to be under the threshold of concern by his primary care physician, but Dr. Kumar had noticed that his previous two PSA readings had inched up, which was a red flag to him as a urologist, despite the fact that the reading was well within a “normal” range.

“A urologist offers comprehensive men’s health treatment – we look at the patient from the entire perspective, so if they come in for a kidney stone, we look at everything,” explained Dr. Kumar, adding that Kinney’s PSA results prompted him to schedule an MRI. The MRI results led Dr. Kumar to suspect prostate cancer, and he scheduled an MRI fusion biopsy.

Milford Regional was one of the first hospitals in the area to offer an MRI fusion biopsy, which is an outpatient procedure done in the operating room under anesthesia. MRI imaging guides the biopsy for a more accurate sample of the suspected cancerous region.

The prostate is located just below the bladder in men, making it difficult to find without guided imagery and uncomfortable biopsies. The MRI-fusion technology guides the physician to the exact location of the suspected cancer and removes a tissue sample while the patient lies still, under sedation.

The biopsy confirmed Kinney had prostate cancer, and a subsequent positron emission tomography (PET) scan showed that the cancer had metastasized to the pelvic lymph nodes. Dr. Kumar referred him to two physicians at Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center at Milford Regional Medical Center - -Radiation Oncologist Peter F. Orio III, DO, and Medical Oncologist Mary-Ellen Taplin, MD, both renowned for their treatment of prostate cancer.  Dr. Orio determined Kinney’s cancer could not be treated surgically and the advanced state of his cancer required simultaneous integrated therapy.

Meanwhile, Kinney needed additional interventions, including hormone therapy, which was overseen by Dr. Taplin.  Dr. Taplin, who is full time at Dana-Farber Boston and sees patients twice a month in Milford, started Kinney on two different drugs to block testosterone, which supports growth of prostate cancer. Lowering testosterone, limits the “food source” of prostate cancer, and weakens the cancer making radiation therapy more effective.

Following the completion of hormone therapy, Kinney is currently in remission.

Kinney’s treatment was more than a medical journey, it was a personal one. 

Kinney says the journey following his diagnosis has been sprinkled with moments of kindness, generosity and coincidence that he calls “pennies from heaven,” a silver lining in an unfortunate circumstance.

“Pennies keep dropping in my lap, so I wanted to take my story and turn it into an educational moment, to hopefully help somebody else,” Kinney said, adding that he wants his story to inform others of the medical treatments available locally and the lessons he learned along the way – the importance of staying positive, keeping a sense of humor and advocating for yourself.

Kinney admits Milford Regional Medical Center wasn’t on his radar as a facility for treatment until his visit to the Emergency Department. He did not have a comfortable familiarity with Milford Regional, until Dr. Kumar referred him to the cancer center. An analytical man by nature and trade, Kinney conducted extensive research in order to be as informed as he could be about his treatment options. He reached out to his strong network of family and friends – medical professionals and those with similar cancer experiences – and took a deep dive into medical research.

“I didn’t realize the best cancer treatment was 15 minutes from my home,” said Kinney, who last year had been driving a friend to Boston for prostate cancer treatments. “They have the same capabilities and expertise here as they do in Boston. The radiation treatment here in Milford saved me over 20 hours a week commuting time, and would have added stress under already stressful circumstances. I always thought you had to go to the main Dana-Farber campus in Boston in order to get the best treatment and technology.  I got the best of all worlds  -- the best doctors, the latest technology and the most convenient location. A 15-minute drive each way, for a 15-minute appointment five days a week for nine weeks.”

Dr. Kumar did not hesitate to recommend treatment at Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center, with clinical, research and academic physicians available so close to home.

“We have such a symbiotic relationship,” said Dr. Kumar.

“We realized a long time ago, people wanted to consume their care locally. Cancer treatment can become a full-time job. We want to give patients the right care, at the right place, at the right time,” said Dr. Orio, who has been treating patients at the Cancer Center for 14 years. Dr. Orio is also the Vice Chair of Network Operations at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and notes that the same policies and procedures that are in place in the main hospitals in Boston, also guide care and treatment at satellite locations such as Milford. “We provide the same standards same polices and the machinery is identical.  If you were blindfolded, you wouldn’t know where you were being treated.”

What makes Milford special, said Dr. Orio, is the way doctors across disciplines and medical center affiliations come together to support the patient, striving to give the best care possible and empower the patient to be part of the decision-making process in their care. Dr. Taplin is the Chair of the Dana-Farber Executive Committee for Clinical Research, sees patients in Milford as a way to give back to the community that cared for her husband – Ross Carol, MD, a beloved emergency room physician at Milford Regional – prior to his death from cancer in 2005.

“There’s something special about being part of the same team, in the same community rendering care,” said Dr. Orio. “Knowledge is power. We have to give patients the knowledge to make their own decisions, and to do that, they need to have the opinion of multiple specialists. When you are treated on a multi-disciplinary level, your care is better and your outcomes are better. At the end of the day, we are all treating that person.”

Dr. Taplin agreed, adding, “It is very important for patients to not only hear their diagnosis, but to learn what that cancer diagnosis means for them as a unique individual and, about treatments options and potential side effects. Individuals prioritize the potential impacts of cancer risk and therapies differently, and they need to discuss potential side effects and the efficacy of each treatment with their doctors, and their family.”

The care he received didn’t just exist inside the medical building with the physicians, but with other clinicians and staff who helped facilitate smooth communication and coordination of his treatment.   

Kinney’s story highlights the quality of care available locally, as well as the importance of men being on top of their health.

“Don’t be shy about seeing a doctor. Prostate cancer is very common,” said Dr. Kumar. “Get  routine exams, and don’t be afraid to have a frank discussion with your physician. Early detection is the key.”

“ I wanted to stay strong and put myself in a position to overcome this,” said Kinney, who continues to volunteer at the Franklin Food Pantry and for Ben Speaks, as a way to give back for his good fortune and care, and he has returned to walking his pug, Iggy, regularly. “I created this mantra –  I am strong. I am resilient. I have a special purpose – to give back, share the love and leave the world a better place. “