Grateful for Excellent Care at Local Cancer Center
Retired Engineer, Avid Golfer & Skiier, Cancer Center Patient
"The dedication and commitment to patient care displayed by everyone I encountered at the Cancer Center during my radiation treatments were excellent"
When it comes to cancer care, patients and families need both expertise and compassion as close to home as possible. That was true for Rick Gentges who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in July of 2020. Rick met with MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena Radiation Oncologist Mario Lacerna, M.D., to discuss treatment options. Rick was impressed with Dr. Lacerna’s thoroughness, candor and kindness. Rick decided to undergo a prostatectomy at the University of Michigan, which went well, but a routine follow-up and PET scan three months later revealed that his cancer had spread to an adjacent lymph node chain. He was grateful to have established a rapport with Dr. Lacerna and knew that the cancer care team in Alpena would be a trusted partner for subsequent necessary radiation treatments.
Rick, a retired engineer, avid golfer and skier, had always made health and wellness a priority. He moved to Presque Isle in 2013 with wife Susan to enjoy beautiful Grand Lake and a slower pace of life. When he received his cancer diagnosis, he was thankful to have care just 30 minutes away. “No one ever expects to be diagnosed with cancer, nor learn after cancer surgery that it has spread to other organs, but it happens,” Rick said. “In my case, I’m grateful that we have a facility such as the Cancer Center at MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena to treat individuals with serious health issues like mine. Alternative treatment facilities would have involved lengthy stays away from home at considerable additional expense.”
Prostate cancer is the second-most-common type of cancer found in American men. It begins in the prostate gland when cells divide and grow uncontrollably. While it can be a serious disease, most often it is treatable. In fact, more than 3.3 million men in the United States who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point are still alive today. Early detection involves having a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test for men over fifty. Monitoring PSA levels after treatment for prostate cancer is key to identifying recurrence, as was the case with Rick.
“The dedication and commitment to patient care displayed by everyone I encountered at the Cancer Center during my radiation treatments were excellent,” Rick shared. “They are exceptional health care professionals who exhibited kindness, compassion and patience when addressing my various questions and concerns. With this type of treatment, you see a lot of the same people and get to know them. It has helped me realize how very blessed we are to have this caliber of medical professionals in northeast Michigan.”
In fact, Rick and his wife were so moved by his care that they became donors to the MyMichigan Health Foundation in order to support other patients and families in the area in need of cancer services. “Rick and Susan are wonderful people and assets to our community,” said Ann Diamond, director, MyMichigan Health Foundation. “For them to pay it forward in such a generous way is really quite moving, and the Foundation is very appreciative. It speaks to the power of the positive relationships created between our health care teams and our community members. The Gentges family is helping to ensure access to care for others well into the future.”
Of the donation Rick said “The financial demands associated with the type of treatment I received are complex and include much more than just medical costs. We simply want to help someone in need, who may be less fortunate or without resources and do our part to keep this important care local.”
The Cancer Center at MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena is comprised of specialists in oncology, hematology and radiation oncology providing expertise and care with advanced technology. Those who would like more information about MyMichigan's comprehensive care may visit www.mymichigan.org/cancer.
