Midwest Army veteran receives rare cancer diagnosis and travels to Chicago for lifesaving treatment

CHICAGO – Army Special Forces veteran Jeff Bosley estimates he’s had 10-15 surgeries during his life, mostly for injuries. But earlier this year, Bosley, 46, who lives in the Omaha, Nebraska area, needed one that would save his life after being diagnosed with prostate cancer in May.

While men being diagnosed with prostate cancer under the age of 50 is extremely rare, Bosley also has a family history with the disease, which increases risk. Because of that family history, his prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels are tested on a quarterly basis. High levels of PSA may indicate the presence of prostate cancer, and the disease is usually detected by that blood test before any signs or symptoms. 

“Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer in men, and less than one percent of prostate cancers are diagnosed in men under 50,” said Edward Schaeffer, MD, PhD, chief of urology at Northwestern Medicine. “Routine screenings can help catch prostate cancer at an earlier stage.”

During a screening in early 2024, Bosley’s PSA levels had quadrupled in a four-month span, which indicated a possible aggressive form of prostate cancer, and a biopsy later confirmed the disease. After seeing multiple doctors near his home in, and feeling unsatisfied with their treatment plans, Bosley discovered a podcast with Dr. Schaeffer detailed diagnostic and management strategies for people with prostate cancer.

“I wanted to get a second opinion, and I also wanted a physician with great bedside manner because this person would have a significant impact on my life,” Bosley said. “When I heard Dr. Schaeffer on the podcast, I really appreciated his approach to patient care and research, and I decided to make an appointment. During our first video consult, I felt a strong connection with Dr. Schaeffer’s attitude and treatment plan.”

Traveling to Chicago for Lifesaving Care

Bosley traveled to Chicago where he underwent surgery on September 10 at Northwestern Memorial Hospital to remove the cancer. Bosley returned home a few days later to recover. His follow-up appointments are being done virtually, and like all cancer survivors, he will continue to have ongoing surveillance.

“Jeff had a great outcome to the surgery and currently has no signs of cancer in his body,” said Dr. Schaeffer, who is also a member of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center at Northwestern University. “We always tell patients that cancer doesn’t read rulebooks, so we will have to continually monitor him, like we do all of our cancer survivors.”

Since his time in the military, Bosley has been working as an actor in television and movies. Following the surgery, he’s returning to his active lifestyle and has been receiving audition requests for acting jobs.

“As a kid, I always said I wanted to be Rambo,” Bosley said. “I didn’t know if I wanted to do it in real life or in movies. I got the real one out of the way and decided to try acting in 2014.”

Serving His Country Aided Him in Choosing a Urologist

Bosley served in the United States Army from 2006-14, serving with the 10^th Special Forces Group out of Fort Carson, Colorado. His deployments included serving in Iraq and missions in Africa.

“I always knew I wanted to join the military,” said Bosley. “I always knew I wanted to do the elite stuff, but didn’t know it was going to be the Green Berets. I value my decision to serve and would have regretted not doing so.”

He has always led an active lifestyle, working as a firefighter before and after his military career. Being a Green Beret, Bosley had a lot of unique training other than just combat duties. He majored in pre-med in college and Bosley’s specialty was medicine in the Army, receiving training beyond the basic combat medical needs.

After being diagnosed with prostate cancer, that medical training aided him in choosing a urologist for his care.

An estimated 1 in 8 American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer with their lifetime. November is also “Movember,” a time to raise awareness for men’s health, including prostate cancer.  

For more information on prostate cancer care at Northwestern Medicine, visit nm.org/urology or call 833-7-POLSKY (833-776-5759) to make an appointment. To learn more about Northwestern Medicine, visit nm.org.