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Caught in the Nick of Time
A simple bug bite led this Brick resident to his doctor’s office. In the process, his life was not only changed, but it may very well have been saved.
When Bob Merrigan, 74, of Brick tells the story of how he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, it makes you re-think all the times you put off going to your physician for a checkup.
Several years ago, Bob, a retired insurance auditor, was at a horse farm performing an audit when he got bit by a bug. He didn’t think much of it until he got home and noticed that a bull’s-eye had formed at the site of the bite. "I really thought it was Lyme disease," confides Bob. "I went to my family doctor to have it checked out, and because I hadn’t had a physical in a long time, they ran a few tests."
Dealing with a Problem
The results of Bob’s blood tests showed that he had an extremely elevated PSA. PSA — or prostate-specific antigen — is a protein that is produced by the prostate and is released in very small amounts into the bloodstream. When there’s a problem with the prostate, more and more PSA is released until it reaches a level where it can be easily detected in the blood. This can happen when prostate cancer is developing and growing. Bob was referred to James Rotolo, M.D., chief of Urology at Ocean Medical Center.
"When Bob came to me, his PSA was in the 30s," reports Dr. Rotolo. "His normal range should have been anywhere from 0 to 4. His level was extremely high." Dr. Rotolo explains that Bob had a very aggressive tumor; using the Gleason grading system, on a scale of 1 to 10, he was at a 9. After discussing his options at length with Dr. Rotolo and his family, Bob agreed to have his prostate removed. "Dr. Rotolo really took the time to explain everything to me and my options. He truly was concerned," Bob says.
After having the surgery, Bob’s PSA level still remained elevated, so he then received radiation therapy. Follow-up testing revealed that his PSA level had dropped to 0, where it has remained ever since. Bob now goes for yearly checkups with Dr. Rotolo.
Do You Know the Risks?
According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer found in American men, other than skin cancer. The ACS estimates that there will be about 234,460 new cases of prostate cancer in the United States in 2006, and of these cases, about 27,350 men will die of this disease.
It is recommended that men should have a PSA blood test and DRE (digital rectal exam) yearly starting at age 50. Men at high risk should begin testing at age 45. "Early detection is very important," asserts Dr. Rotolo, as the death rate for prostate cancer is going down as the disease is being detected earlier.
"I am very happy that they caught it when they did," concludes Bob. "Otherwise, it could have been a lot worse." Bob wholeheartedly recommends that all men should receive a checkup once a year. "You never know what they might find!"
Raising Awareness
Last year, a patient of Dr. Rotolo’s, Al Saner, was the main sponsor of a very successful seminar held at Ocean Medical Center to raise awareness about prostate cancer. This year, due to Al’s continuing fund-raising efforts, Ocean Medical Center will be hosting another free prostate cancer symposium on Thursday, September 28, titled "Life After Prostate Cancer. "Featuring both Dr. Rotolo and Al Saner as guest speakers, the event will include a panel discussion, dinner, and a question-and-answer session. For more information or to register, please contact Meridian Health Line at 1-800-560-9990.
 – Robin Krippa
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