Prostate Cancer Screening Under 50 Can Save Your Life

After two decades in baseball — as a collegiate player, coach and head coach — Mervyl Melendez thought he’d seen every pitch imaginable until prostate cancer threw him a curveball like he’d never faced before.

One day during the pandemic, Melendez was talking baseball with some of his staff from Florida International University. An assistant coach mentioned that he’d been feeling sluggish and had just had his bloodwork done.

“I told [him] I had a lot of energy, and he challenged me to get my bloodwork done,” recalled Melendez, who was 46 at the time. Never one to back away from a challenge, he booked an appointment. He was surprised when his physician called him and asked if he’d ever had symptoms or issues with his prostate. “I said no. He said my PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) reading was in the 30s, but it should be around four.”

After Melendez hung up the phone, he was in shock, but it didn’t last long.

“I said from this point forward, we’re fighting this, and it’s going to be fine.” After talking with his wife, Aixa, Melendez called their sons to deliver the news. The youngest, Jayden, attends and plays baseball at the University of Pittsburgh; the oldest, Mervyl Jr., plays right field for the Kansas City Royals.

Immediately, Melendez changed his diet, maintained his exercise routine and avoided negative talk and social media. He didn’t want pity.

“I knew that with the help of God, I’d be fine,” he says.

As Melendez was under the age of 50, he was fortunate a routine screening found his cancer. According to a new study, prostate cancer cases are projected to increase worldwide from 1.4 million a year to 2.9 a year by 2040. According to the National Institutes of Health, the 10-year survival rate for localized prostate cancer is around 98%, largely due to early screening.

After a biopsy confirmed the diagnosis, Melendez underwent a radical prostatectomy for high-risk prostate cancer. At first, after the surgery, everything looked good. His PSA was monitored every few months. The fourth reading showed some activity.

Alan Dal Pra, M.D., medical director of radiation oncology at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and associate professor at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, treated Melendez with salvage radiotherapy, “the only potentially curative option after biochemical failure after surgery,” according to Dr. Dal Pra. The radiation was combined with and followed by a short course of androgen suppression. Radiation was five days a week. There was no pain, but Melendez had no energy.

Physical activity and cancer prevention

Today, cancer-free, Melendez is retired from baseball. In 2022, he started a new business, helping high school student-athletes get into college. In addition to running his business, Melendez and Aixa travel frequently to watch their sons play ball.

“His attitude played an important role,” says Dr. Dal Pra. “The fact that he is a very active person who exercises regularly has contributed to his recovery and improved his quality of life after treatment.” According to Dr. Dal Pra, there is growing evidence that physical activity is beneficial for prostate cancer recurrence prevention after diagnosis and treatment. 

Melendez and Dr. Dal Pra recently threw out the first pitch at a Miami Marlins game. “I was honored to represent cancer survivors at Sylvester, and I was honored to be a part of it,” says Melendez.

“We had such a great time during the Marlins game,” says Dr. Dal Pra. “It was great to raise awareness for prostate cancer and honor Mervyl, who has such strong ties with baseball.”

Melendez’s case also highlights the importance of prostate cancer screening programs, says Dr. Dal Pra.

Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer among men in the United States.

It is mainly found in older men, according to the NIH. The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends patients speak with their physician to determine if they have risk factors.

For high risk, such as those with a first-degree relative who had prostate cancer at an early age, screening may commence as early as age 40. Men who choose to be tested and have a PSA of less than 2.5 ng/mL may only need to be retested every two years. Screening should be performed yearly for men whose PSA level is higher than 2.5 ng/mL, states the ACS.

Melendez is grateful to his family, Dr. Dal Pra, his great friends and God.

“They say it takes a village, and it took a village for me to get through this,” he says. “God prepared me for 24 years prior to my diagnosis to know that adversity comes in different ways. You have to make adjustments, just like you adjust your strategy in baseball.”

Louis Greenstein is a contributor for Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Tags: cancer screening, Dr. Alan Dal Pra, patient story, prostate cancer screening