julybabe's Blog

De Soto man battles breast cancer
Benefit planned for Mark Baisch

Andrew Jansen Photo Mark Baisch, left, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004 and is undergoing chemotherapy and radiation for spots on his lungs and spine. Also pictured are his wife Joan and son Kevin.

By Sarah AuBuchon
Wednesday, March 26, 2008 12:47 PM CDT

Mark Baisch thought breast cancer was a disease found only in women. Then in October 2004 he found a lump in his left breast.

"It started bothering me and being afraid and stupid, I didn't know what it was," he said.

At the urging of his wife, Joan, Mark went to see a doctor who set up a mammogram and chest x-ray. The results led to a biopsy, which led to a diagnosis of breast cancer.In less than a month Baisch, 53, who lives in De Soto, was admitted to St. Anthony's Hospital in St. Louis County where he underwent a mastectomy.

According to the American Cancer Society, many people don't realize men have breast tissue and can develop the same kind of breast cancer as women, albeit breast cancer in men is 100 times less common than it is in women, about one in 1,000.

"It makes me feel left out when they come on TV and tell just women to check themselves," Baisch said. "Men should check themselves too."

Since his diagnosis, Baisch has undergone rounds of chemotherapy and radiation. Doctors have recently discovered two small spots in the upper lobe of both lungs and spots on his spine. He will continue his present chemotherapy for the next two months.

Joan Baisch said the three things that have gotten them through the last four years are "faith, family and friends," and friends have rallied together once again to help.

Friends of the Baisch family are planning a benefit auction and dance from 6 p.m. to midnight April 5 at the Elks Hall at 1520 Clarke St. in De Soto.

"They're good people," family friend Butch Allen said. "They need the community to come together and help them."

Tickets for the benefit are $10 per person and can be bought in advance at the National City Bank on Main Street. People wanting to donate items for the auction can drop them off at the De Soto License Office inside Mueller Electric on South Main Street in De Soto.

Joan Baisch said one round of chemotherapy costs around $27,000. The Baisches have insurance, but they still have to pay $3,700 out of pocket for each treatment.

Allen said a trust fund has been set up for the family, and people who want to make donations can mail checks to the Mark Baisch Benefit, c/o National City Bank, 224 S. Main St., De Soto, Mo., 63020, or call JoAnn Kiplinger at 636-937-1703.

Despite all the Baisch family has been through-they lost a son in 2002 and their home was nearly destroyed by the 2003 tornado-Baisch maintains a positive outlook on life.

"I'm not giving up," he said. "This isn't just about me. I really want to find a cure."

For more information about breast cancer in men, visit the American Cancer Society Web site at www.cancer.org.

 

ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.  THIS  ARTICLE WAS COPIED AND PASTED AS WRITTEN IN THE SUBURBAN JOURNAL.