Phil Ford is a Gold Medal Olympian, 2nd UNC All-Time Leading Scorer, Prostate Cancer Survivor.
Learn more at philfordbasketball.com
We’ve got to start taking our health as seriously as we take everything else—our sports teams, our cars, all the stuff we care about. Our health deserves that same level of attention."
-Phil Ford
Video Transcript
Phil Ford Talks Men’s Health with Filmmaker Michael Washington
Michael Washington:
Here we are with Tar Heel great and former Olympic gold medalist, Phil Ford. How are you doing today, sir?
Phil Ford:
I’m great. It’s a beautiful December day here in Chapel Hill. There’s just something special about being back—every time you’re driving toward campus, you get that feeling all over again.
Michael Washington:
For those who don’t know you well, you’re known as one of the ultimate Tar Heels.
Phil Ford:
Well, I’ve just had great coaching and great teammates. That’s what it’s all about.
Michael Washington:
That’s a very Carolina answer! Thank you for that. Let’s talk a little about your health journey and how it’s shaped your outlook today.
Phil Ford:
At my annual physical, I decided to get checked more thoroughly because cancer runs in my family. I wasn’t having any symptoms or issues, but I wanted to be sure. I asked Dr. Tom Brittner to refer me to a couple of specialists—a heart specialist and a urologist—just to make sure everything was okay.
That meant having a biopsy. When the results came back, they found some cancer. The first thing I did was call my minister to talk and pray about it. Then I called Coach Williams. Fifteen minutes later, I was already on the phone with one of the best surgeons in the country. Coach made that happen just like that.
Spiritually, I was in a good place. I felt at peace. I knew that whether I was with God on this side or the other, I’d be okay. Dr. Wallen explained everything that was going to happen, checked in with me regularly, and made sure I was doing well mentally and physically. I can’t thank him enough for that. My operation was a little tricky, but he took excellent care of me.
Michael Washington:
That’s incredible. One thing you said really stood out—scheduling your annual physical. You didn’t have any symptoms but decided to get checked anyway.
Phil Ford:
Exactly. Even though I felt fine, I was at an age where it was time to make sure everything was okay. I call it the Holy Spirit—that voice in my head telling me to go. Thankfully, I listened. That’s how we found it during the biopsy.
When Dr. Wallen told me about the Men’s Health Program, I was excited to get involved. As men, we don’t always take our health seriously enough. Too many of us skip our annual checkups. I’ve had friends tell me, “If I have cancer, I don’t want to know.” Some even think that once the air “hits it,” that’s when it spreads—but that’s just not true.
It’s so important for men to take their health seriously and go for regular checkups. There’s so much that can be treated or even cured if it’s caught early. Unfortunately, a lot of the time by the point we feel symptoms, it’s already too late. I didn’t have symptoms—but the cancer was there.
Michael Washington:
And when something like that happens, it doesn’t just affect one person.
Phil Ford:
Right. When someone gets sick, it impacts their whole family and community. A lot of men are the main providers. If something happens to them, what happens to their family? Health insurance can’t fix that. So it’s not just about doing it for yourself—it’s doing it for your loved ones, too.
Michael Washington:
That’s a powerful reminder.
Phil Ford:
We’ve got to start taking our health as seriously as we take everything else—our sports teams, our cars, all the stuff we care about. Our health deserves that same level of attention.
So please—support men’s health programs, screenings, and research. We need to start making our health a priority, just like our female counterparts already do.