Bot Image prostate AI leads the battle against prostate cancer: Lessons from a former President diagnosis

OMAHA, Neb. and BELGRADE, Maine, May 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The recent announcement that a former president of the United States developed late-stage prostate cancer is a distressing reminder of the vulnerabilities present within the American healthcare system. While no one is immune from the impact of this disease, the situation becomes even more concerning when we consider the availability of effective solutions that could have potentially altered the outcome. For instance, a $100 BotImage ProstatID AI interpretation of a 20 minute non-contrast MRI would have detected the cancer in its earliest stages with a high degree of confidence years ago. This lack of medical community adaption of new technologies highlights systemic issues that affect countless men across the country.  

Prostate cancer is a prevalent illness among men. In 2025, the American Cancer Society is estimating over 315,000 new cases and over 35,000 deaths in in the U.S. Its evident early detection significantly enhances treatment outcomes and survival rates, yet many individuals, including those with the most access to resources, continue to experience delays in diagnosis. The unfortunate reality is that systemic flaws in the healthcare framework—such as uneven access to preventive screenings, lack of awareness, and ineffective communication, and disparate screening guidelines—often prevent patients from receiving timely and effective care.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is stepping up to address these very concerns, offering innovative solutions that can improve prostate cancer diagnosis. One of the most promising advancements is ProstatID, developed by Bot Image Inc. This AI-based technology has demonstrated remarkable success, improving prostate cancer detection rates by over 30% compared to traditional interpretations by human readers of prostate MRI scans. Additionally, ProstatID, with its 93.6% area under the receiver operating curve of sensitivity-specificity, reduces false positives by a similar margin, alleviating anxiety and minimizing unnecessary invasive procedures for patients caught in the healthcare system's web.

ProstatID has uniquely received FDA clearance for its use in screening through fast, accessible, and safer non-contrast MRI. This non-invasive technique is particularly suited for active surveillance, allowing healthcare providers to monitor changes in suspicious tumors more effectively. The system employs a colorized overlay on MRI images, which enhances visualization and assists in risk stratification, allowing clinicians to prioritize follow-up care based on the severity and characteristics of findings. For many patients, this means less unnecessary treatment and a more personalized approach to managing their health.

In addition to MRI advancements, AI's impact extends to pathology, where it is enhancing slide interpretation when biopsies are taken from suspicious tumors. The use of AI in pathology is invaluable; it not only speeds up the diagnosis process but also significantly improves accuracy, reducing the risk of misdiagnoses that can lead to inappropriate treatment decisions. AI can assist pathologists by identifying cancerous cells within slides more reliably and quickly, further streamlining the diagnostic and treatment processes.

Fortunately, there are always leaders in adopting change and the University of Texas Medical Branch is one such leader that routinely utilizes MRI supplemented AI as well as Pathology AI exemplified in the images below (courtesy of UTMB). 

Moreover, an advantageous trifecta is emerging in prostate cancer detection and management: the combination of MRI with prostate AI, pathology AI, and advanced blood or urine tests. While blood and urine tests can provide sensitivity and specificity of mid to high 90s in predicting prostate cancer, they cannot determine the extent or aggressiveness of the disease. This is where MRI with AI validation becomes critical, as it offers detailed imaging of the cancer's location and characteristics, thereby enabling healthcare providers to devise more precise treatment strategies. This marvelous combination of just the urine test and ProstatID would reach the high 90s in detection and diagnosis without a single invasive procedure, so what's the hold-up? Especially considering the billions of healthcare dollars to be saved using these technologies versus the current inaccurate, inefficient standard of care?

Despite these promising technologies, the integration of AI and advanced diagnostics in routine healthcare practice has faced resistance. Patients frequently encounter barriers that prevent them from accessing the latest innovations, resulting in delayed diagnoses. To circumvent this issue, emerging models of care such as concierge medicine and personalized medical consultation services are proving to be vital.

A notable example is Precision Prostate Consulting, a company that offers licensed physician consultations utilizing the ProstatID AI to provide expert "second opinion" interpretations of patients' prostate MRIs. This service not only makes the cutting-edge technology of AI accessible to patients but also enables them to bypass some of the systemic barriers present in mainstream healthcare. By connecting patients directly with knowledgeable providers, they can ensure more timely diagnoses and treatment plans tailored specifically to their needs.

Collectively, these advancements and services demonstrate that despite sluggish resistance to change within the healthcare and insurance industries, innovative leaders are working tirelessly to bring solutions to the forefront. By embracing AI and patient-centric models of care, we can dramatically enhance the landscape of prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment, helping many more individuals avoid the unfortunate fate faced by the former president.

The unfortunate reality of a late-stage diagnosis in a prominent figure serves as a crucial catalyst for change in the healthcare landscape. It highlights the urgent need for systemic reform that prioritizes early detection and equitable access to cutting-edge diagnostic tools and technologies. The consistent push from the medical community and innovators in technology not only aims to improve patient outcomes but also seeks to create a healthcare system where everyone—regardless of their status—receives the timely, effective care they deserve.

In conclusion, the fight against prostate cancer is one that must adapt and evolve. By advocating for the integration of AI technologies like ProstatID and leveraging the benefits of concierge and specialized consulting services, we can reshape the narrative surrounding prostate cancer diagnoses. As we look to the future, it is imperative that we continue to challenge the status quo, ensuring that advancements in healthcare reach all individuals in need, ultimately leading to better health outcomes for society as a whole.

Author: Dr. Randall W. Jones D.E. (PhD, MBA)

Full disclosure: Dr. Jones is founder and CEO of Bot Image, Inc. and managing partner of Precision Prostate Consulting. Also author of The Healthcare Disruptor, by Forbes and available on Amazon and others.

SOURCE Bot Image Inc.