A survivor urges others to be proactive
As assistant principal of the Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School in Dorchester, Richard Salmon, 59, is known as a tough man.
But when it comes to African American men and prostate cancer, Salmon is even tougher.
“Black men need to take the time for their health,” he said. “We’re walking around with cancer and don’t even know it. Get off that macho kick.”
Salmon should know.
He was diagnosed with prostate cancer two years ago and credits his life in part to participation in the Prostate Health Education Network (PHEN) at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, a support group developed by Tom Farrington.
About 10 years ago, Salmon had heard Farrington, a survivor himself, speak at the Myrtle Baptist Church in Newton and ever since, Salmon said, “I wanted to be proactive.”
Salmon had ample reasons to be proactive.
He had already beaten back three bouts of colon cancer: the first in 1987 when he was 35 years old, the second in 1990, and the third in 1992. Two of his brothers had already died from colon cancer: one at the age of 48, the other at 50.
Prostate cancer was something relatively new to Salmon. But he stayed on top of it. He decided to be screened every six months instead of the usual 12, not only with the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test and digital rectal exam, but a biopsy as well.
Salmon said that he was aware that the PSA was an imperfect test and could result at times in false readings. He wanted the biopsy just to make sure.
He remembers the day he learned his test scores had gotten worse. It was in September 2006, the start of a new school year. His PSA had jumped significantly since his last test. A biopsy was positive. His Gleason score, a measurement that gauges the aggressiveness of prostate cancer on a scale between 2 and 10, came in at 8.
It came as a shock.
Decisions had to be made, and though Salmon said he had been through cancer several times before, it was still hard to accept.
“I try to stay away from negative thinking,” Salmon said. “I am thankful for my blessings from God.”
Fortunately, the cancer was confined to the prostate. He chose radiation seed implantation over radical prostatectomy, the surgical removal of the prostate.
The procedure has been successful. Salmon says he visits his urologist and primary care physician every three to six months. His PSA readings remain stable.
Salmon is quick to remind anyone who will listen to take the time to understand prostate cancer and possible treatments.
“The key is people need to educate themselves,” he said. |
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Richard Salmon, assistant principal of Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School, is no stranger to cancer. He is a three-time colon cancer survivor, and was treated for prostate cancer two years ago.
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