Berkfield buoys others, encouraging them to look after their health
Zanesfield resident and village council member Mark Berkfield shared his story of determination and courage in the face two different bouts with cancer with attendees at the 2021 Logan County Relay For Life Friday night, which took place for the first time in downtown Bellefontaine.
The nearly 68-year-old Relay honorary co-chair, who celebrates his upcoming birthday Sept. 3, said he was diagnosed with stage IV prostate cancer approximately four months ago. He said went to see his doctor after experiencing problems urinating, and encouraged men to be especially proactive with their health and to avoid delaying care.
“I think as men, we don’t always like to talk about some of these health issues. Sometimes we ignore them, hoping they’ll go away. It’s so important to have regular check-ups and annual prostate exams — now they are recommending men to begin them at age 45.”
Berkfield said when he received the stage IV prostate cancer diagnosis, they found that the cancer was in his lymph nodes, but he is fortunate that it had not spread to his bones and there are promising treatment options available for him.
“I’m grateful that there are treatment options for me, as there are people who have lived years, and even decades, with the treatment I’m on.
“My theory on life is you can’t dwell on some of these hard situations. You have to keep moving forward — I can’t let it keep me down. My doctor said he likes my attitude and it serves me well while fighting cancer.”
He currently is undergoing a hormone therapy injection called Lupron, which he receives at his doctor’s office in Marysville. The rescue dog caretaker said the hormone therapy prevents his cancer from growing through removing the testosterone from his body.
While Berkfield said he doesn’t have many complaints about the treatment, he said it does give him occasional hot flashes that are uncomfortable in the summer heat, and he recently has experienced fatigue.
Being able to take some breaks during his work day as a contractor for Kroger Northern Floral makes it possible for him to continue his job.
“If I’m able to stop and rest a little bit, I really feel so much better during the work day,” he said.
This round of treatments has been easier, he related, than his previous experiences dealing with a difficult chemotherapy and radiation regimen about 25 years ago, when he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma in 1996.
Complicating his treatment at the time was a recent diagnosis of HIV in 1993.
Berkfield said to treat the non-Hodgkins lymphoma while dealing with HIV, he initially was on an experimental treatment. There was one occasion where he was rushed to the James Cancer Hospital in Columbus and found out that his white cell counts were dangerously low.
“It thought I was going to die that night; it was very scary,” he said. “That’s why the treatment I’m on now, really it’s a Godsend.
“I’m also really blessed to have lived with HIV now for so long. I’ve learned it’s so important to keep up with my health and medications.”
Speaking to the Relay attendees alongside fellow honorary co-chairs Lucas Williams, Robin Tester and Kylie Eaton, Berkfield said he was honored to serve in the capacity and he hoped that sharing his journey with cancer would resonate with others.
“I’m happy to speak out if it means it might save someone’s life,” he said. “It’s so nice to open up the conversations with others and to support each other at Relay.”