Port Huron prostate cancer survivor and twin brother to sing national anthem at Tigers game

When Port Huron resident Brian Ake learned he had prostate cancer while on a family camping trip in August 2019, a flood of emotions came over him and his family: shock, fear, nervousness. 

"Whenever you hear a report that somebody has the 'C' word, as we call it, it's never good," said Bruce Ake, Brian's twin brother. 

Now, after undergoing radiation treatment, Brian Ake is celebrating remission. 

Thursday, he spoke about his diagnosis while the two brothers practiced singing the national anthem at Colonial Woods Missionary Church, where they work as associate pastors, in anticipation of performing at Comerica Park.

Brian and Bruce Ake will sing the anthem for Prostate Cancer Awareness Night at Comerica Park before the Detroit Tigers' game Monday. The event is sponsored by the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute and McLaren Health Care.  

The Tigers will welcome hundreds of prostate cancer survivors for their game against the San Diego Padres. Survivors will be honored on the field in a pre-game ceremony, which will include a Karmanos patient throwing the ceremonial first pitch, according to a Karmanos Cancer Institute press release. 

Comerica Park will be decorated in blue ribbons to build awareness for prostate cancer. Three Karmanos patients will share their stories during the game, and information on the disease and prevention will be available throughout the park, the press release said.  

Donations can be made to the Karmanos Cancer Institute when purchasing tickets at mlb.com/tigers. Donations will go toward prostate cancer research in Detroit. 

Early detection key to good outcomes

Brian Ake first received his diagnosis in August 2019, and underwent radiation treatment in February and March 2021. 

The brothers' father and uncle both died from prostate cancer, and other family members have been diagnosed with the disease, so Brian Ake knew it was important to get yearly checkups. 

Brian Ake's cancer was detected in the early stages of the disease, which gave him a good prognosis.

"I'm really glad it was early detection, really thankful," he said. 

Dr. Matthew Johnson, a radiation oncologist at Karmanos Institute in McLaren Port Huron, said yearly screenings are an important prevention tool recommended for all men 55 to 70. Some men should begin screenings earlier than 55 if they are Black or have a family history of the disease, or continue with screenings past 70 if they are in good health. 

When caught early, the disease is usually curable through radiation therapy or surgery to remove the prostate. However, if the disease is discovered in later stages, it can spread to other areas of the body, and is more likely to be fatal, Johnson said.

"The annual screening is a good idea," Johnson said. "I think it's very safe and I think we have a lot of tools that, if a guy gets diagnosed with prostate cancer, help us to know who needs treatment, who can be observed and who might need some intensification of the treatment."

Johnson said screenings usually consist of a blood test to gauge a man's prostate specific antigen, a protein that is elevated in men with prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is the second-most common cancer in American men, affecting about 1 in 8 men in their lifetime. It is also the second-leading cause of cancer death in American men, although only about 1 in 41 die, according to the Karmanos Institute. 

Visit karmanos.org/prostatefacts for more information on prostate cancer.

Contact Laura Fitzgerald at (810) 941-7072 or lfitzgeral@gannett.com.