Gazette Newspaper
Men can get breast cancer, too
Thursday, Oct. 6, 2005
I am writing in response to your recent articles regarding Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the Sept. 29 edition.
While I appreciate all of the useful information provided, I am disappointed that there was only one mention of breast
cancer in men, a statistic that states, ‘‘1600 American men will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year.”
My husband is one of those ‘‘1600 American men.”
He noticed a lump about 15 months ago, but failed to mention it to anyone, assuming it was a weight lifting injury. In
May of this year, when it started to bother him a little, he brought it to my attention.
We immediately made an appointment with our health care provider, and within a few days we had the shocking
diagnosis — male breast cancer. In the last five months, he has undergone a lumpectomy, removal of 19 lymph nodes,
modified radical mastectomy, bone biopsy, ongoing monthly chemo treatments, daily hormone therapy and radiation
treatments.
As the statistics show, this is a rare occurrence, but a simple two-line statistic in an article regarding Breast Cancer
Awareness Month is not enough to promote this information.
One of the articles states, ‘‘When found in its earliest stages, the chances for successful treatment and survival is
greatest.” My husband’s stage IV breast cancer diagnosis is not an early stage, and is primarily due to a lack of awareness.
In the scheme of things, even with metastasis to the sternum, he is doing well. Based on the treatments available, he
cannot be considered ‘‘cured,” but his oncologist believes his cancer can be managed as a chronic condition.
A lot of what we have experienced could have been avoided if he had had even a remote idea that men can develop breast
cancer.
I encourage everyone to discuss this topic with all of the men in their life.
Men can get breast cancer, too
Thursday, Oct. 6, 2005
I am writing in response to your recent articles regarding Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the Sept. 29 edition.
While I appreciate all of the useful information provided, I am disappointed that there was only one mention of breast
cancer in men, a statistic that states, ‘‘1600 American men will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year.”
My husband is one of those ‘‘1600 American men.”
He noticed a lump about 15 months ago, but failed to mention it to anyone, assuming it was a weight lifting injury. In
May of this year, when it started to bother him a little, he brought it to my attention.
We immediately made an appointment with our health care provider, and within a few days we had the shocking
diagnosis — male breast cancer. In the last five months, he has undergone a lumpectomy, removal of 19 lymph nodes,
modified radical mastectomy, bone biopsy, ongoing monthly chemo treatments, daily hormone therapy and radiation
treatments.
As the statistics show, this is a rare occurrence, but a simple two-line statistic in an article regarding Breast Cancer
Awareness Month is not enough to promote this information.
One of the articles states, ‘‘When found in its earliest stages, the chances for successful treatment and survival is
greatest.” My husband’s stage IV breast cancer diagnosis is not an early stage, and is primarily due to a lack of awareness.
In the scheme of things, even with metastasis to the sternum, he is doing well. Based on the treatments available, he
cannot be considered ‘‘cured,” but his oncologist believes his cancer can be managed as a chronic condition.
A lot of what we have experienced could have been avoided if he had had even a remote idea that men can develop breast
cancer.
I encourage everyone to discuss this topic with all of the men in their life.
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