Rich’s Story

When Rich Martin was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2018, he was newly retired and had recently started his own deck-building business. Faced with the reality that he could not run a business and fight cancer at the same time, Rich initially felt defeated – until he picked up a pen and pad of paper and decided to take charge of his emotions.

“I’m of the belief that if I don’t put things down in writing, they won’t happen, so I decided to make a list of everything I was going to do and not do moving forward,” Rich said.

In addition to telling his wife, Laurie, how much he loves her every day, Rich’s list included commitments to live a healthier lifestyle, show gratitude and praise, and take time to help and educate others. He has remained faithful to those promises, even when a second cancer diagnosis in 2021 threatened to derail his focus.

“From day one, I told myself that I was not going to let cancer dictate who I am or what I can do,” said Rich, 69, of Lancaster. “Will I have bad days? Yes – but I will not let them defeat me.”

Rich attributes a lot of his positivity to the support of the people around him, including his Cancer Care team at Fairfield Medical Center and his oncologist, Roopa Saha, MD, of FHP Hematology/Oncology, who seamlessly took over his care when his former oncologist, Dr. Kanwaljit Singh, moved to California in 2023.

“When Dr. Singh left FMC, it was devastating because I realized I would have to start over with someone new,” Rich said. “But after meeting with Dr. Saha, I knew I was in good hands. In addition to cancer, I have other medical issues – afib, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure and white coat syndrome, which means my blood pressure goes up when I’m at the doctor. At Dr. Saha’s office, my blood pressure is normal, and I know it’s because I’m comfortable with her.”

Rich said he was encouraged at the start of his cancer journey to get a second opinion elsewhere, which he did. However, the personalized care and attention he had received at FMC was the driving factor behind why he chose to remain local for his treatment.

“Dr. Saha’s office is a great place and she and her team are helpful and do great follow-up so that I don’t have to worry about anything,” he said. “You don’t see that everywhere. When I went to Columbus, I felt like a number. At FMC, my care is more one-on-one.”

Following Rich’s prostate cancer diagnosis, Dr. Singh and Dr. Saha recommended hormonal treatments to target the cancer, which had progressed to Rich’s lymph nodes and spine. The treatments consisted of daily pills and injections every three months.

“Metastatic prostate cancer treatment is typically a hormone-driven treatment with chemotherapy being utilized much later with disease progression or when other treatments stop controlling the spread of the prostate cancer,” said oncology nurse navigator Suzanne Vogel, who works with prostate cancer patients like Rich. “Because Rich’s prostate cancer is hormone-driven, treatment is directed towards reducing testosterone levels, which is what drives prostate cancer.”

The treatments worked and Rich’s PSA (prostate-specific antigen) levels returned to normal. However, in 2021, Rich experienced a setback when doctors discovered a tumor in his stomach. When he underwent surgery to have part of his stomach removed, additional tumors were discovered in his liver. As Rich began treatment to shrink the tumors, Dr. Saha recommended DNA testing to monitor his response to the treatment and disease progression. The results of that testing will help determine an individualized treatment plan for Rich moving forward.

“By monitoring tumor DNA, it can provide clues to a physician about the patient’s cancer status, including the potential for recurrence, treatment effectiveness, and the development of resistance mutations,” Suzanne explained. “By analyzing the genetic material of cancer cells in the bloodstream, doctors can get a real-time look at how the tumor is evolving even before a tumor is visible on traditional scans.”

As Rich continues to be monitored and treated for his cancer, he remains focused on the list he started eight years ago that has sustained him throughout his journey. He enjoys sharing his story with others, encouraging them to think positive while also sharing the great experience he has received at FMC. To date, he has spoken to patients and survivors at two FMC events – Cancer Survivor’s Day in June and the TWIG 1 Cancer Care Run in October.

“Every day I ask myself, what did I do today to become healthier? Who did I thank or praise today? Who can I help or train, and how can I be of help to others?” Rich said. “The reality is everyone knows someone who needs help, so rather than feeling down about my situation, why not do my part to help lift others up?”