A Message from Mike

"Message from Mike"

8/12/2013 10:11:00 PM

By Bill Taylor, Local columnist

It seems to me that when a guy I’ve known for many years would like me to do something for him and I can do it, I figure I should. That’s why I’m using this space to deliver a message from Mike Lerch, known to possibly half the county as “Mike the Barber” — and to lots more folks as the person who grows that beautiful crop of sunflowers at the corner of West Second Street and Cincinnati Avenue.

I recently stopped by Mike’s barber shop for his periodic “tidying up” treatment of my unruly hair, beard, and mustache and found I was his only customer — a rarity. This gave us some additional time to chat — and that’s when he told me he has been diagnosed with Stage 4 prostate cancer. (Stage 4 means the cancer had metastasized, that is, spread from his prostate to other parts of his body and formed secondary tumors, the cells of which are like those in the original or primary tumor.)

Mike told me that the cancer was detected when these “secondary” tumors were found as a result of his complaints unrelated to his prostate. Biopsy results led back to his prostate and subsequent referral to a urologist who then had a standard PSA (prostate specific antigen) blood test done.

This test measures the blood level of PSA, a protein that is produced by the prostate gland. The higher a man’s PSA level, the more likely it is that he has prostate cancer. Accepted age-adjusted PSA rates are below 2.4 for men under the age of 50 and 6.5 for patients in their 70s.

Mike told me his was 65! I asked him what his previous PSA tests had showed and he told me that, to the best of his knowledge, he had never had a PSA test before even though he has had annual physicals with lab work. Mike’s urologist also took samples of his prostate for biopsy.

The pathologist doing such a biopsy assigns what is known as a Gleason score based on the sum of two numbers: the first number is the grade of the most common tumor pattern, the second number is the grade of the second most common pattern.

The Gleason score ranges from 2 to 10 with 10 being the worst. Mike’s was 10. (My Gleason score was 6 when my urologist told me my cancer should be treated.) Jim, Chuck, Jon, Gene, Carl and I have something in common. We all have been diagnosed with prostate cancer with the PSA test being the initial indicator. In each case our PSA levels were monitored over time for some abnormality such as a continued or sudden increase — then additional tests, such as a biopsy were performed and treatment ensued.

My urologist tells me annual PSA testing gives a seven to 10 year lead time in diagnosing prostate cancer — which can be cured if detected and treated in an early enough stage. There is an increasing effort on the part of some “experts” to discourage PSA tests because they supposedly lead to false positives (indicating existence of cancer when there isn’t any) and detection of low-level, slow growing cancers that are of little concern.

These folks claim guys then panic and demand treatment when none is indicated, thus leading to unnecessary and costly procedures. They insist the digital examination wherein a physician inserts a gloved finger up the backside of a guy and physically feels the prostate for enlargement or lumps is quite sufficient.

Tell that to Mike — that’s the only prostate exam he had and look what’s happened. Bet you didn’t know September is Prostate Cancer Awareness month. If history repeats itself there will be a low-key press release from the White House late on Friday, Aug. 30 which will go largely unnoticed.

We will see no “race for the cure” events, no displays of light blue ribbons (the color for prostate cancer), no fund raising activities, and not even media announcements. Yet prostate cancer is second only to lung cancer in cancer-caused deaths among men.

Figure the lack of concern is because this is a male-only killer disease? Men are expendable, right? OK, what’s the message Mike wants me to deliver? It’s simple: “Guys, starting at age 50, have an annual PSA test. If your doctor doesn’t believe in it, find one who does. Ladies, if you care for the men in your lives, do your part by making sure they have this critical test — even if you have to nag them into it.”

You know, Mike is very courageous to share such an intimate story, but he explained that if by telling it he might keep some other guy from the same experience, it’s worth it. For those of us who have known Mike for so many years this is not surprising. That’s the kind of man he is. At least that’s how it seems to me.

Bill Taylor, a Greene County Daily columnist and area resident, may be contacted at solie1@juno.com.