Updated: March 24, 2013, 5:42 PM ET GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Mark Berry's talk along with his sister Michelle could have saved his life. The Cincinnati Reds third base coach has been diagnosed with cancer on his tonsils and neck lymph nodes. The 50-year-old moved to Cincinnati on Wednesday to truly have a biopsy of his lymph nodes, which was positive. "I first seen in early December. My tonsils swelled up," Berry said. "I hurt like a cold or perhaps a flu and I thought it had been just that." After a couple of weeks Berry did not get sick however the pain persisted. "Then at first of January, the lymph nodes within my throat felt like small marbles. Around mid-January I went to see a doctor," Berry said. "Cancer was the final point on my mind. We were going to spring training. We had an, nose and throat specialist analyzing us." The specialist conducting the spring training physicals recommended that Berry have two needle biopsies. One was inconclusive and the other was bad. Berry had a discussion together with his cousin, Michelle Gonzalez. His sister went through the identical scenario 15 years early in the day. "She explained never to accept the biopsies," Berry said. Reds staff physician, Dr. Timothy Kremchek put Berry in touch with Dr. Corey Casper of the University of Cincinnati/Hutchinson Center Cancer Alliance. "Dr. Casper told me he thought it originated from my tonsils," Berry said. "Wednesday they took enough of the tonsil to try it. Affirmed, the check came back and it was absolutely cancer." The doctors tested Berry from the waist up to make sure the condition hadn't spread. He was told by them it absolutely was separated in his lymph nodes, making two treatment methods. One would be to remove the two affected lymph nodes and other lymph nodes to find out whether there's cancer inside them. A second surgery to eliminate his tonsils would be performed. The other option involves light for 35 consecutive days. "I have talked to as many folks as I can. There have been lots of people in football that have been through what I've been through," Berry said. The final decision has not been made by "i yet. In either case, I'm planning to be with the staff through the 30th. I'm likely to fly with the team back once again to Cincinnati. I'll come to a decision and get some thing started throughout the first homestand." Berry, who has been doing the Reds firm for 30 years as a minor league manager, player and instructor, told the staff Sunday. The native of Oxnard, Calif., wants to stay with the staff at the least for home activities. Some trips will be missed by him particularly early in the growing season. Berry has been third base coach since 2003. The Reds have not determined whether he will keep on in that capacity or proceed to the counter on manager Dusty Baker's staff. "I told the staff there's nothing to cover up or be embarrassed about. This can be a common occurrence," Berry said. "If everyone desires to speak about it, I'd be pleased to do it. I will share my story with anybody. It might help someone else that has symptoms. My sister had it 15 years ago, and she is fine. It absolutely was good to own her to lean on." Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press
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